R
estrogenic contraceptives. Sulman (1970) developed a mammotropic index on which reserpine
scored highest (5; 1 = normal mammary gland), when administered subcutaneously at 1 mg/kg
for 5 days to estrogen-primed female rats. Other Rauvolfia alkaloids showed mastogenic activity
as well, ajmalicine, ajmaline, and yohimbine are about half as potent as deserpidine, rescin-
namine, and reserpine. Deserpidine modifies secondary sex characteristics. In female rats it
suppresses vaginal keratization, induces permanent estrus, stimulates the mammaries; in males,
it dissociates the endocrine and germinal functions of the testicles (KAP). Reserpine is considered
useful in schizophrenia. It acts synergistically with chlorpromazine, leading to lower and mini-
mizing adverse side effects. Serpentine is twice as hypotensive as ajmaline and synergistic with
reserpine (KAP). Rescinnamine has the same activities, but weaker (and it is less toxic), rau-
nescine, epsilon-reserpine, residine (WOI) are also active but less so than reserpine. Efflux pumps
can be inhibited by reserpine, which, at 20 mg/L, reduced sparfloxacin, moxifloxacin, and
ciprofloxacin IC(50)s and MICs by up to four-fold (Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 42,
no. 6, Dec 1998 p. 807–810).RED BRYONY (Bryonia dioica Jacq.) XHager’s Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis (HHB), from which PH2 wisely draws on occa-
sion, treats red bryony as B. dioica, while PH2 treats it as B. cretica L. Further, HHB, on which I
frequently draw, says that the chemistry of the red and white bryonies are fairly similar. Hence I
am aggregating the B. cretica with B. dioica indications. Jonathan Hartwell calls both B. alba L.
and B. dioica white bryony. EFS also treated B. alba and B. dioica in the same heading. KOM
clarifies by uniting them as B. cretica and B. dioica as B. cretica var. dioica, while retaining B.
alba discrete species but equating their activities and nonacceptance. For now I’ll stick with the
USDA nomenclature.
Activities (Red Bryony) — Antitumor (f; HHB); Cytotoxic (f; KOM); Diuretic (f; HHB; KOM);
Emetic (1; KOM); Laxative (1; KOM); Toxic (1; PH2).
Indications (Red Bryony) — Adenopathy (f; JLH); Aposteme (f; JLH); Arthrosis (f; JLH;
KOM); Cacoethes (f; JLH); Cancer (1; FNF; HHB; JLH); Cancer, abdomen (1; FNF; JLH);
Cancer, breast (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, colon (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, face (1; FNF; JLH);
Cancer, gland (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, joint (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, spleen (1; FNF; JLH);
Catarrh (f; HHB); Constipation (1; KOM); Enterosis (f; KOM); Fever (f; HHB); Gastrosis (f;
KOM); Hepatosis (f; KOM); Induration (f; JLH); Infection (f; KOM); Mastosis (f; JLH);
Peritonosis (f; PH2); Pleurosis (f; PH2); Polyp (f; JLH); Pulmonosis (f; HHB); Respirosis (f;
PH2); Rheumatism (f; HHB); Splenosis (f; JLH); Tumor (f; HHB); Wart (f; JLH); Water
Retention (f; HHB; KOM); Whitlow (f; JLH).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Red Bryony) — Not covered (AHP).
Not approved (KOM). Commission E reports the root is a drastic laxative and emetic, while
other therapeutic uses are not adequately documented. Contains toxic cucurbitacins (AEH).
May cause abortion, anuria, blisters, colic, collapse, convulsions, cramps, death, dermatosis,
diarrhea, dizziness, emesis, hematochezia, nephrosis, neurosis, paralysis, rash, and/or vomiting
(KOM; PH2); 40 berries could kill an adult (PH2). One death attributed to 30 g (ca. 1 oz) root
(PH2).RED BUSH TEA (Aspalathus sp.) +++Activities (Red Bush Tea) — Antianemic (f; APA); Antiaging (f; APA); Antiallergic (f; APA);
Anti-HIV (1; X9209319); Antioxidant (1; FNF); Antispasmodic (1; VVG); Antiviral (1;