Bryonia alba is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the Curcitacaea or gaud family of plants. Common names for the plant include false mandrake, English mandrake, wild hep, tetterberry, white bryony and wild hop. The plant is native to Iran and parts of Europe. Bryonia alba root has been used in traditional medicine as an anxiolytic herb but its use is mainly limited to homeopathic forms of treatment. The phytochemistry of the herb is interesting, and studies show that it contains a number of pharmacologically active phytochemicals including the alkaloid bryonicine (which may be toxic in high doses), flavonoids (including saponarin, vitexin, isovitexin, lutonarin and isoorientin) as well as triterpenoids. Certainly the phytochemical profile contains some nutrients that may have beneficial effects. However, the fact that bryonicine has shown toxicity in certain animals would preclude the herb as a useful agent in treating human disease. The fact that therapeutic uses are limited to homeopathic preparations may suggest that toxic effects may be seen when active levels of bryonicine are ingested.
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