View source for Oregon-grape

{{Taxobox
| name = Oregon-grape
| image = Mahonia aquifolium.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ranunculales]]
| familia = [[Berberidaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Mahonia]]''
| species = '''''M. aquifolium'''''
| binomial = ''Mahonia aquifolium''
| binomial_authority = (Pursh) Nutt.
}}


'''Oregon-grape''' (''[[Mahonia]] aquifolium'', [[Berberidaceae]]) is an evergreen [[shrub]] related to the [[barberry]]. Some authors place ''Mahonia'' in the barberry genus, ''[[Berberis]]''. The Oregon-grape is not closely related to [[Vitis|grape]]s, but gets its name from the purple clusters of berries whose color and slightly dusted appearance is reminiscent of [[grape]]s. It is sometimes called ''Tall Oregon-grape'' to distinguish it from [[Creeping Oregon-grape]] (''M. repens'') and "Cascade" or [[Dwarf Oregon-grape]] (''M. nervosa''). The name is often left un-hyphenated as ''Oregon grape'', though doing so invites confusion with the true [[grape]]s.  It also occasionally appears in print as ''Oregongrape''.

[[Image:Mahonia aquifolium3.jpg|thumb|left|Flowers]]

Oregon-grape grows to 1-5 m tall. Its leathery leaves resemble [[holly]] and the stems and twigs have a thickened, corky appearance. The flowers, borne in late spring, are an attractive yellow. 

Oregon-grape is used in landscaping similarly to barberry, as a plant suited for low-maintenance plantings and loose hedges. Oregon-grape is resistant to summer drought, tolerates poor soils, and does not create excessive leaf litter. Its berries attract birds.

The small purplish-black fruits, which are quite tart and contain large seeds, are sometimes used locally mixed with [[Salal]] to make jelly. The fruit is bitter, and generally not eaten without being sweetened first. As the leaves of Oregon-grape are holly-like and resist wilting, the foliage is sometimes used by florists for greenery and a small gathering industry has been established in the [[Pacific Northwest]].  The inner bark of the larger stems and roots of Oregon-grape yield a yellow dye.

Oregon-grape is a native plant on the North American west coast from [[British Columbia]] to northern [[California]], occurring in the understory of [[Douglas-fir]] forests and in brushlands.  It is the [[List of U.S. state flowers|state flower]] of [[Oregon]].

In some areas outside its native range, Oregon-grape has been classified as an invasive exotic species that may displace native vegetation.<ref>[http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/urbanwt/WIS_pages/Introduced%20Shrubs.htm Introduced Shrubs of Birmingham and the Black Country]</ref><ref>[http://ncbg.unc.edu/pages/74/ North Carolina Botanical Garden / Conservation / Plants to Avoid in the Southeastern United States<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.se-eppc.org/southcarolina/SCList.pdf Plants to Avoid in the Southeastern United States Tennessee Invasive Exotic Plant List]</ref><ref>[http://www.tneppc.org/Invasive_Exotic_Plant_List/The_List.htm TN Invasive Exotic Plant List<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

== Medicinal Use ==
The plant is used medicinally by herbalists.  Recent studies indicate that M. aquifolium contains a specific multidrug resistance pump inhibitor (MDR Inhibitor) named 5'methoxyhydnocarpin (5'MHC) which works to decrease bacterial resistance to antibiotics and antibacterial agents.<ref>http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/97/4/1433.pdf</ref>

Oregon grape root is commonly used medicinally as an effective alternative to the threatened [[goldenseal]]. Both plants similarly contain the [[alkaloid]] [[berberine]], known as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial used in the treatment of infection.<ref>[http://health.howstuffworks.com/medical-uses-for-oregon-grape-ga.htm Howstuffworks "Oregon Grape: A Profile of an Alternative Medicine"<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  Berberine and other alkaloids present in Oregon grape root have been shown to kill a wide range of microbes and have been effective in speeding recovery from [[giardia]], [[candida]], [[Infectious diarrhea|viral diarrhea]], and [[cholera]].{{fact|date=February 2007}}  ''Mahonia aquifolium'' is also known to be capable of treatment on inflammatory skin diseases such as [[Eczema]] and [[Psoriasis]].<ref name=rmqe>{{cite web
  | last = Donsky 
  | first = Howard 
  | authorlink = 
  | coauthors = Don Clarke 
  | title = Relieva, a Mahonia Aquifolium Extract for the Treatment of Adult Patients With Atopic Dermatitis
  | work =
  | publisher = 
  | date = 
  | url = http://www.americantherapeutics.com/pt/re/ajt/abstract.00045391-200709000-00008.htm;jsessionid=HnrPMH6R3JhTFQNQphZtJqdp7608hvDvWLt5sm4Wj7pW52SdRL4W!1821113646!181195629!8091!-1
  | format =
  | doi =
  | accessdate = 4 November
  | accessyear = 2007 }}</ref><ref name=frsa>{{cite web
  | last = Rackova 
  | first = Lucia ''et al.'' 
  | authorlink = 
  | coauthors = Don Clarke 
  | title = Free radical scavenging activity and lipoxygenase inhibition of Mahonia aquifolium extract and isoquinoline alkaloids
  | work =
  | publisher = 
  | date = 
  | url = http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1994948
  | format =
  | doi =
  | accessdate = 4 November
  | accessyear = 2007 }}</ref><ref name=tmmpr>{{cite web
  | last = Bernstein 
  | first = Steve ''et al.''
  | authorlink = 
  | coauthors = 
  | title = Treatment of Mild to Moderate Psoriasis with Relieva, a Mahonia aquifolium Extract-A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
  | work =
  | publisher = 
  | date = 
  | url = http://www.americantherapeutics.com/pt/re/ajt/abstract.00045391-200603000-00007.htm;jsessionid=Hnyhk0cdJylLgL8fyNyYdpmy1WpycJvHGpLKFWpfFhX849clNk8j!1821113646!181195629!8091!-1
  | format =
  | doi =
  | accessdate = 4 November
  | accessyear = 2007 }}</ref> Oregon grape root also has anticancer properties that are receiving more attention by researchers.{{fact|date=February 2007}}  Other actions may include [[alterative]], [[diuretic]], [[laxative]] and [[tonic]].<ref>[http://www.appliedhealth.com/nutri/page8411.php Applied Health Oregon Grape<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

'''Health Warning:''' Because of a potential toxicity or adverse effects of berberine, consult a reputable herbalist regarding dosages and treatments. Use of berberine is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.<ref>[http://allnutritionals.com/natural-products/goldenseal-hydrastis-canadensis-l-berberine.shtml Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis L.), Berberine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Phytotherapy]]

==References==
{{citation style}}
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons|Mahonia aquifolium}}
* [[s:Our State Flowers: The Oregon Grape|The Oregon Grape]] in [[s:Our State Flowers: The Floral Emblems Chosen by the Commonwealths|"Our State Flowers: The Floral Emblems Chosen by the Commonwealths"]], ''[[National Geographic|The National Geographic Magazine]]'', XXXI (June 1917), pp. 481–517.
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/maaq2.htm ''Mahonia aquifolium'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]

===Medicinal use===
*[http://health.howstuffworks.com/medical-uses-for-oregon-grape-ga.htm Medical Uses for Oregon Grape] from howstuffworks.com
*[http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/gramou33.html Mountain Grape] from Botanical.com
*[http://www.appliedhealth.com/nutri/page8411.php Medicinal Use] from Appliedhealth.com

[[Category:Berberidaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of the Northwestern United States]]
[[Category:Flora of British Columbia]]
[[Category:Flora of Oregon]]
[[Category:Symbols of Oregon]]
[[Category:Flora of Idaho]]

[[da:Almindelig Mahonie]]
[[de:Gewöhnliche Mahonie]]
[[fr:Mahonia à feuilles de houx]]
[[hsb:Wótrolistowa mahonija]]
[[lt:Dyglialapė mahonija]]
[[pl:Mahonia ostrolistna]]
[[ru:Магония падуболистная]]
[[simple:Oregon-grape]]
[[fi:Mahonia]]
[[sv:Mahonia]]
[[vi:Oregon-grape]]
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