Barberry: An Elapsed Remedial Plant, Wants Conservation

Berberis is a well-known genus represented by 55 species in India, and the majority (> 95%) of them are distributed in the Himalayan region. It has been utilized for various pharmacological activities. An alkaloid, ‘berberine’, obtained from it has antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. Periodic estimation, monitoring, and reports indicate that the advent of herbal renaissance in recent times has led to heavy extraction of this medicinal plant from the wild, resulting in its categorization as an endangered plant. This article is aimed at highlighting the ecological, medicinal, and pharmaceutical importance, assessing the stress on the plant, and trying to trace the cause of their degradation and management practices in detail. Environmental awareness, local system, establishment of acts and legislation, national and international conservation strategies can play a key role in saving and restoring this unique medicinal plant.