Das et al Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics; 2011, 1(2): 46-50 46 Available online at http://jddtonline.info PHYTO-PHARMACOLOGY OF BERBERIS ARISTATA DC: A REVIEW Mazumder Papiya Mitra 1, *Das Saumya 2, Das Sanjita 2, Das Manas Kumar 3 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India-835215 2* Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Noida Institute of Engineering & Technology, Greater Noida, India-201306 3Department of Pharmacy, IEC-CET, Greater Noida, India-201306 *Corresponding author’s Email: [email protected], Ph: 0091-9911756080, 0091-9911940620 Received 01 Nov 2011; Revised 22 Nov 2011; Accepted 09 Dec 2011, Available online 10 Dec 2011 ABSTRACT Plants have been the basis of many traditional medicines throughout the world for thousands of years and continue to provide new remedies to mankind. Plants are one of the richest sources of compounds. Berberis aristata is one of the plants used in Ayurveda for several remedies. Berberis aristata commonly known as ―Daru haldhi and Chitra‖ is spinous herb native to northern Himalaya region. The plant is widely distributed from Himalayas to Srilanka, Bhutan and hilly areas of Nepal. Berberis aristata is used in ayurvedic medicines from very long time. It is used as a tonic, alternative, demulscent, diaphoretic, and diuretic, in the treatment of diarrhoea, jaundice and skin diseases, syphilis, chronic rheumatism and urinary disorders. Scientific evidence suggests its versatile biological functions that support its traditional use in the orient. Phytochemical studies shows that plant Berberis aristata contains mainly yellow colored alkaloids Berberine, oxyberberine, berbamine, aromoline, a protoberberine alkaloid karachine, palmatine, oxycanthine and taxilamine and tannins, sugar, starch. The plant has effective pharmacological action and shows promising future for further researches. This review aims to highlight the ethnobotany, pharmacognostic and pharmacological uses of Berberis aristata. Key Words: Berberis aristata, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological actions, inotropy. INTRODUCTION Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine using a wide rejuvenative. Susruta have me ntioned it as ropana – a range of modalities to create health and well being. The wound healer. primary aim of Ayurveda health care is to restore the English names: Indian barberry, tree turmeric . Indian physical mental and emotional balance in patients, thereby names: darhaldi (Bengal), kashmoi (Garhwal), rasont, improving health, preventing disease and also treating any kashmal (Himachal Pradesh), chitra, dar-hald, rasaut, current illness. The number of patients seeking alternate kashmal (Hindi), maradarisina, maramanjal, (Kerala), and herbal therapy is growing exponentially. Herbal daruhald (Maharashtra), chitra, chutro (Nepal),chitra, medicines are now in great demand in the developing kasmal. simlu, sumlu (Punjab) mullukala, usikkala (Tamil world for primary healthcare not because they are Nadu), daruharidra, darvi, kata, pitadaru, suvarnavarna inexpensive but also for better cultural acceptability, better (Sanskrit). compatibility with the human body and minimal side effects. Herbal medicine is still the mainstay of about 75– There are 12 – 13 varieties like Berberis asiatica, Berberis 80% of the world population, mainly in the developing lycium, Berberis vulgaris, Berberis nepalensis etc. The countries for primary healthcare. However among the root and wood are rich in a yellow alkaloid berberine, a estimated 250,000-400,000 plant species, only 6% have bitter substance, which dissolves in acids and forms salts been studied for biological activity, and about 15% have of the alkaloid. The root contains two more alkaloids. A been investigated phytochemically 1, 2. Therefore it seems protoberberine alkaloid karachine is isolated and necessary to evaluate the herbs properly. characterized, and taxalamine is also isolated. A protoberberine alkaloid – karachine – isolated and GENERAL INFORMATION characterized and also taxilamine isolated. The plant is Berberis aristata DC. (Fam. Berberidaceae) is one of the native of the whole range of Himalaya mountains at an herbs mentioned in all ancient scriptures of Ayurveda, elevation 2000 to 3500 metres. It also occurs in Nilagiri Charaka and Susruta have mentioned it’s different range in Southern India . The shrub grows upto 1.5 – 2.0 properties along with various used for the treatment of metres in height, with a thick woody root covered with a numerous illnesses. As it resembles in its properties to thin brittle bark. The leaves are cylindrical, straight, those of haridra, both the herbs have been mentioned tapering, very sharp, hard, smooth spines. The flowers together as haridra dvaya, meaning two haridras viz. yellow, numerous, stalked, arranged in drooping racemes. haridra and daruharidra. Charaka has categorized The fruit is a small berry, ovoid and smooth. It flowers in daruharidra as stanyasodhana – lactode purant, lekhana – a April and May. reducing herb, arsoghna – anti – haemorrhoidal, Berberis aristata DC. is an erect spinous shrub, often kandughna – anti – haemorrhoidal, kandughna – anti – found in small patches on the bill slopes. It is one of very pruritic and as svedala – promotes sweating, rasayana- important medicinal plants. Almost every part of this plant © 2011, JDDT. All Rights Reserved ISSN: 2250-1177 Das et al Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics; 2011, 1(2): 46-50 47 has some medicinal value. Its roots, stem, bark and fruits flowering season under Solan conditions was recorded to are used in many ayurvedic preparations. This shrub is be from 8-25 April. The fruits start ripening from the found growing wild in the sub-Himalayan tract at altitude second week of May and continue to do so throughout ranging from 850-2,500 metres. It also grows in the June. They can be retained on the shrub after ripening for Nilgiris and in Ceylon. quite a long period, but they fall off soon after the onset of rains. The fruiting season, therefore, ends abruptly with the PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDIES commencement of the rainy season. An average-sized bush It is an erect spiny shrub, ranging between 2 and 3 metres of Berberis aristata was found to yield 657 g of fruits in in height wood, hard and yellow; bark, yellow to brown about 4 pickings. from outside and deep yellow from inside, removable in PHYTOCHEMISTRY longitudinal strips by hand; spines (which, in fact, are modified leaves), three-branched and 1.5 cm long. Leaves, The plant contains barberine, oxyberberine, berbamine, in tufts of 5 to 8, phyllotaxy verticillate, lanceolate, simple aromoline, karachine, palmatine, oxyacanthine and spiny, toothed, leathery, sessile, acuminate, with reticulate taxilamine. 4 Berberis aristata contains protoberberine pinnate venation, 4.9 cm. long, 1.8 cm. broad, deep green and bis isoquinoline type of alkaloid. Root of plant on the dorsal surface and light green on the ventral Berberis aristata contains alkaloid which are surface.3 berbamine, Berberine, oxycanthine, epiberberine, palmatine, dehydrocaroline, jatrorhizine and Flowers, stalked, yellow, complete, hermaphrodite, cyclic, columbamine,5,6 karachine,7 dihyrokarachine, actinomorphic, perigynous, the average diameter of a fully taximaline,8 oxyberberine, aromoline.9 Four opened flower being 12.5 mm; inflorescence, a simple to alkaloids, pakistanine, 1-O methyl corymbose raceme, with 11 to 16 flowers per cluster; pakistanine, pseudopalmatine chloride and calyx, yellow, polysepalous, with 6 sepals (3 small, 3 pseudoberberine chloride were also isolated from large), yellow, actinomorphic caducous, 4 to 5 mm long; Berberis aristata.10,11 A secobisbenzlisoquinoline or corolla, polypetalous, with 6 petals, yellow, actinomorphic, simple isoquinoline alkaloid was isolated from Berberis 4 to 5 mm long; androecium, polyandrous, with 6 stamens, aristata.12 The major alkaloid found in Berberis adnate, 5 to 6 mm long; gynoecium, one, 4 to 5 mm long, aristata is Berberine having yield of 2.23% followed with a short style and a broad stigma. Fruits, globose to by palamatine.13 Variation of Berberine content in root ovoid, usually covered with bloom as in plums, 7 mm and stem of Berrberis aristata with altitude was long, 4 mm in diameter, weighing 227 mg, 237 microlitres determined. It was found that plants growing at lower in volume; fruit colour, aconite violet 937; colour of pulp altitude have more Berberine content. Berberine content and juice, plum purple 934/3. Seeds, 2 to 5, varying in in plant is also influenced by potassium and moisture colour from yellow to pink, each weighing 25 mg and content of soil.14 HPTLC fingerprinting of Berberine in being 29 microlitres in volume. Flowering in Berberis Berberis aristata was done to quantify the amount of aristata starts from the first fortnight of March and Berberine. Total alkaloidal content of Berberis aristata remains in progress up to the end of April. The peak was also done.1 Berberine Oxyberberine Berbamine Aromoline © 2011, JDDT. All Rights Reserved ISSN: 2250-1177 Das et al Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics; 2011, 1(2): 46-50 48 Oxyacanthine externally to the eyelids to cure ophthalmia and other eye diseases.18 It is also reported to be a mild laxative, a tonic and is useful in curing ulcers and fevers. 18 Dastur in 1962 has reported that the chief constituent of Berberis aristata is barberine, which is a bitter alkaloid. According to him, rasaut is used as a purgative for children and as a blood-purifier,