Omnia Sana · Plant Monograph
Field restharrow
Ononis arvensis
This monograph compiles 6 documented constituents, 9 pharmacological actions, 10 traditional / indicated uses, supported by 20 cited sources, drawn directly from the Omnia Sana plant database.
Key Constituents
Formononetin and its 7-O-glucoside ononin, plus related isoflavones - the signature restharrow constituents (also phytoestrogens).
Pterocarpans and isoflavanones and their glucosides, contributing to antimicrobial and wound-healing activity.
alpha-Onocerin (onocerin), a characteristic triterpene of the genus Ononis.
Caffeic, chlorogenic and p-coumaric acids (antioxidant).
A volatile oil present in the root and aerial parts.
Pharmacological Actions
Aquaretic diuretic; the classic irrigation-therapy action of restharrow root (Ononidis radix), used interchangeably for O. arvensis and O. spinosa.
Aqueous root extract reduced adhesion of uropathogenic E. coli to bladder cells (anti-adhesive).
Inhibits IL-8 release via TLR4/LPS and cytosolic phospholipase A2alpha (restharrow root).
Analgesic activity of Ononis extract in animals (congener O. spinosa).
Protective against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury (congener O. spinosa).
Ononis isoflavones showed chemopreventive/antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cells (preclinical).
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anticancer action
Aquaretic diuretic for irrigation therapy of the urinary tract.
Anti-adhesive activity against uropathogenic E. coli.
inferred from diuretic / urinary 'gravel' traditional use
inferred from diuretic (aquaretic) action
inferred from antimicrobial action
Isoflavonoid wound-healing agents from restharrow root.
inferred from anti-inflammatory and traditional skin/eczema use
inferred from analgesic action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
A safety signal exists in the genus: an Ononis spinosa root extract showed hepatotoxic effects at higher doses in animals (alongside analgesic activity). Avoid excessive or prolonged use, and use caution in liver disease.
Used as an aquaretic for irrigation therapy of the urinary tract, restharrow should be taken with a generous fluid intake; it should NOT be used for 'flushing' when there is oedema due to impaired heart or kidney function (standard irrigation-therapy caution).
Common Slug
field-restharrowExternal Ids
Synonyms
Ononis hircina, Ononis arvensis subsp. arvensisBotanical Description
A tough, deep-rooted perennial herb or low subshrub of the pea family, 30-80 cm tall, sometimes bearing soft spines. It has a very long, woody, tenacious taproot - so strong it was said to stop (arrest) the harrow, giving 'rest-harrow' its name. The stems are hairy and sticky, often reddish, and clothed in small trifoliolate (clover-like) leaves with toothed leaflets. The flowers are typical pea flowers, pink to purplish-pink (occasionally white), borne singly or in pairs in the leaf axils. Field restharrow (O. arvensis) is generally less spiny than its close relative spiny restharrow (O. spinosa).[8, 10]
Habitat
Rough grassland, field margins, roadsides, dunes and dry, sandy or calcareous waste ground across Europe, western Asia and parts of North Africa. As a deep-rooted, nitrogen-fixing legume it colonises poor, disturbed soils and was historically a troublesome weed of arable fields (hence 'restharrow').[8]
Harvesting
The root (Ononidis radix) is the principal medicinal part, dug in autumn from the second year onward and dried; the aerial flowering parts are also gathered in summer. The long woody taproot is cleaned and cut before drying for decoctions and infusions.[8]
Traditional Uses
Restharrow root has a long place in European herbal medicine as a gentle aquaretic diuretic used for 'irrigation therapy' of the urinary tract - to increase urine flow in cystitis, urinary gravel and stones, and to flush the bladder. Field restharrow (Ononis arvensis) is used interchangeably with the officinal spiny restharrow (O. spinosa, Ononidis radix). The root and flowering herb have also been used as a mild anti-inflammatory, for skin complaints and eczema, for rheumatic conditions, and (as a decoction or gargle) for the mouth and throat. The isoflavone-rich root is a folk remedy in central and eastern European traditions.[8, 13]
Preparations
The dried root simmered in water and taken as an aquaretic diuretic for irrigation of the urinary tract; the classic restharrow preparation.
The flowering aerial parts infused as a milder diuretic and anti-inflammatory tea.
A root decoction used traditionally as a mouth/throat gargle and as a wash for skin complaints.
Alcoholic extract of the root (about 1:5).
Dosage
Traditional herbal use: roughly 6-12 g of dried root daily as a decoction, taken with plenty of fluid for irrigation of the urinary tract. Educational reference only.
About 2-4 mL of a 1:5 root tincture up to three times daily in adults. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References
REF-2741, REF-2742, REF-2743, REF-2744, REF-2745, REF-2746, REF-2747, REF-2748, REF-2749, REF-2750, REF-2751, REF-2752, REF-2753, REF-2754, REF-2755, REF-2756, REF-2757, REF-2758, REF-2759, REF-2760Drug Class Interactions
Pairings
Classic urinary irrigation-therapy pairing: both are aquaretic diuretics used to increase urine flow in cystitis and urinary gravel.[13]
Both are traditional diuretic 'flushing' herbs for irrigation therapy of the urinary tract.[13]
Both are Fabaceae rich in the isoflavone phytoestrogen formononetin; combined use adds to phytoestrogen exposure - use caution in hormone-sensitive conditions.[1]
Lookalikes Review
References & Sources
- Gampe, N. and Darcsi, A. and Nagyne Nedves, A. and Boldizsar, I. and Kursinszki, L. and Beni, S (2019) 'Phytochemical analysis of Ononis arvensis L. by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry', Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 54(2), pp. 121-133. doi:10.1002/jms.4308 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/jms.4308 - Denes, T. and Bartha, S.G. and Kerenyi, M. and Varga, E. and Balazs, V.L. and Csepregi, R. and Papp, N (2017) 'Histological and antimicrobial study of Ononis arvensis L', Acta Biologica Hungarica, 68(3), pp. 321-333. doi:10.1556/018.68.2017.3.9 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1556/018.68.2017.3.9 - Gampe, N. and Nagy, E. and Kursinszki, L. and Beni, S (2021) 'Quantitative determination of isoflavonoids in Ononis species by UPLC-UV-DAD', Phytochemical Analysis, 32(4), pp. 474-481. doi:10.1002/pca.2995 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.2995 - Gampe, N. and Szakacs, Z. and Darcsi, A. and Boldizsar, I. and Szoke, E. and Kuzovkina, I. and Kursinszki, L. and Beni, S (2021) 'Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Analysis of Ononis arvensis Hairy Root Cultures', Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, pp. 622585. doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.622585 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.622585 - Pazdziora, W. and Grabowska, K. and Zagrodzki, P. and Pasko, P. and Prochownik, E. and Podolak, I. and Galanty, A (2025) 'Quantitative Analysis of Isoflavones from Ononis Species and Their Chemopreventive Potential on Breast Cancer Cells', Molecules, 30(11), pp. 2379. doi:10.3390/molecules30112379 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112379 - Spilkova, J. and Bednar, P. and Stroblikova, R (2001) 'Capillary electrophoretic analysis of hydroxycinnamic acids from Ononis arvensis L', Die Pharmazie, 56(5), pp. 424-425. Preclinical
Find this source - Spilkova, J. and Hubik, J (1982) 'Pharmacognosy study of Ononis arvensis L. II. Flavonoids and onocerin in the drug', Ceskoslovenska Farmacie, 31(1), pp. 24-26. Preclinical
Find this source - Rezacova, A. and Spilkova, J. and Hubik, J (1978) 'A pharmacognostic study of the species Ononis arvensis L', Ceskoslovenska Farmacie, 27(10), pp. 452-455. Traditional / reference
Find this source - Felsberg, A.A. and Rosentsveig, P.E (1965) 'A comparative phytochemical study of the roots of Ononis arvensis L. and Ononis spinosa L', Aptechnoe Delo, 14(6), pp. 26-32. Preclinical
Find this source - Sichinava, M.B. and Mchelidze, K.Z. and Churadze, M.V. and Alaniia, M.D. and Aneli, D.N (2014) 'Chemical composition and microstructural peculiarities of overground and underground vegetative organs of field restharrow (Ononis arvensis L.)', Georgian Medical News, (231), pp. 88-94. Preclinical
Find this source - Dedio, I. and Kozlowski, J (1977) 'Comparative morphological and phytochemical studies of Ononis spinosa L. and Ononis arvensis L. I. Biometric and chromatographic studies of methanolic extracts', Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 34(1), pp. 97-102. Preclinical
Find this source - Felsberg, A.A. and Rozentsveig, P.E (1965) 'Photochemical examination of Ononis arvensis. I', Aptechnoe Delo, 14(3), pp. 25-27. Preclinical
Find this source - Nechita, V. and Tarau, A. and Suster, A. and Nechita, M. and Toiu, A. and Benedec, D. and Hanganu, D. and Siserman, C. and Drugan, C. and Oniga, I (2026) 'Phytochemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Ononis spinosa: A Comprehensive Review', Plants (Basel), 15(9), pp. 1409. doi:10.3390/plants15091409 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15091409 - Spiegler, V. and Gierlikowska, B. and Saenger, T. and Addotey, J.N. and Sendker, J. and Jose, J. and Kiss, A.K. and Hensel, A (2020) 'Root Extracts From Ononis spinosa Inhibit IL-8 Release Via Interactions With Toll-Like Receptor 4 and Lipopolysaccharide', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, pp. 889. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.00889 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.00889 - Deipenbrock, M. and Sendker, J. and Hensel, A (2020) 'Aqueous Root Extract from Ononis spinosa Exerts Anti-adhesive Activity against Uropathogenic Escherichia coli', Planta Medica, 86(4), pp. 247-254. doi:10.1055/a-1089-8645 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1089-8645 - Ergene Oz, B. and Saltan Iscan, G. and Kupeli Akkol, E. and Suntar, I. and Bahadir Acikara, O (2017) 'Isoflavonoids as wound healing agents from Ononidis Radix', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 211, pp. 384-393. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.09.029 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.09.029 - Arnold, E. and Benz, T. and Zapp, C. and Wink, M (2015) 'Inhibition of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2alpha (cPLA2alpha) by Medicinal Plants in Relation to Their Phenolic Content', Molecules, 20(8), pp. 15033-15048. doi:10.3390/molecules200815033 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules200815033 - Yilmaz, B.S. and Ozbek, H. and Citoglu, G.S. and Ugras, S. and Bayram, I. and Erdogan, E (2006) 'Analgesic and hepatotoxic effects of Ononis spinosa L', Phytotherapy Research, 20(6), pp. 500-503. doi:10.1002/ptr.1891 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1891 - Manal Ahmad, A. and Yasser Ibrahim, K. and Manal Mohammad, A (2021) 'Efficacy of extract from Ononis spinosa L. on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats', Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 41(2), pp. 270-275. Preclinical
Find this source - Addotey, J.N. and Lengers, I. and Jose, J. and Gampe, N. and Beni, S. and Petereit, F. and Hensel, A (2018) 'Isoflavonoids with inhibiting effects on human hyaluronidase-1 and norneolignan clitorienolactone B from Ononis spinosa L. root extract', Fitoterapia, 130, pp. 169-174. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2018.08.013 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2018.08.013
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