Berberis lycium
Berberis lycium, commonly known as the Lycium Barberry, is a resilient evergreen shrub native to the arid regions of the Middle East. Renowned for its bright yellow flowers and edible berries, this medicinal plant is traditionally utilized in folk medicine for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapeutic properties.
- Scientific name: Berberis lycium
- Family: Berberidaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ranunculales, it is classified under the family Berberidaceae. Ultimately, Berberis lycium is identified by its 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 |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Berberis lycium, is referred to by various regional common names depending on the language. In Azerbaijani, it is called İtitikanşəkilli zirinc, while in Chinese, it is identified as 枸杞小檗.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| az | İtitikanşəkilli zirinc | Wikidata |
| zh | 枸杞小檗 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Berberis lycium, exhibits a specific geographical range across several key regions. In Western Asia, its presence is documented within the country of Afghanistan. It is also widely distributed across the Indian Subcontinent, specifically found in India. Furthermore, the species is located within the territory of Pakistan. Finally, its distribution extends to the mountainous terrain of the West Himalaya.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Asia | Afghanistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Berberis lycium, offers various components that are utilized for their medicinal properties. The root bark and the concentrated root extract are particularly valued for containing bioactive alkaloids that contribute to its therapeutic effects. Additionally, the leaves serve as a significant source of plant compounds, with specific leaf parts often being processed for different applications. Beyond the vegetative structures, the fruit of the plant also plays a role in its overall biological profile, making the entire specimen a versatile subject in traditional medicine.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| root bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Root extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Berberis lycium has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 32 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include berberine, flavonoids, gallic acid, rutin, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 27
- Scientific sources
- 32
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| berberine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gallic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Apigenin-7-O-glucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Berberine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mn | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant activity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| baluchistanamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Berberis lycium has 14 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anthelmintic, Antidiabetic.
- Total activities
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 17
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antispasmodic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Berberis lycium has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, COVID-19, Hepatitis C Virus, advanced glycation end products, antidiabetic.
- Total uses
- 21
- Scientific sources
- 22
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| COVID-19 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatitis C Virus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| advanced glycation end products | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiarrheal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coughs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |