Plant Comparison
Common yellow woodsorrel 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
Common yellow woodsorrel and Blackberry Leaf: they share 5 indicated uses (cancer (anticancer research), diarrhoea, infection (general), …); 6 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Common yellow woodsorrel | Blackberry Leaf | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer (anticancer research) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Diarrhoea | 7/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Common yellow woodsorrel |
| Infection (general) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Inflammation (general) | 8/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Common yellow woodsorrel |
| 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
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
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).
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
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)
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
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.
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 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]
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
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]
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 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]
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 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]
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
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').
References
Drug Class Interactions
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
- 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
https://doi.org/10.4103/0250-474X.102543 - Gholipour, A.R. and Jafari, L. and Ramezanpour, M. and Evazalipour, M. and Chavoshi, M. and Yousefbeyk, F. and Kargar Moghaddam, S.J. and Yekta Kooshali, M.H. and Ramezanpour, N. and Daei, P. and Ghasemi, S. and Hamidi, M (2022) 'Apoptosis Effects of Oxalis corniculata L. Extract on Human MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line', Galen Medical Journal, 11, pp. e2484. doi:10.31661/gmj.v11i.2484 Preclinical
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
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31040630 - Salahuddin, H. and Mansoor, Q. and Batool, R. and Farooqi, A.A. and Mahmood, T. and Ismail, M (2016) 'Anticancer activity of Cynodon dactylon and Oxalis corniculata on Hep2 cell line', Cellular and Molecular Biology, 62(5), pp. 60-63. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Anticancer%20activity%20of%20Cynodon%20dactylon%20and%20Oxalis%20corniculata%20on%20Hep2%20cell%20line
- 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.