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Mahonia Aquifolium Herb
Mahonia aquifolium
liver tonic in Pacific Northwest Native American medicine
Mahonia aquifolium contains berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid with demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Berberine inhibits keratinocyte proliferation and modulates immune responses, which may help reduce psoriatic plaque formation. The herb also contains berbamine and mahonine, compounds that contribute to its hepatoprotective and antimicrobial effects. These combined actions support its traditional use for chronic skin conditions. Evidence level: C (preliminary clinical evidence).
Does Mahonia aquifolium interact with any medications?
Mahonia aquifolium may interact with several medication classes due to its berberine content. It can potentiate the effects of antidiabetic medications, increasing hypoglycemia risk. Berberine inhibits cytochrome P450 enzymes, potentially altering the metabolism of pharmaceuticals processed through these pathways. Individuals taking blood sugar medications, anticoagulants, or cytochrome P450 substrates should consult a healthcare provider before use. Evidence level: C.
What is the recommended dosage for Mahonia aquifolium?
The typical adult dosage for Mahonia aquifolium is 2-4 grams of dried root bark or 2-4 milliliters of tincture daily. For skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema, topical creams containing Mahonia extract are applied to affected areas two to three times daily. Dosage should be adjusted based on individual tolerance and condition severity. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized recommendations. Evidence level: Traditional.
Is Mahonia aquifolium safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Mahonia aquifolium is considered unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The herb contains berberine, which stimulates uterine contractions and may cause miscarriage or premature labor. Berberine crosses the placenta and may affect fetal development. The herb also passes into breast milk and may harm nursing infants. Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should avoid Mahonia aquifolium entirely. Evidence level: C.
What are the side effects of Mahonia aquifolium?
Common side effects of Mahonia aquifolium include gastrointestinal irritation, which may manifest as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, particularly when taken on an empty stomach. Topical applications may cause photosensitization, increasing skin sensitivity to sunlight. Individuals with hypoglycemia should use caution due to potential blood sugar lowering effects. Discontinue use if adverse reactions occur and consult a healthcare provider. Evidence level: C.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 29 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape) is a botanical agent containing isoquinoline alkaloids used primarily for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties [PMID:33242239, PMID:10767672].
Background
Mahonia aquifolium, also known as Oregon grape, is a native evergreen shrub of the United States [PMID:30666279, PMID:30722629]. It is closely related to the Berberis genus [PMID:30722629].
Traditional uses
The plant has been used for centuries in traditional medicine [PMID:31949880] and is used in folk medicine for inflammatory skin conditions [PMID:12919112].
Active compounds
The plant contains isoquinoline alkaloids, including protoberberines such as berberine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, and magnoflorine, as well as bisbenzylisoquinolines like berbamine and oxyacanthine [PMID:10767672, PMID:23195817, PMID:29202306, PMID:40674142]. Other identified alkaloids include norisocorydine, liriodenine, liriodendrine, sinomenine, and glaucine [PMID:40674142]. Polysaccharides have also been isolated from its stems [PMID:16797146].
Mechanism of action
M. aquifolium extracts exhibit anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and cyclo-oxygenase (CO) [PMID:7997469, PMID:23195817]. It demonstrates antioxidant properties, including the inhibition of lipid peroxidation [PMID:7997469, PMID:16797146]. In cutaneous disorders, it has been shown to reduce the expression of adhesion, proliferation, and activation markers such as ICAM-1, CD3, HLA-DR, keratin 6, keratin 16, and Ki-67 in psoriatic skin [PMID:10352377]. Additionally, it may modulate the immune response by affecting the CD25 lymphocyte activation pathway, interleukin-10 signaling, and tumor necrosis-alpha secretion [PMID:31949880].
Clinical evidence
Evidence APsoriasis
Topical Mahonia aquifolium has demonstrated statistically significant improvements in Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores and Quality of Life Index (QLI) compared to placebo [PMID:16645428]. It is cited as one of the most efficacious topical botanical therapeutics for psoriasis [PMID:28289986, PMID:25904522].
Evidence BAtopic Dermatitis
An ointment containing M. aquifolium, Viola tricolor, and Centella asiatica reduced primary and secondary endpoint scores (erythema, edema, oozing, and pruritus) in adults with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis [PMID:18077922].
Evidence DGallbladder Disease
Oregon grape is suggested to potentially reduce gallbladder inflammation and relieve liver congestion [PMID:12450782].
Evidence CAcne
Crude extract of Oregon grape root is considered useful in acne due to synergistic antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties [PMID:12919112].
Safety & adverse effects
Berberine, a primary constituent, has not been linked to serum aminotransferase elevations or clinically apparent liver injury [PMID:33242239].
Drug interactions
In vitro studies indicate that Oregon grape root extracts can inhibit the efflux of cyclosporine A (CsA) and digoxin in Caco-2 cells by modulating P-glycoprotein activity [PMID:38304488].
Evidence summary
The strongest evidence (Meta-analysis/Systematic Review) supports the use of topical Mahonia aquifolium for psoriasis. Evidence for atopic dermatitis is based on a randomized controlled trial of a combination ointment. Other claims regarding gallbladder and acne are based on reviews or hypotheses.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 27671811 (2016) — Berberine and Its Role in Chronic Disease. · Advances in experimental medicine and biology
2.PMID: 33242239 (2012) — Herbal medicine for treating psoriasis: A systematic review. · Complementary therapies in medicine
3.PMID: 10767672 (2000) — Berberine. · Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic
4.PMID: 16148424 (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
5.PMID: 30666279 (2018) — Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Mahonia aquifolium for the Treatment of Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis. · The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 33182665 (2020) — Mahonia aquifolium Extracts Promote Doxorubicin Effects against Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells In Vitro. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
7.PMID: 31949880 (2019) — Antitumoral and Immunomodulatory Effect of Mahonia aquifolium Extracts. · Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
8.PMID: 40674142 (2025) — Bioactive isoquinoline alkaloids from Mahonia aquifolium (pursh.) Nutt acclimatized to natural conditions in Georgia. · Natural product research
9.PMID: 31902359 (2020) — New Development of Novel Berberine Derivatives against Bacteria. · Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
10.PMID: 24373199 (2014) — Wheat stripe (yellow) rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici. · Molecular plant pathology
11.PMID: 12450782 (2003) — Alternative treatment of gallbladder disease. · Medical hypotheses
12.PMID: 30722629 (2013) — First Report of Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) as an Alternate Host for the Wheat Stripe Rust Pathogen (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) Under Artificial Inoculation. · Plant disease
13.PMID: 38304488 (2023) — Effect of Oregon grape root extracts on P-glycoprotein mediated transport in in vitro cell lines. · Journal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe canadienne des sciences pharmaceutiques
14.PMID: 7997469 (1994) — The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; I. Pro- and antioxidant properties and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase. · Planta medica
15.PMID: 21105177 (2011) — Traditional herbal remedies that influence cell adhesion molecule activity. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
17.PMID: 16645428 (2006) — Treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis with Reliéva, a Mahonia aquifolium extract--a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. · American journal of therapeutics
18.PMID: 17634120 (2007) — Free radical scavenging activity and lipoxygenase inhibition of Mahonia aquifolium extract and isoquinoline alkaloids. · Journal of inflammation (London, England)
19.PMID: 12919112 (2003) — From medical herbalism to phytotherapy in dermatology: back to the future. · Dermatologic therapy
20.PMID: 25904522 (2015) — Complementary and alternative medicine for psoriasis: what the dermatologist needs to know. · American journal of clinical dermatology
21.PMID: 28289986 (2017) — Topical Botanical Agents for the Treatment of Psoriasis: A Systematic Review. · American journal of clinical dermatology
22.PMID: 10352377 (1999) — Effects of Mahonia aquifolium ointment on the expression of adhesion, proliferation, and activation markers in the skin of patients with psoriasis. · Forschende Komplementarmedizin
23.PMID: 29202306 (2018) — Identification of cytotoxic metabolites from Mahonia aquifolium using 1H NMR-based metabolomics approach. · Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
24.PMID: 18077922 (2007) — A randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, half-side comparison with a herbal ointment containing Mahonia aquifolium, Viola tricolor and Centella asiatica for the treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis. · International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
25.PMID: 23195817 (1994) — Analytical and pharmacological studies on Mahonia aquifolium. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
26.PMID: 37047332 (2023) — Determination of Selected Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Chelidonium majus, Mahonia aquifolium and Sanguinaria canadensis Extracts by Liquid Chromatography and Their In Vitro and In Vivo Cytotoxic Activity against Human Cancer Cells. · International journal of molecular sciences
27.PMID: 11943071 (2002) — Potential antimutagenic activity of berberine, a constituent of Mahonia aquifolium. · BMC complementary and alternative medicine
28.PMID: 23909714 (2013) — Plant extracts for the topical management of psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. · The British journal of dermatology
29.PMID: 38927546 (2024) — Pharmacological Potential of Three Berberine-Containing Plant Extracts Obtained from Berberis vulgaris L., Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt., and Phellodendron amurense Rupr. · Biomedicines