Barberry Purchase & Information
Alternative Names
Agracejo, Berberidis Cortex, Berberry, Barberry, Berberidis Radicis Cortex, Berberidis Fructus, Berbéris Commun, Berberidis Radix, Berberitze, Berbéris Vulgaire and Berbis, Common Barberry, Espino Cambrón, Épine-Vinette, Jaundice Berry, Mountain Grape, Oregon Grape, Piprage, Pipperidge, Sow Berry, Sauerdorn, Vinettier CAUTION: Please refer to separate listings for Oregon grape
Scientific Name
Berberis Vulgaris
Why Do People Use Barberry?
Oral intake of barberry powder is used for:
• The infection of the urinary tract and kidney problems.
• For gastrointestinal tract problems like stomach cramps, heartburn, lack of appetite, constipation, spleen and liver disease.
• For problems of lung and bronchial infections.
• As a stimulant of the circulatory system.
• For the treatment of spasms.
• As an additional dietary source of vitamin C.
• The root and bark of Berberis vulgaris (barberry) are also utilized for complaints and ailments of the GI tract, for circulatory and heart system, respiratory tract, as a blood purifier, for narcotic withdrawal and as an antipyretic.
• Root bark of barberry is used for leishmaniasis, gallbladder disease, liver dysfunction, splenopathy, jaundice, indigestion, diarrhea, urinary and renal tract diseases, gout, hemorrhoids, arthritis, rheumatism, malaria and mid and low back pain issues.
• In food items, barberry powder is used in making wines, jams and jellies.
• For manufacturing purpose, its syrup is used in pharmaceutical products for masking tastes.
Is It Safe To Use?
Possibly Safe - Berberis vulgaris (barberry) is safe when it is used orally in an amount generally found in food items.
Regarding the safety of barberry powder in medicinal practices, there is insufficient reliable information available.
Possibly Unsafe for Children - It is unsafe especially for newborns when used orally. Barberry powder constituents could affect newborns and can cause adverse effects like kernicterus especially in preterm neonates with hyperbilirubinemia.
Possibly Unsafe for Pregnancy - It is unsafe when orally used in pregnancy. Berberine has an ability to enter the fetus after crossing placenta and may cause damage to the fetus. In newborn babies kernicterus developed in those who were exposed to berberine during intrauterine period.
Possibly Unsafe in Lactation - It is unsafe when orally used in lactation. Berberine and different dangerous constituents can be shifted to the newborn baby through mother’s milk.
How Effective Is Barberry?
Regarding effectiveness of barberry powder there is insufficient reliable information is available.
How Barberry Works?
The most used parts of Berberis vulgaris are its root, root bark and fruit (berry). Experiment have shown that fruits of barberry have anticholinergic and antihistaminic potentials.
Other clinical experiments also propose that barberry powder possesses hypotensive effects. It may also decrease neural cell excitability.
Anti-inflammatory activity is another property of Berberis vulgaris root, which is conceivably mediated by its constituent alkaloid i.e. berberine.
Berberine is the active and primary constituent of barberry. Berberine has antiarrhythmic, inotropic and antihypertensive properties. Alpha-adrenergic blocking is another property of berberine. Experiments also recommend that berberine may enhance left ventricular activity by decreasing arrhythmias in patients with heart failure diseases. Researches also propose that berberine may play role in lowering the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and blood pressure.
Some other experiments have shown that berberine may save the liver from hepatotoxins and antitumor impacts.
Berberine has antifungal, antibacterial, antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial activity. Berberine in barberry powder also have action against Streptococcus pyogenes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Shigella boydii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Microsporum gypseum, Sporotrichum schenckii, Giardia lamblia Staphylococcus aureus and Entamoeba histolytica. Some findings recommend that berberine may restrain bacterial sortase, it is a protein which is responsible for the attachment of gram-positive bacteria to the cell membranes. Other findings also propose that it may be helpful for topical treatment of trachoma and burns. In under developing countries, its overuse is the most common known reason of blindness.
Researches on preliminary level recommend that berberine specifically represses expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Berberine seems to lessen the gastric acid secretion. Whether barberry has the same clinical impacts as berberine is still unknown.
Berberine seems to experience stage I hepatic metabolism. It likewise gives off an impression of being a substrate for organic cation transporter and nuclear transporters such as P-glycoprotein.
What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Barberry?
As mentioned in safety section, use of berberine-containing herbs (barberry for instance) in lactation, pregnancy and newborn babies could cause kernicterus and many other problems that depends on it usage. Barberry’s primary constituent is berberine, which has been orally used by some individuals in a dosage of 2 grams per day for consecutively eight weeks and yet they didn’t show any side effects. Also, some people have consumed Berberis vulgaris for upto 20 days without experiencing serious side effects.
How Barberry Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?
Not known.
How Barberry Interacts With Drugs?
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) - DONOT consume this combination because it represent a serious interaction of barberry powder with other drugs. Berberine, barberry constituent, can expand serum levels and reduce metabolism of cyclosporine. It may hinder the activity of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), which metabolizes cyclosporine.
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) Although this interaction is of moderate nature but still beware of this interaction. There is exceptional confirmation that a constituent of barberry, berberine, may restrain activity of cytochrome enzymes P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). As such, this reaction has not been accounted in human. Then again, be careful for an increment in the drug levels metabolized by CYPA4 for patients who are taking Berberis vulgaris. Few medications metabolized by CYP3A4 incorporate triazolam (Halcion), clarithromycin (Biaxin), lovastatin (Mevacor), sildenafil (Viagra), indinavir (Crixivan) and number of other herbs. Use barberry carefully or avoid taking these drugs.
How Barberry Interacts With Foods?
Not known.
How Barberry Interacts With Lab Tests?
Bilirubin - Barberry may cause an increase in the level of bilirubin. This has been exhibited with segregated constituent of berberine, however not particularly with barberry powder. Berberine dislodges bilirubin from its binding site with serum proteins. Thus increasing unbound and total concentrations of bilirubin in the blood.
How Barberry Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?
Not known.
What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Barberry?
For oral consumption, an average dosage is one cup tea. In order to make tea, steep 1 to 2 tea spoon of squashed or whole berries in 150 ml hot water. Steep or stain 2 grams of root bark for 5 to 10 minutes in 250 mL water. 20-40 drops of barberry tincture have been traditionally used every day.
Comments
None.
General Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.
