| Oregon Grape [Mahonia aquifolium, Berberis aquifolium] Research Findings - benefits |
With limited research studies, roots and bark of Oregon Grape have been used to treat skin diseases, such as
psoriasis, fungal infections, eczema and acne [1-11]. They were also suggested for gastritis, fever, hemorrhage,
jaundice, gall bladder disease, and cancer. In this article, we discuss several interesting research findings on
berberine and Oregon grape.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
Cholesterol-lowering
Berberine may help prevent heart disease, as it may lower total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein (LDL, “bad”)
cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. With little or no scientific support, people believe that it has antibacterial and
immune-enhancing properties and people use it to treat respiratory and digestive infections.
Nature Medicine (online publication: November 7, 2004)
Kong W. et al, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Beijing, China, administrated 32 hypercholesterolemic patients with
berberine for 3 months orally. They found that the serum cholesterol was reduced by 29%, triglycerides by 35% and
LDL-cholesterol by 25%. They also identified the 5' proximal section of the LDLR mRNA 3' untranslated region
responsible for the regulatory effect of berberine in cell culture studies. [Nat Med. 2004 Dec;10(12):1344-51. Epub
2004 Dec.]
Liver Protection
Moga MM at Indiana University School of Medicine, IN considers that Oregon grape may reduce gallbladder
inflammation and relieve liver congestion.
Alternative treatment of gallbladder disease, Med Hypotheses. 2003 Jan;60(1):143-7
psoriasis, fungal infections, eczema and acne [1-11]. They were also suggested for gastritis, fever, hemorrhage,
jaundice, gall bladder disease, and cancer. In this article, we discuss several interesting research findings on
berberine and Oregon grape.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
Cholesterol-lowering
Berberine may help prevent heart disease, as it may lower total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein (LDL, “bad”)
cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. With little or no scientific support, people believe that it has antibacterial and
immune-enhancing properties and people use it to treat respiratory and digestive infections.
Nature Medicine (online publication: November 7, 2004)
Kong W. et al, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Beijing, China, administrated 32 hypercholesterolemic patients with
berberine for 3 months orally. They found that the serum cholesterol was reduced by 29%, triglycerides by 35% and
LDL-cholesterol by 25%. They also identified the 5' proximal section of the LDLR mRNA 3' untranslated region
responsible for the regulatory effect of berberine in cell culture studies. [Nat Med. 2004 Dec;10(12):1344-51. Epub
2004 Dec.]
Liver Protection
Moga MM at Indiana University School of Medicine, IN considers that Oregon grape may reduce gallbladder
inflammation and relieve liver congestion.
Alternative treatment of gallbladder disease, Med Hypotheses. 2003 Jan;60(1):143-7
Wang F et al at Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, China, investigated the effects of berberine on ion channels of isolated rat
hepatocytes using tight-seal whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. They found that
berberine reduced the “delayed outward potassium currents” while
tetraethylammonium bath solution inhibited the “delayed outward potassium currents
was inhibited”. Berberine had mild inhibitory effects on “inward rectifier potassium
currents” in rat hepatocytes. They concluded that berberine has inhibitory effects on
potassium and calcium currents in isolated rat hepatocytes, which may provide hepato-
protection. [World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Oct 1;10(19):2842-5]
Antimicrobial / Antifungal Activities
Dattner AM at Integrative Medicine and Dermatology, NY, suggests that Oregon grape
root has synergistic antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and bile-stimulating properties
which make the crude extract useful in acne.
From medical herbalism to phytotherapy in dermatology: back to the future. Dermatol
Ther. 2003;16(2):106-13
As early as 1994, McCutcheon AR et al found that Mahonia aquifolium roots had anti-
fungal properties (against nine fungal species). [J Ethnopharmacol. 1994 Dec;44(3):
157-69].
Slobodnikova L et al, Comenius University, Slovakia, tested the crude extract of
Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt. stem bark and its two main protoberberine alkaloids,
berberine and jatrorrhizine for their in vitro antimicrobial activity with 20 strains of
coagulase-negative staphylococci and 20 strains of Propionibacterium acne and 20
strains of Candida sp. The results indicated a rational basis for the traditional use of
Mahonia aquifolium for localized skin and mucosal infection therapy or supportive
therapy of the related diseases [Phytother Res. 2004 Aug;18(8):674-6]
Vollekova A et al, at Slovak Postgraduate Academy of Medicine, Slovakia, found that
Jatrorrhizine (compared to berberine and palmatine)to be the most effective against all
fungal species that they tested. And, dermatophytes were more susceptible to
jatrorrhizine than yeasts. [Phytother Res. 2003 Aug;17(7):834-7]
Cernakova M et al, Slovak University of Technology, Slovakia, tested the antimicrobial
activity of berberine against 17 microorganisms. They found the sensitivity decreasing
as follows: S. aureus > P. aeruginosa S (sensitive) > E. coli S > P. aeruginosa R
(resistant) > E. coli R > B. subtilis > Z. ramigera > C. albicans > S. cerevisiae > A.
pullulans B (black) > A. pullulans W (white) > T. viride Br (brown) > M. gypseum > A.
niger > F. nivale > P. chrysogenum > T. viride G (green). [Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2002;
47(4):375-8]
Potential antimutagenic /anticarcinogenic / anticancer activity
Cernakova M et al, Slovak Technical University, Slovak Republic, evaluated the
protection of crude Mahonia extracts on chloroplast DNA against acridine orange (a
mutagen) using Euglena gracilis as an eukaryotic test model. They found the
concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of both bis-benzylisoquinoline and
protoberberine alkaloid fractions against the acridine orange- induced chloroplast
mutagenesis of E. gracilis. At very low dose, berberine elicited a remarkable
suppression of the acridine orange -induced mutagenicity. [BMC Complement Altern
Med. 2002 Feb 19;2(1):2]
Anti-oxidant Properties
Muller K et al, Universitat Regensburg, Germany, found that the extract of the bark of
Mahonia aquifolium had anti-oxidant properties. The findings were based on their
efficacy in inhibition of lipid peroxidation. [Planta Med. 1994 Oct;60(5):421-4].
Anti-oxidant and Potential Use in Psoriasis
Misik V et al considered that products of lipoxygenase metabolism play a role in the
pathogenesis of psoriasis. They isolated four protoberberine alkaloids, berberine,
oxyberberine, jatrorrhizine, columbamine, and two aporphine alkaloids, magnoflorine,
and corytuberine and they tested these chemicals for lipoxygenase inhibition.
Oxyberberine, corytuberine, and columbamine were more potent than berberine and
magnoflorine in lipoxygenase inhibition. They also found a linear correlation between
lipoxygenase inhibition and lipid antioxidant properties of these compounds. They
thought that the mechanism of lipoxygenase inhibition by these alkaloids might be
linked to the inhibition of lipid hydroperoxide substrate accumulation and this
lipoxygenase inhibition is related to its effect on psoriasis. [Planta Med. 1995 Aug;61(4):
372-3]
One year later, Bezakova L et al, J. A. Comenius University, Slovakia found a similar
result from their studies on Lipoxygenase inhibition and antioxidant properties of
bisbenzylisoqunoline alkaloids. [Pharmazie. 1996 Oct;51(10):758-61]
Relaxant Properties
In 1994, Sotnikova R et al, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava reported that The
extract from roots of Mahonia aquifolium as well as berbamine and oxyacanthine
relaxed K(+)-precontracted rat aortal rings. The relaxation could not inhibited by
denudation of the endothelium or by premedication of the aortas with indomethacin,
methylene blue or propranolol. [Gen Pharmacol. 1994 Nov;25(7):1405-10]
Later on, Sotnikova R et al, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovak Republic, studied the
effect of four aporphine alkaloids, corytuberine, magnoflorine, isothebaine and
isocorydine, on the isolated rat aorta. Corytuberine and magnoflorine showed little
effect as relaxants in KCl- and noradrenaline-induced contractions. They did not inhibit
the phenylephrine concentration-response curve. While, isothebaine and isocorydine
showed relaxant properties in the rat aorta. They relaxed the contractions induced by
noradrenaline to a greater extent than those induced by KCl and they also inhibited the
noradrenaline-induced contraction in calcium-free solution. [Methods Find Exp Clin
Pharmacol. 1997 Nov;19(9):589-97]
The information above is for your reference only. More experimental studies may be needed to
confirm these therapeutic uses. If you have any question, you should ask your doctor
immediately. ALL RIGHT RESERVED 2005
References
1. Wiesenauer M, Ldtke R. Mahonia aquifolium in patients with Psoriasis vulgaris – an
intraindividual study. Phytomedicine. 1996;3:231–235.
2. Gieler U, von der Weth A, Heger M. Mahonia aquifolium—a new type of topical treatment for
psoriasis. J Dermatol Treat. 1995;6:31–34.
3. Augustin M, Andrees U, Grimme H, et al. Effects of Mahonia aquifolium ointment on the
expression of adhesion, proliferation, and activation markers in the skin of patients with psoriasis.
Forsch Komplementrmed. 1999;6(suppl 2):19–21.
4. McCutcheon AR, Ellis SM, Hancock REW, et al. Antifungal screening of medicinal plants of
British Columbian native peoples. J Ethnopharmacol. 1994;44:157–169.
5. Galle K, Mller-Jakic B, Proebstle A, et al. Analytical and pharmacological studies on Mahonia
aquifolium. Phytomedicine. 1994;1:59–62.
6. Mller K, Ziereis K. The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; I. Pro- and
antioxidant properties and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase. Planta Med. 1994;60:421–424.
7. Wiesenauer M, Ldtke R. Mahonia aquifolium in patients with Psoriasis vulgaris – an
intraindividual study. Phytomedicine. 1996;3:231–235.
8. Augustin M, Andrees U, Grimme H, et al. Effects of Mahonia aquifolium ointment on the
expression of adhesion, proliferation, and activation markers in the skin of patients with psoriasis.
Forsch Komplementrmed. 1999;6(suppl 2):19–21.
9. Gieler U, von der Weth A, Heger M. Mahonia aquifolium – a new type of topical treatment for
psoriasis. J Dermatol Treat. 1995;6:31–34.
10. Galle K, Mller-Jakic B, Proebstle A, et al. Analytical and pharmacological studies on Mahonia
aquifolium. Phytomedicine. 1994;1:59–62.
11. Mller K, Ziereis K. The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; I. Pro- and
antioxidant properties and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase. Planta Med. 1994;60:421–424.
Technology, China, investigated the effects of berberine on ion channels of isolated rat
hepatocytes using tight-seal whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. They found that
berberine reduced the “delayed outward potassium currents” while
tetraethylammonium bath solution inhibited the “delayed outward potassium currents
was inhibited”. Berberine had mild inhibitory effects on “inward rectifier potassium
currents” in rat hepatocytes. They concluded that berberine has inhibitory effects on
potassium and calcium currents in isolated rat hepatocytes, which may provide hepato-
protection. [World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Oct 1;10(19):2842-5]
Antimicrobial / Antifungal Activities
Dattner AM at Integrative Medicine and Dermatology, NY, suggests that Oregon grape
root has synergistic antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and bile-stimulating properties
which make the crude extract useful in acne.
From medical herbalism to phytotherapy in dermatology: back to the future. Dermatol
Ther. 2003;16(2):106-13
As early as 1994, McCutcheon AR et al found that Mahonia aquifolium roots had anti-
fungal properties (against nine fungal species). [J Ethnopharmacol. 1994 Dec;44(3):
157-69].
Slobodnikova L et al, Comenius University, Slovakia, tested the crude extract of
Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt. stem bark and its two main protoberberine alkaloids,
berberine and jatrorrhizine for their in vitro antimicrobial activity with 20 strains of
coagulase-negative staphylococci and 20 strains of Propionibacterium acne and 20
strains of Candida sp. The results indicated a rational basis for the traditional use of
Mahonia aquifolium for localized skin and mucosal infection therapy or supportive
therapy of the related diseases [Phytother Res. 2004 Aug;18(8):674-6]
Vollekova A et al, at Slovak Postgraduate Academy of Medicine, Slovakia, found that
Jatrorrhizine (compared to berberine and palmatine)to be the most effective against all
fungal species that they tested. And, dermatophytes were more susceptible to
jatrorrhizine than yeasts. [Phytother Res. 2003 Aug;17(7):834-7]
Cernakova M et al, Slovak University of Technology, Slovakia, tested the antimicrobial
activity of berberine against 17 microorganisms. They found the sensitivity decreasing
as follows: S. aureus > P. aeruginosa S (sensitive) > E. coli S > P. aeruginosa R
(resistant) > E. coli R > B. subtilis > Z. ramigera > C. albicans > S. cerevisiae > A.
pullulans B (black) > A. pullulans W (white) > T. viride Br (brown) > M. gypseum > A.
niger > F. nivale > P. chrysogenum > T. viride G (green). [Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2002;
47(4):375-8]
Potential antimutagenic /anticarcinogenic / anticancer activity
Cernakova M et al, Slovak Technical University, Slovak Republic, evaluated the
protection of crude Mahonia extracts on chloroplast DNA against acridine orange (a
mutagen) using Euglena gracilis as an eukaryotic test model. They found the
concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of both bis-benzylisoquinoline and
protoberberine alkaloid fractions against the acridine orange- induced chloroplast
mutagenesis of E. gracilis. At very low dose, berberine elicited a remarkable
suppression of the acridine orange -induced mutagenicity. [BMC Complement Altern
Med. 2002 Feb 19;2(1):2]
Anti-oxidant Properties
Muller K et al, Universitat Regensburg, Germany, found that the extract of the bark of
Mahonia aquifolium had anti-oxidant properties. The findings were based on their
efficacy in inhibition of lipid peroxidation. [Planta Med. 1994 Oct;60(5):421-4].
Anti-oxidant and Potential Use in Psoriasis
Misik V et al considered that products of lipoxygenase metabolism play a role in the
pathogenesis of psoriasis. They isolated four protoberberine alkaloids, berberine,
oxyberberine, jatrorrhizine, columbamine, and two aporphine alkaloids, magnoflorine,
and corytuberine and they tested these chemicals for lipoxygenase inhibition.
Oxyberberine, corytuberine, and columbamine were more potent than berberine and
magnoflorine in lipoxygenase inhibition. They also found a linear correlation between
lipoxygenase inhibition and lipid antioxidant properties of these compounds. They
thought that the mechanism of lipoxygenase inhibition by these alkaloids might be
linked to the inhibition of lipid hydroperoxide substrate accumulation and this
lipoxygenase inhibition is related to its effect on psoriasis. [Planta Med. 1995 Aug;61(4):
372-3]
One year later, Bezakova L et al, J. A. Comenius University, Slovakia found a similar
result from their studies on Lipoxygenase inhibition and antioxidant properties of
bisbenzylisoqunoline alkaloids. [Pharmazie. 1996 Oct;51(10):758-61]
Relaxant Properties
In 1994, Sotnikova R et al, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava reported that The
extract from roots of Mahonia aquifolium as well as berbamine and oxyacanthine
relaxed K(+)-precontracted rat aortal rings. The relaxation could not inhibited by
denudation of the endothelium or by premedication of the aortas with indomethacin,
methylene blue or propranolol. [Gen Pharmacol. 1994 Nov;25(7):1405-10]
Later on, Sotnikova R et al, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovak Republic, studied the
effect of four aporphine alkaloids, corytuberine, magnoflorine, isothebaine and
isocorydine, on the isolated rat aorta. Corytuberine and magnoflorine showed little
effect as relaxants in KCl- and noradrenaline-induced contractions. They did not inhibit
the phenylephrine concentration-response curve. While, isothebaine and isocorydine
showed relaxant properties in the rat aorta. They relaxed the contractions induced by
noradrenaline to a greater extent than those induced by KCl and they also inhibited the
noradrenaline-induced contraction in calcium-free solution. [Methods Find Exp Clin
Pharmacol. 1997 Nov;19(9):589-97]
The information above is for your reference only. More experimental studies may be needed to
confirm these therapeutic uses. If you have any question, you should ask your doctor
immediately. ALL RIGHT RESERVED 2005
References
1. Wiesenauer M, Ldtke R. Mahonia aquifolium in patients with Psoriasis vulgaris – an
intraindividual study. Phytomedicine. 1996;3:231–235.
2. Gieler U, von der Weth A, Heger M. Mahonia aquifolium—a new type of topical treatment for
psoriasis. J Dermatol Treat. 1995;6:31–34.
3. Augustin M, Andrees U, Grimme H, et al. Effects of Mahonia aquifolium ointment on the
expression of adhesion, proliferation, and activation markers in the skin of patients with psoriasis.
Forsch Komplementrmed. 1999;6(suppl 2):19–21.
4. McCutcheon AR, Ellis SM, Hancock REW, et al. Antifungal screening of medicinal plants of
British Columbian native peoples. J Ethnopharmacol. 1994;44:157–169.
5. Galle K, Mller-Jakic B, Proebstle A, et al. Analytical and pharmacological studies on Mahonia
aquifolium. Phytomedicine. 1994;1:59–62.
6. Mller K, Ziereis K. The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; I. Pro- and
antioxidant properties and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase. Planta Med. 1994;60:421–424.
7. Wiesenauer M, Ldtke R. Mahonia aquifolium in patients with Psoriasis vulgaris – an
intraindividual study. Phytomedicine. 1996;3:231–235.
8. Augustin M, Andrees U, Grimme H, et al. Effects of Mahonia aquifolium ointment on the
expression of adhesion, proliferation, and activation markers in the skin of patients with psoriasis.
Forsch Komplementrmed. 1999;6(suppl 2):19–21.
9. Gieler U, von der Weth A, Heger M. Mahonia aquifolium – a new type of topical treatment for
psoriasis. J Dermatol Treat. 1995;6:31–34.
10. Galle K, Mller-Jakic B, Proebstle A, et al. Analytical and pharmacological studies on Mahonia
aquifolium. Phytomedicine. 1994;1:59–62.
11. Mller K, Ziereis K. The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; I. Pro- and
antioxidant properties and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase. Planta Med. 1994;60:421–424.
