Omnia SanaLamium album
Common names in 20 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 5 pharmacological actions, 9 traditional / indicated uses, with 26 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Perennial herb closely resembling stinging nettle in leaf shape but entirely without stinging hairs. Square stems bear opposite, toothed, heart-shaped leaves, and whorls of white, hooded, two-lipped flowers cluster in the upper leaf axils.[15]
Height: 20-60 cm
Habit: Erect, clump-forming perennial herb
Leaves: Opposite, toothed, heart-shaped, resembling stinging nettle but without stinging hairs
Flowers: White, hooded, two-lipped, in dense whorls in the upper leaf axils
Stem: Square (typical of the mint family), unarmed (no stinging hairs)
Root: Creeping rhizome
Fruit: Small nutlet (typical of Lamiaceae)
Flowering Period: March-November (almost year-round in mild climates)
Habitat & Distribution
Grows in hedgerows, waste ground, gardens and roadsides on nitrogen-rich soils; native to Europe and temperate Asia, widely naturalised elsewhere.
Harvesting
The flowering tops are picked as they open, largely through spring to autumn given the long flowering season, and dried in a warm, shaded, airy place; the standardisation markers are richest in the flowering tops specifically.[15]
Parts: Flower, Leaf, Aerial parts
Season: Spring through autumn, as flowers open
Key Constituents
Phenylpropanoid and flavonoid glycosides[13]
Verbascoside, tiliroside and quercetin/kaempferol 3-O-glucosides in the flowers.
Verbascoside (acteoside)GlycosidesKaempferolFlavonoidsQuercetin
Iridoid glycosides[14]
Lamalbid, alboside A and B and caryoptoside; linked to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
Iridoid glycosidesGlycosides
Standardisation markers (Lamii albi flos)[15]
Lamalbid, chlorogenic acid, verbascoside, rutin and tiliroside, richest in the flowering tops.
Chlorogenic acidVerbascoside (acteoside)Rutin
Pharmacological Actions
Astringent and anti-inflammatory infusion or tincture (flowering tops)
Parts: Flower, Aerial parts
Astringent (catarrh, excessive menstrual or vaginal discharge); Astringent and anti-inflammatory infusion or tincture (flowering tops)
Parts: Flower, Aerial parts
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Arthritis / joint pain[17]Preliminary · 1/10
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-1751
Evidence: 1
Label: Arthritis / joint pain
Bruising[17]Preliminary · 1/10
inferred from vulnerary action
Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-1756
Evidence: 1
Label: Bruising
Cough[17]Preliminary · 1/10
Astringent (catarrh, excessive menstrual or vaginal discharge)
Evidence: 1
Label: Cough
Diarrhoea[17]Preliminary · 1/10
inferred from astringent action
Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-1752
Evidence: 1
Label: Diarrhoea
Inflammation (general)[17]Preliminary · 1/10
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Evidence: 1
Label: Inflammation (general)
Respiratory support[18]Preliminary · 1/10
inferred from expectorant action
Evidence: 1
Label: Respiratory support
Skin irritation[17]Preliminary · 1/10
inferred from astringent action
Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-1751
Evidence: 1
Label: Skin irritation
Traditional Use & History
White dead-nettle flower has a long European folk history as an astringent remedy for catarrh and excessive menstrual or vaginal discharge, and topically as a vulnerary wash for minor wounds; the young leaves and shoots have also traditionally been eaten as a cooked spring pot-herb.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Safety note[19]Info
Generally regarded as safe in culinary amounts and at normal medicinal doses; unlike the stinging nettle it has no stinging hairs.
Safety note[19]Caution
Medicinal use during pregnancy or breastfeeding should be approached cautiously, as for any traditional astringent.
Identify correctly before foraging (resembles stinging nettle before flowering and red dead-nettle); clinical evidence is limited, so it should not replace conventional treatment.
Harvest Readiness
[16]
Part: flower
Signals: Gather the white flowers in summer, while in flower.
Basis: traditional
Source Quote: The plant is harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use.
Species Confirmed: 1
Notes: PFAF (REF-3281); the plant is harvested in summer while in flower (long flowering period May-December). Single lineage -> provisional.
[16]
Part: aerial-parts
Signals: Gather the flowering aerial parts (herb) in summer, while in flower.
Basis: traditional
Source Quote: The plant is harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use.
Species Confirmed: 1
Notes: PFAF (REF-3281); the flowering herb is gathered in summer. Single lineage -> provisional.
[16]
Part: leaf
Signals: Gather the leaves with the flowering tops in summer.
Basis: traditional
Source Quote: The plant is harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use.
Species Confirmed: 1
Notes: PFAF (REF-3281); the leaf is gathered with the summer flowering tops. Single lineage -> provisional.
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Czerwinska, M.E., Swierczewska, A., Wozniak, M. and Kiss, A.K (2017) 'Bioassay-Guided Isolation of Iridoids and Phenylpropanoids from Aerial Parts of Lamium album and Their Anti-inflammatory Activity in Human Neutrophils', Planta Medica, 83(12-13), pp. 1011-1019. doi:10.1055/s-0043-107031 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-107031 - Czerwinska, M.E., Swierczewska, A. and Granica, S (2018) 'Bioactive Constituents of Lamium album L. as Inhibitors of Cytokine Secretion in Human Neutrophils', Molecules, 23(11), pp. 2770. doi:10.3390/molecules23112770 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23112770 - Czerwinska, M.E., Kalinowska, E., Popowski, D. and Bazylko, A (2020) 'Lamalbid, Chlorogenic Acid, and Verbascoside as Tools for Standardization of Lamium album Flowers - Development and Validation of HPLC-DAD Method', Molecules, 25(7), pp. 1721. doi:10.3390/molecules25071721 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25071721 - Sulborska, A., Konarska, A., Matysik-Wozniak, A., Dmitruk, M., Weryszko-Chmielewska, E., Skalska-Kaminska, A. and Rejdak, R (2020) 'Phenolic Constituents of Lamium album L. subsp. album Flowers: Anatomical, Histochemical, and Phytochemical Study', Molecules, 25(24), pp. 6025. doi:10.3390/molecules25246025 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25246025 - Konarska, A., Weryszko-Chmielewska, E., Matysik-Wozniak, A., Sulborska, A., Polak, B., Dmitruk, M., Piotrowska-Weryszko, K., Stefanczyk, B. and Rejdak, R (2021) 'Histochemical and Phytochemical Analysis of Lamium album subsp. album L. Corolla: Essential Oil, Triterpenes, and Iridoids', Molecules, 26(14), pp. 4166. doi:10.3390/molecules26144166 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26144166 - Khanaki, K., Fekri, A., Abedinzade, M., Mohammadi, E. and Aghajanpour, F (2022) 'Potential anti-inflammatory effect of Lamium album extract through caspase-3 and cyclooxygenase-2 genes expression in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion', Folia Medica, 64(2), pp. 275-282. doi:10.3897/folmed.64.e60562 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3897/folmed.64.e60562 - Bubueanu, C., Iuksel, R. and Panteli, M (2019) 'Haemostatic activity of butanolic extracts of Lamium album and Lamium purpureum aerial parts', Acta Pharmaceutica, 69(3), pp. 443-449. doi:10.2478/acph-2019-0026 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.2478/acph-2019-0026 - Arefani, S., Mehran, S.M.M., Moladoust, H., Norasfard, M.R., Ghorbani, A. and Abedinzade, M (2018) 'Effects of standardized extracts of Lamium album and Urtica dioica on rat tracheal smooth muscle contraction', Journal of Pharmacopuncture, 21(2), pp. 70-75. doi:10.3831/KPI.2018.21.008 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2018.21.008 - Zhang, H., Rothwangl, K., Mesecar, A.D., Sabahi, A., Rong, L. and Fong, H.H.S (2009) 'Lamiridosins, hepatitis C virus entry inhibitors from Lamium album', Journal of Natural Products, 72(12), pp. 2158-2162. doi:10.1021/np900549e Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/np900549e - Chipeva, V.A., Petrova, D.C., Geneva, M.E., Dimitrova, M.A., Moncheva, P.A. and Kapchina-Toteva, V.M (2013) 'Antimicrobial activity of extracts from in vivo and in vitro propagated Lamium album L. plants', African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 10(6), pp. 559-562. doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v10i6.30 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v10i6.30 - Paduch, R. and Wozniak, A (2015) 'The Effect of Lamium album Extract on Cultivated Human Corneal Epithelial Cells (10.014 pRSV-T)', Journal of Ophthalmic & Vision Research, 10(3), pp. 229-237. doi:10.4103/2008-322X.170349 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4103/2008-322X.170349 - Abedinzade, M., Rostampour, M., Mirzajani, E., Khalesi, Z.B., Pourmirzaee, T. and Khanaki, K (2019) 'Urtica Dioica and Lamium Album Decrease Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 beta and Increase K-Ras in Diabetic Rats', Journal of Pharmacopuncture, 22(4), pp. 248-252. doi:10.3831/KPI.2019.22.033 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2019.22.033 - Budzianowski, J. and Skrzypczak, L (1995) 'Phenylpropanoid esters from Lamium album flowers', 38(4), pp. 997--1001. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(94)00727-B Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00727-B - Damtoft, S (1992) 'Iridoid glucosides from Lamium album', 31(1), pp. 175--178. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(91)83030-O Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)83030-O - Pietrzak, W. and Nowak, R (2020) 'Lamalbid, Chlorogenic Acid, and Verbascoside as Tools for Standardization of Lamium album Flowers - Development and Validation of HPLC-DAD Method', 25(8). doi:10.3390/molecules25081913 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25081913 - Plants For A Future 'Lamium album (White Dead Nettle)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lamium+album Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lamium+album - Herbal Reality (n.d.) 'White Deadnettle (Lamium album): Benefits, Uses, Safety'. Available at: https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/white-deadnettle/ Traditional / reference
https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/white-deadnettle/ - Ask-Ayurveda (n.d.) 'Lamium album (White Dead-Nettle) in Ayurveda - Benefits, Uses, Medicinal Properties & Healing Applications'. Available at: https://ask-ayurveda.com/wiki/article/4805-lamium-album Traditional / reference
https://ask-ayurveda.com/wiki/article/4805-lamium-album - Francis-Baker, T (2021), pp. 48. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Francis-Baker%2C%20T - First Nature (n.d.) 'Lamium album, White Dead-nettle: identification, distribution, habitat'. Available at: https://www.first-nature.com/flowers/lamium-album.php Traditional / reference
https://www.first-nature.com/flowers/lamium-album.php - Ballyrobert Gardens (n.d.) 'Lamium album'. Available at: https://www.ballyrobertgardens.com/products/lamium-album Traditional / reference
https://www.ballyrobertgardens.com/products/lamium-album - Botanical Society of Scotland (2022) 'Plant of the Week - 17 January 2022: the White Dead-nettle (Lamium album)'. Available at: https://botsocscot.wordpress.com/2022/01/16/plant-of-the-week-january-17th-2022-the-white-dead-nettle-lamium-album/ Traditional / reference
https://botsocscot.wordpress.com/2022/01/16/plant-of-the-week-january-17th-2022-the-white-dead-nettle-lamium-album/ - Gardeners' World (2024) 'World (2024)'. Available at: https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/dead-nettles/ Traditional / reference
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/dead-nettles/ - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.) 'Lamium album L'. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:448792-1 Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:448792-1 - Royal Horticultural Society (n.d.) 'Lamium album (white deadnettle)'. Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/9810/lamium-album/details Traditional / reference
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/9810/lamium-album/details - The Wildlife Trusts (n.d.) 'White dead-nettle'. Available at: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/white-dead-nettle Traditional / reference
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/white-dead-nettle
Selected studies & references
PreclinicalPotential anti-inflammatory effect of Lamium album extract through caspase-3 and cyclooxygenase-2 genes expression in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion source↗ (2022)
PreclinicalHistochemical and Phytochemical Analysis of Lamium album subsp. album L. Corolla: Essential Oil, Triterpenes, and Iridoids source↗ (2021)
PreclinicalLamalbid, Chlorogenic Acid, and Verbascoside as Tools for Standardization of Lamium album Flowers - Development and Validation of HPLC-DAD Method source↗ (2020)
PreclinicalLamalbid, Chlorogenic Acid, and Verbascoside as Tools for Standardization of Lamium album Flowers - Development and Validation of HPLC-DAD Method source↗ (2020)
PreclinicalPhenolic Constituents of Lamium album L. subsp. album Flowers: Anatomical, Histochemical, and Phytochemical Study source↗ (2020)
PreclinicalHaemostatic activity of butanolic extracts of Lamium album and Lamium purpureum aerial parts source↗ (2019)
PreclinicalUrtica Dioica and Lamium Album Decrease Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 beta and Increase K-Ras in Diabetic Rats source↗ (2019)
PreclinicalBioactive Constituents of Lamium album L. as Inhibitors of Cytokine Secretion in Human Neutrophils source↗ (2018)
All 25 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.