Barberry
October 18, 2008
Barberry is derived from the roots, wood, and bark of Mahonia vulgaris and M. aquifolium. These plants are also known by the names of Berberis aquifolium and B. vulgaris. The plants have edible, red-orange fruit called berries. These are abundantly grown in Europe and some parts of North America. These are used as landscape shrubs since ages. Barberry species contain many chemical components such as tannins, berbamine, berberine, magnoflorine, oxycanthine, bervulcine, columbamin and jatrorrhizine.
Berberine is the most widely researched component of barberry. It holds anthelmintic, anticonvulsant, and sedative properties and also has local anesthetic effect, if injected on skin. It acts as an antibacterial against several species.
Barberry also contains ethanolic extract, which is found to have anti-inflammatory abilities. . Other alkaloid extract of barberry are comparatively less effective in their anti-inflammatory abilities than ethanol extract. The alkaloids of barberry put forth uterine-stimulating effects in animals.
Barberry bears curative properties as a diarrhea preventing, an antipyretic, and a decongestant in cough and in treating jaundice. Berberine was used as an astringent in different ophthalmic arrangements but is rarely used today. It has been found to be as effective as a panacea in curing Vibrio Cholerae caused diarrhea but has no effect in patients with diarrhea due to other reasons.
Barberry is not advisable in pregnant women due to the risk of abortion. So, it should be used carefully in women who are under the childbearing age. Some evidences suggest that poisoning from this plant may lead to confusion, diarrhea, nephritis, and stupor. It should be prevented against consuming large amount of barberry because it consists highly toxic chemicals.
The characteristic bright golden yellow color of the root wood of barberry plant is due to Berberine. The salts extracted from barberry are used as an astringent in eye medications such as drops and eye washes.
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