The plant belongs to the Berberidaceae family which contains approximately 15 genera and 650 species found in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Genus Berberis is native to moderate and semitropical regions of Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, and South America.
This plant is found in regions such as north of America and central and southern Europe, and south of Asia. The various parts of this plant, including stems, roots, fruits and leaveshave been used in Iran and other countries as traditional medicine.
Indian ayurvedic physicians used barberry in the treatment of dysentery and traditional Iranian medicine uses the fruit as a sedative.
According to traditional medicine, B. vulgaris is used to treat fever, cough, liver disease, depression, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and bleeding.
Several pharmacological effects have been demonstrated for the barberry fruit extract. Among these are cytoprotective and antioxidant actions and anticholinergic and antihistaminergic effects.
Berberine is one of the most important alkaloids of this plant that can be effective in preventing coronary artery disease and possibly reducing the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride.
The most important property of berbamine is to block calcium channels. This alkaloid was found to be active in the tests of lipids peroxidation in red blood cells and can exert antimyocardial ischemia and antiarrhythmic effects.
Barberry fruit
