The extract is a water-soluble yellow powder obtained from plants of the barberry species (Berberis sp).
Common barberry is a shrub up to 2.5 m high with a well-developed root system. The leaves are elliptical, up to 4 cm long, with a finely serrated edge of the blade, short petioles, and dense. The flowers are small, bright yellow, collected in groups of 15-25 in spectacular beautiful racemose inflorescences up to 6 cm long. The fruits are oblong, bright red berries up to 12 mm long. Common barberry is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant.