Berberis aristata DC. (Berberidaceae)

Abstract

A deciduous evergreen shrub found in temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Europe and North and South Americas. It is useful as antipyretic, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antihyperglycemic, anticancer, antioxidant, and antilipidemic agent. Bark and stem are tonic, diaphoretic, stomachic, antiperiodic, and gentle aperients, and used in malarial fevers, diarrhea, dyspepsia, dysentery, ague, during convalescence from fevers and acute diseases; the root is purgative. The extract and its formulations have also been used in the treatment of diarrhea, hemorrhoids, gynecological disorders, HIV-AIDS, osteoporosis, diabetes, wound healing, eye and ear infections, jaundice, skin diseases, enlargement of spleen, leprosy, rheumatism, morning/evening sickness, and snakebite. The plant mainly contains isoquinoline alkaloids; major alkaloids identified are berberine, berberrubine, jatrorrhizine, ketoberberine, palmatine, dihydropalmatine, berbamine and pakistanamine. Aqueous-alcoholic root extract significantly lowered FBG in diabetic rats, without causing hypoglycemia, increased glucokinase and G-6-PD activities, and decreased activity of glucose-6-phosphatase. Hydroalcoholic bark extract produced significant anti-inflammatory and antigranuloma effects with significant reduction in proinflammatory markers. A pilot study of a combination product of B. aristata extract and Silybum marianum extract to twenty-six Italian type-2 diabetic patients with suboptimal glycemic control, showed significant reduction in HbA1c, basal insulin, TC, LDL-C, and TGs, after 90-days of treatment. A comparative study of the standardized extract of B. aristata with the fixed combination containing the same standardized extract of B. aristata plus standardized extract of S. marianum showed similar improved fasting glucose, TC, LDL-C, TGs, and liver enzyme levels in both groups, except the HbA1c values were reduced to a greater extent by the fixed combination. Addition of the combination to statin regimen was effective in reducing doses of statins by half in dyslipidemic patients who could not tolerate high doses of statins, without affecting the lipid profile.