Berberis vulgaris (Barberry) Flashcards
How do you recognise Barberry?
A deciduous spiny shrub native to Europe and North Africa – present in UK for 1000’s of years. Grown - along with many other Berberis species - as a garden hedging plant. Used to grow in farmland hedgerows but mostly eradicated as is a host for Puccinia graminis – a rust affecting grain crops. Produces an edible red berry.
What are Barberry’s main constituents?
- Protoberberine alkaloids – mainly berberine, but also oxyberberine, jatorrhizine & palmatine. Palmatine relaxes the prostate gland).
- Tannins
What family is Barberry in?
Berberidaceae
What is Barberry good for?
Summary: Holmes: “Clears damp heat, reduces infection & stops discharge”.** Again good for liver complaints, stones, but also mucous membrance restorative** - eg good for sinuses, peptic ulcers
Actions:
* Anti-catarrhal.
* Hepatic tonic – choleretic & cholagogue.
* Anti-inflammatory and anti-infective – for liver, gallbladder, GIT, URT.
* Bitter.
* Anti-emetic.
* Mucosal tonic.
* Anti-tumour agent.
* Reduces insulin resistance ; +ve inotropic effects on heart.
Applications:
* Liver complaints including cirrhosis, hepatitis, jaundice (when there is no obstruction of the bile ducts)
* Gall stones, cholecystitis
* Protozoal infections such as giardiasis
* Gastrointestinal infections with diarrhoea (non-viral)
* Peptic ulcer, gastritis.
* Sinusitis, URTI
* In many ways applications echo those of Hydrastis and can often be used in place of that plant – but is not usually perceived to be a mucus membrane trophorestorative.
What is Barberry’s Latin name?
Berberis vulgaris
What parts of Barberry do you use?
Medicinally bark and root bark used.
What safety issues might Barberry have?
Safe herb. As tincture 15 – 30ml/week.
What useful research does Barberry have?
There is lots of research into Berberine online – but most of it is locked and only abstracts are freely available. Refer to the chapter in Bone and Mills.
