Plant Comparison

Pleurisy Root vs Dense-flowered Mullein

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.

First plant

Second plant

Plant APleurisy RootAsclepias tuberosaApocynaceaeFull monograph →

Plant BDense-flowered MulleinVerbascum densiflorumScrophulariaceaeFull monograph →

At a glance

Pleurisy Root and Dense-flowered Mullein: they share 5 indicated uses (bronchitis, cold & flu, cough, …); 1 pharmacological action in common.

Pleurisy RootDense-flowered Mullein

Constituents23

Pharmacological actions32

Indicated uses88

Safety notes22

Cited sources1417

Indicated uses

Only Pleurisy Root

Arthritis / joint painFeverInflammation (general)

Shared (5)

BronchitisCold & fluCoughRespiratory supportSkin irritation

Only Dense-flowered Mullein

EarachePain (general)Sore throat

Pharmacological actions

Only Pleurisy Root

Anti-inflammatoryDiaphoretic

Shared (1)

Expectorant

Only Dense-flowered Mullein

Demulcent (soothing mucilage)

Evidence face-off — shared uses

Condition	Pleurisy Root	Dense-flowered Mullein	Verdict
Bronchitis	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Cold & flu	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Cough	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Respiratory support	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Skin irritation	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

Cardiac glycosides (cardenolides such as asclepin, calactin and calotropin)^{[11, 12]}

Heart-active compounds that make dosing and safety critical.

Glycosides

Flavonoids and amino acids^[12]

Supporting constituents of the root.

Flavonoids

Mucilage polysaccharides (~3%)^{[11, 12]}

The demulcent constituents that soothe mucous membranes.

PolysaccharidesMucilage

Saponins^{[5, 11, 12]}

Thought to be responsible for the mild expectorant action.

Saponins

Flavonoids, iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides (verbascoside)^{[1, 2, 4, 8, 11]}

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant constituents.

Verbascoside (acteoside)FlavonoidsGlycosidesIridoid glycosides

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^[12]

Anti-inflammatory for lung inflammation (traditional)

Diaphoretic^{[9, 10, 11, 12]}

Diaphoretic - promotes sweating to support feverish illness

Expectorant^{[9, 10, 11, 12]}

Traditional expectorant - helps clear phlegm in chest conditions, bronchitis and pleurisy

Demulcent (soothing mucilage)^{[9, 10, 11, 12]}

Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough; Soothes catarrh of the upper respiratory tract / bronchitis (mucilage coats irritated mucosa; saponins loosen mucus)

Expectorant^{[9, 11, 12]}

Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^[12]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Bronchitis^{[10, 11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

Traditional expectorant - helps clear phlegm in chest conditions, bronchitis and pleurisy

Evidence: 1

Label: Bronchitis

Cold & flu^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from diaphoretic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Cold & flu

Cough^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from expectorant action

Evidence: 1

Label: Cough

Fever^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from diaphoretic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Fever

Inflammation (general)^[12]Traditional · 1/10

Anti-inflammatory for lung inflammation (traditional)

Evidence: 1

Label: Inflammation (general)

Respiratory support^{[9, 10, 11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from expectorant action

Evidence: 1

Label: Respiratory support

Skin irritation^{[7, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 2

Label: Skin irritation

Bronchitis^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

Soothes catarrh of the upper respiratory tract / bronchitis (mucilage coats irritated mucosa; saponins loosen mucus)

Evidence: 1

Label: Bronchitis

Cold & flu^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough

Evidence: 1

Label: Cold & flu

Cough^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Cough

Earache^{[12, 13, 14]}Moderate · 6/10

Traditional infused-oil ('mullein oil') for earache - two RCTs of a naturopathic herbal ear drop containing Verbascum found it as effective as anaesthetic drops for ear pain in acute otitis media (combination products, not mullein alone)

Evidence: 6

Label: Earache

Pain (general)^{[12, 13, 14]}Moderate · 6/10

Evidence: 6

Label: Pain (general)

Respiratory support^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from expectorant action

Evidence: 1

Label: Respiratory support

Skin irritation^{[3, 11, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from demulcent action

Evidence: 2

Label: Skin irritation

Sore throat^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough

Evidence: 1

Label: Sore throat

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[8, 11, 12]}Caution

Contains cardiac glycosides: do NOT use in pregnancy, breastfeeding or infancy, in anyone with a heart condition, or alongside cardiac glycoside medicines (e.g. digoxin). The plant's cardenolide-rich latex is directly toxic - a documented case caused corneal injury through Na/K-ATPase inhibition.

Safety note^[12]Info

Large doses are emetic and purgative (cause vomiting and diarrhoea). There is very little modern safety or efficacy data, so use only under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

Safety note^[11]Info

Per the EU herbal monograph, for use in adults and adolescents over 12 years. Cough that persists beyond about a week, or is accompanied by fever, shortness of breath or purulent sputum, needs medical assessment.

Safety note^[11]Caution

Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended. Strain liquid preparations to remove the fine flower/leaf hairs, which can irritate the throat.

External Ids

Gbif: 3170305

Wikidata: Q311131

Gbif: 3171939

Wikidata: Q163927

Botanical Description

Erect perennial herb with hairy, unbranched stems and narrow, lance-shaped, alternate leaves (unlike most milkweeds, its sap is clear rather than milky). Vivid orange-red flowers are borne in showy, flat-topped umbel-like clusters at the stem tips, making it a prized butterfly and pollinator plant. The stout, fibrous, branching root is the medicinal part.^[11]

Height: 30-90 cm

Habit: Erect, hairy perennial herb

Leaves: Narrow, lance-shaped, alternate

Flowers: Vivid orange-red flowers in showy, flat-topped umbel-like clusters

Stem: Erect, hairy, unbranched, exuding clear (not milky) sap when cut

Root: Stout, fibrous, branching taproot

Fruit: Spindle-shaped seed pod (follicle) releasing silky-tufted seeds

Flowering Period: June-September

Tall, stately biennial herb, very similar to great mullein, forming a low first-year rosette of large, thick, woolly grey-green leaves; the second-year flowering spike bears densely packed, large bright yellow flowers, generally more densely and showily flowered than V. thapsus.^[11]

Height: 1-2 m (flowering stem, second year)

Habit: Tall, biennial herb; woolly basal rosette in year one, dense tall flowering spike in year two

Leaves: Large, thick, woolly grey-green, entire to faintly scalloped margin

Flowers: Densely packed, large, bright yellow, five-petalled, along a tall unbranched spike

Stem: Single, tall, unbranched, woolly flowering stem (second year only)

Root: Stout taproot

Fruit: Small capsule with numerous tiny seeds

Flowering Period: June-September (second year)

Habitat

Native to dry prairies, open fields, roadsides and sandy or rocky open ground across most of eastern and central North America.^[11]

Grows on dry, sunny waste ground, roadsides and disturbed soil; native to Europe and western Asia.^[11]

Harvesting

The root is dug in autumn after the plant has finished flowering and seeding, then cleaned and dried; given its cardiac glycoside content and near-absence of modern safety data, harvesting and use should only be undertaken with expert guidance.^[11]

Parts: Root

Season: Autumn

The flowers (Verbasci flos) are picked individually as they open through summer, since they open only a few at a time and fade quickly, then dried promptly to preserve colour and mucilage content.^[11]

Parts: Flower (Verbasci flos)

Season: Summer, as flowers open

Traditional Uses

Pleurisy root has a Native American and Eclectic-medicine reputation, reflected in its name, as an expectorant and diaphoretic for chest complaints, bronchitis and pleurisy, used to promote sweating during feverish illness and help clear phlegm.^{[11, 12]}

Together with great mullein and V. phlomoides, dense-flowered mullein flower is officially recognised in the EU herbal monograph and ESCOP monograph as a traditional demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat, used to soothe irritated mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.^{[11, 12]}

Preparations

Decoction^[11]

Dried root simmered in water as a traditional expectorant and diaphoretic remedy; given its cardiac glycoside content, only under qualified practitioner guidance.

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

Dried flower infused in hot water, carefully strained to remove fine hairs, as the standard traditional preparation for cough and sore throat.

Infused oil (flower, earache)^[12]

Flowers infused in oil, traditionally used (often combined with other herbs) as ear drops for earache.

Dosage

All preparations^[12]

Because the root contains cardiac glycosides and modern safety/efficacy data are very limited, no general dose is given here; use only under the guidance of a qualified practitioner, and never in pregnancy, breastfeeding, infancy, or with a heart condition or cardiac glycoside medicines. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Infusion^[11]

The EU herbal monograph suggests around 1.5-2 g of dried flower per cup, up to three times daily, in adults and adolescents over 12 years. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

References

REF-0734, REF-0738, REF-0735, REF-1944, REF-1945, REF-1946, REF-1947, REF-0626, REF-1948, REF-1949

REF-1381, REF-1382, REF-1383, REF-1384, REF-1385, REF-1386, REF-0332, REF-1387, REF-1123, REF-1130

Lookalikes Review

Outcome: has-lookalikes

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07

Outcome: has-lookalikes

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-06

Dangerous Lookalikes

Safety note^{[13, 14]}Dangerous

Dangerous Plant: apocynum-cannabinum

Confused Part: Young shoots (and the root) gathered from the wild; toxic dogbane sends up very similar shoots in the same habitat.

Confusion Context: Butterfly weed / pleurisy root (Asclepias tuberosa) is a milkweed whose young shoots and root have been used. Its main dangerous look-alike is dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum): at the shoot stage the two are easily confused and grow in similar places. Dogbane is a high-severity poison - its milky sap contains cardiac glycosides, all parts are toxic to humans, and poisoning can cause vomiting, weakness and cardiac arrest, while the sap blisters skin. Because the young shoots look alike, the bitterness test below matters.

Distinguishing Features: Taste/bitterness (decisive): dogbane is horribly, intensely bitter - an immediate warning to spit it out; edible milkweed shoots are not. Never swallow a bitter 'milkweed' shoot., Growth habit: dogbane shoots are thinner and firmer and branch early; milkweeds do not branch at the shoot stage. An early-branching, thin, firm shoot is likely dogbane., General: both milkweeds and dogbane have milky sap, so sap alone does not distinguish them - rely on bitterness and branching, and confirm the species before eating.

Key Test: Taste a tiny piece and check the branching (then spit it out). An intensely bitter shoot, or one that is thin, firm and branches early, is dogbane - toxic, do not eat. Milky sap alone does not prove it is safe; if in any doubt, discard it.

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07

Safety note^{[15, 16, 17]}Fatal

Dangerous Plant: digitalis-purpurea

Confused Part: First-year basal leaf rosette (the foraged leaf, used for tea), before either plant sends up a flower spike.

Confusion Context: Dense-flowered mullein is foraged for the same soft woolly rosette leaves as great mullein and shares the identical dangerous look-alike: foxglove, whose poisonous first-year rosette resembles foraged soft-leaf rosettes and has caused cardiac-glycoside poisonings when eaten as comfrey or borage. The two co-occur in the same disturbed, sunny habitats. Foxglove contains cardiac glycosides and can be fatal.

Distinguishing Features: Mullein leaves are densely, evenly woolly on BOTH surfaces — a thick silvery-grey felt that gives a soft blanket-like nap and largely hides the veins. Foxglove's upper surface is green and only thinly downy, never a thick silvery felt, and shows a sunken net of veins., Foxglove leaves have a distinctly toothed or scalloped margin; mullein margins are entire to only faintly scalloped. Use this only alongside the wool test, not on its own.

Key Test: Look at the UPPER surface: a thick, even, silvery wool that hides the veins = mullein. A green, matte, net-veined upper surface (only thinly hairy) with a toothed edge = foxglove — do not use it.

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-06

References & Sources

Warashina, T. and Miyase, T (2017) 'New 8,12;8,20-diepoxy-8,14-secopregnane hexa- and hepta-glycosides from the roots of Asclepias tuberosa', Journal of Natural Medicines, 72(1), pp. 347-356. doi:10.1007/s11418-017-1155-9 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-017-1155-9
Abe, F. and Yamauchi, T (2000) 'An androstane bioside and 3'-thiazolidinone derivatives of doubly-linked cardenolide glycosides from the roots of Asclepias tuberosa', Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 48(7), pp. 991-993. doi:10.1248/cpb.48.991 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1248/cpb.48.991
Lockwood, T.L (1848) 'Asclepias Tuberosa, Butterfly-Weed, Milk-Weed, Pleurisy Root, White Root', The Medical Examiner (Philadelphia), 4(42), pp. 367-368. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38120955/ Traditional / reference
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38120955/
Abe, F. and Yamauchi, T (2000) 'Pregnane glycosides from the roots of Asclepias tuberosa', Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 48(7), pp. 1017-1022. doi:10.1248/cpb.48.1017 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1248/cpb.48.1017
Warashina, T. and Noro, T (2009) '8,14-Secopregnane glycosides from the aerial parts of Asclepias tuberosa', Phytochemistry, 70(10), pp. 1294-1304. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.07.033 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.07.033
Warashina, T. and Noro, T (2010) '8,12;8,20-Diepoxy-8,14-secopregnane glycosides from the aerial parts of Asclepias tuberosa', Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 58(2), pp. 172-179. doi:10.1248/cpb.58.172 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1248/cpb.58.172
Warashina, T., Umehara, K., Miyase, T. and Noro, T (2011) '8,12;8,20-diepoxy-8,14-secopregnane glycosides from roots of Asclepias tuberosa and their effect on proliferation of human skin fibroblasts', Phytochemistry, 72(14-15), pp. 1865-1875. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.05.012 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.05.012
Mikkelsen, L.H., Hamoudi, H., Gul, C.A. and Heegaard, S (2017) 'Corneal Toxicity Following Exposure to Asclepias Tuberosa', The Open Ophthalmology Journal, pp. 1--4. doi:10.2174/1874364101711010001 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.2174/1874364101711010001
Lockwood, T.L (1848) 'Asclepias Tuberosa, Butterfly-Weed, Milk-Weed, Pleurisy Root, White Root', Medical Examiner (Philadelphia), 4(42), pp. 367-368. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Asclepias%20Tuberosa%2C%20Butterfly-Weed%2C%20Milk-Weed%2C%20Pleurisy%20Root%2C%20White%20Root
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https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Asclepias%20Tuberosa%2C%20Butter-Fly-Weed%2C%20Milk%20Weed%2C%20Pleurisy%20Root%2C%20White%20Root
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https://thenaturopathicherbalist.com/2015/09/06/asclepius-tuberosa/
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https://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_pleurisy_root.htm
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https://foragerchef.com/guide-to-milkweed/
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox 'Apocynum cannabinum (Dogbane)'. Available at: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/apocynum-cannabinum/ Traditional / reference
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/apocynum-cannabinum/

Grigore, A., Colceru-Mihul, S., Litescu, S., Panteli, M. and Rasit, I (2013) 'Correlation between polyphenol content and anti-inflammatory activity of Verbascum phlomoides (mullein)', Pharmaceutical Biology, 51(7), pp. 925-929. doi:10.3109/13880209.2013.767361 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2013.767361
Klimek, B., Olszewska, M.A. and Tokar, M (2010) 'Simultaneous determination of flavonoids and phenylethanoids in the flowers of Verbascum densiflorum and V. phlomoides by high-performance liquid chromatography', Phytochemical Analysis, 21(2), pp. 150-156. doi:10.1002/pca.1171 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.1171
Suntar, I., Tatli, I.I., Kupeli Akkol, E., Keles, H. and others (2010) 'An ethnopharmacological study on Verbascum species: from conventional wound healing use to scientific verification', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 132(2), pp. 408-413. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2010.08.004 Preclinical
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Georgiev, M.I., Ali, K., Alipieva, K., Verpoorte, R. and Choi, Y.H (2011) 'Metabolic differentiations and classification of Verbascum species by NMR-based metabolomics', Phytochemistry, 72(16), pp. 2045-2051. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.07.005 Preclinical
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Castro, A.I., Carmona, J.B., Gonzales, F.G. and Nestar, O.B (2006) 'Occupational airborne dermatitis from gordolobo (Verbascum densiflorum)', Contact Dermatitis, 55(5), pp. 301. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.2006.00923.x Preclinical
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Sarrell, E.M., Mandelberg, A. and Cohen, H.A (2001) 'Efficacy of naturopathic extracts in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media', Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 155(7), pp. 796--799. doi:10.1001/archpedi.155.7.796 Clinical study
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Lin, C.C. and Yang, C.C. and Phua, D.H. and Deng, J.F. and Lu, L.H (2010) 'An outbreak of foxglove leaf poisoning', Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, 73(2), pp. 97-100. doi:10.1016/S1726-4901(10)70009-5 Clinical study
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Pleurisy Root monograph Dense-flowered Mullein monograph Compare other plants

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.