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Barberry Details & Specifications |
| Useful
Link |
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| Botanical Name |
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Berberis vulgaris Linn. |
| English Name |
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Barberry |
| Hindi Name |
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Barberry |
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| CATEGORY |
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Laxative |
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| SOURCE |
| Part used |
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State of the part used |
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Fruits |
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Leaves |
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Fresh and dried |
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| FAMILY |
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Berberidaceae |
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| GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE |
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The plant is indigenous to England and is found in following countries :-
England
Europe
Ireland
North America
Scotland
The Barberry can be found in dry, sunny places, stony hillsides, in hedgerows of fields and byways and at less damp locations on riverbanks. It is also grown in gardens and parks and can grow wild. It is generally distributed over the greater part of Europe, Northern Africa and temperate Asia. As an ornamental shrub, it is fairly common in gardens.
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| IDENTIFICATION |
| Organoleptic characteristics |
| Colour |
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| Odour |
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Odourless |
| Taste |
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Pleasant but sour and slightly astringent |
| Size |
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The woody stems are 8 to 10 feet high, upright and branched, smooth, slightly grooved, brittle, with white pith and covered with an ash-colored bark. The leaves of the barren shoots are 25 to 40 mm long, shortly petioled, presenting various gradations from leaves into spines. |
| Physical
Standards |
| Total Ash |
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N/A |
| Moisture |
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Not more than 8.0% |
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| CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS |
| Major |
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Major chemical constituents responsible for physicochemical and therapeutic action of the herb are :-
Berberine
Fruit acids
Chelidonic acid
Vitamin C
Oxyacanthine
Berbamine
Other alkaloidal matter
/p>
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| Minor |
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Minor chemical constituents of this herb are :-
Tannin
Wax
Resin
Fat
Albumin
Gum
Starch
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| CULTIVATION |
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The climatic conditions suitable for cultivation of this herb are :-It can be propagated by suckers and layers however later method is preferred. Barberry may also be propagated by ripened cuttings taken in autumn and planted in sandy soil, in a cold frame, or by seeds, sown in spring 1 inch deep in a sheltered border when it will germinate in the open in the following spring. The best time for laying down the branches is in October which are rooted by the next autumn, when they may be taken off and planted where they are designed to remain. The fruits after collection are spread in a loose layer on a sheet to dry.
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| STORAGE |
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To maintain physicochemical properties and medicinal values of the herb it is recommended to maintain following storage conditions:-
Air tight containers
Protection from light
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