Bryonia alba.- produces black berries or B. dioica- produces red berries   White Bryony, Wild Vine   Family: Cucurbiaceae
PART USED: Root- collected in summer or autumn. Root slices; irregular pieces, 1.5-10 cm in diameter, 3-20 mm in thickness. Cork yellowish. The section shows concentric rings and radiating lines of medullary rays.
TASTE: Bitter and acrid.  ODOR: Slight
ACTIONS
1. Cathartic-[1,2] powerful.[1] Hydrogogue.[1,2] Counter-irritant.[2]
2. Emetic- in large doses.[1]
3. Expectorant.[1]
4. Diaphoretic.[1]
5. Vermifuge-small doses.[1]
6. Antirheumatic.[1]
Topically- Rubefacient for myalgia.[2] Vesicatory.[1] = causes blisters. 
INDICATIONS
1. Bronchitis.[1] Pleurisy.[1]
2. Rheumatic diseases- small doses.[1]
3. Intestinal ulcers, asthma, hypertension and as an adjunct in parturition in small doses.[2]
Topically- Myalgia.[1] Pleurodynia (rib pain).[1]
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Rheumatic pains, lumbago- in low doses.[1]
CONTRAINDICATIONS:  Pregnancy.
COMBINATIONS
- Rheumatic conditions, with Bogbean, Meadowsweet and Celery seed.
PREPARATIONS   3X /day
Dried root  Dose-small 0.1-0.5 g, or as decoction.[1]
            Dose- large 0.5-2 g.[1]
Liquid extract  1:1 in 25% alcohol  0.1-0.5 ml.[1]
Tincture  (BPC1934)  0.06-0.6 ml.[1]
Used as a homeopathic remedy
This is a low dose herb. Large doses may trigger menstruation or cause hemorrhoids problems.[1]
ORIGIN: Central and southern Europe.
DESCRIPTION: The plants is a dioecious, perennial, climbing vine.
References
[1] British Herbal Pharmocopoeia 1983 Published by the British Herbal Medicine Association ISBN 0 903032 07 4.
[2] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations  R.C. Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.
Images
1. commons.wikimedia.org by Aung Public domain
Constituents
Bryonia alba: Cucurbitacins, at least 8, including cucurbitacins B,D, E, I, J, K, L and tetrahydrocucurbitacin I.[1] Polyhydroxyunsaturated fatty acids- mainly trihydroxyoctadecadienic acids.[2,3]
Glycosides- crystalline phytosterol glucoside, bryonol, bronin, bryonin.[1]
Alkaloids,[1] Cucurbitacins.[1]
Volatile oil- trace.[1] Fatty acids.[1] Tannins.[1,4]
References
1. Konopa, L. et al. (1974) Arzneim. Forsch. 24 (10), 1554
2. Panossian, A. G. et al (1983) Planta Med. 47 (1), 17
3. Vartanian, G. S. et al. (1984) Byull. Eksp. Biol Med. 97 (3), 295
4. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia Pub. British Herbal Medicine Association (1983) UK
Research
Recent work on B. alba has partly substantiated the use for myalgia: the polyhydroxy acids have been shown to have prostaglandin-like activity in several biological system such as platelet aggregation and isolated smooth muscle preparations.[1] They also induce hypocaemia under experimental conditions.[2] The cucurbitacins are cytotoxic in vitro and in vivo, with antitumour effects. The most active are cucurbitacins B, D and E.[3]
An ethanolic extract of B. dioica has an antiviral effect in vitro.[4]
White Bryony may precipitate menstruation. it is highly toxic, especially in large doses and should be avoided at least during pregnancy.[5]
References
1. Panossian, A. G. et al. (1983) Planta Med. 47 (1), 17
2. Vartanian, G. S. et al. (1984) Byull. Eksp. Biol Med. 97 (3), 295
3. Konopa, J. et al. (1974) Arzneim. Forsch. 24 (10), 1554
4. Suganda, A. G. et al. (1983) J. Nat. Prod. 46 (5), 626
5. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations  R.C. Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.

Plant adaptogens. II. Bryonia as an adaptogen.
Panossian A, Gabrielian E, Wagner H.
Abstract
Bryonia, a well-known medicinal plant used mainly in homeopathy as an antiinflammatory, has never been considered an adaptogen. However, much evidence has been accumulated during the last decade indicating that Bryonia roots have adaptogenic properties. This review summarizes the reports (published mainly in Russian) on the chemical composition, the pharmacological and biochemical investigations of the active principles of Bryonia alba roots. It also summarizes reports on clinical trials of a Bryonia extract (tablets prepared from a standardized powder of Bryonia alba root, called "Loshtak" in Armenia) that indicates it is an adaptogenic and restorative drug with immunomodulatory, stress-protective and tonic properties that increase the nonspecific resistance of an organism toward harmful stimuli. The major active components of the Bryonia extract are cucurbitacin glucosides and trihydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (THODA). The biological activities of these compounds are associated with biosynthesis of eicosanoids and corticosteroids, which are important mediators in the immune, endocrine and nervous systems. Clinical trials show that the Bryonia extract was effective in treating workers at the Chernobyl Nuclear reactor who suffered from vegetovessel dystonia and other accompanying illnesses as a result of that facility's well-known accident. It was also effective in preventing radiation-induced disorders and cytostatic side effects in cancer therapy. The use of Bryonia extract in healthy athletes increases their endurance, working capacity and heart rate restoration after physical loading. No side effects caused by Bryonia extract intake were recorded during these trials.
PMID: 23195251 DOI: 10.1016/S0944-7113(97)80033-5 Phytomedicine. 1997 Mar;4(1):85-99. doi: 10.1016/S0944-7113(97)80033-5. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov