Plant Profile

Oregon Grape

Compiled by the Omnia Sana editorial team from the plant database ·Last updated August 15, 2026

Mahonia aquifolium

Family: Berberidaceae · Parts used: Root (and bark, wood) · Also known as: Oregon grape root, Holly-leaved barberry, Berberis aquifolium

Common names in 14 European languages →

The complete database record: 1 documented constituent, 3 pharmacological actions, 8 traditional / indicated uses, with 14 cited sources.

Botanical Description

Evergreen shrub, 0.5-2 m tall, spreading by underground rhizomes to form thickets. The pinnate leaves resemble holly, with 5-9 glossy, dark green, spiny-toothed leaflets that often turn bronze-red in winter. Small, bright yellow, six-petalled flowers are borne in dense, upright terminal racemes in early spring, followed by clusters of blue-black, grape-like berries with a waxy bloom. The wood and inner bark of the stem and root are bright yellow when cut, owing to their high content of berberine-type alkaloids.

Height: 0.5-2 m

Habit: Evergreen, rhizomatous, colony-forming shrub

Leaves: Pinnate, holly-like, 5-9 glossy dark green spiny-toothed leaflets

Flowers: Small, bright yellow, six-petalled, in dense upright terminal racemes

Stem: Woody; wood and inner bark bright yellow when cut

Root: Woody, rhizomatous, bright yellow within (berberine-type alkaloids)

Fruit: Clusters of blue-black, grape-like berries with a waxy bloom

Flowering Period: Early spring (March-April)

Habitat & Distribution

Native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, growing in coniferous woodland understorey, forest margins and rocky slopes; widely introduced and naturalised as an ornamental and hedging shrub in temperate regions elsewhere.

Harvesting

The root and root bark, the medicinal parts, are dug from established plants - traditionally in autumn - and dried. Because wild populations are slow-growing, cultivated or nursery-sourced material is preferred over wild-harvesting.

Parts: Root, Bark

Season: Autumn

Key Constituents

Isoquinoline alkaloids (berberine, berbamine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine)^{[2, 11, 12]}

Berberine is the main anti-psoriatic and antimicrobial constituent.

AlkaloidsBerberine

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[7, 10, 11]}

Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative (slows the skin-cell overgrowth of psoriasis)

Anticancer (preclinical)^{[3, 4, 6, 11]}

Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative (slows the skin-cell overgrowth of psoriasis)

Antimicrobial^{[2, 5, 8, 9, 12]}

Antimicrobial (berberine) - supports skin and mucosal infection

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^[11]Good · 7/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 7

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →

Cancer (anticancer research)^[3]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 2

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →

Eczema^[11]Good · 7/10

Topical for atopic dermatitis (eczema) and skin irritation

Evidence: 7

Label: Eczema

more plants for eczema →detailed sources →

Infection (general)^{[5, 12]}Preliminary · 2/10

Antimicrobial (berberine) - supports skin and mucosal infection

Evidence: 2

Label: Infection (general)

more plants for infection (general) →detailed sources →

Inflammation (general)^{[10, 11]}Good · 7/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 7

Label: Inflammation (general)

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Psoriasis^{[1, 7, 11, 14]}Strong · 9/10

Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative (slows the skin-cell overgrowth of psoriasis); Topical treatment of mild-to-moderate psoriasis (reduces plaque severity) - a double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT showed significant improvement in PASI and quality-of-life scores

Evidence: 9

Label: Psoriasis

more plants for psoriasis →detailed sources →

Skin irritation^{[1, 11]}Good · 8/10

Topical for atopic dermatitis (eczema) and skin irritation

Evidence: 8

Label: Skin irritation

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Wounds^[12]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 1

Label: Wounds

more plants for wounds →detailed sources →

Traditional Use & History

Oregon grape root has a traditional Native American and Eclectic-medicine history as a bitter tonic and alterative (blood-purifying) remedy and for skin conditions. Its main modern use, supported by clinical trials, is topical application of a standardised bark extract for mild-to-moderate psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (eczema), where its berberine-type alkaloids give anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects on skin cells.^{[1, 11, 12]}

Preparations

Topical cream/ointment^{[1, 11, 14]}

A standardised 10% Mahonia aquifolium bark extract cream, the best-studied form, applied to affected skin up to three times daily for psoriasis or eczema.

Dosage

Topical 10% extract cream^{[11, 14]}

Clinical trials in psoriasis and eczema have used a 10% Mahonia aquifolium bark extract cream applied to affected areas up to three times daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription; internal use is not well studied and should be supervised.

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[12]Caution

Avoid internal use in pregnancy and breastfeeding: like goldenseal, the berberine it contains can cross the placenta and into milk and worsen newborn jaundice (kernicterus risk).

Safety note^{[11, 12]}Caution

Berberine impairs the metabolism of some medicines - for example it raises blood levels of cyclosporine, risking toxicity - so use caution with prescription drugs. It is used mainly topically for skin conditions.

Harvest Readiness

^[13]

Part: root

Signals: Dig the root and root bark in autumn (or in early spring); the golden-yellow inner bark and wood carry the berberine.

Basis: traditional

Source Quote: The root and root bark are best harvested in the autumn.

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: PFAF (REF-3291); the root and root bark are best dug in autumn (also given as 'late autumn or early spring'). Single lineage -> provisional.

External Identifiers

GBIF ›Wikidata ›

References & Sources

Gulliver, W.P. and Donsky, H.J (2005) 'A report on three recent clinical trials using Mahonia aquifolium 10% topical cream and a review of the worldwide clinical experience with Mahonia aquifolium for the treatment of plaque psoriasis', American Journal of Therapeutics, 12(5), pp. 398-406. doi:10.1097/01.mjt.0000174350.82270.da Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mjt.0000174350.82270.da
Cernakova, M. and Kostalova, D (2002) 'Antimicrobial activity of berberine--a constituent of Mahonia aquifolium', Folia Microbiologica, 47(4), pp. 375-378. doi:10.1007/BF02818693 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02818693
Damjanovic, A., Kolundzija, B., Matic, I.Z., Krivokuca, A. and others (2020) 'Mahonia aquifolium Extracts Promote Doxorubicin Effects against Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells In Vitro', Molecules, 25(22), pp. 5233. doi:10.3390/molecules25225233 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25225233
Cernakova, M., Kostalova, D., Kettmann, V., Plodova, M. and others (2002) 'Potential antimutagenic activity of berberine, a constituent of Mahonia aquifolium', BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2, pp. 2. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-2-2 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-2-2
Slobodnikova, L., Kostalova, D., Labudova, D., Kotulova, D. and Kettmann, V (2004) 'Antimicrobial activity of Mahonia aquifolium crude extract and its major isolated alkaloids', Phytotherapy Research, 18(8), pp. 674-676. doi:10.1002/ptr.1517 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1517
Godjevac, D., Damjanovic, A., Stanojkovic, T.P., Andjelkovic, B. and Zdunic, G (2018) 'Identification of cytotoxic metabolites from Mahonia aquifolium using 1H NMR-based metabolomics approach', Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 150, pp. 9-14. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2017.11.075 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2017.11.075
Muller, K. and Ziereis, K (1994) 'The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; I. Pro- and antioxidant properties and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase', Planta Medica, 60(5), pp. 421-424. doi:10.1055/s-2006-959523 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-959523
Rohrer, U., Kunz, E.M.K., Lenkeit, K., Schaffner, W. and Meyer, J (2007) 'Antimicrobial activity of Mahonia aquifolium and two of its alkaloids against oral bacteria', Schweizer Monatsschrift fur Zahnmedizin, 117(11), pp. 1126-1131. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Antimicrobial%20activity%20of%20Mahonia%20aquifolium%20and%20two%20of%20its%20alkaloids%20against%20oral%20bacteria
Vollekova, A., Kostalova, D., Kettmann, V. and Toth, J (2003) 'Antifungal activity of Mahonia aquifolium extract and its major protoberberine alkaloids', Phytotherapy Research, 17(7), pp. 834-837. doi:10.1002/ptr.1256 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1256
Hajnicka, V., Kostalova, D., Svecova, D., Sochorova, R. and others (2002) 'Effect of Mahonia aquifolium active compounds on interleukin-8 production in the human monocytic cell line THP-1', Planta Medica, 68(3), pp. 266-268. doi:10.1055/s-2002-23126 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2002-23126
Gulliver, W.P. and colleagues (2018) 'Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Mahonia aquifolium for the Treatment of Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis', Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334833/ Meta-analysis / review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334833/
Herbal Reality (n.d.) 'Oregon Grape Root (Berberis aquifolium): Benefits, Uses, Safety'. Available at: https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/oregon-grape/ Traditional / reference
https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/oregon-grape/
Plants For A Future 'Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Mahonia+aquifolium Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Mahonia+aquifolium
Bernstein, S., Donsky, H., Gulliver, W., Hamilton, D., Nobel, S. and Norman, R (2006) 'Treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis with Relieva, a Mahonia aquifolium extract - a double-blind, placebo-controlled study', American Journal of Therapeutics, 13(2), pp. 121--126. doi:10.1097/00045391-200603000-00007 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1097/00045391-200603000-00007

Selected studies & references

ReviewReview of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Mahonia aquifolium for the Treatment of Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis source↗ (2018)

RctTreatment of mild to moderate psoriasis with Relieva, a Mahonia aquifolium extract - a double-blind, placebo-controlled study source↗ (2006)

ClinicalA report on three recent clinical trials using Mahonia aquifolium 10% topical cream and a review of the worldwide clinical experience with Mahonia aquifolium for the treatment of plaque psoriasis source↗ (2005)

PreclinicalMahonia aquifolium Extracts Promote Doxorubicin Effects against Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells In Vitro source↗ (2020)

PreclinicalIdentification of cytotoxic metabolites from Mahonia aquifolium using 1H NMR-based metabolomics approach source↗ (2018)

PreclinicalAntimicrobial activity of Mahonia aquifolium and two of its alkaloids against oral bacteria source↗ (2007)

PreclinicalAntimicrobial activity of Mahonia aquifolium crude extract and its major isolated alkaloids source↗ (2004)

PreclinicalAntifungal activity of Mahonia aquifolium extract and its major protoberberine alkaloids source↗ (2003)

All 13 studies in the Knowledge Finder →

Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.

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