| Dietary sources | |
| The barberry is a deciduous shrub found mainly in forests and scrubland. Their distribution extends from Europe to Asia. Only the berries are suitable for consumption. In Europe they are used for jams or dried for use in muesli. All other parts of the plant - especially the root bark - contain alkaloids, in particular berberine, which is used in naturopathy for its antimicrobial effect. |
| Barberry extract has antimicrobial agents |
| Barberry extract, with its primary compound berberine, demonstrates significant antimicrobial activity against a variety of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, chlamydia and helminths. The alkaloid berberine is mainly used in clinical applications for bacterial diarrhea and parasitic infections (1). Berberine is also effective against Candida species (2). |
| Effect | Indication | Dosage |
| Physiological effects at a low intake |
For general strengthening of the immune system against pathogenic microorganisms and to improve the health status | 100 – 200 mg/d |
| Complementary treatment of Candida and chlamydia infections | 250 - 300 mg/d | |
| For impaired microecological balance caused by bacterial, fungal or parasitic infestation | 250 - 300 mg/d |
| General mode of administration | |
| When |
Barberry extract should be taken before meals. |
| Side effects | |
| No side effects are known to date. | |
| Contraindications | |
| No contraindications are known to date. | |
| Drug interactions | |
| None | No interactions are known to date. |
| Nutrient interactions | |
| None | No interactions are known to date. |
| References |
|
1) NN. 2000. Berberine. Altern Med Rev. 5(2):175–177 2) Freile, M. l. et al. 2003. Antimicrobial activity of aqueous extracts and of berberine isolated from Berberis heterophylla. Fitoterapia 74, Nr. 7-8: 702–705. doi:10.1016/s0367-326x(03)00156-4.
Stargrove, M. B. et al. Herb, Nutrient and Drug Interactions: Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Strategies, 1. Auflage. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2008. Gröber, U. Mikronährstoffe: Metabolic Tuning –Prävention –Therapie, 3. Auflage. Stuttgart: WVG Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2011. Gröber, U. Arzneimittel und Mikronährstoffe: Medikationsorientierte Supplementierung, 3. aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage. Stuttgart: WVG Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2014.
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