Plant Comparison

Mallow vs Ribwort Plantain

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 AMallowMalva sylvestrisMalvaceaeFull monograph →

Plant BRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataPlantaginaceaeFull monograph →

At a glance

Mallow and Ribwort Plantain: they share 8 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, bruising, cough, …); 4 pharmacological actions in common.

MallowRibwort Plantain

Constituents43

Pharmacological actions86

Indicated uses1311

Safety notes22

Cited sources1313

Indicated uses

Only Mallow

Back painCancer (anticancer research)ConstipationHeadachePain (general)

Shared (8)

Arthritis / joint painBruisingCoughInfection (general)Inflammation (general)Skin irritationSore throatWounds

Only Ribwort Plantain

BronchitisCold & fluImmune support

Pharmacological actions

Only Mallow

Analgesic (pain relief)Anticancer (preclinical)AntioxidantLaxative

Shared (4)

Anti-inflammatoryAntimicrobialDemulcent (soothing mucilage)Vulnerary (wound healing)

Only Ribwort Plantain

AntiviralImmunomodulator / immune support

Evidence face-off — shared uses

Condition	Mallow	Ribwort Plantain	Verdict
Arthritis / joint pain	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Bruising	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Cough	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Infection (general)	1/10	2/10	Comparable evidence
Inflammation (general)	2/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Skin irritation	2/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Sore throat	1/10	1/10	Comparable evidence
Wounds	5/10	2/10	Stronger for Mallow

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

Mucilage polysaccharides^[11]

The high mucilage content gives the demulcent, soothing action.

PolysaccharidesMucilage

Anthocyanins (malvin) and flavonoids^{[11, 12, 13]}

The blue-purple pigments and antioxidant constituents.

AnthocyaninsFlavonoids

Coumarins and other phenolic compounds^{[12, 13]}

Phenolic constituents associated with antioxidant and reported antiproliferative (anticancer) activity in cell studies.

Phenolic compoundsCoumarins

Tannins^[11]

Mildly astringent constituents.

Tannins

Iridoid glycosides (aucubin, catalpol)^[11]

Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial constituents.

Iridoid glycosidesGlycosides

Mucilage polysaccharides (~2-3%)^[11]

Coat and protect inflamed mucous membranes and reduce cough-receptor sensitivity.

PolysaccharidesMucilage

Phenylethanoids (acteoside/verbascoside, plantamajoside) and flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin)^[11]

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents.

Verbascoside (acteoside)FlavonoidsApigeninLuteolin

Pharmacological Actions

Analgesic (pain relief)^{[8, 12, 13]}

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and wound-healing (preclinical)

Anti-inflammatory^{[2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13]}

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and wound-healing (preclinical)

Anticancer (preclinical)^[1]

Antimicrobial^{[12, 13]}

Antibacterial / antimicrobial (methanolic leaf extracts; the naphthoquinone Malvone A)

Antioxidant^{[1, 4, 5, 9, 12, 13]}

Antioxidant (phenolic compounds and anthocyanins)

Demulcent (soothing mucilage)^{[2, 11]}

Demulcent for irritation of the mouth or throat and associated dry cough (soothing mucilage); Mild laxative for occasional constipation (mucilage; traditional)

Laxative^[11]

Mild laxative for occasional constipation (mucilage; traditional)

Vulnerary (wound healing)^{[8, 9, 12, 13]}

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and wound-healing (preclinical)

Anti-inflammatory^{[9, 11, 13]}

Anti-inflammatory for temporary mild inflammation of the mouth and throat (sore throat); in vitro the extract inhibits nitric oxide production and inducible NOS in macrophages, supporting its traditional respiratory anti-inflammatory use

Antimicrobial^{[1, 6, 11, 12]}

Antibacterial, antiviral and immunostimulant (in vitro)

Antiviral^{[11, 12]}

Antibacterial, antiviral and immunostimulant (in vitro)

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

Demulcent for catarrh of the respiratory tract and dry, irritating cough / bronchitis (mucilage soothes and protects irritated airways)

Immunomodulator / immune support^{[11, 12]}

Antibacterial, antiviral and immunostimulant (in vitro)

Vulnerary (wound healing)^{[7, 8, 11, 12]}

Vulnerary for minor wounds and insect bites (topical)

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^{[12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Back pain^{[12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from analgesic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Back pain

Bruising^{[12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from vulnerary action

Evidence: 1

Label: Bruising

Cancer (anticancer research)^[1]Good · 7/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 7

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

Constipation^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Mild laxative for occasional constipation (mucilage; traditional)

Evidence: 1

Label: Constipation

Cough^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Demulcent for irritation of the mouth or throat and associated dry cough (soothing mucilage)

Evidence: 1

Label: Cough

Headache^{[12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from analgesic action

Evidence: 1

Label: Headache

Infection (general)^{[12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 1

Label: Infection (general)

Inflammation (general)^{[3, 6, 10, 12, 13]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 2

Label: Inflammation (general)

Pain (general)^{[8, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from analgesic action

Evidence: 5

Label: Pain (general)

Skin irritation^{[7, 11]}Traditional · 2/10

Soothes irritated and inflamed skin and mucous membranes

Evidence: 2

Label: Skin irritation

Sore throat^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Sore throat

Wounds^{[8, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 5

Label: Wounds

Arthritis / joint pain^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

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

Demulcent for catarrh of the respiratory tract and dry, irritating cough / bronchitis (mucilage soothes and protects irritated airways)

Evidence: 1

Label: Bronchitis

Bruising^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from vulnerary action

Evidence: 1

Label: Bruising

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

inferred from immunomodulator action

Evidence: 1

Label: Cold & flu

Cough^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

Demulcent for catarrh of the respiratory tract and dry, irritating cough / bronchitis (mucilage soothes and protects irritated airways)

Evidence: 1

Label: Cough

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

inferred from immunomodulator action

Evidence: 1

Label: Immune support

Infection (general)^{[1, 6, 11, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 2

Label: Infection (general)

Inflammation (general)^{[9, 11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Inflammation (general)

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

inferred from demulcent action

Evidence: 1

Label: Skin irritation

Sore throat^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Sore throat

Wounds^{[7, 8, 11, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

Vulnerary for minor wounds and insect bites (topical)

Evidence: 2

Label: Wounds

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[11]Info

Generally very well tolerated. Irritation of the mouth/throat or a cough that persists beyond about a week, or is accompanied by fever or breathlessness, needs medical assessment.

Safety note^[11]Caution

Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended in the absence of adequate data.

Safety note^[11]Info

Generally very well tolerated. A cough or throat irritation that persists beyond about a week, or is accompanied by fever or breathlessness, needs medical assessment.

Safety note^[11]Caution

Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended in the absence of adequate data.

External Ids

Gbif: 3152374

Wikidata: Q156835

Gbif: 8208358

Wikidata: Q157408

Botanical Description

Biennial or short-lived perennial herb, 30-120 cm tall, with erect or sprawling, branched, often reddish stems. Leaves are alternate, long-stalked and palmately lobed with 5-7 shallow rounded lobes and toothed margins. Flowers are pink-purple with darker veining, with five notch-tipped petals borne in small axillary clusters. The fruit is a flattened, disc-shaped schizocarp ('cheese') that splits into a ring of small single-seeded nutlets.^[2]

Height: 30-120 cm

Habit: Erect to sprawling biennial/perennial herb

Leaves: Alternate, long-stalked, palmately 5-7-lobed with toothed margins

Flowers: Pink-purple with darker veins, five notched petals, in small axillary clusters

Stem: Erect or sprawling, branched, often reddish

Root: Taproot

Fruit: Flattened disc-shaped schizocarp ('cheese') of small nutlets

Flowering Period: June-September

Perennial herb (Plantaginaceae) forming a low rosette of narrow, lance-shaped leaves with prominent parallel ribs (hence 'ribwort'). Slender, furrowed, leafless flowering stalks rise from the rosette bearing a dense, short, dark brown-black ovoid to cylindrical flower spike ringed by a 'collar' of protruding cream-white stamens.^[11]

Height: Low rosette; flowering stalks 10-45 cm

Habit: Low rosette-forming perennial herb

Leaves: Narrow, lance-shaped, prominently 3-5-ribbed, in a basal rosette

Flowers: Dense, short, dark brown-black ovoid to cylindrical spike with a ring of cream-white stamens

Stem: Slender, furrowed, leafless flowering stalk

Root: Fibrous perennial rootstock

Fruit: Small capsule with 1-2 seeds

Flowering Period: May-September

Habitat

Common on roadsides, waste ground, hedgebanks and field margins across Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia, and widely naturalised elsewhere; tolerates a wide range of soils, favouring sunny, disturbed, nitrogen-rich sites.^[2]

Native throughout Europe and temperate Asia and naturalised worldwide; common in grassland, meadows, lawns, roadsides and waste ground, tolerating trampling and a wide range of soils.^[11]

Harvesting

Leaves and flowers are gathered during the flowering period (summer) and dried quickly out of direct sun to preserve their mucilage content; fresh material can also be used directly for infusions or poultices.^[11]

Parts: Leaf, Flower

Season: Summer, during flowering

Leaves and aerial parts are gathered during the growing season, ideally before or during flowering, and dried quickly.^[11]

Parts: Leaf (aerial parts)

Season: Growing season, before or during flowering

Traditional Uses

Mallow leaf and flower have a long ethnobotanical history across Europe as a demulcent for irritated mucous membranes - soothing coughs, sore throat and mouth irritation - and for occasional constipation and skin irritation, reflecting the mucilage-rich leaf and flower. Modern phytochemical and pharmacological work confirms antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and wound-healing activity of its extracts.^{[2, 11]}

Ribwort plantain has an official European herbal-monograph tradition for the temporary relief of dry cough and irritation of the mouth and throat, and for minor skin wounds, reflecting its long folk use as a demulcent respiratory remedy and wound herb. Modern research confirms mucilage-driven demulcent action alongside antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity.^{[11, 12]}

Preparations

Infusion (hot)^[11]

Dried leaf and/or flower steeped in hot water as a traditional soothing tea for cough, sore throat and mild digestive irritation.

Poultice/compress^[7]

Crushed fresh or softened dried leaf applied externally to soothe irritated or inflamed skin.

Infusion (tea)^[11]

Dried leaf steeped in hot water for cough and sore throat.

Fresh pressed juice / syrup^[12]

Fresh leaf juice, traditionally made into a cough syrup, often combined with honey.

Poultice^[12]

Crushed fresh leaf applied to minor wounds and insect bites.

Dosage

Infusion^[11]

EMA herbal-monograph guidance suggests roughly 1.5-2 g of dried leaf or flower per cup, taken as an infusion up to 3 times daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

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

EMA/ESCOP herbal-monograph guidance suggests roughly 2-4 g dried leaf per cup as an infusion, up to three times daily, or an equivalent liquid extract. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

References

REF-1183, REF-1184, REF-1185, REF-1186, REF-1187, REF-1188, REF-1189, REF-1190, REF-1191, REF-1192

REF-0960, REF-0961, REF-0962, REF-0963, REF-0964, REF-0965, REF-0966, REF-0967, REF-0968, REF-0969

Lookalikes Review

Outcome: none-known

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07

Outcome: none-known

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07

References & Sources

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Areesanan, A., Nicolay, S., Keller, M., Zimmermann-Klemd, A.M. and others (2023) 'Potential benefits of Malva sylvestris in dry-eye disease pathology in vitro based on antioxidant, wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties', Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 168, pp. 115782. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115782 Preclinical
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Martins, C.A., Weffort-Santos, A.M., Gasparetto, J.C., Trindade, A.C. and others (2014) 'Malva sylvestris L. extract suppresses desferrioxamine-induced PGE2 and PGD2 release in differentiated U937 cells', Biomedical Chromatography, 28(7), pp. 986-993. doi:10.1002/bmc.3106 Preclinical
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https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/malvae-folium
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Batiha, G.E. and Tene, S.T. and Teibo, J.O. and Shaheen, H.M. and Oluwatoba, O.S. and Teibo, T.K.A. and Al-Kuraishy, H.M. and Al-Garbee, A.I. and Alexiou, A. and Papadakis, M (2022) 'The phytochemical profiling, pharmacological activities, and safety of Malva sylvestris: a review', Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 396(3), pp. 421--440. doi:10.1007/s00210-022-02329-w Traditional / reference
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Laanet, P.R., Bragina, O., Joul, P. and Vaher, M (2024) 'Plantago lanceolata and Plantago major Exhibit Antioxidant and Borrelia burgdorferi Inhibiting Activities', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(13), pp. 7112. doi:10.3390/ijms25137112 Preclinical
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Reza, M.M., Redoy, M.R.A., Rahman, M.A., Ety, S. and others (2021) 'Response of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) supplementation on nutritional, endo-parasitic, and endocrine status in lambs', Tropical Animal Health and Production, 53(1), pp. 82. doi:10.1007/s11250-020-02514-0 Preclinical
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Mallow monograph Ribwort Plantain 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.