Plant Comparison
Water avens vs Japanese Rose
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 Japanese Rose: both belong to the Rosaceae family; they share 3 indicated uses (cancer (anticancer research), inflammation (general), skin irritation); 3 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Water avens | Japanese Rose | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer (anticancer research) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Inflammation (general) | 2/10 | 7/10 | Stronger for Japanese Rose |
| Skin irritation | 2/10 | 7/10 | Stronger for Japanese Rose |
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.
The dominant bioactive class, driving much of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
Studied for immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and gut-microbiota-modulating effects.
Concentrated in the hips, underpinning their traditional food-tonic use.
Isolated from the root and studied for antioxidant/neuroprotective activity.
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).
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 anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anticancer action
inferred from anti-inflammatory 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.
Generally safe as a food plant. Rose hips should be used after removing the achenes (seeds and inner hairs), which can cause irritation. Allergic reactions are rare. No significant drug interactions documented.
External Ids
Synonyms
Not documented
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]
Dense, thicket-forming deciduous shrub (Rosaceae), 1-1.5 m tall (occasionally to 2 m), with stems densely covered in numerous straight, bristly thorns. Leaves are pinnate with 5-9 deeply veined, glossy, leathery leaflets. Large, fragrant, deep pink to white, five-petalled flowers are followed by large, tomato-red, flattened-globose hips.[2]
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]
Native to coastal eastern Asia (Japan, Korea, China, far-eastern Russia), typically growing on sand dunes and coastal scrub. Widely planted and naturalised as an ornamental and hedging shrub, notably tolerant of salt spray, wind and poor sandy soils, in temperate coastal regions worldwide.[2]
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]
Flowers/petals are picked as they open in summer; hips are picked in autumn once fully coloured and slightly softened.[2]
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]
Rosa rugosa has a long East Asian tradition - particularly in Traditional Chinese Medicine, where the flower is known as 'Mei Gui Hua' - as a mood-regulating, digestive and menstrual-cycle-supporting remedy, and the vitamin-C-rich hips are used as a food tonic. Modern research on its flavonoid- and polysaccharide-rich extracts supports broad antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory activity.[2]
Preparations
References
Drug Class Interactions
Not documented
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]
Not documented
Lookalikes Review
Dosage
Not documented
Traditional guidance suggests roughly 3-6 g dried flower per cup as an infusion, or hip tea/syrup at similar strength, taken once or twice daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References & Sources
- Orlova, A. and Kysil, E. and Tsvetkova, E. and Meshalkina, D. and Whaley, A. and Whaley, A.O. and Laub, A. and Francioso, A. and Babich, O. and Wessjohann, L.A. and Mosca, L. and Frolov, A. and Povydysh, M (2022) 'Phytochemical Characterization of Water Avens (Geum rivale L.) Extracts: Structure Assignment and Biological Activity of the Major Phenolic Constituents', Plants (Basel), 11(21), pp. 2859. doi:10.3390/plants11212859 Preclinical
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
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202100850 - Gunther, I. and Rimbach, G. and Nevermann, S. and Neuhauser, C. and Stadlbauer, V. and Schwarzinger, B. and Schwarzinger, C. and Ipharraguerre, I.R. and Weghuber, J. and Luersen, K (2021) 'Avens Root (Geum urbanum L.) Extract Discovered by Target-Based Screening Exhibits Antidiabetic Activity in the Hen's Egg Test Model', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, pp. 794404. doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.794404 Preclinical
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
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27010245 - Dimitrova, L. and Zaharieva, M.M. and Tserovska, L. and Popova, M. and Bankova, V. and Najdenski, H (2025) 'Inhibition of the MRSA Biofilm Formation and Skin Antineoplastic Activity of Ethyl Acetate Roots and Aerial Parts Extracts from Geum urbanum L', Antibiotics (Basel), 14(7), pp. 627. doi:10.3390/antibiotics14070627 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14070627 - Dimitrova, L. and Zaharieva, M.M. and Popova, M. and Kostadinova, N. and Tsvetkova, I. and Bankova, V. and Najdenski, H (2017) 'Antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of different solvent extracts of the medicinal plant Geum urbanum L', Chemistry Central Journal, 11(1), pp. 113. doi:10.1186/s13065-017-0343-8 Preclinical
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
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.06.032
- Zhang, Z., Hu, W., Yu, A., Bai, M. and others (2024) 'Physicochemical properties, health benefits, and applications of the polysaccharides from Rosa rugosa Thunb.: A review', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 282(Pt 3), pp. 136975. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.136975 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.136975 - Dong, X., Li, Y., Yang, K., Zhang, L. and others (2024) 'Total flavonoids from Rosa rugosa Thunb.: A comprehensive review of its extraction and purification process, chemical composition, biological effect and applications', Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 398(3), pp. 2343-2363. doi:10.1007/s00210-024-03504-x Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-024-03504-x - Kim, J., Lee, S., Park, H. and others (2024) 'Hair Growth Effect and the Mechanisms of Rosa rugosa Extract in DHT-Induced Alopecia Mice Model', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(21), pp. 11362. doi:10.3390/ijms252111362 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252111362 - Baiyisaiti, A., Liu, Y., Zhang, J. and Yang, R (2019) 'Rosa rugosa flavonoids exhibited PPAR-alpha agonist-like effects on genetic severe hypertriglyceridemia of mice', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 240, pp. 111952. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2019.111952 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2019.111952 - Lei, L., Zhu, Y., Gao, W., Du, X. and others (2023) 'Ethanol Extract of Rosa rugosa Ameliorates Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury via Upregulating Sirt1 and Subsequent Potentiation of LKB1/AMPK/Nrf2 Cascade in Hepatocytes', Molecules, 28(21), pp. 7307. doi:10.3390/molecules28217307 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28217307 - Dai, C., Zheng, X., Zhu, J., Zhang, H. and others (2025) 'Polysaccharides derived from Rosa rugosa cv. Plena ameliorate colorectal cancer by regulating intestinal microbiota composition and lipid metabolism pathway', NPJ Science of Food, 9(1), pp. 176. doi:10.1038/s41538-025-00544-2 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00544-2 - Chen, M., Peng, Y., Zhu, R., Luo, X. and others (2025) 'Therapeutic potential of Rosa rugosa polysaccharide and its nanofiber membrane in psoriasis via PI3K-AKT/mTOR pathway inhibition', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 320(Pt 2), pp. 145724. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145724 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145724 - Park, C.K., Choi, S.J., Kim, C.R., Shin, H.R. and others (2025) 'Ethanolic Extract of Rosa rugosa Roots and Its Bioactive Compound, Oleamide, Prevented Amyloid beta-Induced Oxidative Stress and Improved Behavioral Tests in Mice', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(9), pp. 4214. doi:10.3390/ijms26094214 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26094214 - Ashraf, S., Ashraf, M.Z., Miao, B. and Zhao, X (2025) 'Optimizing Extraction Methods for Bioactive Polysaccharides from Rosa rugosa and Rosa damascena', Foods, 14(18), pp. 3211. doi:10.3390/foods14183211 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14183211 - Liu, X., Liu, H., Zhang, Y. and others (2022) 'Rosa rugosa polysaccharide induces autophagy-mediated apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 212, pp. 257-274. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.05.023 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.05.023 - Chrubasik, C., Roufogalis, B.D., Müller-Ladner, U. and Chrubasik, S (2008) 'A systematic review on the Rosa canina effect and efficacy profiles', 22(6), pp. 725--733. doi:10.1002/ptr.2400 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2400 - Grieve, M (1931) 'A Modern Herbal'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A%20Modern%20Herbal - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - 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
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.