Dried root of Bryonia alba L., or of B. dioica Jacq., Cucurbitaceae. Habit. Europe. Constit. Bryonin, bryonidin, bryonicine, bryoamarid glycoside, Δ7-stigmastenol, volatile oil, resin. Isoln of constituents: Tunmann, Wienecke, Arch. Pharm. 293, 195 (1960); Biglino, Farmaco Ed. Sci. 14, 673 (1959). Bryogenine structure studies: Biglino et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 1963, 1651. Poisonous!
Cathartic.