Hopbush

The Hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa), also known as Felsenweide, is an evergreen shrub or small tree from the Sapindaceae family. Its natural range extends across tropical and subtropical regions of all continents – from Australia and Asia through Africa to the Americas. Particularly striking are the narrow, leathery leaves and the often reddish, papery fruit capsules. In its natural environment, the Hopbush prefers to grow in sunny, dry locations, where its deep-reaching root system helps stabilize soils at risk of erosion. As a pioneer plant, it colonizes barren areas and contributes to the revegetation of disturbed ecosystems. Due to its high adaptability and drought tolerance, it is also used in reforestation projects.

What health benefits does Hopbush offer?

In the traditional medicine of various cultures, Dodonaea viscosa has been used for centuries. The documented applications and scientific investigations so far show that medicinal potential exists, although more research is necessary before definitive conclusions can be drawn. Furthermore, results to date are not readily transferable, which is why they should be viewed critically. Among other things, they point to the following potential properties:

  • Anti-inflammatory effect: Leaves and twigs contain flavonoids and saponins that can inhibit pro-inflammatory messenger substances (1).
  • Antioxidant effect: Studies suggest an antioxidant effect originating from the plant (2,3).
  • Wound healing: In some regions, crushed leaves are applied as a poultice to minor wounds and insect bites to promote healing (4).
  • Antimicrobial activity: Investigations suggest efficacy against various species of bacteria and fungi, which supports the traditional use for skin infections (5,6,7).
  • Anticarcinogenic effect: Studies to date suggest an anticarcinogenic effect that could originate from the plant (5,8)

How does Hopbush work in the body?

The medicinal effect is presumably based on a combination of bioactive plant compounds, including flavonoids, phenols, and tannins (1,4).

Are there risks or side effects?

  • Limited clinical data: Despite widespread traditional use, comprehensive human studies are lacking.
  • Possible skin reactions: With external application, skin irritation can occur in rare cases.
  • Not established as a food: Internal use should only take place at the traditional dosage and under expert guidance.

Conclusion

The Hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa) is not only an ecologically valuable pioneer plant but also a long-established component of folk medicine in many regions of the world. Its potentially anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and antimicrobial properties make it an interesting candidate for modern phytotherapy – although clinical studies to confirm its efficacy are still pending.

Sources:

  1. John, P., Ali, Z., & Bhatti, A. (2024). Study of therapeutic potential of Dodonaea viscosa against rheumatoid arthritis in collagen induced arthritic mouse model. The EuroBiotech Journal, 8, 230–242. https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2024-0021
  2. Alanazi, A. Z., Al-Rejaie, S. S., Ahmed, M. M., Alhazzani, K., Alhosaini, K., As Sobeai, H. M., Alsanea, S., Alam, P., Almarfadi, O. M., Alqahtani, A. S., Alhamed, A. S., Alqinyah, M., Alhamami, H. N., Almutery, M. F., & Mohany, M. (2023). Protective role of Dodonaea viscosa extract against streptozotocin-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society, 31(8), 101669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2023.06.002
  3. Tong, Z. W., Gul, H., Awais, M., Saddick, S., Khan, F. S., Gulfraz, M., Afzal, U., Nazir, K., Malik, M. Y., Khan, S. U., & Khan, M. I. (2021). Determination of in vivo biological activities of Dodonaea viscosa flowers against CCL4 toxicity in albino mice with bioactive compound detection. Scientific reports, 11(1), 13336. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92638-6
  4. Nayeem, N., Asdaq, S. M. B., Alamri, A. S., Alsanie, W. F., Alhomrani, M., Mohzari, Y., Alrashed, A. A., Alotaibi, N., Aalhathal, A. S., Alharbi, M. A., Aldhawyan, N. N., Asad, M., Abdalla, F. M. A., & Najmi, S. Y. (2021). Wound healing potential of Dodonaea viscosa extract formulation in experimental animals. Journal of King Saud University – Science, 33, 101476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2021.101476
  5. Raksat, A., Yee, D., Gi, Y. J., Wongwiwatthananukit, S., Chang, L. K., Kaawaloa, K. P., Wall, M. M., Lee, J., & Chang, L. C. (2025). Bioactive Compounds from Dodonaea viscosa Flowers: Potent Antibacterial and Antiproliferative Effects in Breast Cancer Cells. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 30(11), 2274. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112274
  6. Pérez-Narváez, Oscar Alberto, Castillo Hernández S, Sandra Loruhama, Leos-Rivas, Catalina, Pérez-Hernández, Raymundo Alejandro, Chávez-Montes, Abelardo, Verduzco-Martínez, Jorge Armando, Sánchez-García, Eduardo, Antibacterial Effect of Ethanolic Extracts of Dodonaea viscosa L. Jacq. and Mammea americana L. against Staphylococci Isolated from Skin Lesions, BioMed Research International, 2023, 5584412, 9 pages, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5584412
  7. Al Bimani, B. M. H., & Hossain, M. A. (2020). A new antimicrobial compound from the leaves of Dodonaea viscosa for infectious diseases. Bioactive Materials, 5(3), 602–610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2020.04.006
  8. Herrera-Calderon, O., Herrera-Ramírez, A., Cardona-G, W., Melgar-Merino, E. J., Chávez, H., Pari-Olarte, J. B., Loyola-Gonzales, E., Kong-Chirinos, J. F., Almeida-Galindo, J. S., Peña-Rojas, G., & Andía-Ayme, V. (2023). Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. induces cytotoxicity, antiproliferative activity, and cell death in colorectal cancer cells via regulation of caspase 3 and p53. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14, 1197569. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1197569