Oregon grape
Berberis aquifolium PurshBerberidaceae // root · stem bark
Overview
Plant parts
root, stem bark
Known constituents
berberine, berbamine, oxyacanthine
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include berberine; berbamine; oxyacanthine; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Oregon grape has been used for psoriasis; digestive complaints; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (psoriasis; digestive complaints), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Limited evidence for topical psoriasis; insufficient for systemic uses.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph and mixed scientific literature · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.
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; stem bark; traditional and modern forms include decoction, tincture, powder/capsule, standardized 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 Skin irritation; systemic berberine precautions. Contraindications/cautions include Pregnancy, breastfeeding, neonates for internal use.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include CYP/P-gp and glucose/BP interactions possible with systemic exposure.
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 internal medicinal use in pregnancy/lactation.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants
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
Oregon grape has been detected as a berberine-containing adulterant of goldenseal.
Why it matters: The plants are not pharmacognostically interchangeable despite shared berberine.
HIGH · Chemical Authentication of Botanical Ingredients: A Review of Commercial Herbal Products
Botanical synonym
Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt. (recently returned to Berberis by many taxonomies)
Taxonomic identity note
- Oregon grape is treated here as Berberis aquifolium Pursh in the family Berberidaceae; recorded older names include Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt. (recently returned to Berberis by many taxonomies).
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
WHO monograph
EMA monograph
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
peer-reviewed authentication review