Pharmacological and analytical aspects of bergenin: a concise report

Bergenin is a C-glucoside of 4-O-methyl gallic acid is a colourless crystalline polyphenol isolated from medicinal plants like Bergenial crassifolia (B. crassifolia), Mallotus philippinensis (M. philippinensis), Corylopsis spicata (C. spicata), Caesalpinia digyna (C. digyna), Mallotus japonicus (M. japonicus), Sacoglottis gabonensis (S. gabonensis) etc. It is hydrolyzable tannin and an isocoumarin derivative with three hydroxyl (OH) groups and two phenolic OH groups[1-4]. Bergenin containing extracts have long been used as a folk medicine in several parts of Asia. The molecular formula and the chemical structure of bergenin were confirmed by several spectroscopic methods and also by its synthesis[1]. Bergenin exhibits antihepatotoxic, antiulcerogenic, anti-HIV, antiarrhythmic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties[1]. The hepatoprotective effect of bergenin has also been reported[3]. Bergenin exhibit various biological activities such as antiulcer, antifungal, immunomodulatory and burn wound healing effects[5]. For the determination of bergenin liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry are mainly used[3]. Despite this extensive use, the pharmacokinetics of bergenin in human has not been studied probably because of the lack of a sensitive assay for its determination in biological fluids[6]. Berberin inhibited arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation more efficiently than acetylsalicylic acid and showed an antioxidative effect equivalent to that of L-ascorbic acid or quercetin[7]. In the present review data were collected from the available literature sources in regards with bergenin.