Synonym: Chutro, Mountain grape, Berberry
Biological source: It consists of dried rhizomes and roots of Berberis aristata and other species of berberis belonging to family Berberidaceae.
Geographical source: The plants are found in rocky mountain range of North America. Some species are also found in Nepal, India and Bhutan.
Macroscopic characteristics:
-Color: Light yellow brown externally and brownish green internally.
-Shape: Simple or branched cylindrical with longitudinal wrinkles.
-Size: variable, upto 45 mm in diameter
-Odor: Slight
-Taste: Bitter
Microscopic characteristics:
-Cork contains some collapsed cells.
-Cortex contains yellowish amorphous contents.
-Starch grains are present in pith region.
Chemical constituents: Berberine, oxcanthine and berbamine. It also contains resins and starch.
Uses:
-It is used as bitter tonic.
-It shows anti-inflammatory activity.
-It is useful in intestinal and hepatic amoebiasis.
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