Barberries (Zarishk) زرشک سیاہ

Overview

Berberis are a group of small berries, sweet and sour in taste. They are widely distributed in tropical regions (Asia, South America, and Africa) and scantly in temperate regions (Europe) of the world. There are several species of berberis; however, only a few of them are known to have food value.

Benefits

Barberry has been used to treat candida (yeast) infections of the skin or vagina, as well as inflammation and infection of the urinary, gastrointestinal, and respiratory tracts (sore throat, nasal congestion, sinusitis, and bronchitis.
Barberry should ideally be used in combination with regular antibiotic medication because the serious effects of bacterial diarrhea make it inappropriate to utilize the herb alone to treat symptoms.
he berberine compound found in barberry plants can help improve cholesterol levels as it may lessen low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides. LDL is the “bad” cholesterol because some of the LDL can enter artery walls. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood.
erberine may help improve the health of those with congestive heart failure, a condition in which your heart muscle doesn’t pump enough blood.
Barberries, or more specifically, the berberine compound in barberries, may be effective in treating diarrhea.

Berberine seems to slightly reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. The results of one pilot study on 84 patients published in 2008 suggest that taking 500 mg of berberine two to three times a day for up to three months might control blood sugar as effectively as metformin, the first-line drug for type 2 diabetes
Berberine can lower blood sugar, improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels, reduce testosterone levels, and lower waist-to-hip ratio in women with PCOS, a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age.8 In some women with PCOS, the drug metformin is prescribed to prevent diabetes from developing (women with PCOS have been shown to have higher levels of insulin when compared to women of the same weight without the condition).

Side Effects

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.

How To Consume

Barberries are known to have a tart, slightly sweet flavor and can be eaten raw, in jam, or as a component of rice dishes and salads. They can also be juiced or used to make tea. Supplemental forms of barberry include dried capsules, liquid extracts, and ointments or gels made from whole berries or berberine extract.

Nutritional Value

1/4-cup (28-gram) serving of dried barberries contains:

Calories: 89
Protein: 1 gram
Fat: 1 gram
Carbs: 18 grams
Fiber: 3 grams
Vitamin C: 213% of the Daily Value (DV)
Iron: 15% of the DV