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The red berries or fruit of the plant are edible and a rich source of vitamin C with a very sharp taste. The fruit, stem and root bark contain alkaloids, the most prominent being berberine. Laboratory studies in test tubes and animals suggest that berberine has anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive and sedative effects. Berberine has also been shown to have a positive impact on the immune system, making it helpful for a wide range of infections and diseases. Many people like to use Japanese barberry in landscapes because it has attractive orange-red fall foliage and red fruit. Tom Ranney of North Carolina State University. It’s a lot smaller than Japanese barberry with purple foliage and orange-yellow flowers that produce berries but no no seeds.

If you’re wondering what looks good with barberry in a garden, some common companion plants for barberry shrubs include ornamental grasses and perennial yellow flowers such as daylilies. Fights Infection Many studies have pointed out that the berberine contained within barberry has significant antimicrobial and antifungal abilities. By inhibiting the ability of bacteria to attach to human cells, it helps protect against many infections. Barberry is used to ease a large variety of inflammation and infection in the body. It helps with bladder, urinary tract and gastrointestinal infections.