Plant Comparison
Goldenseal vs Common yellow woodsorrel
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
Goldenseal and Common yellow woodsorrel: they share 5 indicated uses (diarrhoea, indigestion, infection (general), …); 3 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Goldenseal | Common yellow woodsorrel | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diarrhoea | 5/10 | 7/10 | Stronger for Common yellow woodsorrel |
| Indigestion | 5/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Goldenseal |
| Infection (general) | 5/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Goldenseal |
| Inflammation (general) | 5/10 | 8/10 | Stronger for Common yellow woodsorrel |
| Wounds | 5/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Goldenseal |
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
Berberine is the main antimicrobial, hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic constituent. Notably, whole-leaf extracts are more potent against MRSA than isolated berberine (owing to efflux-pump-inhibitory flavonoids) and show quorum-quenching, anti-virulence activity.
Flavonoid glycosides (e.g. isovitexin, vitexin, quercetin and apigenin derivatives), the main antioxidant constituents.
Caffeic, ferulic and related phenolic acids (antioxidant).
The defining sour constituent - oxalic acid with potassium and calcium oxalates - biosynthesised in part from vitamin C. Responsible for the sour taste and for the kidney-stone/oxalate caution.
High ascorbate content (basis of the traditional antiscorbutic use); also a metabolic precursor of the plant's oxalic acid.
Pharmacological Actions
Anti-inflammatory and astringent for inflamed mucous membranes (sore-throat gargle, mouth)
Antimicrobial (berberine) - supports skin, mucosal and gastrointestinal infections and sore throat
Anti-inflammatory and astringent for inflamed mucous membranes (sore-throat gargle, mouth)
Antibacterial and antiparasitic (amoebicidal/giardicidal) activity of woodsorrel extracts/constituents.
Protective against paracetamol-induced liver injury (congener O. corniculata).
Protective against experimental gastric ulceration (congener O. corniculata).
Woodsorrel phytoconstituents (and a green-synthesised nanoparticle made with O. stricta extract) induced apoptosis in breast, colon and Hep2 cancer cells (preclinical).
Alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibition by woodsorrel extract (congener O. corniculata).
Anti-Alzheimer's activity of woodsorrel extract in rats (congener O. corniculata).
Promotes wound and fracture healing; traditional topical use for wounds and skin (congener O. corniculata).
Sour, tannin-containing herb; the basis of traditional antidiarrhoeal use.
Traditional astringent remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery (congener O. corniculata).
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Digestive / gastrointestinal support (traditional for dyspepsia and ulcers)
Antimicrobial (berberine) - supports skin, mucosal and gastrointestinal infections and sore throat; Topical for skin infections and irritation - whole-leaf extract is active in vitro against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Anti-inflammatory and astringent for inflamed mucous membranes (sore-throat gargle, mouth); Antimicrobial (berberine) - supports skin, mucosal and gastrointestinal infections and sore throat
inferred from anticancer action
Hepatoprotective in animal models (congener).
Traditional astringent remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery.
inferred from antimicrobial/antiparasitic action
Promotes wound/fracture healing; traditional topical use.
Alpha-glucosidase/amylase inhibition (congener).
inferred from anti-Alzheimer's / neuroprotective action (congener)
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding: berberine crosses the placenta and into milk and can cause or worsen newborn jaundice (risk of kernicterus); do not give to infants.
Berberine strongly inhibits drug-metabolising enzymes (especially CYP3A4 and CYP2D6), so it can raise the blood levels of many medicines - a significant herb-drug-interaction risk. In a screen of commercial herbal products, goldenseal was among the most potent CYP2D6 inhibitors and also inhibited CYP3A4. High doses have shown possible liver, nerve and photo-toxicity.
Yellow woodsorrel is RICH IN OXALIC ACID and soluble oxalates (the source of its sour taste). Avoid large or frequent quantities, and especially avoid it if you are prone to calcium-oxalate kidney stones, have gout, or have kidney disease. Oxalates also bind calcium and iron, reducing their absorption. Use only modest amounts, and cooking reduces soluble oxalate.
Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established; avoid medicinal doses during pregnancy and lactation.
External Ids
Botanical Description
Low, woodland perennial herb rising from a knotted, bright yellow rhizome with wiry yellow roots. Each stem bears two ragged, palmately lobed, maple-like leaves and a single small, inconspicuous greenish-white flower, followed by a raspberry-like cluster of red berries.[1]
A small, sour-tasting herbaceous annual to short-lived perennial of the woodsorrel family, 10-40 cm tall. Its bright green leaves are clover-like, palmately divided into three heart-shaped (notched) leaflets that fold down at night and in strong sun. The small five-petalled flowers are bright yellow, borne in little clusters on axillary stalks. The whole plant tastes sharply sour from its oxalic-acid content. It is very similar to the creeping yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata) but has more upright stems that do not root at the nodes, and generally green (not purplish) foliage.[3]
Habitat
Grows in rich, shaded deciduous woodland with humus-rich soil; native to eastern North America, now scarce in the wild due to overharvesting and largely supplied by cultivation.[1]
A common weed of disturbed, open and cultivated ground: gardens, lawns, arable fields, roadsides, footpaths, waste places and greenhouses. It favours moist, fertile, well-lit soils and is excluded by dense established vegetation. Native to North America but now naturalised almost worldwide across temperate and warm regions.[3]
Harvesting
The rhizome and root are dug in autumn from plants at least three to four years old, when berberine content is highest, then cleaned and dried; because wild populations are depleted, cultivated or sustainably sourced material is strongly preferred, and careful identification against the toxic mayapple and bloodroot, which share its woodland habitat, is essential before any wild-harvesting.[1]
The sour leaves and aerial parts are gathered when actively growing and flowering, used fresh or dried. Because the plant accumulates oxalic acid, harvesting for food or medicine should favour young growth in modest quantities. As a low weed it is easily hand-gathered.[3]
Traditional Uses
Goldenseal root has a Native American and, after adoption by Eclectic physicians, wider North American tradition as a bitter tonic and antimicrobial remedy for mucous-membrane infections, sore throat, digestive upset and topical skin infections, directly reflecting its high berberine content.[1]
Yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta and its near-identical relative O. corniculata) has a long folk-medicine history, deepest in South and East Asian traditions. The cooling, sour whole plant has been used as a refrigerant and thirst-quencher, as a sour leafy vegetable/condiment, and as a source of vitamin C against scurvy. Traditional medicinal uses (chiefly documented for O. corniculata) include dysentery and diarrhoea and other digestive complaints, fever, liver complaints, and topical application of the crushed leaves or juice to wounds, insect bites, warts, corns, mouth sores and inflamed skin, as well as use as a mild diuretic. O. stricta shares these uses where the two woodsorrels are not distinguished.[3, 4]
Preparations
Dried rhizome and root simmered in water as a traditional bitter antimicrobial tea, or used as a gargle for sore throat.
Tincture 1:10 in 60% ethanol of the dried rhizome and root, 2-4 ml three times daily per the WHO monograph Rhizoma Hydrastis. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Extract standardised to berberine/hydrastine content, taken as capsules; whole-leaf extracts have shown stronger antimicrobial activity than isolated berberine in some studies.
Crushed fresh leaves or expressed juice applied topically to wounds, insect bites, warts and inflamed skin, or taken in small amounts for its cooling sour effect.
A whole-plant or leaf infusion/decoction used traditionally for fevers, diarrhoea and as a mild diuretic.
Young leaves eaten raw in small quantities as a tart salad green or to add sourness to food (edible 'sourgrass').
Dosage
The WHO monograph on Rhizoma Hydrastis gives a daily dose of 0.5-1.0 g of the dried rhizome and root three times, or taken as a decoction; a 1:1 liquid extract in 60% ethanol at 0.3-1.0 mL three times; or a 1:10 tincture in 60% ethanol at 2-4 mL three times. For short-term use only, given goldenseal's potent CYP-enzyme inhibition and its contraindication in pregnancy. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Not documented
References
Drug Class Interactions
Lookalikes Review
Dangerous Lookalikes
Not documented
Synonyms
Not documented
References & Sources
- Mandal, S.K., Maji, A.K., Mishra, S.K., Ishfaq, P.M., Devkota, H.P., Silva, A.S. and Das, N (2020) 'Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) and its active constituents: A critical review of their efficacy and toxicological issues', Pharmacological Research. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105085 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105085 - Corn, J., Tibbitts, D., Ito, H., Schafer, M. and Vasilevsky, N (2021) 'Effects of Hydrastis Canadensis, Commiphora Habessinica, Phytolacca Americana, and Echinacea Purpurea on Bacterial Growth', Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 27(4), pp. 24-27. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Effects%20of%20Hydrastis%20Canadensis%2C%20Commiphora%20Habessinica%2C%20Phytolacca%20Americana%2C%20and%20Echinacea%20Purpurea%20on%20Bacterial%20Growth - Ettefagh, K.A., Burns, J.T., Junio, H.A., Kaatz, G.W. and Cech, N.B (2010) 'Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) extracts synergistically enhance the antibacterial activity of berberine via efflux pump inhibition', Planta Medica, 77(8), pp. 835-840. doi:10.1055/s-0030-1250606 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1250606 - Cech, N.B., Junio, H.A., Ackermann, L.W., Kavanaugh, J.S. and Horswill, A.R (2012) 'Quorum quenching and antimicrobial activity of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)', Planta Medica, 78(14), pp. 1556--1561. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1315042 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1315042 - Mahady, G.B., Pendland, S.L., Stoia, A. and Chadwick, L.R (2003) 'In vitro susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to isoquinoline alkaloids from Sanguinaria canadensis and Hydrastis canadensis', Phytotherapy Research, 17(3), pp. 217-221. doi:10.1002/ptr.1108 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1108 - Junio, H.A., Sy-Cordero, A.A., Ettefagh, K.A., Burns, J.T., Micko, K.T., Graf, T.N., Richter, S.J., Cannon, R.E., Oberlies, N.H. and Cech, N.B (2011) 'Synergy-directed fractionation of botanical medicines: a case study with goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)', Journal of Natural Products, 74(7), pp. 1621-1629. doi:10.1021/np200336g Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/np200336g - Britton, E.R., Kellogg, J.J., Kvalheim, O.M. and Cech, N.B (2017) 'Biochemometrics to Identify Synergists and Additives from Botanical Medicines: A Case Study with Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)', Journal of Natural Products, 81(3), pp. 484-493. doi:10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00654 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00654 - Leyte-Lugo, M., Britton, E.R., Foil, D.H., Brown, A.R., Todd, D.A., Rivera-Chavez, J., Oberlies, N.H. and Cech, N.B (2017) 'Secondary Metabolites from the Leaves of the Medicinal Plant Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)', Phytochemistry Letters, 20, pp. 54-60. doi:10.1016/j.phytol.2017.03.012 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2017.03.012 - Gurley, B.J., Swain, A., Hubbard, M.A., Hartsfield, F., Thaden, J., Williams, D.K., Gentry, W.B. and Tong, Y (2007) 'Supplementation with goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), but not kava kava (Piper methysticum), inhibits human CYP3A activity in vivo', Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 83(1), pp. 61-69. doi:10.1038/sj.clpt.6100222 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.clpt.6100222 - Wallace, E.D., Oberlies, N.H., Cech, N.B. and Kellogg, J.J (2018) 'Detection of adulteration in Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) dietary supplements via untargeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomics', Food and Chemical Toxicology, 120, pp. 439-447. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2018.07.033 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2018.07.033 - Douglas, J.A., Follett, J.M., Parmenter, G.A., Sansom, C.E., Perry, N.B. and Littler, R.A (2010) 'Seasonal variation of biomass and bioactive alkaloid content of goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis', Fitoterapia, 81(7), pp. 925-928. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2010.06.006 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2010.06.006 - Singh, S., Pathak, N., Fatima, E. and Negi, A.S (2021) 'Plant isoquinoline alkaloids: Advances in the chemistry and biology of berberine', European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. doi:10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113839 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113839 - World Health Organization (2007) 'Rhizoma Hydrastis'. Available at: https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 Traditional / reference
https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 - Sevior, D.K., Hokkanen, J., Tolonen, A., Abass, K., Tursas, L., Pelkonen, O. and Ahokas, J.T (2010) 'Rapid screening of commercially available herbal products for the inhibition of major human hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes using the N-in-one cocktail', Xenobiotica, 40(4), pp. 245--254. doi:10.3109/00498251003592683 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3109/00498251003592683 - Gurley, B.J., Gardner, S.F., Hubbard, M.A., Williams, D.K., Gentry, W.B., Khan, I.A. and Shah, A (2005) 'In vivo effects of goldenseal, kava kava, black cohosh, and valerian on human cytochrome P450 1A2, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4/5 phenotypes', Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 77(5), pp. 415-426. doi:10.1016/j.clpt.2005.01.009 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clpt.2005.01.009 - McDonald, M.G., Tian, D.D., Thummel, K.E., Paine, M.F. and Rettie, A.E (2020) 'Modulation of major human liver microsomal cytochromes P450 by component alkaloids of goldenseal: time-dependent inhibition and allosteric effects', Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 48(10), pp. 1018-1027. doi:10.1124/dmd.120.091041 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1124/dmd.120.091041 - Guo, J., Chen, H., Zhang, X., Lou, W., Zhang, P., Qiu, Y., Zhang, C., Wang, Y. and Liu, W.J (2021) 'The effect of berberine on metabolic profiles in type 2 diabetic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2021, pp. 2074610. doi:10.1155/2021/2074610 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/2074610 - Forest Farming (Cooperative Extension) 'Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.)'. Available at: https://forest-farming.extension.org/goldenseal-hydrastis-canadensis-l/ Traditional / reference
https://forest-farming.extension.org/goldenseal-hydrastis-canadensis-l/ - Frasca, T. and Brett, A.S. and Yoo, S.D (1997) 'Mandrake toxicity. A case of mistaken identity', Archives of Internal Medicine, 157(17), pp. 2007-9. doi:10.1001/archinte.157.17.2007 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.157.17.2007 - North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox 'Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot)'. Available at: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sanguinaria-canadensis/ Traditional / reference
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sanguinaria-canadensis/
- Yang, J.C. and Loewus, F.A (1975) 'Metabolic Conversion of L-Ascorbic Acid to Oxalic Acid in Oxalate-accumulating Plants', Plant Physiology, 56(2), pp. 283-285. doi:10.1104/pp.56.2.283 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.56.2.283 - Chandramohan, S. and Nair, A.S. and Das, R. and Bhat, S.A. and Krishna, G.S. and Yadav, N. and Archana, V.K. and Rajagopalan, R (2025) 'Biogenic synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using leaf extract of Oxalis stricta and its effect on colon cancer: an in vitro and in silico approach', Biometals, 38(4), pp. 1355-1380. doi:10.1007/s10534-025-00710-9 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-025-00710-9 - Majumdar, A. and Kumar Saraf, S. and Baghel, M. and Rao, S.P (2025) 'Chemical Diversity and Biomedical Relevance of Oxalis corniculata L.: A Review of Nutritional and Pharmacological Aspects', Chemistry and Biodiversity, 23(1), pp. e02154. doi:10.1002/cbdv.202502154 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202502154 - Sarfraz, I. and Rasul, A. and Hussain, G. and Shah, M.A. and Nageen, B. and Jabeen, F. and Selamoglu, Z. and Ucak, I. and Asrar, M. and Adem, S (2022) 'A Review on Phyto-pharmacology of Oxalis corniculata', Combinatorial Chemistry and High Throughput Screening, 25(7), pp. 1181-1186. doi:10.2174/1386207324666210813121431 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.2174/1386207324666210813121431 - Sreejith, G. and Jayasree, M. and Latha, P.G. and Suja, S.R. and Shyamal, S. and Shine, V.J. and Anuja, G.I. and Sini, S. and Shikha, P. and Krishnakumar, N.M. and Vilash, V. and Shoumya, S. and Rajasekharan, S (2014) 'Hepatoprotective activity of Oxalis corniculata L. ethanolic extract against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats and its in vitro antioxidant effects', Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 52(2), pp. 147-152. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Hepatoprotective%20activity%20of%20Oxalis%20corniculata%20L.%20ethanolic%20extract%20against%20paracetamol%20induced%20hepatotoxicity%20in%20Wistar%20rats%20and%20its%20in%20vitro%20antioxidant%20effects - Sakat, S.S. and Tupe, P. and Juvekar, A (2012) 'Gastroprotective Effect of Oxalis corniculata (Whole Plant) on Experimentally Induced Gastric Ulceration in Wistar Rats', Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 74(1), pp. 48-53. doi:10.4103/0250-474X.102543 Preclinical
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https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v11i.2484 - Zhang, J. and Zhao, X. and Long, X. and Zhang, Y. and Luo, X. and Shen, W (2026) 'Oxalis corniculata L. Ethanol Extract Promotes Fracture Healing: Integrated Omics and Experimental Validation', Food Science and Nutrition, 14, pp. e71896. doi:10.1002/fsn3.71896 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.71896 - Ullah, I. and Shad Bibi, N. and Sadiq, A. and Niazy, B. and Hesam, A.M (2026) 'In vitro studies of phytochemical, antioxidant, antibacterial and enzymatic inhibition of Oxalis corniculata whole plant from South Waziristan, Pakistan', PLoS One, 21(5), pp. e0335026. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0335026 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0335026 - Gao, T. and Hu, W. and Zhang, Z. and Tang, Z. and Chen, Y. and Zhang, Z. and Yuan, S. and Chen, T. and Huang, Y. and Feng, S. and Zhou, L. and Ding, C. and Yuan, M (2022) 'An acidic polysaccharide from Oxalis corniculata L. and the preliminary study on its antioxidant activity', Journal of Food Biochemistry, 46(9), pp. e14235. doi:10.1111/jfbc.14235 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.14235 - Golbarg, H. and Mehdipour Moghaddam, M.J (2021) 'Antibacterial Potency of Medicinal Plants Including Oxalis corniculata against Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria', BioMed Research International, 2021, pp. 9981915. doi:10.1155/2021/9981915 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9981915 - Manna, D. and Dutta, P.K. and Achari, B. and Lohia, A (2010) 'A novel galacto-glycerolipid from Oxalis corniculata kills Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia', Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 54(11), pp. 4825-4832. doi:10.1128/AAC.00546-10 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.00546-10 - Abu-Elfotuh, K. and Hamdan, A.M.E. and Mohamed, S.A. and Bakr, R.O. and Ahmed, A.H. and Atwa, A.M. and Hamdan, A.M. and Alanzai, A.G. and Alnahhas, R.K. and Gowifel, A.M.H. and Salem, M.A (2024) 'The potential anti-Alzheimer's activity of Oxalis corniculata Linn. methanolic extract in experimental rats', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 324, pp. 117731. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.117731 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2024.117731 - Nguyen, T. and Quy, D.Q. and Tung, N.T. and Huyen, N.T. and Minh, P.L. and Huyen, N.T.M. and Ho, T. and Ha, N.T.T. and Casanola-Martin, G.M. and Rasulev, B. and Pham-The, H (2026) 'Integrated In Vitro and In Silico Insights into the Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Mechanisms of Oxalis corniculata L. Aerial Parts', Molecules, 31(4), pp. 630. doi:10.3390/molecules31040630 Preclinical
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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.