Native to Europe and western Asia, common barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is considered invasive in many American states.  This shrub can be found in cultivation, though it tends to find its way into fields, pastures, and disturbed woods here in Western Pennsylvania.

The compound likely responsible for its cardio-supportive effects is berberine, an alkaloid that demonstrates a wide range of pharmacological activities (anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer).

While berberine is distributed throughout the barberry plant (and throughout the genus), this particular study utilized 200 mg of the fruits in dried form.  If you’re interested in using barberry fruits for medicine, I commend you.  I mean, it’s not everyday that you hear someone say “I’m looking to improve my cardiovascular risk markers by using the wild medicines of my landscape.”

The question, therefore, is not “will it…?” but instead “will you…?”

Anyway… look for the fruits to be ripe late summer through autumn.