Bridelia: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Bridelia is the name for a group of plants in the same family. The leaf, stem bark, and root of some of these plants are used to make medicine.

Bridelia leaf, stem bark, or root is used for many conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support its use.

Bridelia might reduce swelling, lessen pain, and lower fevers. Bridelia might also prevent the growth of organisms that cause infections.

How does it work ?

Bridelia might reduce swelling, lessen pain, and lower fevers. Bridelia might also prevent the growth of organisms that cause infections.

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence for

To prevent pregnancy.
To cause labor.
Malaria.
HIV/AIDS.
Anemia.
Asthma.
Cancer.
Colic.
Cough.
Diabetes.
Diarrhea.
Enlarged spleen.
Gonorrhea.
Headache.
Hernia.
Joint pain.
Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea).
Wound healing.
Stomach aches and other stomach problems.
Syphilis.
Thrush.
To kill parasites.
Infections of the kidney, bladder, or urethra (urinary tract infections or UTIs).
Yellow fever.
Yellow skin discoloration (jaundice).
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of Bridelia for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Bridelia is safe or what the side effects might be.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Bridelia is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Bridelia is LIKELY UNSAFE when used during pregnancy. There is concern that Bridelia might stimulate the uterus and cause labor. Avoid using.

There isn't enough reliable information to know if Bridelia is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Bleeding disorders: Bridelia might slow blood clotting. This might increase the risk of bleeding or bruising in people with bleeding disorders.

Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Bridelia might have the same effects as the female hormone estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don't use Bridelia.

Low blood pressure: Bridelia might decrease blood pressure. Don't take Bridelia if you already have low blood pressure.

Surgery: Bridelia might slow blood clotting. In theory, Bridelia might cause extra bleeding or affect blood pressure control during and after surgery. Stop using it at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Estrogens interacts with Bridelia
Bridelia might have some of the same effects as estrogen. However, Bridelia is not as strong as estrogen pills. Taking Bridelia along with estrogen pills might decrease the effects of estrogen pills.

Some estrogen pills include conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin), ethinyl estradiol, estradiol, and others.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with Bridelia
Bridelia might lower blood pressure. Taking Bridelia along with medications for high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low.

Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), Amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with Bridelia
Bridelia might slow blood clotting. Taking Bridelia along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of Bridelia depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Bridelia. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

Ngueyem TA, Brusotti G, Caccialanza G, Finzi PV. The genus Bridelia: a phytochemical and ethnopharmacological review. J Ethnopharmacol 2009;124(3):339-49.

Jayasinghe L, Kumarihamy BM, Jayarathna KH, et al. Antifungal constituents of the stem bark of Bridelia retusa. Phytochemistry 2003;62(4):637-41.

Cimanga K, De Bruyne T, Apers S, et al. Complement-Inhibiting constituents of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark. Planta Med 1999;65(3):213-7.

Cimanga K, Ying L, De Bruyne T, et al. Radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of phenolic compounds from Bridelia ferruginea stem bark. J Pharm Pharmacol 2001;53(5):757-61.

Irobi ON, Moo-Young M, Anderson WA, Daramola SO. Antimicrobial activity of bark extracts of Bridelia ferruginea (Euphorbiaceae). J Ethnopharmacol 1994;43(3):185-90.

Mostafa M, Nahar N, Mosihuzzaman M, et al. Phosphodiesterase-I inhibitor quinovic acid glycosides from Bridelia ndellensis. Nat Prod Res 2006;20(7):686-92.

Sueyoshi E, Liu H, Matsunami K, et al. Bridelionosides A-F: Megastigmane glucosides from Bridelia glauca f. balansae. Phytochemistry 2006;67(22):2483-93.

Ramesh N, Viswanathan MB, Saraswathy A, et al. Antibacterial activity of luteoforol from Bridelia crenulata. Fitoterapia 2001;72(4):409-11.

Olajide OA, Makinde JM, Awe SO. Effects of the aqueous extract of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark on carrageenan-induced oedema and granuloma tissue formation in rats and mice. J Ethnopharmacol 1999;66(1):113-7.

Talla E, Djamen D, Djoulde D, et al. Antimicrobial activity of Bridelia ferruginea leaves extracts. Fitoterapia 2002;73(4):343-5.

Ngueyem TA, Brusotti G, Marrubini G, et al. Validation of use of a traditional remedy from Bridelia grandis (Pierre ex Hutch) stem bark against oral Streptococci. J Ethnopharmacol 2008;120(1):13-6.

Lin J, Puckree T, Mvelase TP. Anti-diarrhoeal evaluation of some medicinal plants used by Zulu traditional healers. J Ethnopharmacol 2002;79(1):53-6.

Olajide OA, Okpako DT, Makinde JM. Anti-inflammatory properties of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark. Inhibition of lipopolysaccaride-induced septic shock and vascular permeability. J Ethnopharmacol 2003;88(2-3):221-4.

Olajide OA, Makinde JM, Okpako DT, Awe SO. Studies on the anti-inflammatory and related pharmacological properties of the aqueous extract of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark. J Ethnopharmacol 2000;71(1-2):153-60.

Jurg A, Tomas T, Pividal J. Antimalarial activity of some plant remedies in use in Marracuene, southern Mozambique. J Ethnopharmacol 1991;33(1-2):79-83.

Corallo A, Foungbe S, Davy M, Cohen Y. Cardiovascular pharmacology of aqueous extract of the leaves of Bridelia atroviridis Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) in the rat. J Ethnopharmacol 1997;57(3):189-96.

Njamen D, Magne Nde CB, Tanee Fomum Z, Vollmer G. Effects of the extracts of some tropical medicinal plants on estrogen inducible yeast and Ishikawa screens, and on ovariectomized Wistar rats. Pharmazie 2008;63(2):164-8.

Corallo A, Savineau JP, Tricoche R, Foungbe S. The uterotonic action of the aqueous extract of Bridelia atroviridis in the rat. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 1991;5(4):319-29.

Ajaiyeoba EO, Abiodun OO, Falade MO, et al. In vitro cytotoxicity studies of 20 plants used in Nigerian antimalarial ethnomedicine. Phytomedicine 2006;13(4):295-8.

Olajide, O. A. Investigation of the effects of selected medicinal plants on experimental thrombosis. Phytother Res 1999;13(3):231-232.

Malkani NP. "Plants of Dehli: scientific names and their meaning." Plant Taxonomy: past, present, and future. Ed. Gupta R. New Delhi: The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), 2011.

Noussi Djouwoug C, Ngueguim FT, Kamkumo Gounoue R, et al. Hydroethanolic Extract from Bridelia atroviridis Müll. Arg. Bark Improves Haematological and Biochemical Parameters in Nicotinamide-/Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2020;2020:3160834.

Azhar AS, El-Bassossy HM, Abdallah HM. Mentha longifolia alleviates experimentally induced angina via decreasing cardiac load. J Food Biochem 2019;43(2):e12702.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
Licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Copyright © 1995-2025 by Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. All Rights Reserved.