Daruharidra is Indian barberry, a spiny Himalayan shrub whose stem and root wood is bright yellow from berberine. Ayurveda boils it into rasanjana, a dark extract used for eye and skin complaints. Berberine is now one of the most studied plant compounds for blood sugar. Market daruharidra is often substituted with tree turmeric, Coscinium fenestratum, which Tamil calls maramanjal.
- Botanical name
- Berberis aristata DC.
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Tamil
- Maramanjal
- Hindi
- Daruhaldi
- Sanskrit
- Dāruharidrā
- Parts used
- Stem and root in lists
- Habit
- Spiny Himalayan barberry with bright yellow wood
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Daruhaldi
It is an upright, spiny shrub, usually two to three metres tall, with pale bark.
Stiff three-parted spines grow at the nodes, with tufts of leathery, toothed leaves above them.
Bright yellow flowers hang in drooping clusters in spring.
The berries are small and oval, blue-black with a whitish bloom.
Cut stems and roots show bright yellow wood.
Traditional use of Daruhaldi
Ayurveda
Rasanjana, a concentrated extract of the wood, is used for eye inflammation, skin conditions and wounds.
Ayurvedic practice
Kitchen
Ripe berries are eaten fresh by hill communities in the Himalaya.
Himalayan food practice
Dyeing
The yellow wood has been used to dye wool and leather.
Himalayan craft practice
Modern notes on Daruhaldi
Clinical trials of berberine, mostly from other sources, show modest lowering of blood sugar and cholesterol.
Berberine interacts with many medicines by affecting liver enzymes.
In newborns berberine can raise bilirubin levels, which is dangerous.
Overharvesting of roots has reduced wild stands in parts of the Himalaya.
Daruhaldi safety
Do not give barberry or berberine to infants, or use it in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Anyone on diabetes or other regular medicines should ask a doctor first.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows on open slopes and forest edges in the Himalaya and the Nilgiris.
Birds eat the berries and spread the seeds.
Bees visit the yellow flowers in spring.
Related plants
Questions about Daruhaldi
What is daruharidra?
The Sanskrit name for Indian barberry.
Why is the wood yellow?
It is rich in berberine.
Is maramanjal the same plant?
Usually not. It usually means Coscinium fenestratum.
Is berberine safe?
It interacts with medicines and is unsafe for infants.
Are the berries of Daruhaldi edible?
Yes. They are eaten in the Himalaya.
Sources
- Berberis aristata DC. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q814377 (Berberis aristata)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.