Berberis aristata (tree turmeric) is widely known as “Daru haldi & Chitra” is spinous herb native to norther Himalyan region. Berberis aristata has been an integral part of ayurvedic medicines from long time with it’s well known ant-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, anti bacterial potential. The research study aimed at evaluating the bioactive efficacy of medicinal plant under study by preparation of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Berberis Aristata and comparing the bioactive content in each of the extracts. The study also included a microbial assay to determine the shelflife of the Berberis aqueous root extracts, longevity and duration of efficacy of the bioactives present in the food component extracts. The aqueous and alcoholic (methanolic) extracts were prepared for the comparative assessment of the presence of total phenol, total flavonoid and total tannin content. Total phenol and tannin content was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu’s method and content was expressed as mg GAE(gallic acid equivalent) /g of the plant tissue while total flavonoid content was assessed by Aluminium calorimetric assay and it’s amount was expressed as mg QE (quercetin equivalent)/g of the plant tissue. The major outcome expected out of the study included a higher total flavonoid content in both aqueous and alcoholic extracts of berberis as an extensive literature review confirms that higher intake of dietary flavonoids is inversely proportional to steroidogenesis which plays a major role in the pathophysiology of PCOS. Studies also revealed that higher the intake of total dietary flavonoids lower is the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic syndrome in PCOS affected women.
