Berberis darwinii Hook.

Berberis darwinii Hook. has its natural origin in both slopes of the Andes Mountains, in Southern Chile and Argentina, but the species has been naturalized also in other continents. In traditional medicine, it is used by the Mapuche ethnic group for the treatment of inflammatory processes, feverish states and stomach pain. The secondary metabolites in B. darwinii, primarily alkaloids and polyphenols, show a great diversity. There are several scientific reports and ethnographic antecedents about the traditional uses. From a medicinal point of view, this seems to be a promising plant species.