Barberry Best Plant extracts Soothing Anti-Ageing Barberry at a glance Has potent antioxidant properties Also a soothing ingredient Rich source of berberine Also called Berberis vulgaris root extract Barberry description Barberry is the general name for a genus of deciduous trees known as _Berberis_. The particular species of tree whose parts are often used in skin care products is _Berberis vulgaris_, or European barberry. Barberry root extract, like many other plant extracts, has potent antioxidant properties, fighting off pro-aging free radicals. Most of that antioxidant benefit comes from a component in barberry called berberine, which is a type of quaternary ammonium salt. Studies also show that berberine has anti-inflammatory properties, giving barberry root extract its well-known soothing benefits. Berberine also has antibacterial and antifungal properties, although it’s not typically used in cosmetics for these purposes. Related ingredients: Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract