Common Barberry

The barberry(ies) (family Berberidaceae) are species-rich (400-600 species), mostly evergreen or deciduous thorny shrubs (barberry family/Berberidaceae) with tufted leaves with toothed edges. The plants are native to Asia and Europe. The common barberry is a 1-3 m tall deciduous shrub with light yellow or yellow-brownish flowers. Barberries have black or red, sour berries up to 1 cm long. Flowering time: May to June, fruit ripening: August.

The barberry family includes, for example, the common mahonia.

The root(Berberidis cortex radicis) and fruit(Berberidis fructus) are used phytotherapeutically.

Commission E: negative monograph

ESCOP: not processed

HMPC: not processed

Herbal medicine: Berberidis radicis cortex: Rootstock (Radix Berberidis) and bark (Cortex Berberidis): Icterus, gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, respiratory diseases.

Food: From the berries: jam, dried in muesli.

Industry: The root was formerly used as a textile dye, the wood in the furniture industry for inlays.

Cosmetics industry: Berberis vulgaris extract (INCI)

Berberis vulgaris is the parent plant of Berberidis cortex radicis, the barberry root bark and Berberidis fructus.

Effect: Antimicrobial, antiphlogistic in animal experiments, positive inotropic, antiarrhythmic, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective.

Alkaloids, especially berberine

All parts of the plant, except for the ripe berries, are poisonous. The main active ingredient is the alkaloid berberine, which is used as a remedy in folk medicine.

Effect Excitation of the smooth muscles, centrally sedative. Higher doses cause nausea, vomiting, hemorrhagic nephritis and respiratory paralysis. In case of injury to the thorns, focal inflammation, often requiring surgical removal.

1. Montag A (2023) Plants and skin. Springer-Verlag Ltd. S. 387-390
2. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/berberis_vulgaris/berberitze.htm