Plant Comparison
Greater Burdock vs Butterbur
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Greater Burdock and Butterbur: both belong to the Asteraceae family; they share 1 indicated use (cancer (anticancer research)); 1 pharmacological action in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Greater Burdock | Butterbur | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer (anticancer research) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Burdock root is a rich source of prebiotic inulin-type fructans (fructooligosaccharides) along with chlorogenic and caffeic acids, the lignans arctiin and arctigenin, cynarine and quercetin, which underlie its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and gut-supporting activity.
The anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic active principles; standardised in commercial extracts.
Naturally present but hepatotoxic and carcinogenic; must be removed to make a safe product.
Pharmacological Actions
Burdock (Arctium lappa) extracts and the lignan arctigenin inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in colon, breast, lung and gastric cancer cells, attenuate melanoma progression and reduce preneoplastic colon lesions in vivo (preclinical).
Relief of allergic rhinitis / hay fever (antihistaminic and leukotriene-inhibiting; systematic review found it superior to placebo and comparable to non-sedating antihistamines for intermittent allergic rhinitis)
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from digestive action
Arctium lappa root reduces diet-induced preneoplastic colon lesions and suppresses melanoma progression; its lignan arctigenin induces apoptosis in colon (HT-29), breast (in vitro/in vivo), lung and gastric cancer cells and chemosensitizes them to doxorubicin (preclinical).
inferred from digestive action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Relief of allergic rhinitis / hay fever (antihistaminic and leukotriene-inhibiting; systematic review found it superior to placebo and comparable to non-sedating antihistamines for intermittent allergic rhinitis)
inferred from anticancer action
Relief of allergic rhinitis / hay fever (antihistaminic and leukotriene-inhibiting; systematic review found it superior to placebo and comparable to non-sedating antihistamines for intermittent allergic rhinitis)
inferred from antispasmodic action
Migraine prophylaxis (reduces attack frequency; up to ~60% reduction vs placebo in a randomised controlled trial of a standardised CO2 root extract)
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally safe as a food plant. Allergic reactions are possible in those sensitive to Asteraceae. Avoid in pregnancy due to uterine-stimulating effects reported in animal studies. The burs (seed heads) can cause mechanical irritation of skin and eyes on contact. Not recommended in biliary obstruction.
Duke (2002) rates burdock as +++ and notes antibacterial, antimutagenic, antitumor, choleretic, diuretic, and prebiotic (bifidogenic) activities at the experimental level (score 1). The root is rich in inulin (a prebiotic fructooligosaccharide), which promotes growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria. Dose: 1–2 g dried root in tea three times daily, or 2–4 ml of tincture. Duke notes burdock's general safety, though it belongs to the Asteraceae family and can trigger reactions in sensitive individuals. It should be distinguished from belladonna and similar plants, which resemble it in early growth (Duke, 2002).
Use ONLY certified pyrrolizidine-alkaloid (PA)-free, standardised extracts. Raw or unprocessed butterbur contains PAs that are toxic to the liver and potentially carcinogenic.
Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae), it can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to ragweed and related plants. Watch for and report any signs of liver problems.
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Botanical Description
Robust biennial herb forming a large rosette of huge, heart-shaped (rhubarb-like), long-stalked leaves, dark green above and whitish-woolly beneath, in its first year. In the second year it sends up a tall, branching, grooved flowering stem bearing purple thistle-like flower heads enclosed in a globe of stiff, hooked bracts that ripen into the familiar clinging burrs.[1, 2]
Robust, rhizomatous perennial herb (Asteraceae) that flowers before the leaves emerge: thick, pinkish, scaly flower spikes push up from the ground in early spring, followed by enormous rounded to heart-shaped leaves - up to about 1 m across at maturity - on stout stalks, giving rise to the common name 'umbrella plant'.[2]
Habitat
A common weed of disturbed ground, waste places, roadsides, field margins and riverbanks on rich, moist soils; native to Europe and temperate Asia and naturalised in North America and elsewhere.[2]
Native to damp, marshy ground across Europe and western Asia - riverbanks, ditches, wet meadows and damp woodland margins - favouring moist, nutrient-rich soils.[2]
Harvesting
The root is dug at the end of the first growing season (autumn) or early in the second spring, before the flowering stem develops, when it is at its most tender and richest in inulin; leaves are picked through the first year, and the seed/fruit is collected from the dried burrs in the second autumn. Careful identification against deadly nightshade, whose root can resemble burdock, is essential before digging.[11]
Rhizome/root is dug in autumn or early spring; leaves are gathered during the growing season. Raw material naturally contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, so commercial products are manufactured to remove them (PA-free standardised extracts); home-gathered material should never be used medicinally.[11]
Traditional Uses
Butterbur has a long European folk-medicine history as a fever remedy - the name 'pestilence wort' reflects its historic use during plague outbreaks - and for asthma, cough and migraine-type headache. Modern clinical trials of standardised, pyrrolizidine-alkaloid-free extracts support its use for migraine prevention and allergic rhinitis.[2, 3, 4]
Preparations
Dried or fresh root simmered in water as a traditional alterative and digestive decoction.
Tincture of the dried root, ethanol 45% V/V or 25% V/V, 8-12 ml three times daily per the EU herbal monograph. The monograph states the ethanol strength but no drug-extract ratio, so no 1:5 ratio is claimed here. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Fresh root peeled and cooked as a root vegetable (gobo), continuing the traditional food-medicine use.
Dosage
The EU herbal monograph on Arctium lappa L., radix gives, for adults and elderly, a single dose of 2-6 g of the comminuted root as an infusion, 3 times daily; a powdered herbal substance at 350 mg 3-5 times daily, a liquid extract at 2-8 mL 3 times daily and a soft extract at 0.2 g per dose (1-2 g daily) are also listed. Not recommended under 18 years, and a practitioner should be consulted if symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
The EU herbal monograph gives 8-12 mL three times daily, for tinctures in either 45% V/V or 25% V/V ethanol, in adults and elderly. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Clinical trials have used standardised PA-free extracts (for example around 50-75 mg twice daily of a CO2 root extract for migraine prevention). Always use a certified PA-free commercial product, never raw plant material. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References
Lookalikes Review
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References & Sources
- Chan, Y.S., Cheng, L.N., Wu, J.H., Chan, E., Kwan, Y.W., Lee, S.M.Y., Leung, G.P.H., Yu, P.H.F. and Chan, S.W (2010) 'A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock)', Inflammopharmacology, 19(5), pp. 245--254. doi:10.1007/s10787-010-0062-4 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-010-0062-4 - de Souza, A.R.C., de Oliveira, T.L., Fontana, P.D., Carneiro, M.C., Corazza, M.L., de Messias Reason, I.J. and Bavia, L (2022) 'Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Burdock (Arctium lappa L.) Extracts: A Review', Chemistry and Biodiversity, 19(11). doi:10.1002/cbdv.202200615 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202200615 - Yosri, N., Alsharif, S.M., Xiao, J., Musharraf, S.G., Zhao, C., Saeed, A., Gao, R., Said, N.S., Di Minno, A., Daglia, M., Guo, Z., Khalifa, S.A.M. and El-Seedi, H.R (2023) 'Arctium lappa (burdock): insights from ethnopharmacology potential, chemical constituents, clinical studies, pharmacological utility and nanomedicine', Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 158, pp. 114104. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114104 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114104 - Mondal, S.C. and Eun, J.B (2022) 'Mechanistic insights on burdock (Arctium lappa L.) extract effects on diabetes mellitus', Food Science and Biotechnology, 31(8), pp. 999--1008. doi:10.1007/s10068-022-01091-2 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-022-01091-2 - Shyam, M. and Sabina, E.P (2024) 'Harnessing the power of Arctium lappa root: a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic applications', Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 14(1), pp. 49. doi:10.1007/s13659-024-00466-8 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-024-00466-8 - Gao, Q., Yang, M. and Zuo, Z (2018) 'Overview of the anti-inflammatory effects, pharmacokinetic properties and clinical efficacies of arctigenin and arctiin from Arctium lappa L', Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 39(5), pp. 787-801. doi:10.1038/aps.2018.32 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1038/aps.2018.32 - Jin, X., Liu, S., Chen, S., Wang, L., Cui, Y., He, J., Fang, S., Li, J. and Chang, Y (2023) 'A systematic review on botany, ethnopharmacology, quality control, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of Arctium lappa L. fruit', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 308, pp. 116223. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116223 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2023.116223 - Shukla, S., Kakade, M., Cherian, S., Alagarasu, K. and Parashar, D (2024) 'Arctigenin from Arctium lappa L. inhibits chikungunya virus by affecting its entry and replication', Phytomedicine, 128, pp. 155491. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155491 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155491 - Nascimento, B.A.C., Gardinassi, L.G., Silveira, I.M.G., Gallucci, M.G., Tome, M.A., Oliveira, J.F.D., Moreira, M.R.A., Meirelles, A.F.G., Faccioli, L.H., Tefe-Silva, C. and Zoccal, K.F (2019) 'Arctium lappa extract suppresses inflammation and inhibits melanoma progression', Medicines, 6(3), pp. 81. doi:10.3390/medicines6030081 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines6030081 - Lu, N., Wei, J., Gong, X., Tang, X., Zhang, X., Xiang, W., Liu, S., Luo, C. and Wang, X (2023) 'Preventive effect of Arctium lappa polysaccharides on acute lung injury through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities', Nutrients, 15(23), pp. 4946. doi:10.3390/nu15234946 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15234946 - Moro, T.M.A. and Clerici, M.T.P.S (2020) 'Burdock (Arctium lappa L) roots as a source of inulin-type fructans and other bioactive compounds: Current knowledge and future perspectives for food and non-food applications', Food Research International. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109889 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109889 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2011) 'Community herbal monograph on Arctium lappa L., radix'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-arctium-lappa-l-radix_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-arctium-lappa-l-radix_en.pdf - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - World Health Organization (2002) 'WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=WHO%20Monographs%20on%20Selected%20Medicinal%20Plants - Xu, Z., Li, Y., Jiang, D. and Deng, L (2008) 'Arctium lappa L.: A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology', 121(2), pp. 167--184. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Arctium%20lappa%20L.%3A%20A%20review%20of%20its%20traditional%20uses%2C%20phytochemistry%2C%20and%20pharmacology - Romualdo, G.R., Silva, E.D.A., Da Silva, T.C., Aloia, T.P.A., Nogueira, M.S., De Castro, I.A. and others (2019) 'Burdock (Arctium lappa L.) root attenuates preneoplastic lesion development in a diet and thioacetamide-induced model of steatohepatitis-associated hepatocarcinogenesis', Environmental Toxicology, 35(4), pp. 518--527. doi:10.1002/tox.22887 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.22887 - Chen, Y.-F. and Liu, R.-Z. and Ying, W.-W. and Yang, Y.-N. and Xiang, S.-F. and Shao, X.-J. and Cao, J. and Zhang, Y.-Q. and Yang, B. and He, Q.-J. and Ying, M.-D (2022) 'Arctigenin impairs UBC12 enzyme activity and cullin neddylation to attenuate cancer cells', Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 44(3), pp. 661-669. doi:10.1038/s41401-022-00992-6 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41401-022-00992-6 - Shi, H. and Zhao, L. and Guo, X. and Fang, R. and Zhang, H. and Dong, G. and Fu, J. and Yan, F. and Zhang, J. and Ning, Z. and Ma, Q. and Li, Z. and Li, C. and Dai, J. and Si, C. and Xiong, H (2020) 'Arctigenin Attenuates Breast Cancer Progression through Decreasing GM-CSF/TSLP/STAT3/beta-Catenin Signaling', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(17), pp. 6357. doi:10.3390/ijms21176357 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21176357 - Li, Q.-C. and Liang, Y. and Tian, Y. and Hu, G.-R (2016) 'Arctigenin induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells through ROS/p38MAPK pathway', Journal of BUON, 21(1), pp. 87-94. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Arctigenin%20induces%20apoptosis%20in%20colon%20cancer%20cells%20through%20ROS/p38MAPK%20pathway - Lee, K.-S. and Lee, M.-G. and Kwon, Y.-S. and Nam, K.-S (2020) 'Arctigenin Enhances the Cytotoxic Effect of Doxorubicin in MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(8), pp. 2997. doi:10.3390/ijms21082997 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21082997 - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Bryson, P.D. and Watanabe, A.S. and Rumack, B.H. and Murphy, R.C (1978) 'Burdock root tea poisoning. Case report involving a commercial preparation', JAMA, 239(20), pp. 2157. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/642161/ Clinical study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/642161/ - 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/
- Alhusayan, R.M., Aldahmash, B.A., El-Nagar, D.M., Rady, A. and others (2020) 'Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) Extract Ameliorates Hepatic Damage Induced by Ovalbumin in Mice', Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2020, pp. 3178214. doi:10.1155/2020/3178214 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3178214 - Kalin, P (2003) 'The common butterbur (Petasites hybridus)--portrait of a medicinal herb', Forschende Komplementarmedizin und Klassische Naturheilkunde, 10(Suppl 1), pp. 41-44. doi:10.1159/000071691 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1159/000071691 - Brattstrom, A (2003) 'A newly developed extract (Ze 339) from butterbur (Petasites hybridus L.) is clinically efficient in allergic rhinitis (hay fever)', Phytomedicine, 10(Suppl 4), pp. 50-52. doi:10.1078/1433-187x-00304 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1078/1433-187x-00304 - Lipton, R.B., Gobel, H., Einhaupl, K.M., Wilks, K. and Mauskop, A (2004) 'Petasites hybridus root (butterbur) is an effective preventive treatment for migraine', Neurology, 63(12), pp. 2240-2244. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000147290.68260.11 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000147290.68260.11 - Apostolova, S., Oreshkova, T., Uzunova, V., Georgieva, I. and others (2023) 'A Standardized Extract of Petasites hybridus L., Containing the Active Ingredients Petasins, Acts as a Pro-Oxidant and Triggers Apoptosis through Elevating of NF-kB in a Highly Invasive Human Breast Cancer Cell Line', Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition), 28(6), pp. 111. doi:10.31083/j.fbl2806111 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2806111 - Danesch, U.C (2004) 'Petasites hybridus (Butterbur root) extract in the treatment of asthma--an open trial', Alternative Medicine Review, 9(1), pp. 54-62. Clinical study
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Petasites%20hybridus%20%28Butterbur%20root%29%20extract%20in%20the%20treatment%20of%20asthma--an%20open%20trial - Aydin, A.A., Zerbes, V., Parlar, H. and Letzel, T (2013) 'The medical plant butterbur (Petasites): analytical and physiological (re)view', Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 75, pp. 220-229. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2012.11.028 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2012.11.028 - Kulinowski, L., Luca, S.V., Minceva, M. and Skalicka-Wozniak, K (2022) 'A review on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of butterbur species (Petasites L.)', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 293, pp. 115263. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2022.115263 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115263 - Alternative Medicine Review (2001) 'Monograph: Petasites hybridus', Alternative Medicine Review, 6(2), pp. 207-209. Meta-analysis / review
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Monograph%3A%20Petasites%20hybridus - Kulinowski, L., Luca, S.V., Pecio, L., Minceva, M. and Skalicka-Wozniak, K (2023) 'Liquid-liquid chromatography isolation of Petasites hybridus sesquiterpenes and their LC-HR-MS/MS and NMR characterization', Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 234, pp. 115529. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115529 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115529 - Sadler, C., Vanderjagt, L. and Vohra, S (2007) 'Complementary, holistic, and integrative medicine: butterbur', Pediatrics in Review. doi:10.1542/pir.28-6-235 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.28-6-235 - Guo, R. and Pittler, M.H. and Ernst, E (2007) 'Herbal medicines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a systematic review', Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 99(6), pp. 483--495. doi:10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60375-4 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60375-4 - Grossmann, M. and Schmidramsl, H (2000) 'An extract of Petasites hybridus is effective in the prophylaxis of migraine', International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 38(9), pp. 430--435. doi:10.5414/cpp38430 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.5414/cpp38430 - Sperl, W. and Stuppner, H. and Gassner, I. and Judmaier, W. and Dietze, O. and Vogel, W (1995) 'Reversible hepatic veno-occlusive disease in an infant after consumption of pyrrolizidine-containing herbal tea', European Journal of Pediatrics, 154(2), pp. 112-6. doi:10.1007/BF01991912 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01991912
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.