It is a deciduous shrub growing up to 4 m high. The leaves are small oval, 2-5 cm long and 1-2 cm broad, with a serrated margin; they are borne in clusters of 2-5 together, subtended by a three-branched spine 3-8 mm long. The flowers are yellow, 4-6 mm across, produced on 3-6 cm long panicles in late spring. The fruit is an oblong red berry 7-10 mm long and 3-5 mm broad, ripening in late summer or autumn.

Antiprotozoal (plant); hypothermic (fruit); laxative (fruit and root); promotes or stimulates the flow of bile and dilates blood vessels (root bark); antiseptic, astringent, cholagogue, hepatic, purgative, refrigerant, stomachic and tonic (bark and root bark)

Herb Information
Plants for a Future
Botanical.com
King's American Dispensatory

Berberine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, oxyacanthine, columbamine, berberrubine, berbamine, ixotetrandrine and xatroricine (root bark).

Diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice and skin diseases (root bark juice); sporadic fever (root bark decoction); throat and mouth irritation (fruit or root decoction); for strengthening the gums and relieving pyorrhea (fruit juice); stomach cancer and stomachache.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.