Plant Profile

Figwort

Compiled by the Omnia Sana editorial team from the plant database ·Last updated August 15, 2026

Scrophularia nodosa

Family: Scrophulariaceae · Parts used: Aerial parts (and root) · Also known as: Woodland figwort, Common figwort, Scrofula plant

Common names in 21 European languages →

The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 4 pharmacological actions, 12 traditional / indicated uses, with 17 cited sources.

Botanical Description

Tall perennial herb (Scrophulariaceae), 50-100 cm (occasionally more), with a distinctly square stem. Leaves are opposite, ovate, toothed and unpleasant-smelling. Small, dull maroon-brown, two-lipped flowers are borne in loose, branched clusters (cymes), followed by small dry seed capsules.^[11]

Height: 50-100 cm (occasionally more)

Habit: Tall, square-stemmed perennial herb

Leaves: Opposite, ovate, toothed, unpleasant-smelling

Flowers: Small, dull maroon-brown, two-lipped, in loose branched cymes

Stem: Distinctly square

Root: Knotty rhizomatous root (historically likened to swollen glands, per the Doctrine of Signatures)

Fruit: Small dry seed capsule

Flowering Period: June-September

Habitat & Distribution

Native to Europe and western Asia, growing in damp woods, hedge banks, ditches and shady waste ground on moist, nutrient-rich soils.^[11]

Harvesting

Aerial parts are cut during flowering (summer); the root can also be dug in autumn.^[11]

Parts: Aerial parts, Root

Season: Aerial parts in summer (flowering); root in autumn

Key Constituents

Iridoid glycosides (aucubin, harpagoside, harpagide, catalpol)^{[3, 4, 11, 12]}

Anti-inflammatory constituents; harpagoside also has cardiac (inotropic) activity.

Iridoid glycosidesHarpagosideGlycosides

Flavonoids^{[5, 11]}

Antioxidant constituents.

Flavonoids

Phenolic acids (caffeic, ferulic, vanillic)^[11]

Supporting antioxidant constituents.

Phenolic acidsCaffeic acidFerulic acid

Pharmacological Actions

Alterative / depurative ('detox')^{[6, 9, 10, 11, 12]}

Mild diuretic and lymphatic 'detoxifying' herb (traditional); Traditional 'alterative' for chronic skin conditions - eczema, psoriasis, rashes (as a poultice, salve or tea)

Anti-inflammatory^{[2, 7, 11]}

Anti-inflammatory; soothes inflamed, irritated skin

Antispasmodic^[14]

Antispasmodic / smooth-muscle relaxant (preclinical - an extract relaxed isolated intestinal smooth muscle, apparently via muscarinic receptors)

Diuretic^[11]

Mild diuretic and lymphatic 'detoxifying' herb (traditional)

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Acne^{[11, 12]}Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from alterative action

Evidence: 1

Label: Acne

more plants for acne →detailed sources →

Arthritis / joint pain^[11]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →

Detox / cleansing^{[11, 12]}Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from alterative action

Evidence: 1

Label: Detox / cleansing

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Eczema^{[11, 12]}Preliminary · 1/10

Traditional 'alterative' for chronic skin conditions - eczema, psoriasis, rashes (as a poultice, salve or tea)

Evidence: 1

Label: Eczema

more plants for eczema →detailed sources →

Inflammation (general)^{[7, 11]}Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-1036

Evidence: 2

Label: Inflammation (general)

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Menstrual cramps^[14]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Menstrual cramps

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Muscle spasm^[14]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Muscle spasm

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Psoriasis^{[11, 12]}Preliminary · 1/10

Traditional 'alterative' for chronic skin conditions - eczema, psoriasis, rashes (as a poultice, salve or tea)

Evidence: 1

Label: Psoriasis

more plants for psoriasis →detailed sources →

Skin irritation^{[1, 6, 11, 12]}Preliminary · 2/10

Anti-inflammatory; soothes inflamed, irritated skin; Traditional 'alterative' for chronic skin conditions - eczema, psoriasis, rashes (as a poultice, salve or tea)

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-1036

Evidence: 2

Label: Skin irritation

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Swelling / fluid retention^[11]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Swelling / fluid retention

more plants for swelling / fluid retention →detailed sources →

Urinary support^[11]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Urinary support

more plants for urinary support →detailed sources →

Urinary tract infection (UTI)^[11]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Urinary tract infection (UTI)

more plants for urinary tract infection (uti) →detailed sources →

Traditional Use & History

Figwort takes one common name, 'scrofula plant', from its historic traditional use for scrofula (tuberculous lymph-node swelling) under the Doctrine of Signatures, its knotty root resembling swollen glands. It has a long folk-medicine reputation as an 'alterative' (blood-purifying) herb for chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, applied as a poultice, salve or tea.^{[11, 12]}

Preparations

Poultice/salve (topical)^[11]

Crushed fresh or prepared aerial parts applied to skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Infusion (tea)^[11]

Dried aerial parts steeped in hot water, a traditional alterative/diuretic preparation.

Dosage

Infusion (tea)^{[11, 12]}

Traditional guidance suggests roughly 2-4 g dried herb per cup as an infusion, taken cautiously and short-term given limited safety data and the cardioactive harpagoside content. Educational reference only, not a prescription; avoid with heart conditions/cardiac medicines and in pregnancy.

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[11, 12]}Caution

Avoid if you have a heart condition or take cardiac medicines: figwort's harpagoside has a stimulating (inotropic) effect on the heart, so it is traditionally avoided with rapid heartbeat or heart disease.

Safety note^[12]Caution

Avoid during pregnancy. There is insufficient reliable evidence on the safety of taking figwort by mouth, so internal use should be cautious and short-term.

Dangerous Lookalikes

Atropa Belladonna^{[15, 16, 17]}Fatal

Confused Part: Tall shady-ground plant with small dark flowers gathered for herbal use; deadly nightshade grows in similar ground and has been confused with figwort.

Confusion Context: Common figwort (Scrophularia nodosa) is a tall plant of damp woods and hedge banks used in traditional herbal medicine. As the botanical reference First Nature notes, it is sometimes confused with deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) - both are shade-loving plants with dull, dark-coloured flowers. Deadly nightshade is one of the most poisonous plants in Europe: its tropane alkaloids (atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine) cause a dry flushed skin, dilated pupils, hallucinations, seizures and can be fatal. Because the two can be mistaken, especially by the dark flowers, careful identification matters.

Distinguishing Features: Stem (decisive): common figwort has a distinctly SQUARE stem in cross-section. Deadly nightshade has a round stem., Flower size: figwort's flowers are tiny (only about 8 mm across), roughly a third the size of deadly nightshade's larger purplish-brown bell flowers., Fruit: figwort forms small dry seed capsules, whereas deadly nightshade bears shiny black cherry-sized berries in a green star-shaped calyx - any such berries mean deadly nightshade.

Key Test: Feel the stem and look at the flowers/fruit. A square stem with tiny (~8 mm) dark flowers and dry seed capsules = figwort. A round stem, larger brown-purple bell flowers and shiny black berries = deadly nightshade - potentially fatal, do not gather it. If you see black berries, do not use the plant.

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07

Harvest Readiness

^[13]

Part: aerial-parts

Signals: Cut the flowering aerial parts as the plant comes into flower, in summer.

Basis: traditional

Source Quote: It is harvested as the plant comes into flower in the summer and can be dried for later use.

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: PFAF (REF-3338); the flowering herb is cut as it comes into flower in summer. Single lineage -> provisional. SAFETY: figwort can be confused with the FATAL deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) - confirm identity; see Dangerous Lookalikes.

Part: root

Notes: GAP (documented dead end, re-searched 2026-08-15). No source states a ROOT-harvest stage for Scrophularia nodosa. Grieve (Knotted Figwort) lists 'Part Used: Herb' and 'The whole herb is used, collected in June and July and dried'; King's American Dispensatory names 'The leaves, tops, and roots' and says 'the root is generally employed' but gives no season; Cook's Physio-Medical Dispensatory gives none; Madaus gives 'Sammelzeit: Juni bis September' without stating which organ that window applies to, and it was not stretched to cover the root. PFAF gives no root timing. The knotty rhizome would conventionally be dug in autumn, but nothing states it. SAFETY: Atropa belladonna is a fatal lookalike - see Dangerous Lookalikes.

External Identifiers

GBIF ›Wikidata ›

References & Sources

Stevenson, P.C., Simmonds, M.S.J., Sampson, J., Houghton, P.J. and Grice, P (2002) 'Wound healing activity of acylated iridoid glycosides from Scrophularia nodosa', Phytotherapy Research, 16(1), pp. 33-35. doi:10.1002/ptr.798 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.798
Ahmad, M., Muhammad, N., Mehjabeen, Jahan, N. and others (2012) 'Biological screening of Scrophularia nodosa extract and its fractions', Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 25(2), pp. 307-313. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Biological%20screening%20of%20Scrophularia%20nodosa%20extract%20and%20its%20fractions
Miyase, T. and Mimatsu, A (1999) 'Acylated iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides from the aerial parts of Scrophularia nodosa', Journal of Natural Products, 62(8), pp. 1079-1084. doi:10.1021/np9805746 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/np9805746
Sesterhenn, K., Distl, M. and Wink, M (2006) 'Occurrence of iridoid glycosides in in vitro cultures and intact plants of Scrophularia nodosa L', Plant Cell Reports, 26(3), pp. 365-371. doi:10.1007/s00299-006-0233-3 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-006-0233-3
Soualeh, N., Stiévenard, A., Baudelaire, E., Bouayed, J. and Soulimani, R (2019) 'Powders with small microparticle size from Hedera helix and Scrophularia nodosa exhibited high preventive antioxidant activity against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in mouse primary spleen cells', International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, 88(3-4), pp. 208-218. doi:10.1024/0300-9831/a000526 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1024/0300-9831/a000526
Papp, N., Czégényi, D., Tóth, M., Dénes, T. and others (2022) 'Ethnomedicine survey on folk dermatology in Transylvania, Romania', Clinics in Dermatology, 40(6), pp. 651-664. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2022.07.013 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2022.07.013
Soulimani, R., Dicko, A., Baudelaire, E. and Bouayed, J (2021) 'Increased anti-inflammatory activity and enhanced phytochemical concentrations in superfine powders obtained by controlled differential sieving process from four medicinal plants', International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, 93(4), pp. 339-351. doi:10.1024/0300-9831/a000739 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1024/0300-9831/a000739
Ohiienko, T., Kutsyk, R., Kurovets, L., Ohiienko, S. and others (2023) 'Screening of medicinal and aromatic plants extracts for the synergism with fluconazole against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis fungi associated with denture stomatitis', Wiadomosci Lekarskie, 76(7), pp. 1615-1620. doi:10.36740/WLek202307115 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.36740/WLek202307115
Leclerc, H (1949) '[The scrofular, Scrophularia nodosa L.]', Revue de Phytotherapie, 13(87), pp. 381-383. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%5BThe%20scrofular%2C%20Scrophularia%20nodosa%20L.%5D
Akerreta, S., Cavero, R.Y. and Calvo, M.I (2007) 'First comprehensive contribution to medical ethnobotany of Western Pyrenees', Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 3, pp. 26. doi:10.1186/1746-4269-3-26 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-3-26
Medicinal Herbals (n.d.) 'Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa): The Natural Skin Healer'. Available at: https://medicinalherbals.net/figwort-scrophularia-nodosa-natural-skin-healer/ Traditional / reference
https://medicinalherbals.net/figwort-scrophularia-nodosa-natural-skin-healer/
WebMD (n.d.) 'Figwort: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions'. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-446/figwort Traditional / reference
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-446/figwort
Plants For A Future 'Scrophularia nodosa (Common Figwort, Woodland Figwort)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Scrophularia+nodosa Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Scrophularia+nodosa
Ahmad, M., Muhammad, N., Mehjabeen, Jahan, N., Ahmad, M., Obaidullah, Qureshi, M. and Jan, S.U (2012) 'Spasmolytic effects of Scrophularia nodosa extract on isolated rabbit intestine', Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 25(1), pp. 267--275. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Spasmolytic%20effects%20of%20Scrophularia%20nodosa%20extract%20on%20isolated%20rabbit%20intestine
First Nature 'Scrophularia nodosa, Common Figwort'. Available at: https://www.first-nature.com/flowers/scrophularia-nodosa.php Traditional / reference
https://www.first-nature.com/flowers/scrophularia-nodosa.php
Berdai, M.A. and Labib, S. and Chetouani, K. and Harandou, M (2012) 'Atropa belladonna intoxication: a case report', Pan African Medical Journal, 11, pp. 72. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22655106/ Clinical study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22655106/
Oerlemans, C. and de Vries, I. and van Riel, A.J.H.P (2017) 'Anticholinergic syndrome caused by contaminated herbal tea; acting swiftly to identify the source', Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, 161, pp. D1261. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28612694/ Clinical study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28612694/

Selected studies & references

PreclinicalScreening of medicinal and aromatic plants extracts for the synergism with fluconazole against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis fungi associated with denture stomatitis source↗ (2023)

PreclinicalIncreased anti-inflammatory activity and enhanced phytochemical concentrations in superfine powders obtained by controlled differential sieving process from four medicinal plants source↗ (2021)

PreclinicalPowders with small microparticle size from Hedera helix and Scrophularia nodosa exhibited high preventive antioxidant activity against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in mouse primary spleen cells source↗ (2019)

PreclinicalBiological screening of Scrophularia nodosa extract and its fractions source↗ (2012)

PreclinicalOccurrence of iridoid glycosides in in vitro cultures and intact plants of Scrophularia nodosa L. source↗ (2006)

PreclinicalWound healing activity of acylated iridoid glycosides from Scrophularia nodosa source↗ (2002)

PreclinicalAcylated iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides from the aerial parts of Scrophularia nodosa source↗ (1999)

TraditionalEthnomedicine survey on folk dermatology in Transylvania, Romania source↗ (2022)

All 13 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.

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