Plant Comparison
Water avens vs Yellow loosestrife
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
Water avens and Yellow loosestrife: they share 5 indicated uses (cancer (anticancer research), diarrhoea, inflammation (general), …); 6 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Water avens | Yellow loosestrife | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer (anticancer research) | 2/10 | 7/10 | Stronger for Yellow loosestrife |
| Diarrhoea | 7/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Water avens |
| Inflammation (general) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Infection (general) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Wounds | 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
Hydrolysable ellagitannins - the dominant astringent constituents of water avens.
Additional hydrolysable and condensed tannins contributing to the astringent, antidiarrhoeal and elastase-inhibiting activity.
Ellagic acid and ellagic-acid glycosides (antioxidant; precursors of anti-inflammatory urolithins in the gut).
Gallic acid and galloyl derivatives (antioxidant, antimicrobial).
Antioxidant flavonol glycosides.
Triterpenoid saponins and aglycones.
The root essential oil is dominated by eugenol, giving the clove-like scent (shared with clove) and antiseptic, mild-anaesthetic character.
Flavonol glycosides - notably rutin - are the principal antioxidant constituents of yellow loosestrife.
Caffeic-acid derivatives and chlorogenic acid (antioxidant).
Oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins characteristic of the genus Lysimachia.
Root isocoumarins and benzoquinones with PCSK9-inhibitory (lipid-lowering) activity.
The lignan pinoresinol and loliolide, which reduce hepatic lipogenesis.
Pharmacological Actions
Astringent hydrolysable tannins; traditional remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery.
Inhibits prostaglandin biosynthesis; ellagitannin-derived urolithins are anti-inflammatory.
Geum (avens) extracts show antineoplastic and skin antineoplastic activity in vitro (preclinical).
Antiviral activity of avens (Geum) extract in vitro (congener).
Neuroprotective activity of water avens polyphenol fractions.
Avens root extract showed antidiabetic (glucose-lowering) activity in vivo (congener G. urbanum).
Antibacterial activity of the phenolic-rich extract.
Antitumor activity of L. vulgaris extract; genus congeners (L. christinae, L. capillipes saponins) show anticancer activity.
Ameliorates liver fibrosis and NASH in mice (L. vulgaris var. davurica).
Root isocoumarins/benzoquinones inhibit PCSK9 expression and loliolide/pinoresinol reduce hepatic lipogenesis via liver-X-receptor degradation.
Improves diarrhoea-predominant IBS (L. vulgaris var. davurica); traditional astringent antidiarrhoeal.
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anticancer action
Astringent (tannin) antidiarrhoeal; traditional remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery.
Root decoction used traditionally as a gargle/mouthwash for mouth ulcers and spongy gums; antimicrobial.
inferred from astringent/antimicrobial gargle use
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from astringent/antimicrobial action and traditional wound-wash use
inferred from anti-inflammatory/antimicrobial skin activity
Avens root showed antidiabetic activity in vivo (congener).
inferred from anticancer action
Ameliorates liver fibrosis/NASH in animal models.
PCSK9 inhibition and reduced hepatic lipogenesis (lipid-lowering).
Improves NASH/metabolic and lipid parameters in animal models.
Improves diarrhoea-predominant IBS; traditional astringent antidiarrhoeal.
Improved diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (var. davurica).
inferred from antibacterial action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
The root and herb are rich in tannins; large or prolonged doses may cause digestive upset or constipation and can reduce the absorption of iron and some medicines - take apart from iron supplements and other drugs.
Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established; avoid medicinal doses during pregnancy and lactation.
In-vivo toxicity testing of avens (Geum) extract showed a favourable profile at the doses studied, but high-dose or long-term safety is not established.
Safety data are limited and there are no human clinical trials; avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Contains astringent tannins and flavonoids; large or prolonged doses may cause digestive upset and can reduce absorption of iron and some medicines.
Much of the pharmacological data are for Lysimachia vulgaris var. davurica and closely related Lysimachia species (e.g. L. christinae, L. foenum-graecum); apply to the plain species with appropriate caution.
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Synonyms
Botanical Description
A perennial herb of the rose family, 20-60 cm tall, growing from a thick, reddish, aromatic rhizome that smells of cloves when broken (from its eugenol content) - the source of the name 'chocolate root'. The basal leaves are pinnate with a large terminal lobe, forming a rosette. Its distinctive flowers are nodding (drooping) bells with dull purple-pink to orange sepals and cream-to-pink petals, quite unlike the erect open yellow flowers of its relative wood avens (Geum urbanum). The fruit is a rounded head of achenes, each with a hooked, feathery style that clings to fur and clothing.[1, 9]
A tall, erect perennial herb of the primrose family, 60-150 cm high, spreading by creeping rhizomes to form patches. The stems are softly downy and bear lance-shaped leaves in whorls of three or four (or opposite pairs), often gland-dotted. Bright yellow, five-petalled star-shaped flowers, about 15 mm across and often with reddish margins to the sepals, are carried in leafy branching clusters (panicles) at the top of the stem in summer. Despite the shared name 'loosestrife', it is unrelated to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).[4]
Habitat
Damp ground: wet meadows, marshes, streamsides, ditches, fens and damp woodland across Europe, western Asia and North America. It favours moist, base-rich soils. Unlike wood avens (Geum urbanum), a plant of dry hedgerows and shade, water avens grows in wet, open places.[1]
Wet ground: margins of rivers, lakes, ponds and ditches, fens, marshes, wet meadows and damp woodland, across Europe and temperate Asia (and naturalised in North America). It favours moist to waterlogged, fertile soils in sun or light shade and can form dense stands.[4]
Harvesting
The reddish rhizome/root is the main medicinal part, dug in spring or autumn and dried carefully to preserve its clove-scented, eugenol-bearing, tannin-rich qualities; the aerial flowering parts are gathered in summer. The root has historically been used both as an astringent medicine and as a flavouring (a coffee/chocolate substitute and to flavour ale).[5, 9]
The flowering aerial parts (leaves, stems, flowers) are gathered in summer while in flower and dried; the root/rhizome is also used. The plant is best cut from established patches in wet ground.[4]
Traditional Uses
Water avens shares the astringent, tannin-based traditional medicine of the avens (Geum) genus. The clove-scented root has been used as an astringent for diarrhoea, dysentery and other bowel complaints, as a gargle and mouth wash for sore throat, mouth ulcers and spongy gums, and as a wash for wounds and skin inflammation. It was also valued as an aromatic bitter tonic and, historically, a febrifuge, and the fragrant root was used to flavour ale and as a coffee/chocolate substitute (hence 'chocolate root').[8, 9]
Yellow loosestrife has a European folk-medicine reputation as an astringent and styptic: the flavonoid- and tannin-rich herb was used to stop bleeding (nosebleeds, wounds), for diarrhoea and dysentery, as a gargle and wash for mouth ulcers and sore throat, and to soothe inflammation. The dried herb was also burned to repel insects. More broadly, the genus Lysimachia is important in East Asian medicine - the closely related L. vulgaris var. davurica is used for liver and digestive complaints, while other congeners such as L. christinae (jin qian cao) are classic remedies for urinary and gallstones - reflecting a shared saponin and flavonoid chemistry.[2, 4, 10]
Preparations
References
Drug Class Interactions
Pairings
Classic Rosaceae astringent pairing: both are tannin-rich roots traditionally combined for diarrhoea and as mouth/throat gargles.[8]
Rosaceae astringents rich in hydrolysable tannins, traditionally used together for diarrhoea, sore throat and as gargles.[8]
Both are Primulaceae rich in triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids; related family chemistry rather than a specific therapeutic combination.[12]
Lookalikes Review
References & Sources
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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11212859 - Owczarek, A. and Gudej, J (2013) 'Investigation into biologically active constituents of Geum rivale L', Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 70(1), pp. 111-114. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Investigation%20into%20biologically%20active%20constituents%20of%20Geum%20rivale%20L. - Panizzi, L. and Catalano, S. and Miarelli, C. and Cioni, P.L. and Campeol, E (2000) 'In vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts and isolated constituents of Geum rivale', Phytotherapy Research, 14(7), pp. 561-563. doi:10.1002/1099-1573(200011)14:7<561::aid-ptr651>3.0.co;2-h Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1573(200011)14:7<561::aid-ptr651>3.0.co;2-h - Ming, D. and Jiang, R. and But, P.P. and Towers, G.H.N. and Yu, D (2002) 'A new compound from Geum rivale L', Journal of Asian Natural Products Research, 4(3), pp. 217-220. doi:10.1080/10286020290024022 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/10286020290024022 - Owczarek, A. and Gudej, J. and Kicel, A (2013) 'Composition of essential oil from aerial and underground parts of Geum rivale and G. urbanum growing in Poland', Natural Product Communications, 8(4), pp. 505-508. doi:10.1177/1934578x1300800425 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578x1300800425 - Bunse, M. and Lorenz, P. and Stintzing, F.C. and Kammerer, D.R (2021) 'Insight into the Secondary Metabolites of Geum rivale L. and Geum urbanum L. Seeds (Rosaceae)', Plants (Basel), 10(6), pp. 1219. doi:10.3390/plants10061219 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061219 - Tunon, H. and Olavsdotter, C. and Bohlin, L (1995) 'Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of some Swedish medicinal plants. Inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis and PAF-induced exocytosis', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 48(2), pp. 61-76. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(95)01285-l Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(95)01285-l - Lamaison, J.L. and Carnat, A. and Petitjean-Freytet, C (1990) 'Tannin content and inhibiting activity of elastase in Rosaceae', Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 48(6), pp. 335-340. Meta-analysis / review
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Tannin%20content%20and%20inhibiting%20activity%20of%20elastase%20in%20Rosaceae - Blinova, K.F (1954) 'Anatomical structure of Geum urbanum and Geum rivale and localization of tannins', Aptechnoe Delo, 3(2), pp. 30-35. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Anatomical%20structure%20of%20Geum%20urbanum%20and%20Geum%20rivale%20and%20localization%20of%20tannins - Kosmala, M. and Milala, J. and Karlinska, E (2025) 'Ellagitannins and Other Polyphenols Along with Dietary Components of the Rosaceae Medicinal Plants', Molecules, 30(23), pp. 4574. doi:10.3390/molecules30234574 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30234574 - Bunse, M. and Mailander, L.K. and Lorenz, P. and Stintzing, F.C. and Kammerer, D.R (2022) 'Evaluation of Geum urbanum L. Extracts with Respect to Their Antimicrobial Potential', Chemistry and Biodiversity, 19(2), pp. e202100850. doi:10.1002/cbdv.202100850 Preclinical
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https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.794404 - Zaharieva, M.M. and Dimitrova, L.L. and Philipov, S. and Nikolova, I. and Vilhelmova, N. and Grozdanov, P. and Nikolova, N. and Popova, M. and Bankova, V. and Konstantinov, S.M. and Zheleva-Dimitrova, D. and Najdenski, H.M (2021) 'In Vitro Antineoplastic and Antiviral Activity and In Vivo Toxicity of Geum urbanum L. Extracts', Molecules, 27(1), pp. 245. doi:10.3390/molecules27010245 Preclinical
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https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-017-0343-8 - Ton That, Q. and Nguyen Thien, T.V. and Dang, H.P. and Le Hoan, N. and Vo, L.K.T. and Nguyen, M.H.D. and Ngu, N.T. and Nguyen, T.S. and Hansen, P.E (2018) 'Chemical constituents of Geum urbanum L. roots', Natural Product Research, 32(21), pp. 2529-2534. doi:10.1080/14786419.2018.1425844 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2018.1425844 - Piwowarski, J.P. and Granica, S. and Zwierzynska, M. and Stefanska, J. and Schopohl, P. and Melzig, M.F. and Kiss, A.K (2014) 'Role of human gut microbiota metabolism in the anti-inflammatory effect of traditionally used ellagitannin-rich plant materials', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 155(1), pp. 801-809. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.06.032 Preclinical
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https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c06660 - Son, Y. and Jung, D.S. and Shin, J.M. and Kim, M. and Yoo, G. and Nho, C.W (2021) 'Yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris var. davurica) ameliorates liver fibrosis in db/db mice with methionine- and choline-deficient diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis', BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 21(1), pp. 44. doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03212-6 Preclinical
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https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2026.2664710
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.