Breaking the Mold: Harnessing the Power of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for Antimicrobial Innovation

Berberine chloride (BC) is a plant-derived alkaloid with therapeutic and pharmacological effects on multiple diseases. It also exhibits antibacterial activity, making it a potential candidate against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. However, its poor aqueous solubility can reduce its medicinal efficacy. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) are a green and sustainable medication delivery platform that can solubilize both polar and non-polar molecules, making them a potential solution to the solubility problem of BC. In this study, the solubility of BC in various NADESs is explored to develop a novel antimicrobial agent. The viability of NADESs in dissolving BC was evaluated using a calibration curve measured by a UV-spectrophotometer and bacterial assays, such as diffusion disc, and turbidity assay. This research aims to discover new NADESs that can effectively dissolve BC, as a mobile phase additive, and develop a new antimicrobial agent in an environmentally friendly way.