Omnia SanaCommon names in 24 European languages →
The complete database record: 6 documented constituents, 9 pharmacological actions, 8 traditional / indicated uses, with 31 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Erect rhizomatous perennial herb (Asteraceae), typically 0.6-1.5 m (2-5 ft) tall, spreading by creeping underground rhizomes so that many stems arise together. Stems are erect and rigid, short-hairy in the upper part and becoming smoother towards the base. Leaves are alternate (with no basal rosette), lance-elliptic, 2-19 cm long, strongly three-nerved, and sharply toothed except near the base. The numerous small yellow flower heads (each about 3 mm, with roughly 8-15 ray florets around 3-6 disc florets) are borne on one side of arching branches, forming a large pyramidal to recurved, plume-like terminal panicle. The fruit is a small, sparsely hairy achene (1-1.5 mm) tipped with a white pappus for wind dispersal.[1, 7]
Habitat & Distribution
Native to North America, where it is widespread across the USA and Canada, Solidago canadensis is a late-season-flowering perennial of open, sunny and often disturbed ground - fields, roadsides, railway banks, forest edges, riverbanks, meadows and abandoned land. Introduced to Europe as an ornamental in the 17th century, it has since become one of the most widespread invasive plants across Europe, temperate Asia, China, Japan and Australia, forming dense clonal stands that suppress surrounding vegetation.[1, 2]
Harvesting
The flowering aerial parts (herb) - flowering tops, leaves and stems - are cut at the onset of flowering in late summer and dried. This dried flowering herb is the material recognised, together with Solidago gigantea, as goldenrod herb ('Solidaginis herba') in the European Pharmacopoeia.[8, 9, 10]
Key Constituents
Quercetin and kaempferol rutinosides are the two major flavonoids of S. canadensis, and rutin is the major flavonoidal component of the herb extract; these drive much of its antioxidant activity.
Hydroxycinnamic (caffeoylquinic) acids are a consistent phenolic class of the herb and contribute to its antioxidant capacity.
The aerial-part essential oil is dominated by mono- and sesquiterpenes (germacrene D prominent), while the root oil is rich in thymol and carvacrol; the oil underlies the antimicrobial and antifungal activity.
A labdane diterpene (solicanolide) and numerous clerodane diterpenoids are characteristic of S. canadensis; several show cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activity.
Lupane triterpenoids and four bisdesmosidic bayogenin ('canadensis-saponins') were isolated from the herb, together with the phytosterol stigmasterol.
A rhamnogalacturonan-type polyphenolic-polysaccharide-protein complex isolated from the flowers.
Pharmacological Actions
Described as an aquaretic diuretic; ethanol extract and its ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest aquaretic activity in an animal model.
Hydroalcoholic extract protected against paracetamol-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in mice.
Preclinical only - cytotoxicity to tumour cell lines, DNA polymerase beta lyase inhibition, essential-oil antiproliferative activity and antimutagenic activity.
Listed among the herb's characteristic spasmolytic properties in European phytotherapy.
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Traditional urological/aquaretic use, supported by demonstrated aquaretic activity of the aerial-part extract in an animal model.
From antimicrobial/antibacterial activity of extracts and essential oil.
inferred from diuretic action
more plants for swelling / fluid retention →detailed sources →
inferred from diuretic and antimicrobial actions
more plants for urinary tract infection (uti) →detailed sources →
inferred from preclinical anticancer/antiproliferative and antimutagenic activity
more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Traditional Use & History
In its native North America, Solidago canadensis was used by Indigenous peoples - including the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) - as a traditional medicine, and its extracts show antibacterial activity. In European phytotherapy the dried flowering herb has long been used, as a tea, tincture or decoction, as a urological and anti-inflammatory ('antiphlogistic') remedy - a mild aquaretic diuretic and antispasmodic for irrigation of the urinary tract - and it is documented in traditional use for kidney, urinary-tract and liver complaints and for inflammation-related conditions. The European Pharmacopoeia accepts S. canadensis, together with S. gigantea, as a source of goldenrod herb ('Solidaginis herba'). Note that the formal EU (EMA/HMPC) herbal monograph for medicinal goldenrod covers the related species Solidago virgaurea, not S. canadensis.[1, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13]
Preparations
The dried flowering herb steeped in hot water - the classic urinary-tract preparation used in European phytotherapy.
An alcoholic extract of the dried herb. In pharmacological research on S. canadensis, a 40% ethanol extract of the herb carried the most pronounced anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity.
The herb simmered in water for oral use, one of the traditional European preparations.
Dosage
Traditionally the dried flowering herb is taken as a tea for urinary-tract irrigation, with generous fluid intake. A species-specific, clinically established human dose for Solidago canadensis is not defined in the scientific literature; diuretic (aquaretic) activity was demonstrated for standardised extracts of the flowering aerial parts in an animal model at 400 mg/kg. Educational reference only, not a prescription; ensure adequate fluid intake and avoid in oedema arising from cardiac or renal impairment.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally well tolerated; toxicity testing classified the herb extract as practically non-toxic (toxicity class V, LD50 > 5000 mg/kg). May cause allergic reactions in individuals sensitive to Asteraceae/Compositae plants. As with other goldenrod used for urinary irrigation, ensure adequate fluid intake and avoid use in cases of oedema arising from impaired cardiac or renal function. Safety data in pregnancy and breastfeeding are lacking, so use is not recommended during these periods.
Dangerous Lookalikes
Harvest Readiness
[11]
[11]
[11]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Poljuha, Danijela and Sladonja, Barbara and Uzelac Božac, Mirela and Šola, Ivana and Damijanić, Danijela and Weber, Tim (2024) 'The Invasive Alien Plant Solidago canadensis: Phytochemical Composition, Ecosystem Service Potential, and Application in Bioeconomy', Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 13(13). doi:10.3390/plants13131745 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131745 - Kato-Noguchi, Hisashi and Kato, Midori (2022) 'Allelopathy and Allelochemicals of Solidago canadensis L. and S. altissima L. for Their Naturalization', Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 11(23). doi:10.3390/plants11233235 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11233235 - Wu, Miao and Ge, Yimeng and Xu, Chanchan and Wang, Jianbo (2020) 'Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis of Hexaploid Solidago canadensis Roots Reveals its Invasive Capacity Related to Polyploidy', Genes, 11(2). doi:10.3390/genes11020187 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11020187 - Srivastava, Prabhakar L and Johnson, Luke A and Miller, David J and Allemann, Rudolf K (2024) 'Production of non-natural terpenoids through chemoenzymatic synthesis using substrate analogs', Methods in enzymology, 699, pp. 207-230. doi:10.1016/bs.mie.2024.03.015 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mie.2024.03.015 - Abdel-Rahman, Abdullah A and Diab, Shaimaa F and Shoman, Shaimaa S and Ahmed, Fatma S (2026) 'Solidago canadensis extract fractionation, phytochemical identification, and nematicidal/nematistatic activity against Meloidogyne incognita', Scientific reports, 16(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-026-55718-z Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-55718-z - Yang, Jia-Xin and Lu, Zhen-Zhen and Chen, Sen and Lin, Shi-Yi and Yao, Xiao-Hui and Chen, Tao and Zhang, Dong-Yang (2025) 'Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Solidago canadensis L. Essential Oil and Its Antifungal Mechanism Against Mulberry Sclerotinia Diseases', International journal of molecular sciences, 27(1). doi:10.3390/ijms27010049 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010049 - Minnesota Wildflowers 'Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)'. Available at: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/canada-goldenrod Traditional / reference
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/canada-goldenrod - Apáti, Pál and Houghton, Peter J and Kéry, Agnes (2004) '[HPLC investigation of antioxidant components in Solidago herba]', Acta pharmaceutica Hungarica, 74(4), pp. 223-31. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16316050/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16316050/ - Koshovyi, Oleh and Hrytsyk, Yurii and Perekhoda, Lina and Suleiman, Marharyta and Jakštas, Valdas and Žvikas, Vaidotas and Grytsyk, Lyubov and Yurchyshyn, Oksana and Heinämäki, Jyrki and Raal, Ain (2025) 'Solidago canadensis L. Herb Extract, Its Amino Acids Preparations and 3D-Printed Dosage Forms: Phytochemical, Technological, Molecular Docking and Pharmacological Research', Pharmaceutics, 17(4). doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics17040407 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17040407 - Woźniak, Dorota and Ślusarczyk, Sylwester and Domaradzki, Krzysztof and Dryś, Andrzej and Matkowski, Adam (2018) 'Comparison of Polyphenol Profile and Antimutagenic and Antioxidant Activities in Two Species Used as Source of Solidaginis herba - Goldenrod', Chemistry & biodiversity, 15(4), pp. e1800023. doi:10.1002/cbdv.201800023 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201800023 - Plants For A Future 'Solidago canadensis (Canadian Goldenrod)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Solidago+canadensis Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Solidago+canadensis - Yin, Wenying and Xue, Han and Zhang, Yongqi and Li, Rongxian and Liu, Mengjia and Yue, Hongwei and Ge, Di and Liu, Na (2025) 'Steroid constituents of Solidago canadensis alleviate LPS-induced inflammation via AMPK regulated mitophagy/NLRP3 and NF-κB pathway', European journal of pharmacology, 998, pp. 177512. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177512 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177512 - Frey, Frank M and Meyers, Ryan (2010) 'Antibacterial activity of traditional medicinal plants used by Haudenosaunee peoples of New York State', BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 10, pp. 64. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-10-64 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-10-64 - Abdel Baki, Passent Mahmoud and El-Sherei, Moshera Mohamed and Khaleel, Amal Elsayed and Abdel Motaal, Amira Ahmed and Ibrahim Abdallah, Heba Mohammed (2019) 'Aquaretic activity of Solidago canadensis cultivated in Egypt and determination of the most bioactive fraction', Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR, 18(2), pp. 922-937. doi:10.22037/ijpr.2019.2390 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijpr.2019.2390 - Marksa, Mindaugas and Radušienė, Jolita and Jakštas, Valdas and Ivanauskas, Liudas and Marksienė, Rūta (2015) 'Development of an HPLC post-column antioxidant assay for Solidago canadensis radical scavengers', Natural product research, 30(5), pp. 536-43. doi:10.1080/14786419.2015.1027703 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2015.1027703 - Apáti, Pál and Houghton, Peter J and Kite, Geoffrey and Steventon, Glyn B and Kéry, Agnes (2006) 'In-vitro effect of flavonoids from Solidago canadensis extract on glutathione S-transferase', The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology, 58(2), pp. 251-6. doi:10.1211/jpp.58.2.0013 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1211/jpp.58.2.0013 - Likhanov, Artur and Oliinyk, Marian and Pashkevych, Nataliia and Churilov, Andrii and Kozyr, Mykola (2021) 'The Role of Flavonoids in Invasion Strategy of Solidago canadensis L', Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 10(8). doi:10.3390/plants10081748 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081748 - Uzelac Božac, Mirela and Poljuha, Danijela and Dudaš, Slavica and Bilić, Josipa and Šola, Ivana and Mikulič-Petkovšek, Maja and Sladonja, Barbara (2024) 'Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Invasive Solidago canadensis L.: Potential Applications in Phytopharmacy', Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 14(1). doi:10.3390/plants14010044 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14010044 - Bradette-Hébert, Marie-Eve and Legault, Jean and Lavoie, Serge and Pichette, André (2008) 'A new labdane diterpene from the flowers of Solidago canadensis', Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin, 56(1), pp. 82-4. doi:10.1248/cpb.56.82 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1248/cpb.56.82 - Elshafie, Hazem S and Gruľová, Daniela and Baranová, Beáta and Caputo, Lucia and De Martino, Laura and Sedlák, Vincent and Camele, Ippolito and De Feo, Vincenzo (2019) 'Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Composition of Essential Oil Extracted from Solidago canadensis L. Growing Wild in Slovakia', Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 24(7). doi:10.3390/molecules24071206 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24071206 - Mishra, Devendra and Joshi, Shivani and Bisht, Ganga and Pilkhwal, Sangeeta (2010) 'Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of solidago canadensis linn. Root essential oil', Journal of basic and clinical pharmacy, 1(3), pp. 187-90. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24825986/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24825986/ - Kasali, Adeleke A and Ekundayo, Olusegun and Paul, Claudia and König, Wilfried A (2002) 'epi-Cubebanes from Solidago canadensis', Phytochemistry, 59(8), pp. 805-10. doi:10.1016/s0031-9422(02)00006-7 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0031-9422(02)00006-7 - Nkuimi Wandjou, Joice Guileine and Quassinti, Luana and Gudžinskas, Zigmantas and Nagy, David U and Cianfaglione, Kevin and Bramucci, Massimo and Maggi, Filippo (2020) 'Chemical Composition and Antiproliferative Effect of Essential Oils of Four Solidago Species (S. canadensis, S. gigantea, S. virgaurea and S.×niederederi)', Chemistry & biodiversity, 17(11), pp. e2000685. doi:10.1002/cbdv.202000685 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202000685 - Qian, Qichao and Dong, Junfang and Li, Shixiang and Shi, Luli and Qiao, Wenhao and Li, Xingxi and Hu, Weiyan and Zhang, Rongping and Chen, Xinglong (2026) 'Clerodane diterpenoids and acetophenones from Solidago canadensis L. with anti-neuroinflammation activity via regulating the expressions of NLRP3 and IL-1β', Bioorganic chemistry, 178, pp. 109933. doi:10.1016/j.bioorg.2026.109933 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2026.109933 - Chaturvedula, V S Prakash and Zhou, Bing-Nan and Gao, Zhijie and Thomas, Shannon J and Hecht, Sidney M and Kingston, David G I (2004) 'New lupane triterpenoids from Solidago canadensis that inhibit the lyase activity of DNA polymerase beta', Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, 12(23), pp. 6271-5. doi:10.1016/j.bmc.2004.08.048 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2004.08.048 - Reznicek, G and Jurenitsch, J and Plasun, M and Korhammer, S and Haslinger, E and Hiller, K and Kubelka, W (1991) 'Four major saponins from Solidago canadensis', Phytochemistry, 30(5), pp. 1629-33. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(91)84222-e Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)84222-e - Šutovská, M and Capek, P and Kocmálová, M and Fraňová, S and Pawlaczyk, I and Gancarz, R (2012) 'Characterization and biological activity of Solidago canadensis complex', International journal of biological macromolecules, 52, pp. 192-7. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2012.09.021 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2012.09.021 - Rahimi, Omid and Asadi Louie, Nilufar and Salehi, Alireza and Faed Maleki, Firouz (2022) 'Hepatorenal Protective Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Solidago canadensis L. against Paracetamol-Induced Toxicity in Mice', Journal of toxicology, 2022, pp. 9091605. doi:10.1155/2022/9091605 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9091605 - Grow Forage Cook Ferment 'Foraging Goldenrod (Solidago): Identification and Uses'. Available at: https://www.growforagecookferment.com/foraging-goldenrod/ Traditional / reference
https://www.growforagecookferment.com/foraging-goldenrod/ - Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board 'Tansy Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)'. Available at: https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/tansy-ragwort Traditional / reference
https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/tansy-ragwort - Schneider, J. and Tsegaye, Y. and W/Tensae, M. and G/Selassie, S. and Haile, T. and Bane, A. and Ali, A. and Mesfin, G. and Seboxa, T (2012) 'Veno-occlusive liver disease: a case report', Ethiopian Medical Journal, 50 Suppl 2, pp. 47-51. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22946295/ Clinical study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22946295/
Selected studies & references
All 26 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.