Berberis vulgaris bark contains active constituent; i.e., alkaloids; berberine, berbamine, oxyacanthine, palmatin, iotrorizin, tannins, resins, vitamin C. The fruits and leaves are also used in a restricted manner. Preparations and extracts from Berberis vulgaris have cholagogue, hemostatic, stomach tonic, diuretic, febrifuge, vasodilator, hypotensive, bacteriostatic (active against the tuberculosis bacillus), antispastic, cytostatic action. Phytotherapy with yellowwood preparations finds applications in the treatment of hepato-biliary diseases, jaundice, metrorrhagia, stomatitis, gingivitis, tuberculosis and leishmaniasis. Berberis vulgaris fruits contain glucose, fructose, malic acid, pectins, vitamin C, without the presence of alkaloids from the bark. They can be consumed as food, in the form of juice, syrup, jam, being a source of vitamin C.

Berberis vulgaris is a shrub native to Europe, it is part of the Berberidaceae family, it grows spontaneously at the edge of forests, through bushes, in areas with a lot of sun, it is cultivated as a hedge for its special appearance, it can reach heights of two meters, the popular name wood yellow, acryl, gooseberry, river buckthorn, dogwood, gorse, noble sorrel, river sorrel, goat sorrel, etc. [1,2].

It is a thorny shrub, the branches are red when young, yellow when mature when the bark hardens and turns Gray, and are covered with thorns grouped in groups of three, diverging [3].

For medicinal purposes, the bark on the stems and roots are used, they are harvested in the months of September - October, the leaves and fruits are used less [4].

The Berberis vulgaris plant contains active constituent with a pharmacodynamic nature: berberine [C20H18NO4], berbamine [C37H40N2O6], Oxyacanthine [C37H40N2O6], palmatin [C21H24NO4], Cyanazine [C9H13ClN6] in the category alkaloids; vitamin C [C6H8O6], tannins (Gallo tannins, ellagitannins, condensed tannins, and complex tannins), phenolic compounds and anthocyanins; resins; etc. compounds who has collagenous, stomachic, choleretic, vaso-dilating, hypotensive, cytostatic, febrifuge properties.

Its nutritional composition, mechanisms of action in disease prevention and treatment, traditional uses and properties reported by recent studies were evaluated. The fruits of the Berberis vulgaris plant are used for medicinal purposes. They have a sour taste.

They are rich in vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, copper, vitamin K, triterpenoids and anthocyanins. They contain over 10 phenolic compounds and over 30 alkaloids (figure 1) i.e., berberine and other isoquinoline alkaloids such as: bersavine, berbostrejdine and muraricine; or secobisbenzyl-isoquinoline alkaloids named (+)-chenabinol, (-)-berkristine and (-)-verfilline.

Other pharmacodynamic compounds from Berberis vulgaris are: tartaric acid, citric acid, pectin, resin, dextrose, fructose and malic acid. Berberis vulgaris fruit is endowed with various therapeutic properties, such as: anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial, analgesic, antinociceptive, hepatoprotective. Berberis vulgaris contains berberine, a substance with scientifically proven antidiabetic effects.

Berberine [C20H18NO4], herbal alkaloid molecule] from Berberis vulgaris helps lower blood sugar by improving the cells' response to insulin. Clinical studies on subjects included in the study with type 2 diabetes have shown favourable results. Decreases blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin [5]. The fruits produced a notable decrease in serum glucose and glycated hemoglobin during the 8-week intervention [6]. A 3-month study showed that 1.5 g of berberine per day produced a 2

Alkaloids, especially Berberine from Berberis vulgaris, have a depressing effect on the heart and breathing. It stimulates the smooth muscles of the intestines, uterus, and other organs. They have vasodilatory action and produce bronchoconstriction. In small doses, it stimulates cardiac activity by acting on the coronary arteries. Oxyacanthin isolated from the bark of this species has vasodilatory and hypotensive action. Berberine is 10 times superior to phenylbutazone, releasing protein-bound bilirubin and 100 times superior to papaverine - an alkaloid similar to berberine. Berberine and oxyacanthine have antibacterial action. Berberine has amebicidal, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal action. Berberine and hydrastine act against the activity of Helicobacter pylori bacteria. In small doses berberine is a cardiac and respiratory stimulator, and in large doses it acts as an inhibitor of cardiac and respiratory activity. Berberine, oxyacanthine and barbamine have anti-inflammatory action. Berberine has anti-diarrheal action.

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.