Topical anti-inflammatory plant species: Bioactivity of Bryonia dioica, Tamus communis and Lonicera periclymenum fruits

The practice of rubbing different plant material juices or extracts into the skin to relieve pain and rheumatic symptoms is deeply rooted in folk medicine and has been used for a long time. Several common species, usually available in agroecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula, were/are used for topical medicinal preparations as reported in recent ethnobotanical surveys. Based on these studies, the fruits of three relevant species (Bryonia dioica or white-bryony, Lonicera periclymenum or common honeysuckle and Tamus communis or black-bryony) were gathered and different analyses and assays were performed in order to characterize their phytochemical composition and to find biologically active compounds for pharmaceutical application. Black-bryony ripened fruits revealed the highest antioxidant properties which are in agreement to its highest concentration in phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, tocopherols and lycopene. The studied fruits revealed interesting antioxidant properties and bioactive phytochemicals that could provide scientific evidence for their folk uses as anti-inflammatory species.

► Fruits of Bryonia dioica, Lonicera periclymenum and Tamus communis have powerful antioxidants.
► There are basis for their ethnopharmacological use as anti-inflammatory species.
► They could be suitable for incorporation into natural compounds based pharmacs.