Ethnomedicinal uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Aspects of the Genus Berberis Linn: A Comprehensive Review

BACKGROUND

Genus Berberis (family Berberidaceae), which contains about 650 species and 17 genera worldwide, has been used in folklore and various traditional medicine systems. Berberis Linn. is the most established group among genera with around 450-500 species across the world. This comprehensive review will not only help researchers for further evaluation but also provide substantial information for future exploitation of species to develop novel herbal formulations.

OBJECTIVE

The present review is focussed to summarize and collect the updated review of information of Berberis species reported to date regarding their ethnomedicinal information, chemical constituents, traditional/folklore use, and reported pharmacological activities on more than 40 species of Berberis.

CONCLUSION

A comprehensive survey of the literature reveals that various species of the genus possess various phytoconstituents mainly alkaloids, flavonoid based compounds isolated from different parts of a plant with a wide range of pharmacological activities. So far, many pharmacological activities like anti-cancer, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, antiinflammatory both in vitro and in vivo and clinical study of different extracts/isolated compounds of different species of Berberis have been reported, proving their importance as a medicinal plant and claiming their traditional use.

Phytopharmacology and Clinical Updates of Berberis Species Against Diabetes and Other Metabolic Diseases

The incidences of diabetic mellitus and other metabolic diseases such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia are increasing worldwide; however, the current treatment is not able to control the rapidly increasing trend in diabetes mortality and morbidity. Studies related to the effectiveness of extracts and pure compounds obtained from plants have shown promising responses in preclinical and clinical studies related to these metabolic diseases. Plants belonging to the genus Berberis (Family: Berberidaceae) are widely distributed with nearly 550 species worldwide. Extracts and compounds obtained from Berberis species, especially Berberine alkaloid, showed effectiveness in the management of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Various pharmacological experiments have been performed to evaluate the effects of Berberis extracts, berberine, and its natural and chemically synthesized derivatives against various cell and animal disease models with promising results. Various clinical trials conducted so far also showed preventive effects of Berberis extracts and berberine against metabolic diseases. The present review focuses on i) research updates on traditional uses, ii) phytopharmacology and clinical studies on Berberis species, and iii) active metabolites in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases with a detailed mechanism of action. Furthermore, the review critically analyzes current research gaps in the therapeutic use of Berberis species and berberine and provides future recommendations.

Synthesis of thalprzewalskiinone, a revision of structure

A direct comparison of the spectral data for synthetic 2-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxyoxobenzylisoquinoline iodide (1) and its positional isomer 2-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyoxobenzylisoquinoline iodide (2) with the data obtained for the oxobenzylisoquinoline alkaloid thalprzewalskiinone revealed that the original structural assignment of the alkaloid as 1 was in error. These results mandate the revision of structure of thalprzewalskiinone to 2-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyoxobenzylisoquinoline iodide (2).