Barberry is a potent medicinal herb with a wide range of traditional uses and medicinal applications.
What is Barberry?
Barberry, scientifically known as Berberis vulgaris, is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 4 meters tall.
It has spiny branches, small oval leaves, and produces bright yellow flowers that bloom in late spring. The plant is also known for its red or dark blue berries, which are elongated and clustered.
It is a thorny berry bush that grows throughout Europe and Asia, as well as Europe and the Mediterranean regions. Barberry’s berries are often made into jam and consumed as a summer fruit.
It has been naturalized in North America and can be found in various environments such as woodlands, hedgerows, and open fields.
It thrives in well-drained soils and can tolerate a range of conditions, from full sun to partial shade.
The extract of its fruits and leaves have been used traditionally for many centuries by herbalists for a variety of infections, inflammation, colds, fever and influenza.
Barberry Primary Compounds
Its primary compounds, especially berberine, offer significant health benefits, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, digestive, and liver support, as well as blood sugar regulation. Scientific research continues to validate its traditional uses, highlighting its potential in managing various health conditions.
The primary bioactive compounds found in Barberry include:
Berberine: The active constituent in Barberry is berberine, which is a potent antifungal and antibacterial ingredient. If taken in too high of a dosage, berberine can also be toxic. Berberine is an alkaloid with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties.
Isoquinoline alkaloids: Such as berbamine and oxyacanthine, which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Flavonoids: Antioxidants that protect against oxidative stress.
Tannins: Astringent compounds that support digestive health.
Palmatine: Another alkaloid with potential antimalarial and antimicrobial effects.
Jatrorrhizine: An alkaloid known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Vitamin C: An essential nutrient with antioxidant properties.
Traditional Medicinal Uses
Barberry has been used in various traditional medicine systems around the world:
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Known as "San Ke Zhen," it is used to clear heat, detoxify the body, and treat dysentery and jaundice. Used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, skin infections, and as a liver tonic.
Ayurveda: Utilized to treat infections, skin diseases, and liver conditions. It is also considered beneficial for managing diabetes.
European Herbal Medicine: Used as a remedy for liver and gallbladder disorders, digestive problems, and urinary tract infections.
Native American Medicine: Employed for treating digestive problems, sore throats, and fever.
Health Benefits
1. Antimicrobial: Berberine and other alkaloids in Barberry exhibit strong antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.
2. Anti-inflammatory: Helps reduce inflammation, which can be beneficial for conditions like arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and skin disorders.
3. Digestive Health: Stimulates the production of bile, aiding in digestion and alleviating symptoms of indigestion, constipation, and liver disorders.
4. Blood Sugar Regulation: Berberine has been shown to lower blood glucose levels, making it beneficial for managing diabetes.
5. Cardiovascular Health: Supports heart health by reducing cholesterol levels, improving blood flow, and exerting antioxidant effects.
6. Immune Support: Enhances the immune system’s response to infections and illnesses.
Let's take a closer look at some of the research confirming these effects.
Antimicrobial properties
A 2022 review of research found that barberry root and leaf extracts inhibit the growth of various bacteria and fungi. Here is a list of those it inhibited among the various studies:
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Escherichia coli
- Staphylococcus enteritis
- Penicillium verrucosum
- Fusarium proliferatum
- Aspergillus ochraceous
- Aspergillus niger
- Aspergillus flavus
The researchers wrote:
"In conclusion, both Berberis vulgaris roots and leaves have considerable antibacterial activity and can be used as a source of antibacterial, antioxidant, and bioactive compounds to benefit human health."
Blood sugar regulation
In a 2012 review of research on barberry and type 2 diabetes, scientists analyzed 14 clinical studies. These involved 1,068 patients. They found that berberine helped balance blood sugar among the patients. They concluded:
"Berberine appeared to be efficacious for treating hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in T2DM."
They noted that berberine affected glycemic control similarly to other diabetes drugs.
Berberine's various metabolic effects
"The prevention of the development of:
- atherosclerosis
- type 2 diabetes
- obesity
- cardiovascular complications
- cancer"
"Berberine positively contributes to:
- elevated levels of fasting
- postprandial blood glucose
- glycosylated hemoglobin
- decreasing insulin resistance"
"It stimulates:
- glycolysis
- improves insulin secretion
- inhibits gluconeogenesis
- and adipogenesis in the liver
- by reducing insulin resistance
- berberine also improves ovulation"
"The anti-obesity action of berberine has been also well-documented.""Berberine acts as an anti-sclerotic, lowering the LDL and testosterone levels."'The alkaloid exhibits an anti-inflammatory property by stalling the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2.""Berberine is neuroprotective and acts as an antidepressive."
Barberry and Parasites
Many of us are irked by the notion of having a tapeworm. It is like an alien growing inside our bodies. But research shows that Barberry herb kills tapeworms.
Yes, nature provides solutions, even to an alien-like growth of tapeworm. Here we will discuss how university researchers have determined that the traditional anti-parasitic herb known as Bayberry has the ability to kill and inhibit the tapeworm parasite known to cause Echinococcis.
The tapeworm parasite is produced by one or multiple species of Echinococcus. Should a person ingest the eggs or a piece of the tapeworm, more eggs will collect in intestines and cysts will form. These will attach to the intestines and grow larger – feeding off the intestinal matter.
Sometimes the tapeworm cysts will penetrate the intestinal walls and infect the liver and even the lungs in advanced stages.
Typical treatment consists of surgical removal of the cysts from the intestines and organs. Anti-parasitic drugs such as mebendazole and albendazole are often prescribed, with varying degrees of success.
Often these anti-parasitic drugs do not kill all the cysts and the parasites return. Sometimes the parasites adapt to the drugs – and become multi-drug resistant (MDR).
Medical researchers have found that a natural compound Berberis vulgaris – or the common herb Barberry – is significantly anti-parasitic.
A 2014 study found that a Barberry extract and its central compound, berberine, provided 100% inhibition against the tapeworm’s protoscoleces. This means the budding and attachment of the buds into cysts.
The researchers found the herbal extract killed the tapeworm cysts on a dose-dependent fashion. At concentrations of 0.5 milligrams per milliliter and 2 mg/ml, the extract took 10 minutes to produce its anti-parasitic effect.
A year earlier, other researchers confirmed these findings. They found parasite killing effects at 2 mg/ml and 4 mg/ml.
The researchers confirmed other research showing similar effects:
Many studies have shown that Berberis vulgaris has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic effects.”
The medical researchers also wanted to know if Barberry can kill tapeworm parasite cysts. So they removed Echinococcus cysts from the intestines of infected sheep (the most common form of Echinococcus parasitic infection for humans is from eating animal meat derived from infected animals – and an entire herd can sometimes become infected.)
The researchers exposed the parasite cysts to varying dilutions of Barberry extracts in the laboratory – duplicating the environmental conditions within the intestine. They also used saline and hypertonic saline solutions as control tests.
The researchers found that every dilution of Barberry killed cysts, and the strongest dilution of 4 milligrams per milliliter of solution also had the strongest cyst-killing ability – achieving a dose-dependent killing effect. But 2 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml also killed cyst cells as well.
What is Barberry?
A 2007 study found 22 different constituents in Barberry, including oxyacanthine and berbanine.
Berberine extracted from other herbal compounds such as Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and Goldenthread (Coptis chinesis) and Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium) has been shown to be antimicrobial and antifungal as well as anti-parasitic. As review from s 2000 Journal Alternative Medicine Review stated:
“Berberine extracts and decoctions have demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against a variety of organisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans, helminths, and chlamydia.”
Barberry’s other medicinal benefits
A number of studies over the past few years have shown Barberry’s healing effects. Multiple laboratory studies have shown it can help with kidney stones and urinary tract infections.
Other studies have shown its ability to scavenge free radicals. Other research has shown its ability to protect the liver. Berberine is also known to help cardiovascular conditions.
Scientific References
Mahmoudvand H, Saedi Dezaki E, Sharififar F, Ezatpour B, Jahanbakhsh S, Fasihi Harandi M. Protoscolecidal Effect of Berberis vulgaris Root Extract and Its Main Compound, Berberine in Cystic Echinococcosis. Iran J Parasitol. 2014 Oct-Dec;9(4):503-10.
Rouhani S, Salehi N, Kamalinejad M, Zayeri F. Efficacy of Berberis vulgaris Aqueous Extract on Viability of Echinococcus Granulosus Protoscolices. J Invest Surg. 2013 Aug 26.
Jyothilakshmi V, Thellamudhu G, Kumar A, Khurana A, Nayak D, Kalaiselvi P. Preliminary investigation on ultra high diluted B. vulgaris in experimental urolithiasis. Homeopathy. 2013 Jul;102(3):172-8. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2013.05.004.
Host’álková A, Novák Z, Pour M, Jirosová A, Opletal L, Kunes J, Cahliková L. Berbanine: a new isoquinoline-isoquinolone alkaloid from Berberis vulgaris (Berberidaceae). Nat Prod Commun. 2013 Apr;8(4):441-2.
Fouladi RF. Aqueous extract of dried fruit of Berberis vulgaris L. in acne vulgaris, a clinical trial. J Diet Suppl. 2012 Dec;9(4):253-61. doi:10.3109/19390211.2012.726702.
Zhang CM, Gao L, Zheng YJ, Yang HT. Berbamine increases myocardial contractility via a Ca2+-independent mechanism. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2011 Jul;58(1):40-8. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0b013e31821b70d1.
Bashir S, Gilani AH, Siddiqui AA, Pervez S, Khan SR, Sarfaraz NJ, Shah AJ. Berberis vulgaris root bark extract prevents hyperoxaluria induced urolithiasis in rats. Phytother Res. 2010 Aug;24(8):1250-5. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3196.
Zovko Koncić M, Kremer D, Karlović K, Kosalec I. Evaluation of antioxidant activities and phenolic content of Berberis vulgaris L. and Berberis croatica Horvat. Food Chem Toxicol. 2010 Aug-Sep;48(8-9):2176-80. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2010.05.025.
Imanshahidi M, Hosseinzadeh H. Pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Berberis vulgaris and its active constituent, berberine. Phytother Res. 2008 Aug;22(8):999-1012. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2399. Berberine. Altern Med Rev. 2000 Apr;5(2):175-7. PubMed PMID: 10767672.
Ivanovska N, Philipov S. Study on the anti-inflammatory action of Berberis vulgaris root extract, alkaloid fractions and pure alkaloids. Int J Immunopharmacol. 1996 Oct;18(10):553-61.
Haupt H. [Poisonous and less poisonous plants. 63. Barberry (Berberidaceae) (Berberis vulgaris)]. Kinderkrankenschwester. 2003 Dec;22(12):538-9.
Fatehi M, Saleh TM, Fatehi-Hassanabad Z, Farrokhfal K, Jafarzadeh M, Davodi S. A pharmacological study on Berberis vulgaris fruit extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Oct 31;102(1):46-52.
Pozniakovskiĭ VM, Golub OV, Popova DG, Kovalevskaia IN. [The use of barberry berries in human nutrition]. Vopr Pitan. 2003;72(4):46-9.
El-Zahar KM, Al-Jamaan ME, Al-Mutairi FR, Al-Hudiab AM, Al-Einzi MS, Mohamed AA. Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Activities of the Ethanolic Extract Obtained from Berberis vulgaris Roots and Leaves. Molecules. 2022 Sep 19;27(18):6114. doi: 10.3390/molecules27186114.
Och A, Och M, Nowak R, Podgórska D, Podgórski R. Berberine, a Herbal Metabolite in the Metabolic Syndrome: The Risk Factors, Course, and Consequences of the Disease. Molecules. 2022 Feb 17;27(4):1351. doi: 10.3390/molecules27041351.
Dong H, Wang N, Zhao L, Lu F. Berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:591654. doi: 10.1155/2012/591654.
Ilyas Z, Perna S, Al-Thawadi S, Alalwan TA, Riva A, Petrangolini G, Gasparri C, Infantino V, Peroni G, Rondanelli M. The effect of Berberine on weight loss in order to prevent obesity: A systematic review. Biomed Pharmacother. 2020 Jul;127:110137. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110137.