Barberry by Herbal Terra

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Acne. It is unclear if oral European barberry fruit is beneficial for acne. Details: Preliminary clinical research in adolescents 12-17 years of age with moderate or severe acne shows that taking European barberry aqueous extract 200 mg three times daily for 4 weeks reduces acne severity and decreases the number of acne lesions when compared with placebo (94824).
• Bacterial vaginosis. It is unclear if topical European barberry is beneficial for bacterial vaginosis. Details: A small clinical study in adults with bacterial vaginosis shows that applying 5 grams of a cream containing European barberry 5% with metronidazole 0.75% vaginally nightly for 7 days modestly reduces infection recurrence rate over the following three weeks when compared with metronidazole cream alone (94826).
• Breast cancer. Although there is interest in using oral European barberry for breast cancer prevention, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of European barberry for this condition.
• Dental plaque. It is unclear if brushing the teeth with a gel containing European barberry is beneficial for dental plaque. Details: Preliminary clinical research in males 11-12 years of age shows that brushing with a European barberry extract gel containing berberine 1%, three times daily for 3 weeks reduces plaque index when compared with placebo. This effect was similar to that seen with a commercial antiplaque toothpaste (Colgate) (33695).
• Diabetes. It is unclear if oral European barberry is beneficial for diabetes. Details: A small clinical study in adults with type 2 diabetes shows that taking European barberry juice 200 mL daily for 8 weeks, in conjunction with standard treatment, reduces fasting blood glucose levels by 7.5%, compared with an increase of 20% in those receiving standard treatment alone. Patients taking European barberry also had improvements in body weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol when compared with standard treatment alone (98575).
• Gingivitis. It is unclear if brushing the teeth with a gel containing European barberry is beneficial for gingivitis. Details: Preliminary clinical research in males 11-12 years of age shows that brushing with a European barberry extract gel containing berberine 1%, three times daily for 3 weeks, reduces gingival inflammation when compared with placebo. This effect was similar to that seen with a commercial antiplaque toothpaste (Colgate) (33695).
• Hyperlipidemia. It is unclear if oral European barberry is beneficial for hyperlipidemia. Details: Meta-analyses of five small clinical trials shows that taking European barberry decreases total cholesterol by 24 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 14 mg/dL, and triglycerides by 29 mg/dL, without significantly affecting high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, when compared with a control intervention (102055,105756). However, because the studies included in these analyses enrolled patients with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the effects of European barberry on lipid levels in patients with hyperlipidemia are unclear.
• Opioid withdrawal. It is unclear if oral European barberry is beneficial for opioid withdrawal. Details: Clinical research in patients using methadone during opioid withdrawal shows that taking European barberry root extract 500 mg twice daily for 4 weeks reduces overall symptoms of withdrawal by a large amount, but does not improve depression, anxiety, stress, or sleep quality, when compared with placebo (108156). More evidence is needed to rate European barberry for these uses.

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LIKELY SAFE ...when the fruit is consumed orally in food amounts (13527). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of European barberry when used orally in medicinal amounts or when used topically.

CHILDREN: LIKELY UNSAFE
when used orally in newborns. The berberine constituent of European barberry can cause kernicterus in newborns, particularly preterm neonates with hyperbilirubinemia (2589). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of European barberry when used orally in older children.

PREGNANCY: LIKELY UNSAFE
when used orally. Berberine is thought to cross the placenta and may cause harm to the fetus. Kernicterus has developed in newborn infants exposed to berberine (2589).

LACTATION: LIKELY UNSAFE
when used orally. Berberine and other harmful constituents can be transferred to the infant through breast milk (2589).

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ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, taking European barberry with anticholinergic drugs might cause additive effects.  Details In vitro evidence suggests that European barberry might have anticholinergic properties (13527).

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, European barberry may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.  Details In vitro and animal evidence suggest that berberine, a constituent of European barberry, might inhibit platelet aggregation (33591,33660,33661,33694). Theoretically, European barberry might have a similar effect.

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = B Theoretically, taking European barberry with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.  Details Preliminary clinical evidence suggests that European barberry juice reduces fasting glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes who are also taking antidiabetes drugs (98575). Additionally, some animal studies show that berberine, a constituent of European barberry, has antiglycemic potential (33622,33667). Monitor blood glucose levels closely.

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, taking European barberry with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension.  Details Animal and human research suggests that European barberry extracts can have hypotensive effects (13528,33604,98575).

CHOLINERGIC DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, taking European barberry with cholinergic drugs might decrease the effects of cholinergic drugs.  Details In vitro evidence suggests that European barberry might have anticholinergic properties (13527).

CNS DEPRESSANTS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, concomitant use with drugs that have sedative properties may cause additive effects.  Details Animal research suggests that berberine, a constituent of European barberry, might have sedative effects (33650,33692). Theoretically, European barberry might have a similar effect.

CYCLOSPORINE (Neoral, Sandimmune) Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, concomitant use with cyclosporine may cause additive effects.  Details Berberine, a constituent of European barberry, can reduce the metabolism and increase serum levels of cyclosporine. This effect is attributed to the ability of berberine to inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), which metabolizes cyclosporine (13524). Theoretically, European barberry might have a similar effect.

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, European barberry might increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP3A4 substrates.  Details There is very preliminary evidence suggesting that berberine, a constituent of European barberry, might inhibit the CYP3A4 enzyme (13524). Theoretically, European barberry might have a similar effect.

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General ...European barberry is generally well tolerated when consumed in amounts commonly found in food. A thorough evaluation of safety outcomes has not been conducted for the use of larger, medicinal amounts. Topically, European barberry seems to be well tolerated.

Hepatic ...Orally, a case of hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia is reported in an adult male after consuming European barberry 15 drops and nannari root 15 drops twice a day for 2 weeks. The patient presented with lethargy, loss of appetite, and jaundice that progressed to high-grade fevers, chills, rigors, severe pancytopenia, and abnormal liver function tests. Liver biopsy was suggestive of drug-induced liver injury. The patient was hospitalized for multiple infections and symptomatic thrombocytopenia. Despite receiving supportive care, blood transfusions, and corticosteroids, the patient died 7 weeks after diagnosis (110021). The exact reason for this adverse effect is not clear.

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