BARBERRY IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND ITS POTENTIAL ROLE IN THE ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY OF CHRONIC VIRAL HEPATITIS

Chronic viral hepatitis remains one of the leading causes of progressive liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Although modern antiviral therapy has significantly improved the prognosis of chronic hepatitis B and C, interest in complementary hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory approaches remains high, especially in regions where medicinal plants have a long history of use. Barberry, known botanically as Berberis vulgaris L., is widely used in traditional medicine and contains biologically active compounds, among which berberine is the most studied. Experimental and clinical literature suggests that barberry and berberine may demonstrate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, metabolic, and potential antiviral effects. These properties may be relevant to chronic viral hepatitis, where oxidative stress, persistent inflammation, immune dysregulation, and metabolic disturbances contribute to liver injury. However, the current evidence does not support the use of barberry as an independent antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B or C. Its possible role should be considered only as an adjunctive, physician-supervised approach within evidence-based antiviral therapy and liver monitoring. This narrative review analyzes the ethnomedical background, phytochemical composition, pharmacological mechanisms, potential benefits, limitations, and safety considerations of Berberis vulgaris in chronic viral hepatitis.