Berberis aquifolium
Berberis aquifolium · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (299 studies) · ★★★★★
, scientifically known as Berberis aquifolium, is a prominent medicinal shrub native to the Himalayan region. Widely utilized in Ayurvedic medicine, its roots and bark contain potent alkaloids like berberine. These properties offer significant therapeutic benefits, particularly for treating digestive disorders, skin ailments, and inflammatory conditions effectively.
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Stem · Root
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Mahonia Brevipes · Mahonia Aquifolium · 23 more
Names
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Berberis aquifoliumSynonyms
- Mahonia brevipes
- Mahonia aquifolium
- Odostemon aquifolius
- Odostemon nutkanus
- Mahonia aquifolium f. albovariegata
- Mahonia pinnata var. hortensis
- Mahonia aquifolium var. nutkana
- Mahonia aquifolium var. lyallii
- Mahonia diversifolia
- Mahonia latifolia
- Berberis aquifolium var. juglandifolia
- Mahonia aquifolium var. juglandifolia
- Berberis aquifolium var. lyallii
- Mahonia undulata
- Mahonia moseri
- Berberis aquifolium var. nutkana
- Mahonia moseriana
- Berberis brevipes
- Mahonia murrayana
- Odostemon brevipes
- Berberis pinnata var. hortensis
- Mahonia aquifolium f. amabilis
- Mahonia aquifolium f. aucubifolia
- Mahonia aquifolium f. aureovariegata
- Mahonia aquifolium f. lutescens
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and falls under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the family Berberidaceae, situated within the genus Berberis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ranunculales | WCVP |
| Family | Berberidaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Berberis | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the regions of Northern Europe. Its presence can be documented across several Scandinavian nations, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Furthermore, it is found in the northern territories of Finland. The species also extends its range westward to include Great Britain. Together, these locations define the primary northern habitats where the plant thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Berberis aquifolium, is valued in traditional medicine for the various therapeutic properties found within its anatomical structures. The woody stems provide the structural framework for the shrub, while the thick stem bark serves as a primary source of alkaloids like berberine. Whether used in its whole form or processed as concentrated stem-bark preparations, these components are vital for medicinal efficacy. Additionally, the roots are frequently harvested for their potent bioactive compounds, and the various extracts derived from these different parts are often utilized in pharmacological applications to treat diverse ailments.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| stem | Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| root | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Berberis aquifolium has 31 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include berberine, BERBAMINE, Corytuberine, Jatrorrhizine, Magnoflorine.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| berberine | 5 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| BERBAMINE | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Corytuberine | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Jatrorrhizine | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Magnoflorine | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Oxyacanthine | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Aquifoline | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Baluchistine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Columbamine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Obamegine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
berberine
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
- Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic
- Journal of separation science
- IUBMB life
BERBAMINE
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
- Die Pharmazie
Corytuberine
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
- Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology
Jatrorrhizine
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
- Journal of separation science
Magnoflorine
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
- Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology
Oxyacanthine
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
- Die Pharmazie
Aquifoline
- Dr. Duke
- Die Pharmazie
Baluchistine
- Dr. Duke
- Die Pharmazie
Columbamine
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
Obamegine
- Dr. Duke
- Die Pharmazie
Activities
Berberis aquifolium has 190 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antihypertensive, Fungicide, (+)-Inotropic, Abortifacient.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fungicide | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-Inotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Adrenocorticotrophic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Adrenolytic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Amebicide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analeptic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Berberis aquifolium has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Wounds and injuries, abscesses, cancer.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Wounds and injuries | Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| abscesses | Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | IUBMB life (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Mahonia aquifolium extracts | Die Pharmazie (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extracts | The British journal of dermatology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Crude extracts obtained from the stem bark | Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| M. aquifolium extracts | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mahonia aquifolium ointment | Forschende Komplementarmedizin (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mahonia aquifolium stem-bark | Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extract of the bark of Mahonia aquifolium | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stems | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |