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| Barberry containing berberine - an alkaloid substances for antimicroorganisms |
What is barberry?
Barberry, Latin name Berberis vulgaris, is native to Europe, where it is commonly used as an ornamental shrub. It is also commonly grown in North America. Its close relative, Berberis aquifolium, is a native of North America, and is also known as Oregon grape. Native Americans originally taught settlers its value as a medicinal herb. Two other species of the plant, Nepalese and Indian barberry, are native to those areas and possess similar qualities.Barberry is a perennial herb that is usually around 2.4 metre tall, but it can grow up to 3 metre high. It bears yellow flowers, red or black berries, and small rounded fleshy leaves. It flourishes in dry sandy soil, and prefers a sunny location. Research has established that the active alkaloids in barberry belong to the isoquinoline family. They are berberine, berbamine, oxyacanthine, bervulcine, columbamine, isotetrandrine, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, and vulvracine. Other components include resin, tannin, and chelidonic acid, among others.
Medicinal Use of Barberry
Barberry and other berberine-containing plants have been used throughout history for their medicinal properties. Chinese medicine has records of such use dating back over 3,000 years. Although these berries are commonly used for jams and jellies, sometimes they are collected to produce dye. However, its use for traditional medications remain limited. With its main active constituent, barberry are traditionally consumed to treat cholagogue, hepatic, antiemetic, bitter and laxative.Barberry is chiefly valued as an efficient liver cleanser, due to its ability to correct liver function and promote the flow of bile. It is good for heartburn, stomach upsets, including gastritis, ulcers and ulcerative bowel conditions, and is an effective appetite stimulant. It has also been recommended for renal colic and the treatment of renal calculi, where it is claimed to allay burning and soreness.
The herb has significant antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, and has even demonstrated anti-protozoal properties, so it is an extremely valuable weapon against infection and fever. It is recommended for use agains diarrhea, whether of non-specific type, such as gastroenteritis, or from an identified source such as cholera. It is also capable of inhibiting the growth of Giardia lamblia, Trichomonas vaginalis and Entamoeba hitolytica. In fact, barberry is capable of similar action to Metronidazole, a common antiprotozoal medication, but it has the advantage of no side effects.
Berberine, the active constituent of barberry inhibits Candida and other fungal growth, but it does not affect beneficial bacteria such as Acidophilus and Bifidus. Barberry is particularly useful for skin infections, for which it is often taken internally, and has even been found effective against psoriasis. It is often used against bronchial infections, as it is capable of breaking down and dispersing mucous accumulations, and controlling further secretions. It is an effective sedative, is capable of lowering blood pressure, and is an effective uterine stimulant. Barberry is also taken for gallstones and inflammation of the gall-bladder. It has the ability to correct an enlarged spleen which is also an indication of malaria.
Barberry is useful for correcting menstrual irregularities, correcting anemia, as a treatment for vaginitis, and even as a tonic for a hangover. It is suitable medication for gouty constitutions, and it is recommended for strengthening the patient during convalescence, as it acts as an immune stimulant. Barberry also can be used to treat malaria and even Leishmaniasis, which is a protozoal infection. Because its capability in increasing blood supply, barberry is not only good for anemia, but it also can reduce suffering from ventricular heart defects and also it can be used to treat white blood cell depression due to the chemotherapy or radiation treatments.