common barberry
Berberis vulgaris · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (974 studies) · ★★★★★
Common barberry, scientifically known as Berberis vulgaris, is a deciduous shrub celebrated for its medicinal properties. Renowned for containing berberine, it offers potent anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. Historically used to treat digestive issues and skin conditions, this resilient plant remains a cornerstone in traditional herbal medicine and wellness practices.
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Leaf · Root
- Common names
- European Barberry · Common Barberry · 4 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names
Common Names
- European barberry
- common barberry
- Barberry
- jaundice-berry
- piprage
- European Berbery
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Berberis vulgaris subsp cantabrica
- Berberis vulgaris subsp hispanica
- Berberis australis
- Berberis vulgaris L subsp vulgaris
- Berberis vulgaris subsp australis
- abrilla
- acetín
- agracejo
- agracejo oficinal
- agracillo
- agracillos
- agracio
- agraciu
- agranzón
- agrazón
- agreilla
- agrito
- agruzejo
- alargiz
- alarguez
- alarguiz
- alguese
- alrera
- alro
- arlera
- arlo
- aspalato
- azota-Cristos
- azote burdo
- berberiles
- berbero
- berberís
- borrachín
- bérberis
- bérbero
- bérberoles
- bérberos
- escabrión
- espina ramosa
- espina romaza
- espino
- espino berberino
- espino cambrón
- garbanzón
- granado
- guindillas ásperas
- tapaculo
- vinagrera
- vinagreras
- agracejo
- espino cambrón
- abrilla
- acetín
- agracejo oficinal
- agracillo
- agracillos
- agracio
- agraciu
- agranzón
- agrazón
- agreilla
- agrito
- agruzejo
- alargiz
- alarguez
- alarguiz
- alguese
- alrera
- alro
- arlera
- arlo
- aspalato
- azota-Cristos
- azote burdo
- berberiles
- berbero
- berberís
- borrachín
- bérbero
- bérberoles
- bérberos
- escabrión
- espina ramosa
- espina romaza
- espino
- espino berberino
- garbanzón
- granado
- guindillas ásperas
- tapaculo
- vinagrera
- vinagreras
German:
- Berberitze
- Gewöhnliche Berberitze
- Echte Berberitze
- Gemeiner Sauerdorn
- Sauerdorn
- Essigbeere
- epine-vinette
- Gemeine Berberitze
- Basselbeere
- Beiselbeere
- Dreidorn
- Erbsal
- Erbselbeerstrauch
- Erbseldorn
- Erbselholz
- Erbsich
- Essigdorn
- Essigscharf
- Geißenlaub
- Hasenbrot
- Kuckucksbrot
- Peisselbeere
- Spießdorn
- Spitzdorn
- Weinäuglein
- Weinlegelein
- Weinscheidling
- Weinzäpferl
- Zitronenbeere
- Berberitze
- Sauerdorn
- Gewöhnliche Berberitze
- Gemeine Berberitze
- Echte Berberitze
- Essigbeere
- Gemeiner Sauerdorn
French:
- Épine-vinette
- Épine vinette
- Epine-Vinette
- Épine-vinette vulgaire
- berbéride vulgaire
- berbéris vulgaire
- épine-vinette
- épine-vinette commune
- vinettier
- Epine-vinette
- Berbéris commun
- Vinettier commun
- Épine vinette
- Épine-vinette vulgaire
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Berberis vulgarisTaxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ranunculales, it is further categorized into the family Berberidaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific 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, known as Berberis vulgaris, is widely distributed across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally throughout the landscapes of Denmark. Additionally, this medicinal species is present within the territories of Finland and Norway. The plant also establishes itself across the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Consequently, its geographical range covers a significant portion of the northernmost European continent.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | 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 |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as Berberis vulgaris, contains various therapeutic components distributed throughout its structure. The woody stem provides the necessary framework for the shrub, while the serrated leaves are often used in traditional preparations. Specifically, the leaf and the leaves of the plant contain alkaloids like berberine, which are central to its medicinal properties. Furthermore, the most potent medicinal compounds are frequently concentrated in the root, making the extraction of the entire roots essential for many pharmacological applications.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Life (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| root | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| fruit | Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| stem | Clinical and experimental dental research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower | Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Berberis vulgaris has 91 reported phytochemicals identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include berberine, Flavonoids, BERBAMINE, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Jatrorrhizine.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| berberine | 11 supporting sources | ★★★★★ |
| Flavonoids | 5 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| BERBAMINE | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| CHLOROGENIC ACID | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Jatrorrhizine | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Magnoflorine | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Palmatine | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Tannin | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| citric acid | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| malic acid | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
berberine
- Dr. Duke
- Current neuropharmacology
- Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
- Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets
- Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic
View 6 additional sources
- Journal of separation science
- Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders
- IUBMB life
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
Flavonoids
- Scientific reports
- Phytochemical analysis : PCA
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
- Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
BERBAMINE
- Dr. Duke
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
CHLOROGENIC ACID
- Dr. Duke
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Phytochemical analysis : PCA
Jatrorrhizine
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of separation science
- Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
Magnoflorine
- Dr. Duke
- International journal of molecular sciences
- Nutrients
Palmatine
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of separation science
- Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
Tannin
- Dr. Duke
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
citric acid
- Dr. Duke
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
malic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
Activities
Berberis vulgaris has 644 reported activities identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidepressant.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 9 sources) | ★★★★☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidepressant | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Hypolipidemic | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticoagulant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Berberis vulgaris has 52 reported medicinal uses identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, oxidative stress, Alzheimer's disease, antioxidant, gastric ulcer.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | EXCLI journal (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | Pharmacological research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | Current pharmaceutical biotechnology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric ulcer | Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypoglycemic | Current pharmaceutical biotechnology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | Iranian journal of basic medical sciences (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| metabolic syndrome | International journal of nanomedicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cholera | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| methanolic extract | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alcoholic extracts | Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Jujube syrup | Dermatologic therapy (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Urinil B | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous plant extracts | Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| barberry extract | Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| barberry fruit extract | Cell biochemistry and function (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| berbermin | International journal of immunopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| berberrubine | Biomedical reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| botanicals | Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |