Pharmacognostic Evaluation of stem of Berberis aristata DC.

Stem of Berberis aristata DC (Berberidaceae) is used in Indian traditional medicine for treating antibacterial, antiperiodic, antidiarrhoeal, ophthalmic, skin diseases and diabetes mellitus. It is an important commodity in folklore medicine of India for as laxative, ophthalmia and other eye diseases so far there no record on detailed pharmacognostic evaluation of this crude drug, hence this communication is useful for identification this plant material.