Omnia SanaGalium album
Common names in 6 European languages →
The complete database record: 5 documented constituents, 1 pharmacological action, with 10 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Sprawling to erect perennial herb with slender, square-sectioned stems and whorls of narrow, lance-shaped leaves typical of the bedstraw genus. Numerous small, four-petalled, white star-shaped flowers are borne in loose, branched clusters, giving a frothy appearance.
Height: 30-100 cm
Habit: Sprawling to erect perennial herb
Leaves: Narrow, lance-shaped, in whorls of 6-8
Flowers: Small, four-petalled, white, star-shaped, in loose branched clusters
Stem: Slender, square-sectioned, smooth (not bristly like cleavers)
Root: Fibrous, spreading rootstock
Fruit: Small, smooth (non-hooked) twin nutlet, distinguishing it from bristly-fruited cleavers
Flowering Period: June-September
Habitat & Distribution
A common plant of grassland, meadows, hedgerows, roadsides and waste ground on a wide range of soils; native to Europe and temperate Asia.
Harvesting
The flowering aerial parts are cut in summer while in flower and dried.
Parts: Flower, Leaf, Aerial parts
Season: Summer, at flowering
Key Constituents
Dioxatricyclodecenone compounds (mollugosides A and B)[3]
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional Use & History
White bedstraw shares the broader bedstraw genus's folk reputation as a mild diuretic and topical remedy for minor skin and wound complaints, though species-specific clinical or traditional-use documentation is sparse; most available research on this species is phytochemical and antioxidant in nature rather than confirming a specific traditional-use record.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Safety noteInfo
White bedstraw (Galium album) is a widespread grassland plant that shares the bedstraw genus's folk-medicinal reputation as a mild diuretic and as a topical remedy for minor skin and wound complaints. Modern evidence is limited to phytochemical and antioxidant studies; no clinical trials exist. It is generally regarded as low in toxicity at culinary or tea amounts, but it has not been formally evaluated for safety in pregnancy, in lactation, or alongside medication, so caution is advised.
Botanical Synonyms
Galium mollugo subsp. erectum, Galium mollugo (sensu lato)
Harvest Readiness
[10]
Part: flower
Signals: Gather the flowering tops in summer, while in flower.
Basis: traditional
Source Quote: It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September.
Species Confirmed: 1
Notes: PFAF (REF-3262) for Galium mollugo, the accepted synonym of Galium album; in flower June-September. Species confirmed via the G. album = G. mollugo synonymy. Single lineage -> provisional. (PFAF's Galium album query returns only a genus table and theferns/Wikipedia gave no flowering months - the synonym page was the working seam.)
[10]
Part: aerial-parts
Signals: Gather the flowering aerial parts (herb) in summer, while in flower.
Basis: traditional
Source Quote: It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September.
Species Confirmed: 1
Notes: PFAF (REF-3262) for Galium mollugo (syn. Galium album); the flowering herb is gathered while in flower (June-September). Single lineage -> provisional.
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Laanet, P.R., Saar-Reismaa, P., Jõul, P., Bragina, O. and Vaher, M (2023) 'Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Estonian Galium Species', Molecules, 28(6), pp. 2867. doi:10.3390/molecules28062867 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062867 - Csepregi, R., Bencsik, T. and Papp, N (2016) 'Examination of secondary metabolites and antioxidant capacity of Anthyllis vulneraria, Fuchsia sp., Galium mollugo and Veronica beccabunga', Acta Biologica Hungarica, 67(4), pp. 442-446. doi:10.1556/018.67.2016.4.10 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1556/018.67.2016.4.10 - Chaher, N., Krisa, S., Delaunay, J.C., Bernillon, S., Pedrot, E., Merillon, J.M., Atmani, D. and Richard, T (2015) 'Unusual compounds from Galium mollugo and their inhibitory activities against ROS generation in human fibroblasts', Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 117, pp. 79-84. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2015.07.027 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2015.07.027 - Hemcinschi, A., Gille, E., Trifan, A., Necula, R. and Stanescu, U (2009) 'Contributions to the study of the chemical variability of some Galium album Mill. populations harvested from wild flora in northern Moldavia', Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Iasi, 113(4), pp. 1280-1284. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Contributions%20to%20the%20study%20of%20the%20chemical%20variability%20of%20some%20Galium%20album%20Mill.%20populations%20harvested%20from%20wild%20flora%20in%20northern%20Moldavia - Kuiper, J. and Labadie, R.P (1981) 'Polyploid complexes within the genus Galium: anthraquinones accumulating in the roots of Galium album Mill', Planta Medica, 42(8), pp. 390-399. doi:10.1055/s-2007-971661 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-971661 - Kuiper, J. and Labadie, R.P (1983) 'Polyploid complexes within the genus Galium: galiprenylin, a new A-ring prenylated anthraquinone from Galium album Mill', Planta Medica, 48(1), pp. 24-26. doi:10.1055/s-2007-969872 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-969872 - Milic, P.S., Rajkovic, K.M., Stamenkovic, O.S. and Veljkovic, V.B (2013) 'Kinetic modeling and optimization of maceration and ultrasound-extraction of resinoid from the aerial parts of white lady's bedstraw (Galium mollugo L.)', Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 20(1), pp. 525-534. doi:10.1016/j.ultsonch.2012.07.017 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2012.07.017 - Heide, L., Kolkmann, R., Arendt, S. and Leistner, E (1982) 'Enzymic synthesis of o-succinylbenzoyl-CoA in cell-free extracts of anthraquinone producing Galium mollugo L. cell suspension cultures', Plant Cell Reports, 1(4), pp. 180-182. doi:10.1007/BF00269193 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00269193 - Kolkmann, R. and Leistner, E (1987) '4-(2'-Carboxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyryl coenzyme A ester, an intermediate in vitamin K2 (menaquinone) biosynthesis', Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung C, 42(11-12), pp. 1207-1214. doi:10.1515/znc-1987-11-1212 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1515/znc-1987-11-1212 - Plants For A Future 'Galium mollugo (Hedge Bedstraw)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Galium+mollugo Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Galium+mollugo
Selected studies & references
PreclinicalPhytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Estonian Galium Species source↗ (2023)
PreclinicalExamination of secondary metabolites and antioxidant capacity of Anthyllis vulneraria, Fuchsia sp., Galium mollugo and Veronica beccabunga source↗ (2016)
PreclinicalUnusual compounds from Galium mollugo and their inhibitory activities against ROS generation in human fibroblasts source↗ (2015)
PreclinicalKinetic modeling and optimization of maceration and ultrasound-extraction of resinoid from the aerial parts of white lady's bedstraw (Galium mollugo L.) source↗ (2013)
PreclinicalContributions to the study of the chemical variability of some Galium album Mill. populations harvested from wild flora in northern Moldavia source↗ (2009)
Preclinical4-(2'-Carboxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyryl coenzyme A ester, an intermediate in vitamin K2 (menaquinone) biosynthesis source↗ (1987)
PreclinicalPolyploid complexes within the genus Galium: galiprenylin, a new A-ring prenylated anthraquinone from Galium album Mill. source↗ (1983)
PreclinicalEnzymic synthesis of o-succinylbenzoyl-CoA in cell-free extracts of anthraquinone producing Galium mollugo L. cell suspension cultures source↗ (1982)
All 9 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.