PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS WHITE BRYONY/801

Other Names: Devil's Turnip, English Mandrake, Ladies'

Seal, Tamus, Tetterberry, Wild Hops, Wild Nep, Wild Vine,

Wood Vine

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Cucurbitacins: including cucurbitacins B, D, E, I, J, K, L,

23,24-dihydro-cucurbitacins, 1.2,23,24-tetrahydrocucurbita-

cins, 22-deoxycucurbitacins and bryodulcigenin; cucurbita-

cin glycosides, including bryonin, elaterinide, bryonosid,

bryodulcigenin, cucurbitacin glycosides

Triterpenes with unusual structure: for example, bryonolic

acid

Steroids: including sterols like C-4- and/or C-24-methylated

or ethylated cholest-7-en-3-beta-oles

Polyhydroxy fatty acids: including 9,12,13-trihydroxy-oc-

tadeca-10 (E)-15(Z)-dienic acid.

Lectins

EFFECTS

The mainly glycosidically bonded cucurbitanes contained in

the drug have a strong toxic and cytotoxic effect; in topical

application they are irritating to the skin and mucous

membrane. Various aqueous extracts of the drug display an

antitumoral effect in animal tests. The resin is a drastic

purgative. The methanol extracts have a strong hypoglyce-

mic affect. Use of the drug as an emetic and purgative has

become obsolete because of the toxicity.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Because of its strong purgative and emetic

effect, use of the drug cannot be recommended. Bryonia root

has been used as a laxative, emetic and diuretic in the

treatment of various disorders of the gastrointestinal tract

and respiratory tract and for rheumatic disorders. It has also

been used prophylactically and therapeutically for metabolic

disorders, liver disease, and acute and chronic infectious

disease.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

The drug is highly toxic when freshly harvested. The toxicity

of the drug declines rapidly with dehydration and storage

because of the instability of the cucurbitacins. Due to the

cucurbitacin content, the drug has a severely irritating effect

on skin and mucous membranes. Contact between skin and

the juice of the plant can lead to rash, infection, blister

formation and necroses.

OVERDOSAGE
The intake of toxic dosages can lead to vomiting, bloody
diarrhea, colic, kidney irritation, anuria, collapse, spasms,
paralysis and, under certain conditions, to death.

Following gastric lavage, the treatment for poisonings should

proceed symptomatically. Consumption of 40 berries is

presumed fatal for an adult; 15 for a child.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Since the efficacy of Bryonia

preparations for the claimed applications is not documented,

and since the use of it as a drastic laxative and emetic is

obsolete, a therapeutic administration cannot be justified

because of the risks involved.

Bryonia is found occasionally in some pharmaceutical

preparations.

Preparation: A decoction is prepared by adding 0.5 to 1 g

drug to 1 cup water.

Daily Dosage: Dosage of the powder is 0.3 to 0.5 g as an

emetic and purgative.

LITERATURE

Hylands PJ, Mansour ESS. PH 21(ll):2703-2707. 1982.

Konopa J et al.. (1974) Arzneim Forsch 24(10), 1554.

Oobayashi K, Yoshikawa K, Arihara S, Structural revision of

Bryonoside and structure elucidation of minor saponins from

Bryonia dioica. In: PH 31:943-946. 1992.

Panossian AG et al., (1983) Planta Med 47(1), 17-25.

Pohlmann J, The cucurbitacins in Bryonia alba and Bryonia

dioica. In: PH 14(7):1587-1589. 1980.

Suganda AG et al., (1983) J Nat Prod 46(5), 626.

Vartanian GS et al., (1984) Byull Eksp Biol Med 97(3), 295.

Further information in:

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-

Ges Stuttgart 1997.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
   Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
   Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
   Pharmakologie. 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
   Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
   Stuttgart 1997.