Contents:
Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties | Biochemical Information
Uses | How Sold | Warning | Resource Links
Scientific Names
- Berberis lycium Royle
- Berberis aristata
- Berberis vulgaris f. lycium (Royle) Parsa
Common Names
- Indian barberry
- Indian lycium
- Boxthoran barberry
- Kasmal
- Sunbal
Parts Usually Used
The root bark, fruits, leaves, and stems
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Berberis lycium is an evergreen shrub growing to 3-4 meters tall. It has pale whitish to greyish branches with internodes 1.5-3.5 cm long and yellowish spines 10-20 mm in length. The leaves range from oblanceolate-oblong to obovate, 3-6 cm long and 6-12 mm wide, with grey or white undersurface. Flowers are pale to yellow, 6-8 mm across, with pedicels 6-12 mm long. The berries are obovoid-subglobose, 7-8 mm long and 5 mm broad, containing 3-4 seeds.
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Where Found
Native to the Himalayan region, particularly found in Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central and North India. It grows on mountain slopes and hot dry slopes up to 3000 meters elevation, particularly in Kashmir. The plant thrives in light, medium, and heavy soils, including clay, and can grow in nutritionally poor conditions.
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Medicinal Properties
Berberis lycium possesses multiple medicinal properties including antibacterial, antidiabetic, anticolitis/inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, and anthelminthic activities. The plant demonstrates significant therapeutic benefits in treating various conditions through different biochemical pathways.
It has shown effectiveness in treating diabetes, arthritis, joint pain, stomach ulcers, eye infections, broken bones, jaundice, hepatitis, and various skin diseases. The plant also exhibits properties beneficial for treating chronic diarrhea, internal wounds, and blood purification.
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Biochemical Information
The plant contains various bioactive compounds including:
- Alkaloids: berberine, palmatine, chinabine, gilgitine, punjabine
- Steroids: sitosterol and B-sitosterol
- Flavonoids: isorhamnetin, formononetin-7-O-glucoside, velutin
- Anthocyanins: cyanidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside
- Phenolic compounds: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, quercetin
Uses
Traditional uses include:
- Treatment of diabetes and blood sugar management
- Healing of broken bones and joint pain
- Treatment of eye infections and disorders
- Management of stomach and intestinal problems
- Treatment of skin diseases and wounds
- Blood purification and liver disorders
- The fruit is consumed fresh, cooked, or preserved
- Leaves and young shoots are used as food and tea substitute
How Sold
Available as root bark powder, fruit extracts, and various medicinal preparations. The market price is approximately 3-6 USD/kg in some regions.
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Warning
While generally considered safe, high doses should be avoided without proper medical supervision. The plant is currently under pressure from overexploitation and unsustainable harvesting practices, which threatens its natural populations.
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Resource Links
Himalayan Medicinal Plants Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment and Research
Indian Barberry Benefits Health with Powerful Medicinal Properties
Global Biodiversity Information Facility – Berberis lycium Royle
Plants for a Future – Berberis lycium – Royle
