To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. What’s more, according to a few health reports, these little jewels have been classed as a superfood due to their high content of Vitamin C and antioxidant. Their sharp flavour and vibrant colour accentuate many dishes, the result being a wonderful rubied appearance. With the fruits of dried barberry, you should be careful with pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under 12 years old. While barberries are generally recognized as safe for most people, there are some reports that large amounts or high supplemental doses can cause stomach upset and diarrhea ( 15, 16, 34).

Adding barberries to your diet may help you reap some health benefits, but be sure to consult your healthcare provider before taking supplemental barberry or berberine.One study in 45 boys between the ages of 11 and 12 found that applying barberry dental gel for 21 days reduced plaque and gingivitis significantly more than a placebo ( 27). The dried barberry is the magic ingredient chefs use to garnish the perfect delicious golden colour saffron rice which you can cook with this recipe and get great results easily at home.

Barberries’ flavor is similar to that of unsweetened dried cranberries—but their smaller size (on par with currants) means they disperse more easily in dishes. Jam is made from it, jelly is prepared, juices and berries are added as a pleasant sour seasoning to savory sauces. In Afghan and Iranian cooking, berberis (barberry) flavors rice dishes, known as Polow (in Persian) and Pilau (in Dari). Grown in warm and dry desert-like climates in Asia, barberries are carefully harvested by hand and gradually sun dried without any processing. Furthermore, one study in 196 adults with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) found taking 800 mg of berberine hydrochloride per day significantly decreased the frequency of diarrhea and the urgent need to defecate, compared with a placebo ( 22).Mix barberries with orange blossom water (another Persian ingredient) and a few safftron strands to make an attractive salad dressing. Berberine is a member of the alkaloid family, a group of compounds known for their therapeutic effects ( 9, 10). It is an excellent prophylaxis in the treatment of cystitis, urethritis and other genitourinary diseases.

While we have taken care in preparing this summary and believe it is accurate, it is not a substitute for your reading the product packaging and label prior to use. The ratings/reviews displayed here may not be representative of every listing on this page, or of every review for these listings. Another 8-week study in 30 people with type 2 diabetes found that those who took 2 mg of dried barberry fruit extract daily had reduced hemoglobin A1c levels and significantly lower blood sugar levels, compared with a placebo group ( 17). Barberries are rich in berberine, a unique plant compound that may be associated with several health benefits. Several test-tube studies have shown that berberine prevents tumor growth and initiates cell death in human prostate, liver, bone, and breast cancer cells ( 29, 30, 31, 32).Pour saffron water over one side of the rice, covering about one-quarter of the surface and leaving the majority of it white. In particular, the berries are an excellent source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that may help protect against cellular damage, which can lead to heart disease and cancer ( 2). Dried barberry is widely used for the preparation of infusions, tea, and is regularly used as a spice in cooking.