Barberries are packed in nutrients. They are high in carbohydrates, fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals. The berries, in particular, are high in vitamin C, an antioxidant that may help protect against cellular damage, which can contribute to heart disease and cancer. A 1/4-cup (28-gram) serving of dried barberries contains:

• Calories: 89
• Protein: 1 gram
• Fat: 1 gram
• Carbs: 18 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Vitamin C: 213% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Iron: 15% of the DV

Furthermore, barberries include trace elements zinc, manganese, and copper, all of which play important roles in immunity and disease prevention. The berries' brilliant red color is due to anthocyanins, which are plant chemicals that may improve your brain and heart health, among other things.

Berberine, a unique plant chemical found in barberries, may be linked to a variety of health advantages. Berberine belongs to the alkaloid family, a class of chemicals noted for their medicinal properties. According to research, it functions as a potent antioxidant, preventing cell damage produced by reactive molecules known as free radicals.

Berberine may also help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, limit the progression of certain cancer cells, fight infections, and reduce inflammation. Furthermore, barberries include other substances that may be beneficial to health, such as alkaloids and organic acids. Despite this, the majority of study has been on berberine.

Barberries, namely their berberine concentration, may aid in the management of diabetes, a chronic condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels. Berberine, in particular, has been found to improve how your cells respond to the hormone insulin, which controls the amount of sugar in your blood. As a result, your blood sugar levels may be reduced. In a three-month study of 36 persons with type 2 diabetes, consuming 1.5 grams of berberine per day resulted in a substantial 2% reduction in hemoglobin A1c — a measure of your average blood sugar control over the previous three months — when compared to baseline values.

Berberine's positive effects on blood sugar and hemoglobin-A1c were found to be comparable to those of the standard diabetic medication metformin. Another 8-week research of 30 persons with type 2 diabetes found that taking 2 mg of dried barberry fruit extract daily resulted in lower hemoglobin A1c levels and considerably lower blood sugar levels when compared to a placebo group. These investigations, however, concentrated on additional berberine and barberry extract. It's uncertain whether eating fresh or dried barberries has the same effect on blood sugar control.

For generations, barberries have been used to alleviate diarrhea. This is most likely due to their high berberine concentration, which helps slow the passage of stools through your gut by inhibiting specific receptors, avoiding diarrhea. In fact, one of the earliest human investigations on berberine discovered that it alleviated diarrhea caused by bacterial illnesses, including E. coli.

Furthermore, a study of 196 people with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) found that consuming 800 mg of berberine hydrochloride per day reduced the frequency of diarrhea and the urgent need to defecate when compared to a placebo. While these findings are intriguing, the further human study is required to better understand how berberine and barberries may aid in the treatment of diarrhea.

Eating barberries may aid in the prevention of metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Barberries, in particular, may help to prevent obesity and excessive blood sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood pressure levels, all of which are risk factors for this syndrome. One 8-week trial of 46 types 2 diabetes patients revealed that drinking 7 ounces (200 mL) of barberry juice per day significantly decreased blood pressure, triglyceride, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels when compared to a placebo. In addition to lowering metabolic syndrome risk factors, barberries may help reduce oxidative stress in those who already have the disorder.

The underlying cell damage caused by reactive chemicals known as free radicals causes oxidative stress. Too much oxidative stress, combined with insufficient antioxidants to combat it, can lead to heart disease and other health problems. A 6-week study of 106 persons with metabolic syndrome found that eating 600 mg of dried barberry per day reduced oxidative stress substantially more than a placebo. According to these findings, consuming the berries may help lessen your chances of acquiring metabolic syndrome risk factors as well as the oxidative stress linked with it. Nonetheless, additional research is required.

Barberry extract has been found in animal trials to be anti-inflammatory. This is most likely due to berberine's potent anti-inflammatory properties. As a result, it may aid in the treatment of inflammatory dental illnesses such as gingivitis, which is characterized by plaque buildup, swelling, and gum irritation.

In one research of 45 boys aged 11 to 12, administering barberry dental gel for 21 days decreased plaque and gingivitis substantially more than a placebo. The study also found that barberry gel was more effective than regular anti-plaque toothpaste, but the difference was not statistically significant. These findings imply that barberry treatments may benefit tooth health, but additional research is needed.

Barberries may have anticancer benefits in a variety of ways, many of which are related to berberine. Berberine, as an antioxidant, may aid in the battle against underlying oxidative damage associated with cancer formation. Berberine may also promote cancer cell death, impede cancer cell multiplication, and inhibit enzymes involved in the cancer cell life cycle.

Berberine has been proven in several test-tube studies to inhibit tumor growth and initiate cell death in human prostate, liver, bone, and breast cancer cells. However, a study has been confined to in vitro trials, and additional research is required to better understand the potential function of barberries in cancer treatment and prevention.

Acne, a skin ailment characterized by inflammatory bumps and pimples, may benefit from the use of barberries. Berberine and other substances found in barberries, in particular, may aid in the fight against acne-related inflammation and infections.

In one trial of adolescents with moderate to severe acne, ingesting 600 mg of dried barberry extract each day for four weeks reduced the average number of lesions significantly more than a placebo.

The study indicated that berry extract may be a safe and efficient acne treatment alternative for teenagers, but additional research is needed. Barberries are known to have a tart, slightly sweet flavor and can be eaten raw, in jam, or as a component of rice dishes and salads. They can also be juiced or used to make tea. Supplemental forms of barberry include dried capsules, liquid extracts, and ointments or gels made from whole berries or berberine extract. However, due to the limited research on humans, there is no recommended dosage for barberry or berberine supplements.