Chuthrum (Barberry)

Berberis L. (Barberry)

Vernacular name: Chuthrum (in Kinnauri) Click here to watch a short video about this species

Click here to watch a short video about this species

Berberis L. (family Berberidaceae), commonly known as Barberry and locally as Chuthrum in Kinnauri, is a shrub typically found in the undergrowth of dry temperate Pinus forests at elevations between 2,100 and 3,000 meters asl. Predominantly native to the Northern Hemisphere, Berberis is the largest genus in the Berberidaceae family, with over 500 known species. However, its primary center of distribution lies in the eastern Himalayas and adjoining regions of China.

In Kinnaur, eight species of Berberis have been reported so far, including Berberis asiatica, B. chitria (endemic), B. coriaria (endemic), B. jaeschkeana, B. kunawurensis (endemic), B. lycium, B. pachyacantha (endemic), B. pseudo-umbellata (endemic), out of which five are endemic to the Himalayan region.

Fun fact:

Berberis lycium (one of the members of the Berberis L. genus found in Kinnaur) is an ecological specialist, growing within shrubberies and open hillsides in the North-Western Himalayas of India. Breeding experiments have shown that this species can fertilize itself as well as cross-pollinate with other plants (within the species). Fluorescence microscopy of its flower stigma (the part that catches pollen) revealed that it becomes ready to receive pollen about three days before the flower fully opens, and stays receptive for about a day, and on the day the flower opens, the stigma is green, moist, and perfectly ready for pollination!

Nutritional profile:

• Barberry fruits are found to be rich in fiber, protein, and fat compared to most wild edibles in the region.

• They have relatively low food energy due to low carbohydrate content.

• They are a good source of minerals, especially calcium (Ca) and potassium (K).

• Nutrient and mineral levels vary significantly between species of barberry fruits, offering diverse benefits.

• It is important to note that barberry fruits contain anti-nutritional compounds such as tannins and phytic acid, which need to be properly managed when using them in health foods to avoid potential adverse effects.
  

Uses of Barberry:

• The major alkaloid in barberry, berberine, is known for its effectiveness against cholera-causing bacteria and helps relieve severe diarrhea.

• Barberry plants growing at lower altitudes contain significantly higher levels of berberine compared to those at higher altitudes.

• The shrub’s roots are reported to have anti-cancer properties, attributed to their high vitamin C content and antioxidant (anti–free radical) activity.

• In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, plants of the genus Berberis are called “Daruharidra” (tree turmeric) and are used to treat gastritis, diarrhea, urinary disorders, and certain skin conditions.

  
  

References

1. Verma, S., Wani, I. A., Khan, S., Sharma, S., Kumari, P., Kaushik, P., & El-Serehy, H. A. (2021). Reproductive biology and pollination ecology of Berberis lycium Royle: A highly valued shrub of immense medicinal significance. Plants, 10(9), 1907.

2. Andola, H. C., Rawal, R. S., & Bhatt, I. D. (2011). Comparative studies on the nutritive and anti-nutritive properties of fruits in selected Berberis species of West Himalaya, India. Food Research International, 44(7), 2352–2356.

3. Andola, H. C., Rawal, R. S., Rawat, M. S. M., Bhatt, I. D., & Purohit, V. K. (2010). Variations of berberine contents in Berberis pseudumbellata: A high value medicinal shrub of West Himalaya, India. Medicinal Plants-International Journal of Phytomedicines and Related Industries, 2(2), 111–115.

4. Adhikari, B. (2010). Systematics and phylogeographic studies of Berberis L. (Berberidaceae) in the Nepal Himalaya.

Click here to watch a short video about this species: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJyEEsbT6Fo/?igsh=cGtrbGJxeWR5YXdw