Chitosan/alginate scaffold enhanced with Berberis vulgaris extract for osteocyte differentiation of ovine fetal stem cells.

Designing biocompatible polymers using plant derivatives can be extremely useful in tissue engineering, nanomedicine, and many other fields of medicine. In this study, it was first looked into how chitosan/alginate scaffolds were made and characterized in the presence of berberine and barberry fruit extract. Second, the process of proliferation and differentiation of ovine fetal BM-MSCs (bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells) was assessed on these scaffolds after BM-MSCs were extracted and confirmed by developing into osteocyte and adipose cells. To investigate the differentiation, treatment groups include (1) ovine fetal BM-MSCs were plated in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium culture medium with high glucose containing 10% fetal bovine serum and antibiotics (negative control), (2) ovine fetal BM-MSCs were plated in osteogenic differentiation medium (positive control group), (3) positive control group + barberry fruit extract, (4) positive control group + berberine, (5) ovine fetal BM-MSCs were plated in osteogenic differentiation medium on chitosan/alginate scaffold (hydrogel group), (6) ovine fetal BM-MSCs were plated in osteogenic differentiation medium on chitosan/alginate/barberry fruit extract scaffold (hydrogel group containing barberry fruit extract), and (7) ovine fetal BM-MSCs were plated in osteogenic differentiation medium on chitosan/alginate/berberine scaffold (hydrogel group containing berberine). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme concentrations, mineralization rate using a calcium kit, and mineralization measurement by alizarin staining quantification were all found after 21 days of culture. In addition, real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to assess the expression of the ALP, COL1A2, and Runx2 genes. Days 5 and 7 had the lowest water absorption by the hydrogel scaffold containing barberry extract, which was significant in comparison to other groups (p < .05). Among the hydrogel scaffolds under study, the one containing barberry extract exhibited the lowest tensile strength, and this difference was statistically significant (p < .05). The chitosan/alginate hydrogel has the highest tensile strength of all of them. In comparison to the control and other treatment groups, the inclusion of berberine in the chitosan/alginate hydrogel significantly increased the expression of the ALP, Runx2, and COL1A2 genes (p < .05). The osteocyte differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in in vitro settings appears to have been enhanced by the inclusion of berberine in the chitosan/alginate scaffold.

Effects of berberine and barberry on selected inflammatory biomarkers in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The previous meta-analysis showed an advantageous effect of berberine supplementation on interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations; however, it is unknown the dosage that this component influences inflammatory biomarkers. A comprehensive search was done in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science until September 2022 to find randomized controlled trials (RCT) that assessed the effects of berberine/barberry on IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP in adults but not trials without a control group. Studies bias was assessed using RoB 2. A random-effects model was performed to calculate the weighted mean difference (WMD). A dose-dependent effect was calculated. Eighteen clinical trials with 1600 participants were included in the current meta-analysis. These interventions significantly mitigate IL-6 levels (-1.18 pg/mL), TNF-α levels (-3.72 pg/mL), and CRP levels (-1.33 mg/L). In addition, the non-linear analysis showed a significant lowering effect of berberine/barberry on IL-6 and TNF-α levels in doses <1000 mg/day and less than 5 weeks of intervention. There are limitations to our findings, including low-quality studies and significant heterogeneity. These interventions might be considered adjunct therapy to managing inflammation status. However, more investigation and high-quality evidence must be conducted to obtain more comprehensive and generalizable results.

Inheritance and Linkage of Virulence Genes of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei.

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei (Psh) causing barley stripe rust has only recently been known to be heteroecious, for which reason the inheritance of its virulence has not been analyzed. Herein, we selfed a Psh isolate, XZ-19-972, on Berberis aggregata and obtained 53 progenies. The virulence phenotypes (VPs) for these progenies were identified on 11 barley differentials, and their genotypes were assessed with 22 Kompetitive allele specific PCR-single nucleotide polymorphism (KASP-SNP) markers. In total, 18 VPs were detected among progenies, 17 (VP2-VP18) of which, corresponding to 43 isolates, were different from the parental isolate showing VP1. Of the 53 progenies, 8 exhibited increased virulence and 34 decreased virulence. One progeny, belonging to VP18, showed a different virulence formula but without a virulence increase or decrease. The parental isolate and all progenies were avirulent to yrc6 but virulent to yrc7. The parental isolate was heterozygous in terms of avirulence/virulence to nine barley resistance gene loci. KASP-SNP marker analysis identified 36 multilocus genotypes, based on which a linkage map was constructed, with total genetic distance intervals of 516.07 cM, spanning 16 avirulence or virulence loci. Taken together, our results provide important insights into the inheritance and virulence diversity of Psh.

The nutritional value of some fruit tree leaves for finishing lambs.

The nutritional value of some tree leaves (grape, common fig, barberry, sweet cherry, apricot, peach, and oleaster) was investigated by in vitro and common laboratory methods. Also, thirty Baluchi male lambs were randomly divided into five groups, including one control group (alfalfa) and four experimental groups, which received diets containing different leaves (barberry, apricot, peach, and grape). The crude protein content ranged from 128 for the sweet cherry to 164 g/kg DM for grape. Common fig and barberry had the greatest and lowest calcium (29.3 vs. 11.5 g/kg DM), respectively (p < 0.001). The greatest total volatile fatty acids, dry matter and organic matter digestibilities, as well as potential gas production, were observed in barberry leaves (p < 0.001). Apricot had the greatest acid-base buffering capacity (245 mEq × 10-3) (p < 0.001). Lambs fed with barberry had a greater average daily gain (179 g/day, p = 0.013). The results of in vitro and in vivo indicated that barberry leaves had a greater nutritional value among the studied leaves. It is concluded that alfalfa can be replaced with barberry, apricot, peach, and grape leaves up to 250 g/kg DM in diet without deleterious effects on performance, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, and hematology.

Effect of maltodextrin with different dextrose equivalents on the physicochemical properties of spray-dried barberry juice (Berberis vulgaris L.).

Spray-drying technique is widely used in the production of powder from fruit juices. Carrier type and inlet temperature are two major factors that influence drying efficacy and powder quality. In this study, barberry juice (Berberis vulgaris L.) was powdered using 12% (w/v) maltodextrin with 4-7 and 16.5-19.5 dextrose equivalents (DEs) at two different inlet temperatures at 130 and 150 °C. Moisture content, bulk density, hygroscopicity, color, total anthocyanin content (TAC), microstructure, glass transition temperature and the X-ray diffraction of the prepared powders were investigated. The inlet temperatures and the utilization of maltodextrin with different DEs as the carrier agent, had different effects on the physicochemical properties of the prepared powders. By increasing the inlet temperature, the moisture content decreased while hygroscopicity increased. At inlet temperature of 130 °C, powders prepared with lower maltodextrin DEs had higher moisture content and bulk density, but lower hygroscopicity (p < 0.05). The SEM result demonstrated that, a decrease in color of the powder by increasing the inlet temperature. Darker particles with higher a* values and total anthocyanin contents (4.68 mg/g) were obtained when a larger amount of maltodextrin with lower DEs was utilized. At the lower inlet temperature, the powder particles had smoother surfaces. The glass transition temperature of the powders ranged from 47.1 to 54 °C based on different inlet temperature and DEs as well as moisture content. The amorphous surfaces of the dried particles were verified via X-ray diffraction profiling. Overall, applying different DEs in combination and lower inlet temperature led to the more appropriate physical and functional properties to the barberry powder. The TAC significantly depended upon the carrier agent, the inlet air temperature, and the interaction between the two variables.

Distinct Transcriptomic Reprogramming in the Wheat Stripe Rust Fungus During the Initial Infection of Wheat and Barberry.

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici is the causal agent of wheat stripe rust that causes severe yield losses all over the world. As a macrocyclic heteroecious rust fungus, it is able to infect two unrelated host plants, wheat and barberry. Its urediniospores infect wheat and cause disease epidemic, while its basidiospores parasitize barberry to fulfill the sexual reproduction. This complex life cycle poses interesting questions on the different mechanisms of pathogenesis underlying the infection of the two different hosts. In the present study, transcriptomes of P. striiformis f. sp. tritici during the initial infection of wheat and barberry leaves were qualitatively and quantitatively compared. As a result, 142 wheat-specifically expressed genes (WEGs) were identified, which was far less than the 2,677 barberry-specifically expressed genes (BEGs). A larger proportion of evolutionarily conserved genes were observed in BEGs than that in WEGs, implying a longer history of the interaction between P. striiformis f. sp. tritici and barberry. Additionally, P. striiformis f. sp. tritici differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between wheat at 1 and 2 days postinoculation (dpi) and barberry at 3 and 4 dpi were identified by quantitative analysis. Gene Ontology analysis of these DEGs and expression patterns of P. striiformis f. sp. tritici pathogenic genes, including those encoding candidate secreted effectors, cell wall-degrading enzymes, and nutrient transporters, demonstrated that urediniospores and basidiospores exploited distinct strategies to overcome host defense systems. These results represent the first analysis of the P. striiformis f. sp. tritici transcriptome in barberry and contribute to a better understanding of the evolutionary processes and strategies of different types of rust spores during the infection process on different hosts.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Medicinal Species of the Genus Berberis: A Review of Their Traditional and Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology.

Discovering new drugs for treating different health problems is one of the basic needs of human societies. There are various strategies to find new lead compounds. One of the most important strategies in this regard is using the knowledge in traditional and folk medicines as a valuable guide. Islamic traditional medicine (ITM) is a well reputed school of medicine with a long history. In the textbooks of this medical system, the properties and applications of many medicinal plants have been described. As a part of an ongoing project on plants used in ITM, in this study we investigated botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Berberis spp. The great genus Berberis (Berberidaceae) consists of 594 species worldwide which have been used in different traditional medicines for a wide range of diseases. In ITM reference books such as Al-Hâwi fi'at-Tibbe (Comprehensive Book of Medicine), Kâmel al-Sinâh at-Tibbiyah (Complete Book of the Medical Art), Al-Qânun fi' at-Tibbe (Canon of Medicine), Dakhireh Khârazmshâhi (Treasure of Khârazmshâh), and Makhzan al-Adwyah (Drug Treasure), different parts of B. vulgaris and B. integrimma, known as Zereshk, have been mainly prescribed for skin, liver, stomach, kidney, and eye problems. There are several pharmacological studies reporting beneficial effects of various Berberis plants confirming traditional uses. Most of the activities reported for Berberis is attributed to the presence of an important class of alkaloids namely isoquinolines. Nevertheless, clinical studies are necessary to confirm the therapeutic effects of different species of this genus.

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing male lambs fed barberry pomace-containing diets.

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) fruits contain bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects. The inclusion of barberry pomace (BP) in finishing diets could potentially enhance growth performance and carcass characteristics of sheep. To test this hypothesis, 21 male Balouchi lambs (24.5 ± 4 kg initial live weight; 5 ± 0.6 months of age) were randomly assigned to three BP-containing experimental diets to determine their effects on feed intake, live weight gain and carcass characteristics. The experimental diets were formulated to meet nutrient requirements for a targeted daily weight gain of 200 g as follows: (1) control diet (BP0), (2) control diet in which 7.5% of alfalfa hay and wheat straw were replaced with BP (BP75), (3) control diet in which 15% of alfalfa hay and wheat straw were replaced with BP (BP150). Lambs were fed the experimental diets for 75 days during which feed intake and live weight changes were recorded. At the end of the feeding period, lambs were fasted for 16 h, weighed and then slaughtered in order to determine carcass characteristics. Experimental diets had no effect on feed intake and growth performance of lambs. Similarly, diets had no effect (p > 0.05) on weight of carcass, commercial cuts (neck, shoulder, loin, leg, fat-tail, brisket, flank) and non-carcass components (head, skin, feet, lung and trachea, heart, liver, spleen, gastro-intestinal, kidney, bladder and testicles) but linearly increased (p < 0.05) warm and cold dressing percentage as well as heart weight. These results do not support the hypothesis that feeding BP-containing diets enhances growth performance and carcass characteristics of male Balouchi lambs. However, inclusion of BP had no negative effects on animal performance and carcass characteristics.

The effect of black barberry hydroalcoholic extract on immune mediators in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease associated with inflammation. In this trial, we aimed to investigate the Immunomodulatory effect of hydroalcoholic extract of black barberry on immune mediators in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 80 women with active RA were randomly assigned into two groups of two capsules, each containing 1,000 mg black barberry extract (n = 40) or maltodextrin placebo (n = 40) daily for 12 weeks. Demographic indices, physical activity, dietary intake, and disease activity were investigated using suitable questionnaires. Concentration of cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17 in blood sample were measured using PBMC method. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 22). At baseline, there were no differences between the two groups in terms of demographic indices, physical activity, and dietary intake (p > .05). Black barberry supplementation reduced the severity of RA. It showed no significant effect on IL-2 and IL-4 cytokines (p > .05). IL-17 levels decreased significantly after the intervention within the black barberry group, while IL-10 had a significant increase in this group (p < .05). Barberry extract may reduce inflammatory and increase anti-inflammatory cytokines in RA, and stimulates the immune response by increasing Th2 production.

The effect of barberry (Berberis vulgaris) consumption on flow-mediated dilation and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with hypertension: A randomized controlled trial.

Hypertension is considered as an important cardiovascular risk factor and evidence suggests that hypertension and endothelial dysfunction reinforce each other. Polyphenol-rich foods, such as barberry can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Our aim was to investigate the effects of barberry consumption on vascular function and inflammatory markers in hypertensive subject. In this randomized controlled parallel trial, 84 hypertensive subjects of both genders (aged 54.06 ± 10.19 years; body mass index 28.02 ± 2.18 kg/m2 ) were randomly allocated to consume barberry (10 g/day dried barberry) or placebo for 8 weeks. Before and after the intervention, changes in brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and plasma macrophage/monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1, and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were measured. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Compared to placebo (n = 42), barberry consumption (n = 42) improved FMD (B [95% CI] was 6.54% [4.39, 8.70]; p < .001) and decreased plasma ICAM-1 (B [95% CI] was -1.61 ng/ml [-2.74, -0.48]; p = .006). MCP-1 was significantly lower in the barberry group compared with the placebo group (B [95% CI] was -37.62 pg/ml [-72.07, -3.17]; p = .033). Our results indicate that barberry consumption improves FMD and has a beneficial effect on plasma ICAM-1 and MCP-1 in hypertensive patients. This trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial (IRCT) with number IRCT20160702028742N8.

Two Indigenous Berberis Species From Spain Were Confirmed as Alternate Hosts of the Yellow Rust Fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici.

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, which causes yellow (or stripe) rust on wheat, is a macrocyclic and heteroecious fungus. In this study, we investigated whether Berberis vulgaris subsp. seroi and B. vulgaris subsp. australis, which are indigenous in Spain, may serve as alternate hosts for P. striiformis f. sp. tritici. Wheat leaves bearing telia of an isolate of P. striiformis f. sp. tritici were harvested and used to inoculate plants of both barberry subspecies. Pycnia were observed on the adaxial side of the leaves from 10 days after inoculation (dai). Following successful fertilization, aecia were observed on the abaxial side of the leaves from 16 dai. At 27 dai, barberry leaves bearing aecia were detached and used to inoculate susceptible wheat seedlings of cultivar Morocco. Uredinia were observed on wheat seedlings from 12 days after aeciospore exposure. Eighty-three single lesions were recovered from individual wheat leaves, of which 43 were genotyped using 19 P. striiformis f. sp. tritici simple sequence repeat markers (SSR). In total, 19 multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified among the 43 progeny isolates. The SSR genotyping confirmed that all 43 isolates were derived from the parental isolate. Seven heterozygous SSR markers showed segregation among the progenies, whereas none of the 12 homozygous markers resulted in segregation. These results demonstrated that B. vulgaris subspp. seroi and australis can serve as alternate hosts for P. striiformis f. sp. tritici, which may result in novel virulence combinations that can have a detrimental impact on wheat production. Although P. striiformis f. sp. tritici has not been detected on these barberry species in nature, this study highlights the importance of rust surveillance in barberry areas where suitable conditions for completion of the sexual life cycle may be present.

Continuous Clarification of Barberry Juice with Pectinase Immobilised by Oxidized Polysaccharides.

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: Barberry juice is a rich source of bioactive compounds and shows different health properties such as antioxidant and anticancer activities. Clarification, as the removal process of suspended material, is an important step in the production of fruit juice due to its significant effect on the appearance, flavour and commercialisation of juice. Pectinase is the most important enzyme applied in juice clarification that breaks down the pectin polymer structure and reduces the undesirable turbidity. Pectinase immobilisation is a way to overcome free enzyme drawbacks such as instability, high cost, the difficulty of recovery and recyclability. Also, continuous clarification process which is highly preferred in fruit juice industry is not possible without enzyme immobilisation. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Pectinase enzymes were immobilised on the functionalised glass beads (glass bead with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane) by glutaraldehyde, polyaldehyde derivatives of pullulan and kefiran and the barberry juice was clarified in the batch and continuous processes in a packed bed reactor (PBR). Also, the effect of clarification on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of the barberry juice samples was evaluated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The optimum conditions for clarification in the PBR were: flow rate 0.5 mL/min, temperature 50 °C and treatment time 63 min. Clarification led to a decrease in turbidity, pH, total soluble solid content, viscosity, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the juice samples. Also, this process increased the clarity, acidity, reducing sugar concentration and the lightness parameter of the barberry juice. The greatest effect of clarification on the studied properties of barberry juice was related to the pectinase immobilised by the polyaldehyde of kefiran in the continuous process and both new cross-linkers (polyaldehyde derivatives of pullulan and kefiran) immobilised the enzyme better than the common cross-linker (glutaraldehyde). NOVELTY AND SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION: For the first time, barberry juice was clarified with pectinase immobilised by polyaldehyde derivatives of pullulan and kefiran and the obtained results showed that the pectinase immobilisation by these new cross-linkers was much more efficient than by the glutaraldehyde as a common cross-linker. These findings can be of use for an industrialised production of fruit juices.

Climate change both facilitates and inhibits invasive plant ranges in New England.

Forecasting ecological responses to climate change, invasion, and their interaction must rely on understanding underlying mechanisms. However, such forecasts require extrapolation into new locations and environments. We linked demography and environment using experimental biogeography to forecast invasive and native species' potential ranges under present and future climate in New England, United States to overcome issues of extrapolation in novel environments. We studied two potentially nonequilibrium invasive plants' distributions, Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) and Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry), each paired with their native ecological analogs to better understand demographic drivers of invasions. Our models predict that climate change will considerably reduce establishment of a currently prolific invader (A. petiolata) throughout New England driven by poor demographic performance in warmer climates. In contrast, invasion of B. thunbergii will be facilitated because of higher growth and germination in warmer climates, with higher likelihood to establish farther north and in closed canopy habitats in the south. Invasion success is in high fecundity for both invasive species and demographic compensation for Apetiolata relative to native analogs. For A. petiolata, simulations suggest that eradication efforts would require unrealistic efficiency; hence, management should focus on inhibiting spread into colder, currently unoccupied areas, understanding source-sink dynamics, and understanding community dynamics should A. petiolata (which is allelopathic) decline. Our results-based on considerable differences with correlative occurrence models typically used for such biogeographic forecasts-suggest the urgency of incorporating mechanism into range forecasting and invasion management to understand how climate change may alter current invasion patterns.

Mapping non-host resistance to the stem rust pathogen in an interspecific barberry hybrid.

BACKGROUND: Non-host resistance (NHR) presents a compelling long-term plant protection strategy for global food security, yet the genetic basis of NHR remains poorly understood. For many diseases, including stem rust of wheat [causal organism Puccinia graminis (Pg)], NHR is largely unexplored due to the inherent challenge of developing a genetically tractable system within which the resistance segregates. The present study turns to the pathogen's alternate host, barberry (Berberis spp.), to overcome this challenge. RESULTS: In this study, an interspecific mapping population derived from a cross between Pg-resistant Berberis thunbergii (Bt) and Pg-susceptible B. vulgaris was developed to investigate the Pg-NHR exhibited by Bt. To facilitate QTL analysis and subsequent trait dissection, the first genetic linkage maps for the two parental species were constructed and a chromosome-scale reference genome for Bt was assembled (PacBio + Hi-C). QTL analysis resulted in the identification of a single 13 cM region (~ 5.1 Mbp spanning 13 physical contigs) on the short arm of Bt chromosome 3. Differential gene expression analysis, combined with sequence variation analysis between the two parental species, led to the prioritization of several candidate genes within the QTL region, some of which belong to gene families previously implicated in disease resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Foundational genetic and genomic resources developed for Berberis spp. enabled the identification and annotation of a QTL associated with Pg-NHR. Although subsequent validation and fine mapping studies are needed, this study demonstrates the feasibility of and lays the groundwork for dissecting Pg-NHR in the alternate host of one of agriculture's most devastating pathogens.

Berberine and barberry (Berberis vulgaris): A clinical review.

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) has different medicinal applications in folk medicine of Iran. Berberine, an alkaloid constituent of this plant, is present in the roots, rhizomes, stem, and bark of B. vulgaris and many other plants. There have been many clinical trials conducted that suggested a wide range of therapeutic applications. Here, we investigated the clinical uses of berberine and B. vulgaris in the treatment of different diseases in humans. An extensive search in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Sciences and Science Direct) was used to identify the clinical trials on B. vulgaris and berberine. Lipid-lowering and insulin-resistance improving actions are the most studied properties of berberine in numerous randomized clinical trials. There are also clinical trials regarding cardiovascular, anticancer, gastrointestinal, CNS, endocrine, and so on. Berberine has very low toxicity in usual doses and reveals clinical benefits without major side effects. Only mild gastrointestinal reactions may occur in some patients. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary concerning the clinical trials conducted on berberine to improve the clinical application of this nutraceutical in different diseases. In this review article, we used 77 clinical studies on human subjects.

Classification of barberry genotypes by multivariate analysis of biochemical constituents and HPLC profiles.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, there has been a growing interest in the use of edible barberry and their extracts as a source of natural antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical industries. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical constituents of 18 samples of barberry fruits and classification of barberry genotypes by multivariate analysis. METHODS: Total phenolic, total flavonoid, total anthocyanin, total tannin, total carbohydrate contents and antioxidant activity were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminum chloride, colorimetric, vanillin, anthron and DPPH (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assays, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system is used for quantitative determination of phytochemical constituents. The multivariate data analysis (principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis) and heat map data visualisation techniques were performed to classify barberry genotypes using Minitab and GraphPad Prism software, respectively. RESULTS: The highest amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids were obtained in fruit extracts of G3 (Berberis vulgaris). The highest total anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity were observed in G8 (B. vulgaris) and G16 (B. vulgaris), respectively. HPLC analysis of phytochemicals (gallic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, cinnamic acid, rutin, apigenin, and quercetin) revealed that gallic acid and p-coumaric acid were found as the most abundant phytochemical compounds. Based on multivariate analysis and heat map visualisation techniques, Berberis genotypes were classified into three main clusters. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that barberry species (especially B. vulgaris and B. carataegina) are promising sources of natural antioxidants and biochemical compounds beneficial to be used in the food industry and that the multivariate analysis was a suitable approach to classify the barberry samples.

Investigating functional properties of barberry species: an overview.

The introduction of new crops and the development of the use of wild plants creates the potential to diversify global food production and better enable local adaptation to the diverse and changing environments that humans inhabit. Barberry is widely distributed worldwide and is recognized as a valuable plant. In this review, we summarize the functional compounds and nutraceutical features of barberry species. Barberry plants have fruits, flowers, leaves, stems and roots. All of these parts contain very important compounds, such as anthocyanins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, vitamins and minerals, etc., which have been used for many years in traditional medicine. These compounds have a strong impact on human health and can be used as a painkiller, as well as for the relief of fever, diarrhea and vomiting. They are also useful for curing liver and vascular problems and preventing many diseases. One of the most important functional compounds in the barberry plant is berberine, which exists in its different parts. Studies have shown that berberine in barberry reduces cholesterol and blood glucose. It can help to prevent Alzheimer's and neoplastic diseases. Furthermore, it has antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant properties. According to the investigations, barberry plant derivations can be considered as useful additives and functional compounds in various industries, especially in the food industry. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Berberis Vulgaris and Berberine: An Update Review.

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid present in several plants, including Coptis sp. and Berberis sp. Berberine is a customary component in Chinese medicine, and is characterized by a diversity of pharmacological effects. An extensive search in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Ovid, Wiley, ProQuest, ISI, and Science Direct) were used to identify the pharmacological and clinical studies on Berberis vulgaris and berberine, during 2008 to 2015, using 'berberine' and 'Berberis vulgaris' as search words. We found more than 1200 new article studying the properties and clinical uses of berberine and B. vulgaris, for treating tumor, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, bacterial and viral infections, cerebral ischemia trauma, mental disease, Alzheimer disease, osteoporosis, and so on. In this article, we have updated the pharmacological effects of B. vulgaris and its active constituent, berberine. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Amplicon pyrosequencing reveals the soil microbial diversity associated with invasive Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii DC.).

The soil microbial community acts as a reservoir of microbes that directly influences the structure and composition of the aboveground plant community, promotes plant growth, increases stress tolerance and mediates local patterns of nutrient cycling. Direct interactions between plants and rhizosphere-dwelling microorganisms occur at, or near, the surface of the root. Upon introduction and establishment, invasive plants modify the soil microbial communities and soil biochemistry affecting bioremediation efforts and future plant communities. Here, we used tag-encoded FLX amplicon 454 pyrosequencing (TEFAP) to characterize the bacterial and fungal community diversity in the rhizosphere of Berberis thunbergii DC. (Japanese barberry) from invasive stands in coastal Maine to investigate effects of soil type, soil chemistry and surrounding plant cover on the soil microbial community structure. Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia were the dominant bacterial phyla, whereas fungal communities were comprised mostly of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota phyla members, including Agaricomycetes and Sordariomycetes. Bulk soil chemistry had more effect on the bacterial community structure than the fungal community. An effect of geographic location was apparent in the rhizosphere microbial communities, yet it was less significant than the effect of surrounding plant cover. These data demonstrate a high degree of spatial variation in the rhizosphere microbial communities of Japanese barberry with apparent effects of soil chemistry, location and canopy cover on the microbial community structure.

Barberry treatment reduces serum anti-heat shock protein 27 and 60 antibody titres and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein in patients with metabolic syndrome: a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The heat shock proteins (HSPs) are associated with risk factors for CVD. The aim of the present study was to survey the effect of barberry on antibody titres to HSPs and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with metabolic syndrome. In our study, subjects (N=106, 79 women and 27 men, 18-65 years old) with metabolic syndrome were randomized into two groups: a group of patients who received three capsules of barberry and a control group who received three capsules of placebo for 6 weeks. Antibodies against HSPs 27, 60/65 and 70, hs-CRP and lipid profile were determined in patients before (week 0) and after (week 6) intervention. spss software (version 16.0; Inc, Chicago, IL) was used for data analysis. Results showed that barberry had no significant effect on serum level of anti-HSPs 65 and 70. But there was a significant decrease in anti-HSP 27 in both case and control groups (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively, in the case and control groups). Barberry decreased significantly anti-HSP 60 in the case group (p=0.03). High-sensitivity CRP was decreased non-significantly (p=0.17) in the case group and increased significantly (p=0.04) in the control group. Barberry decreased significantly low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol and increased significantly high-density cholesterol (p<0.05). Results of the present study suggested that barberry supplementation in patients with metabolic syndrome decreased significantly anti-HSPs 27 and 60 and hs-CRP levels and improved lipid profile.