Barberry
Berberis vulgaris L.Berberidaceae // root bark · stem bark · fruit
Overview
Plant parts
root bark, stem bark, fruit
Known constituents
berberine, berbamine
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include berberine; berbamine; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Barberry has been used for digestive and infectious complaints; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (digestive and infectious complaints), the evidence assessment is insufficient: Insufficient clinical evidence for whole-herb preparations; purified berberine evidence cannot be directly transferred.
LOW · regulatory monograph and mixed scientific literature · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is root bark; stem bark; fruit; traditional and modern forms include decoction, tincture, powder/capsule, standardized extract, infusion/tea, extract. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include GI effects; neonatal kernicterus concern. Contraindications/cautions include Pregnancy, breastfeeding, neonates.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include CYP and P-gp interactions; additive glucose/BP lowering.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Avoid in pregnancy/lactation and neonates.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
- Possible adulterantGoldenseal
Barberry has been detected as a berberine-containing adulterant of goldenseal.
Why it matters: Berberine detection alone cannot authenticate goldenseal; hydrastine/canadine expectations differ.
HIGH · Chemical Authentication of Botanical Ingredients: A Review of Commercial Herbal Products
Botanical synonym
Berberis dumetorum Gouan
Taxonomic identity note
- Barberry is treated here as Berberis vulgaris L. in the family Berberidaceae; recorded older names include Berberis dumetorum Gouan.
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
EMA monograph
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
WHO monograph
peer-reviewed authentication review