Qualitative and quantitative data are presented for 21 collections of Berberis and one each of Epimedium, Jeffersonia, and Nandina. Most species of Berberis have large numbers of narrow vessels ~ixed with vasicentric tracheids. Scalariform perforation plates are reported here only for Epimedium, m wh1ch they are occasional. Berberidaceae have living fibers (Berberis), fiber-tracheids plus livin...

Daru Haridra is identified by the modern pharmacognosy as Berberis aristata DC or its allied species. Though there are more useful species of Berberis. they are said to be possessing more or less equal properties. The author explains in this paper that the use of Coscinium fenestratum in the name of Daru Haridra by the Kerala-physicians is justifiable basing on its literal meaning in Malayalam ...

Geomorphologically inaccessible mighty mountain ranges of Karakoram, Hindukush, Himalaya and Pamir have been mother sanctuaries for several ecologically attuned civilizations. Modern changes underway across ethnoecological and ethnobotanical settings among these mountain traditional communities have drastically depreciated folk wisdom and ecological equilibrium. Ethnoclimatic agencies have thre...

Fruits of Berberis asiatica and Pyracantha crenulata are traditionally consumed by local people of north western Himalayan states of India for the treatment of oxidative stress induced ailments. Methanolic extract from mature fruits were evaluated for their total phenolics, related antioxidant compounds and activities. Result showed that Berberis asiatica possesses the higher level of total pol...

The present communication deals with a valuable plant Mahonia leschenaultia used by the Todas of Nilgiris in their religious and medical practices.

BACKGROUND Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most prevalent complications among reproductive-aged women. Antibacterial and antifungal effects of Berberis vulgaris have been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of the vaginal gel of Berberis vulgaris 5% (in metronidazole base) with metronidazole vaginal gel 0.75% on bacterial vaginos...

BACKGROUND The concept of DNA barcoding for species identification has gained considerable momentum in animals because of fairly successful species identification using cytochrome oxidase I (COI). In plants, matK and rbcL have been proposed as standard barcodes. However, barcoding in complex genera is a challenging task. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We investigated the species discrimin...

UNLABELLED PREMISE OF THE STUDY Southern barberry or calafate (Berberis microphylla) is a shrub species endemic to the Patagonian region of South America that is used for human consumption. The fruit is very rich in vitamin C and anthocyanins and has a very high antioxidant capacity. There have been only a few genetic studies of this and other closely related species. • METHODS AND RESULTS...

Berberis vulgaris is a widely used plant for the treatment of urolithiasis. To evaluate its antiurolithic potential, the crude aqueous-methanol extract of Berberis vulgaris root bark (Bv.Cr) was tested in an animal model of urolithiasis, developed in male Wistar rats by adding 0.75% ethylene glycol in drinking water. Bv.Cr (50 mg/kg) inhibited CaOx crystal deposition in renal tubules and protec...

Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disorder. Anti-diabetic agents from natural and synthetic sources are available for the treatment of this disease. Berberis integerrima is a medicinal shrub used in conventional therapy for a number of diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of aqueous extract of Berberis integerrima root (AEBI) on some physiological paramete...