Plant Comparison
Yellow loosestrife vs Blackberry Leaf
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
Yellow loosestrife and Blackberry Leaf: they share 5 indicated uses (cancer (anticancer research), diarrhoea, inflammation (general), …); 6 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Yellow loosestrife | Blackberry Leaf | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer (anticancer research) | 7/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Yellow loosestrife |
| Diarrhoea | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| 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
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
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.
Anti-inflammatory gargle / mouthwash for sore throat and oral mucosa inflammation
Astringent for mild diarrhoea (tannins tighten the gut lining and reduce excess secretion)
Traditional & Indicated Uses
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
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anticancer action
Astringent for mild diarrhoea (tannins tighten the gut lining and reduce excess secretion)
inferred from antimicrobial action
Anti-inflammatory gargle / mouthwash for sore throat and oral mucosa inflammation
Anti-inflammatory gargle / mouthwash for sore throat and oral mucosa inflammation
inferred from astringent action
Anti-inflammatory gargle / mouthwash for sore throat and oral mucosa inflammation
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
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.
Tannin-rich: high or prolonged intake may cause stomach upset or constipation and can reduce the absorption of iron and some medicines taken at the same time.
Traditional use only; diarrhoea that persists (especially in children) needs medical assessment and attention to rehydration.
External Ids
Synonyms
Not documented
Botanical Description
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]
Scrambling, thorny deciduous shrub (Rosaceae) forming dense thickets, with arching prickly stems that root at the tip. Leaves are palmately compound, usually with 3-5 toothed leaflets. White to pale pink, five-petalled flowers are followed by clusters of small drupelets forming the blackberry fruit, ripening from red to glossy black.[8]
Habitat
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]
Native throughout Europe and widely naturalised elsewhere, an aggressive coloniser of hedgerows, woodland edges, scrub and waste ground. 'Rubus fruticosus' is a taxonomically complex aggregate comprising hundreds of closely related microspecies.[8]
Harvesting
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]
Leaves are picked fresh throughout the growing season and dried for tea; berries are picked in late summer once fully ripe.[8]
Traditional Uses
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]
Blackberry leaf has a long European folk-medicine tradition as an astringent gargle for sore throat and mouth ulcers, and as a remedy for mild diarrhoea, reflecting its high tannin content; the berries themselves are valued as a nutritious, antioxidant-rich food.[8]
Preparations
References
Drug Class Interactions
Not documented
Pairings
Both are Primulaceae rich in triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids; related family chemistry rather than a specific therapeutic combination.[12]
Not documented
Lookalikes Review
Dosage
Not documented
Traditional guidance suggests roughly 2-4 g dried leaf per cup as an infusion, up to three times daily, or used as a gargle at similar strength. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References & Sources
- Pel, P. and Kim, Y. and Kim, H.J. and Nhoek, P. and An, C. and Son, M. and Won, H. and Lee, S.E. and Lee, J. and Kim, H.W. and Choi, Y.H. and Lee, C.H. and Chin, Y (2022) 'Isocoumarins and Benzoquinones with Their Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) Expression Inhibitory Activities from Dried Roots of Lysimachia vulgaris', ACS Omega, 7(50), pp. 47296-47305. doi:10.1021/acsomega.2c06660 Preclinical
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
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03212-6 - Kim, H. and Kim, C. and Oh, D. and Kim, Y. and Choi, C. and Kim, J (2024) 'Development and Validation of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method to Quantify Marker Compounds in Lysimachia vulgaris var. davurica and Its Effects in Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome', Molecules, 29(7), pp. 1489. doi:10.3390/molecules29071489 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29071489 - Yildirim, A.B. and Guner, B. and Karakas, F.P. and Turker, A.U (2017) 'Evaluation of Antibacterial, Antitumor, Antioxidant Activities and Phenolic Constituents of Field-Grown and In Vitro-Grown Lysimachia vulgaris L', African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 14(2), pp. 177-187. doi:10.21010/ajtcam.v14i2.19 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.21010/ajtcam.v14i2.19 - Kim, S.Y. and Lee, J.Y. and Jhin, C. and Shin, J.M. and Kim, M. and Ahn, H.R. and Yoo, G. and Son, Y. and Jung, S.H. and Nho, C.W (2019) 'Reduction of Hepatic Lipogenesis by Loliolide and Pinoresinol from Lysimachia vulgaris via Degrading Liver X Receptors', Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 67(45), pp. 12419-12427. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.9b01488 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b01488 - Rzadkowska-Bodalska, H. and Olechnowicz-Stepien, W (1975) 'Flavonoids in the herb of yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris L.)', Polish Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, 27(3), pp. 345-348. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Flavonoids%20in%20the%20herb%20of%20yellow%20loosestrife%20%28Lysimachia%20vulgaris%20L.%29 - Toth, A. and Vegh, K. and Alberti, A. and Beni, S. and Kery, A (2016) 'A new ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography method for the determination of antioxidant flavonol aglycones in six Lysimachia species', Natural Product Research, 30(20), pp. 2372-2377. doi:10.1080/14786419.2016.1174233 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2016.1174233 - Oiseth, D. and Nordal, A (1952) 'The determination of rutin in Lysimachia vulgaris L', Pharmaceutica Acta Helvetiae, 27(12), pp. 361-363. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=The%20determination%20of%20rutin%20in%20Lysimachia%20vulgaris%20L. - Toth, A. and Toth, G. and Kery, A (2014) 'Polyphenol composition and antioxidant capacity of three Lysimachia species', Natural Product Communications, 9(10), pp. 1473-1478. doi:10.1177/1934578x1400901017 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578x1400901017 - Zheng, X. and Lv, S. and Wang, W. and Zhu, L. and Lin, L (2025) 'Lysimachia christinae Hance aqueous extract ameliorates renal injury in kidney stone rats and calcium oxalate crystal-induced oxidative stress in HK-2 cells via inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway', Histology and Histopathology, 41(3), pp. 467-478. doi:10.14670/HH-18-964 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.14670/HH-18-964 - Kim, H.A. and Lee, D.S. and Lee, H. and Lee, J (2020) 'Lysimachia christinae Hance as an anticancer agent against breast cancer cells', Food Science and Nutrition, 8(10), pp. 5717-5728. doi:10.1002/fsn3.1875 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.1875 - Tian, L.J. and Yang, N.Y. and Chen, W.Q (2008) 'Triterpene saponins from Lysimachia christinae', Journal of Asian Natural Products Research, 10(3), pp. 291-296. doi:10.1080/10286020701605265 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/10286020701605265 - Li, H.Y. and Hao, Z.B. and Wang, X.L. and Huang, L. and Li, J.P (2008) 'Antioxidant activities of extracts and fractions from Lysimachia foenum-graecum Hance', Bioresource Technology, 100(2), pp. 970-974. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2008.07.021 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2008.07.021 - Hung, N.Q. and Hong Anh, N.T. and Khang, N.S. and Huong, N.T.T. and Luyen, N.T. and Hau, D.V. and Dat, N.T (2021) 'Undescribed chalcone and stilbene constituents from Lysimachia baviensis and their anti-inflammatory effect', Natural Product Research, 37(7), pp. 1138-1145. doi:10.1080/14786419.2021.1994564 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2021.1994564 - Ibrahim, S.R.M. and Mohamed, G.A. and Sharif, A. and Fayed, M.A.A. and Fouda, W.M. and Mohamed, H.M (2026) 'Capilliposides from Lysimachia capillipes: triterpene saponins with potential anticancer activities', Natural Product Research, pp. 1-13. doi:10.1080/14786419.2026.2664710 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2026.2664710
- Zia-Ul-Haq, M., Riaz, M., De Feo, V., Jaafar, H.Z.E. and Moga, M (2014) 'Rubus fruticosus L.: constituents, biological activities and health related uses', Molecules, 19(8), pp. 10998-11029. doi:10.3390/molecules190810998 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules190810998 - Monforte, M.T., Smeriglio, A., Germanò, M.P., Pergolizzi, S., Circosta, C. and Galati, E.M (2018) 'Evaluation of antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and gastroprotective properties of Rubus fruticosus L. fruit juice', Phytotherapy Research, 32(7), pp. 1404-1414. doi:10.1002/ptr.6078 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6078 - Barbieri, F., Montanari, C., Šimat, V., Skroza, D., Čagalj, M. et al (2022) 'Effects of Rubus fruticosus and Juniperus oxycedrus derivatives on culturability and viability of Listeria monocytogenes', Scientific Reports, 12(1), pp. 13158. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-17408-4 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17408-4 - Sung, N.S., Uhm, S.H., Kang, H.B., Lee, N.S., Jeong, Y.G., Kim, D.K., Sung, N.Y., Kim, D.S., Yoo, Y.C. and Han, S.Y (2023) 'Rubus fruticosus leaf extract inhibits vascular dementia-induced memory impairment and neuronal loss by attenuating neuroinflammation', Anatomy & Cell Biology, 56(4), pp. 494-507. doi:10.5115/acb.23.195 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.23.195 - Verma, R., Gangrade, T., Punasiya, R. and Ghulaxe, C (2014) 'Rubus fruticosus (blackberry) use as an herbal medicine', Pharmacognosy Reviews, 8(16), pp. 101-104. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.134239 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.134239 - Gil-Martinez, L., Mut-Salud, N., Ruiz-Garcia, J.A., Falcon-Pineiro, A., Maijo-Ferre, M., Banos, A., De la Torre-Ramirez, J.M., Guillamon, E., Verardo, V. and Gomez-Caravaca, A.M (2023) 'Phytochemicals Determination, and Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Activities of Blackberry Fruits', Foods, 12(7), pp. 1505. doi:10.3390/foods12071505 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12071505 - Van de Velde, F., Esposito, D., Grace, M.H., Pirovani, M.E. and Lila, M.A (2018) 'Anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties of polyphenolic extracts from strawberry and blackberry fruits', Food Research International, 121, pp. 453-462. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2018.11.059 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2018.11.059 - Verma, R., Gangrade, T., Punasiya, R. and Ghulaxe, C (2014) 'Rubus fruticosus (blackberry) use as an herbal medicine', Pharmacognosy Reviews. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4127818/ Preclinical
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4127818/ - Grabek-Lejko, D., Milek, M., Sidor, E., Puchalski, C. and Dzugan, M (2022) 'Antiviral and Antibacterial Effect of Honey Enriched with Rubus spp. as a Functional Food with Enhanced Antioxidant Properties', Molecules, pp. as. doi:10.3390/molecules27154859 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27154859
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.