In the forests and hills of Kashmir, barberry shrubs were once a familiar part of childhood summers. Their small, tangy berries known locally as Kawdach or Sumbal were eagerly picked by children and also served as an important food source for birds and small animals. Today, however, these hardy Himalayan shrubs are increasingly being uprooted for their medicinal roots, raising concerns about their long-term survival.
Barberry belongs to the genus Berberis in the Berberidaceae family and grows widely across the Himalayan region. Several species occur in Jammu and Kashmir, including Berberis lycium, Berberis kashmirana, Berberis huegeliana, Berberis pachycantha, and Berberis aristata. These thorny shrubs are well adapted to harsh mountain environments and often thrive on dry slopes and disturbed land where many other plants struggle to survive.
During spring, barberry plants produce clusters of bright yellow flowers that later develop into red or purple berries. These fruits play an important ecological role by feeding birds and small mammals, which then disperse the seeds across the landscape. In this way, the shrubs help sustain biodiversity in fragile mountain ecosystems.
The plants also perform another vital function. Their strong root systems help stabilise soil on slopes and road cuttings, reducing the risk of erosion and landslides in the Himalayan terrain. Because they tolerate grazing and disturbance, barberry shrubs often survive in degraded landscapes where other vegetation disappears.
For centuries, local communities have also valued barberry for its medicinal properties. The roots and bark contain berberine, a yellow alkaloid used in traditional medicine and as a natural dye. Scientific research has shown that berberine has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and may also help regulate blood sugar levels.
In traditional medicine systems, the roots are used to prepare a medicinal extract known as rasaut or rasanjan. This extract is commonly used in Ayurvedic formulations for treating infections, digestive problems, skin diseases, liver disorders, jaundice, and eye ailments. In many Himalayan villages, barberry shrubs have also been used for fencing, fuelwood, and sometimes as fodder for livestock.
Until recently, the use of barberry was mostly limited to local needs. Villagers would occasionally dig up small portions of the root without destroying the entire plant. However, the growing demand for herbal products has turned the shrub into a commercially traded medicinal resource.
Across several parts of Kashmir, collectors are now uprooting entire plants to obtain their roots, which are sold to traders and middlemen supplying herbal markets outside the region. At the collection stage, the roots usually sell for modest prices around ₹30 to ₹50 per kilogram but their value rises significantly as they move through the supply chain.
The problem lies not only in the growing demand but also in the harvesting method. Since the medicinal part lies underground, collectors often remove the entire shrub rather than cutting small sections of root. This practice destroys the plant completely and leaves bare patches of soil on already fragile mountain slopes.
Similar patterns of overharvesting have been reported in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where barberry species are also collected for the medicinal plant trade. Without clear harvesting guidelines, such plants can face rapid depletion before their ecological importance is fully understood.
In India, the harvesting and transport of forest produce are regulated under the Indian Forest Act of 1927 and related transit rules. In Jammu and Kashmir, the trade of non-timber forest produce is currently governed by the J&K Non-Timber Forest Produce Policy 2022 along with the J&K Forest Transit Rules 2020.
Despite these regulations, managing barberry harvesting remains challenging because the plant grows not only in forests but also on village commons and agricultural edges. Enforcement alone is therefore difficult.
From a conservation perspective, most Himalayan barberry species are not currently listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and several species are classified as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List due to their wide distribution.
However, experts warn that even species with broad distribution can suffer local population declines if harvesting continues unchecked. Another concern is the lack of reliable scientific data on the abundance and regeneration of barberry plants in the Himalayan region.
Researchers say the solution lies in better monitoring, sustainable harvesting methods, and community participation in conservation. Initiatives such as Biodiversity Management Committees could help regulate local harvesting practices and ensure that wild populations are not overexploited.
Propagation in forest nurseries may also provide a practical way forward. Growing barberry plants through cuttings or seedlings could support restoration programmes while also providing a controlled supply for medicinal use.
For many people in Kashmir, the barberry shrub still carries memories of childhood summers spent picking its sour-sweet berries. But today, the same plant is increasingly valued for its roots rather than its fruits. If the rising demand for medicinal roots continues without sustainable management, the quiet shrub that once fed children and birds may gradually disappear from many Himalayan slopes where it has grown for generations.