Barberry
Botanical Description & Habitat
Berberis vulgaris
Family
Berberidaceae
Common Names
European barberry
Pepperidge
Pepperidge bush
Sowberry
Habitat
Europe, temperate parts of Asia, northern Africa, New Mexico, Arizona, and the Colorado and Mojave deserts of the United States; waste grounds, thickets, dry canyons and foothills.
Description
Barberry is a perennial shrub; the bark of its branching root is a distinctive, striking yellow. Its stems grow from 3-8 feet, and are reddish when young, but turn gray when older. The leaves are smooth, oblong/oval, and grow in small clusters along the stem. Each cluster is accompanied by 3 needle-thin spikes. Small, bright yellow flowers hang in groups from the axils of the leaves; they appear from April to June, and ripen into small red berries during August and September.
Medicinal Parts
Root and/or stem bark - dried
Berries
Historical Properties & Uses
Barberry root bark has been used in folk medicine for treatment of various gastrointestinal problems, including infections and indigestion.
Barberry possesses some of the most powerful antibiotic properties in the plant kingdom (chiefly berberine). It has been proven effective against several infectious diseases, including cholera.
Barberry's choleretic action aids digestion and is useful in the treatment of liver disease. It is often employed as a gargle or mouthwash for oral infections.
Barberry has hypotensive properties and stimulates the respiratory system, uterus, and bladder. It has also been implicated in the symptomatic relief of arthritis, although more research is needed to validate this action.
Traditional uses of barberry
Blood purifier
Indigestion
Chronic diarrhea
Jaundice
Dysentery
Laxative
Eye problems
Mouth sores, ulcers
Fevers
Bitter tonic
This herb has not achieved approval status by the German Commission E. Either there was insufficient evidence in favor, or a contraindication.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
Barberry root bark is highly antibiotic
Many of the alkaloids of barberry have antibacterial properties, especially berberine, oxyacanthine and columbimine.
Berberine chloride has been shown to have greater antibacterial activity than chloramphenicol against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Neisseria meningitidis, N. gonorrhoeae, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and others.
Bacillus subtilis, Colpidium colpoda, and other gram negative and gram positive bacteria are also susceptible to barberry alkaloids.
Barberry alkaloids are also amebicidal (e.g., against Entamoeba histolytica) and trypanocidal.
Some antitubercular activity has been recorded. Antiprotozoan activity has been noted (e.g., against Leishmania tropica). Berberine has been shown to be effective in the treatment of experimental cholera in infant rabbits. It compares well with chloramphenicol in the chemotherapy of cholera and severe diarrhea in humans.
Berberine has cardiovascular action
Berberine has a depressant effect on the cardiovascular system, producing a sharp, persistent fall in blood pressure, and an increase of splenic volume. Even in small concentrations it depresses the amplitude and force of heart beats in isolated mammalian heart. Blood vessels are dilated and the vasomotor centers depressed.
Berberine is a respiratory stimulant
The respiratory system is stimulated by berberine. With larger doses, there is usually stimulation followed by depression. Very large doses produce death by respiratory paralysis. Berberine stimulates the uterus and bladder.
Barberry may have anti-arthritic activity
A recent Australian patent disclosed a composition for relief and treatment of arthritic conditions. The preparation contained the herbs guaicum, barberry and devil's claw.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Possible Interactions
Veratrum alkaloids may potentiate the activity of barberry up to 50%, while the hypotensive effect of the herb may be potentiated by anorectic drugs such as fenfluramine, whose effects are mediated by brain stem 5HT.
Barberry should not be used with methotrimeprazine, a potent CNS-depressant analgesic, nor with colchicine, which may increase sensitivity or enhance response to barberry.
Conversely, the antituberculosis activity of barberry may potentiate the adverse effects of other antituberculous drugs, especially ethionamide. Additive effects may occur between the hypotensive property of barberry and that of dopamine receptor antagonists such as bromocriptine mesylate.
The tannin in barberry may potentiate the antibiotic activity of echinacea. The tannin in tea made from the herb may be inactivated by the addition of milk or cream.
Comments
The hypotensive property of barberry may be additive with the CNS-depressant activity of the analgesic nalbuphine HCl; the same is true of the analgesic propoxyphene HCl. To minimize CNS depression and possible synergism, barberry should not be taken by persons on procarbazine antineoplastic drugs.
In the absence of other hard data, it may still be assumed that observable interactions may occur between many central nervous system drugs and the psychoactive principles in barberry.
There is evidence to show combining bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents will lower the effectiveness of the bacteriostatic agent. How this finding applies to herbal anti-infectives is still unknown.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
This herb has not achieved approval status by the German Commission E. Either there was insufficient evidence in favor, or a contraindication.
While intake of berberine is well tolerated up to 0.5 g, thereafter various side effects have been reported including nosebleeds and kidney problems.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Preparation & Administration
Three times a day
Dried herb
1-2 grams
Tea
1/2 tsp of dried herb
Fluid extract
1:1 in 25% alcohol, 1-3 ml
Tincture
1:10 in 45% alcohol, 2-4 ml
Purified berberine
5 mg
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Am Hospital Formulary Service. Am Soc of Hosp Pharm. Wash, D.C. Andronescu, et.al., Antibiotic activity of the extract and the alkaloid isolate from berberis vulgaris. Clujul Med, 46(3), 627-631, 1973.
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Bressler, R., M.D. Bogdonoff & G.J. Subak-Sharpe. 1981. The Physicians Drug Manual. Doubleday & Co, Inc. Garden City, NY. 1213 pp.
Chandhoke, N. & Ghatak, B.J.R. Pharmacological investigations of angelicin, a tranquilizing sedative and anticonvulsant agent. Indian Journal Of Medical Research, 63, 833, 1975.
Chopra, R.N., Dikshit, B.B. & Chowhan, J.S. Pharmacological action of berberine. Indian J Of Med Rsrch, 19(4), 1193-1203, 1932.
Committee on Pharmocopaeia of the Am Institute of Homeopathy, The Homeopathic Pharmacopaeia of the United States. 8th ed., Vol 1. Otis Clapp and Son, Agents, Boston, l981.
D'Amico, M.L. Richere sulla presenza di sostanze ad azione antibiotica nelle piante superiori. Fitoterapia, 26(1), 77-79, 1950.
Drug package insert (FDA approved official brochure) and other labeling based on sponsored clinical investigations and New Drug Application data.
Fitzpatrick, F.K. Plant substances active against mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antibiotics And Chemotherapy, 4(5), 528-536, 1954.
Goodman, L.S. & A. Gilman. 1975. Pharm Basis of Thera. MacMillan, NY.
Hansten, P.D. 1979. Drug Interactions, 4th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phila.
Hyde, F.F. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. British Herbal Medicine Assoc: West Yorks, England, 1983
Kastrup, E.K., ed. 1981. Drug Facts and Comparisons, 1982 edition. Facts and Comparisions Division, J.P. Lippincott Co, Phila(St. Louis).
Kowalewski, Z., Wlodzimierz, K. & Mirska, I. Effect of berberine sulfate on staphylococci. Arch. Of Imm. And Ther. Exp., 20(3), 353-360, 1972.
Kulkarni, S.K., et. al. Pharmacological investigations of berberine sulphate. Japanese Journal Of Pharmacology, 22(1), 11-16, 1972.
The Lawrence Review of Natural Products. Jul, 1991.
List, P. & L. Hoerhammer. 1969-1976. Hagers Hanbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, vols. 2-5. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Martin, E. Drug Interactions Index, 1978/79. J.B. Lippincott Co., Phila.
Maung, KU et al., Clinical trial of berberine in acute watery diarrhea. BMJ. 1985, 291:1,601.
Moore, M. Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West, Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1989.
Moore, M. Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West Santa Fe: Red Crane Books, 1993.
Morrelli, H.F. & K.L. Melmon. 1968. The clinician's approach to drug interactions. California Medicine, 109(11). pp. 380-389.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Pizzorno, Joseph E. & Murray, Michael T. A Textbook of Natural Medicine. John Bastyr College Publications: Seattle, Wa, 1985.
Scientific Committee, British Herbal Pharmocopaeia, British Herbal Med Assoc, Lane House, Cowling, Na Keighley, W Yorks, Bd Bd220lx, l983
Sabir, M. & Bhide, N.K. Study of some pharmacological actions of berberine. Indian J Of Physio And Pharma, 15(3), 111-132, 1971.
Spoerke, David G. 1979. Herbal Medications. Woodbridge Press Publishing Co. Santa Barbara, Ca.
Subbaiah, T.V. & Amin, A.H. Effect of berberin sulphate on entamoeba histolytica. Nature, 215, pp. 527-528, July 29, 1967.
Vincent, D. & G. Segonzac. 1953. Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de ses Filiales, 147. pp. 1776-1779.
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Berberis vulgaris
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