ABSTRACT
Introduction: Berberis tinctoria an evergreen shrub, endemic and predominantly found at a higher altitude of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India. This leaf and fruit are edible, which are also used in homeopathic remedies for countless illnesses. Objectives: B. tinctoria with diverse ethnomedicinal uses was focused in the prevailing study to detailed the phytochemical and pharmacological properties for further imminent research in this species. Materials and methods: Published data in this review were all gathered from the online bibliographical databases: PubMed, Elsevier, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and local ethnic community peoples of Kurumba and Toda. Results: B. tinctoria was used as a Ayurvedic and homeopathy medicine by the tribal communities. The previous findings of B. tinctoria were used for skin diseases, wound healing, inflammatory, menorrhagia, diarrhea, jaundice, and a snakebites. The phytochemical studies revealed that secondary metabolites, antioxidants, and antimicrobial activity as a result of major alkaloid isoforms of berberine, berbamine, jatrorrhizine, etc. Conclusion: B. tinctoria is an important plant due to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals, especially berberine protoberberine group of benzylisoquinoline. As a result of its diverse ethnopharmacological importance, as well as numerous commercial products and novel bioactive compounds yet to be discovered for future drug discovery and development.