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Daruharidra

Berberis aristata DC.

Daruharidra (Berberis aristata) is a plant drug, also called Darvi, Chitraa and Daruhaldi. Its characteristic constituent is the alkaloid berberine, which is listed in WHO traditional medicine references.

Key facts
Botanical nameBerberis aristata DC.
FamilyBerberidaceae
OrderRanunculales
Pharmacopoeia statusBerberine is listed in WHO traditional medicine references. Berberis aristata is included in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. EFSA is conducting ongoing safety assessments for berberine in food supplements. No dedicated WHO monograph exists for Berberis aristata specifically.
Taxon identifiersGBIF 3982087 · Wikidata Q814377 · NCBI Taxonomy 659592
Names in other languages
Sanskritदारुहरिद्रा (dāruharidrā), दार्वी (dārvī)
HindiChitraa, दारुहल्दी (dāruhaldī), रसौत (rasauta), Zarishka (Fruit)
EnglishIndian barberry
MalayalamMaradarisina, Maramaanjal
TeluguManupasupu
MarathiDaaruhalada
BengaliDaaruharidraa, Darhaldi
GujaratiDaaruhaldar
UrduZarishk
PunjabiChitra, Daarhaldi, Kasmal, Simlu
OriyaDaaruhaldi

Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; Daruharidra market-sample study, PMC3566491: Hindi 'chitra, dar-hald, rasaut, kashmal'; the same paper notes 'the decoction of root or stem of Berberis is known as Rasaut'.; ayurvedicmedicinalplants.com Berberis aristata monograph ('Darvi'); PMC3566491 ('darvi').; ayurvedicmedicinalplants.com monograph for Berberis aristata, Hindi: 'Daruhaldi, Jharihaldi'; corroborated by PMC3566491, Hindi 'dar-hald'.; ayurvedicmedicinalplants.com monograph for Berberis aristata, Sanskrit: 'Daruharidra, Darvi, Katankateri, Peetita, Sthiraraga, Kamini, Peetachandan, Hemakanta, Haridru, Nisha'; corroborated by the Daruharidra market-sample study, PMC3566491, Sanskrit 'daruharidra, darvi, kata, pitadaru, suvarnavarna'.. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2011 to 2025, 11 with a DOI.

  • 2Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
  • 3Randomised controlled trials
  • 5Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 2Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishDaruharidra
Latin/BotanicalBerberis aristata DC.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • JAK1/STAT1 pathway suppression: Berberine inhibits the JAK1/STAT1 signaling cascade, reducing keratinocyte hyperproliferation and inflammatory cytokine production in psoriasis
  • MMP-1 and MMP-9 inhibition: Berberine inhibits UV-induced MMP-1 and MMP-9 expression, prevents TPA-induced ERK activation and AP-1 DNA binding, protecting collagen and extracellular matrix from degradation
  • Anti-tyrosinase skin lightening: Berberine and Berberis aristata extracts inhibit tyrosinase enzyme activity, which may reduce melanin biosynthesis
  • Anti-microbial S. aureus inhibition: Berberine has been reported to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus colonization and mast cell degranulation

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.

  • Skin diseases and acne (Kushtha/Yauvanpidika): traditionally used for skin diseases and acne. Clinical studies have reported that berberine-containing extracts showed activity against acne-associated bacteria (P. acnes, S. epidermidis) and improvement in inflammatory acne.
  • Skin lightening and exfoliation (Varnya): traditionally used in scrub preparations for skin lightening and exfoliation. In vitro studies have reported competitive inhibition of the enzyme tyrosinase.
  • Eye diseases with skin manifestation (Netra Roga): traditionally used for eye diseases with skin manifestation. Studies have reported broad antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity for berberine.
  • Wound healing (Vrana): traditionally used for wound healing. Studies have reported anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity for berberine.

What do recent studies show?

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • No serious hepatotoxicity linked to berberine despite wide-scale use; clinical trial biomarkers showed no toxic effects on liver, muscles, or kidneys. EFSA has called for additional data on long-term safety of berberine-containing food supplements
  • Topical application is well-tolerated; adverse reactions in clinical trials with Berberis root extract were minor and comparable to placebo group. Oral berberine may interact with CYP3A4-metabolized drugs

What is it made of?

Key Active Markers

  • Berberine
  • Palmatine
  • Jatrorrhizine
  • Berbamine
  • Tannins
  • Oxyberberine
  • Karachine
  • Taxilamine

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Tablet, Capsule, Kashayam (decoction), Netra Bindu (eye drops), Taila (medicated oil), Kwath Ghana (solid extract)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder twice daily; 500mg standardized extract capsule twice daily; 50-100ml decoction twice daily; eye drops as directed

Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water for metabolic conditions; after meals for GI conditions to reduce mucosal irritation

Storage: Store in airtight, amber or opaque containers below 25 deg C, protected from light. Berberine degrades under UV exposure. Eye drops: store at 2-8 deg C, discard 28 days after opening.

Marker Compounds: Berberine, Palmatine, Jatrorrhizine, Berbamine, Oxyberberine, Columbamine

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Pippali (Piper longum) - piperine enhances berberine bioavailability 5x
  • With Haridra (Curcuma longa) for synergistic anti-inflammatory action
  • With Amalaki
  • With Triphala for ophthalmic applications
  • With Nimba for skin disorders and antimicrobial synergy

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses2

  1. Roshanravan B, Yousefizadeh S, Apaydin Yildirim B and others. 2023. The effects of Berberis vulgaris L. and Berberis aristata L. in metabolic syndrome patients: a systematic and meta-analysis studyArchives of physiology and biochemistry. PMID 33040642 · doi:10.1080/13813455.2020.1828482
  2. Tóth B, Németh D, Soós A and others. 2020. The Effects of a Fixed Combination of Berberis aristata and Silybum marianum on Dyslipidaemia - A Meta-analysis and Systematic ReviewPlanta medica. PMID 31784970 · doi:10.1055/a-1063-1649

Randomised controlled trials3

  1. Saeidi S, Ghanadian SM, Poostiyan N and others. 2024. Evaluation of the effectiveness of Berberis integerrima Bunge root extract combined with spearmint essential oil in the treatment of acne vulgaris: A randomized controlled clinical trialJournal of cosmetic dermatology. PMID 38545754 · doi:10.1111/jocd.16291
  2. Derosa G, Bonaventura A, Bianchi L and others. 2013. Effects of Berberis aristata/Silybum marianum association on metabolic parameters and adipocytokines in overweight dyslipidemic patientsJournal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents. PMID 24152839
  3. Derosa G, Bonaventura A, Bianchi L and others. 2013. Berberis aristata/Silybum marianum fixed combination on lipid profile and insulin secretion in dyslipidemic patientsExpert opinion on biological therapy. PMID 23971720 · doi:10.1517/14712598.2013.832751

Other clinical studies and reviews5

  1. Duda-Madej A, Lipska P, Viscardi S and others. 2025. Targeting Skin Neoplasms: A Review of Berberine's Anticancer PropertiesCells. PMID 40710294 · doi:10.3390/cells14141041
  2. Samadi P, Sarvarian P, Gholipour E and others. 2020. Berberine: A novel therapeutic strategy for cancerIUBMB life. PMID 32735398 · doi:10.1002/iub.2350
  3. Cicero AF, Baggioni A. 2016. Berberine and Its Role in Chronic DiseaseAdvances in experimental medicine and biology. PMID 27671811 · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-41334-1_2
  4. Potdar D, Hirwani RR, Dhulap S. 2012. Phyto-chemical and pharmacological applications of Berberis aristataFitoterapia. PMID 22808523 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2012.04.012
  5. Joshi PV, Shirkhedkar AA, Prakash K and others. 2011. Antidiarrheal activity, chemical and toxicity profile of Berberis aristataPharmaceutical biology. PMID 20738174 · doi:10.3109/13880209.2010.500295

Laboratory and animal studies2

  1. Awari A, Kumar M, Kaushik D and others. 2024. Proximate Analysis and Techno-Functional Properties of Berberis aristata Root Powder: Implications for Food Industry ApplicationsFoods (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 39272566 · doi:10.3390/foods13172802
  2. Tamane P, Mahadik K, Pokharkar V. 2023. Buccal spray of standardized Berberis aristata extract causes tumour regression, chemoprotection and downregulation of inflammatory mediators in oral cancer hamster modelJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 37315644 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116732

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

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Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.