Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, including those of the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, especially for liver and gallbladder conditions such as jaundice. The primary active compound in barberry is berberine, an alkaloid with known antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. In traditional Persian and Ayurvedic medicine, barberry extracts have been administered to adults with jaundice, believed to help stimulate bile flow, reduce liver inflammation, and assist the liver in clearing bilirubin, the pigment responsible for jaundice.

Despite this long traditional use, modern scientific evidence for barberry’s effectiveness in treating jaundice in adults is limited. Most contemporary research on berberine focuses on its effects on metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and microbial infections, rather than direct studies on jaundice. Some animal studies have shown hepatoprotective effects and improvements in markers of liver injury, which are indirectly relevant but not definitive for jaundice treatment in humans. There is a lack of high-quality clinical trials assessing barberry or berberine specifically for jaundice in adults. Therefore, while traditional use is well-documented and there is some mechanistic rationale, the overall evidence base is weak, meriting a score of 2 out of 5.

More about barberry
More about Jaundice (adults)

Other ingredients used for Jaundice (adults)

Other health conditions supported by barberry

Products containing barberry

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