Key Constituents

Iridoid glycosides (aucubin, harpagoside, harpagide, catalpol)^{[3, 4, 11, 12]}

Anti-inflammatory constituents; harpagoside also has cardiac (inotropic) activity.

Iridoid glycosidesHarpagosideGlycosides

Flavonoids^{[5, 11]}

Antioxidant constituents.

Flavonoids

Phenolic acids (caffeic, ferulic, vanillic)^[11]

Supporting antioxidant constituents.

Phenolic acidsCaffeic acidFerulic acid

Pharmacological Actions

Alterative / depurative ('detox')^{[6, 9, 10, 11, 12]}

Mild diuretic and lymphatic 'detoxifying' herb (traditional); Traditional 'alterative' for chronic skin conditions - eczema, psoriasis, rashes (as a poultice, salve or tea)

Anti-inflammatory^{[2, 7, 11]}

Anti-inflammatory; soothes inflamed, irritated skin

Antispasmodic^[13]

Antispasmodic / smooth-muscle relaxant (preclinical - an extract relaxed isolated intestinal smooth muscle, apparently via muscarinic receptors)

Diuretic^[11]

Mild diuretic and lymphatic 'detoxifying' herb (traditional)

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Acne^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from alterative action

more plants for acne →detailed sources →

Arthritis / joint pain^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →

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

inferred from alterative action

more plants for detox / cleansing →detailed sources →

Eczema^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

Traditional 'alterative' for chronic skin conditions - eczema, psoriasis, rashes (as a poultice, salve or tea)

more plants for eczema →detailed sources →

Inflammation (general)^{[7, 11]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for inflammation (general) →detailed sources →

Menstrual cramps^[13]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

more plants for menstrual cramps →detailed sources →

Muscle spasm^[13]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

more plants for muscle spasm →detailed sources →

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

Traditional 'alterative' for chronic skin conditions - eczema, psoriasis, rashes (as a poultice, salve or tea)

more plants for psoriasis →detailed sources →

Skin irritation^{[1, 6, 11, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

Anti-inflammatory; soothes inflamed, irritated skin; Traditional 'alterative' for chronic skin conditions - eczema, psoriasis, rashes (as a poultice, salve or tea)

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Swelling / fluid retention^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

more plants for swelling / fluid retention →detailed sources →

Urinary support^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

more plants for urinary support →detailed sources →

Urinary tract infection (UTI)^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

more plants for urinary tract infection (uti) →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[11, 12]}Caution

Avoid if you have a heart condition or take cardiac medicines: figwort's harpagoside has a stimulating (inotropic) effect on the heart, so it is traditionally avoided with rapid heartbeat or heart disease.

Safety note^[12]Caution

Avoid during pregnancy. There is insufficient reliable evidence on the safety of taking figwort by mouth, so internal use should be cautious and short-term.

References

REF-1035, REF-1036, REF-1037, REF-1038, REF-1039, REF-1040, REF-1041, REF-1042, REF-1043, REF-1044

References & Sources

Stevenson, P.C., Simmonds, M.S.J., Sampson, J., Houghton, P.J. and Grice, P (2002) 'Wound healing activity of acylated iridoid glycosides from Scrophularia nodosa', Phytotherapy Research, 16(1), pp. 33-35. doi:10.1002/ptr.798 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.798
Ahmad, M., Muhammad, N., Mehjabeen, Jahan, N. and others (2012) 'Biological screening of Scrophularia nodosa extract and its fractions', Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 25(2), pp. 307-313. Preclinical
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Miyase, T. and Mimatsu, A (1999) 'Acylated iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides from the aerial parts of Scrophularia nodosa', Journal of Natural Products, 62(8), pp. 1079-1084. doi:10.1021/np9805746 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/np9805746
Sesterhenn, K., Distl, M. and Wink, M (2006) 'Occurrence of iridoid glycosides in in vitro cultures and intact plants of Scrophularia nodosa L', Plant Cell Reports, 26(3), pp. 365-371. doi:10.1007/s00299-006-0233-3 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-006-0233-3
Soualeh, N., Stiévenard, A., Baudelaire, E., Bouayed, J. and Soulimani, R (2019) 'Powders with small microparticle size from Hedera helix and Scrophularia nodosa exhibited high preventive antioxidant activity against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in mouse primary spleen cells', International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, 88(3-4), pp. 208-218. doi:10.1024/0300-9831/a000526 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1024/0300-9831/a000526
Papp, N., Czégényi, D., Tóth, M., Dénes, T. and others (2022) 'Ethnomedicine survey on folk dermatology in Transylvania, Romania', Clinics in Dermatology, 40(6), pp. 651-664. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2022.07.013 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2022.07.013
Soulimani, R., Dicko, A., Baudelaire, E. and Bouayed, J (2021) 'Increased anti-inflammatory activity and enhanced phytochemical concentrations in superfine powders obtained by controlled differential sieving process from four medicinal plants', International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, 93(4), pp. 339-351. doi:10.1024/0300-9831/a000739 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1024/0300-9831/a000739
Ohiienko, T., Kutsyk, R., Kurovets, L., Ohiienko, S. and others (2023) 'Screening of medicinal and aromatic plants extracts for the synergism with fluconazole against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis fungi associated with denture stomatitis', Wiadomosci Lekarskie, 76(7), pp. 1615-1620. doi:10.36740/WLek202307115 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.36740/WLek202307115
Leclerc, H (1949) '[The scrofular, Scrophularia nodosa L.]', Revue de Phytotherapie, 13(87), pp. 381-383. Traditional / reference
Find this source
Akerreta, S., Cavero, R.Y. and Calvo, M.I (2007) 'First comprehensive contribution to medical ethnobotany of Western Pyrenees', Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 3, pp. 26. doi:10.1186/1746-4269-3-26 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-3-26
Medicinal Herbals (n.d.) 'Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa): The Natural Skin Healer'. Available at: https://medicinalherbals.net/figwort-scrophularia-nodosa-natural-skin-healer/ Traditional / reference
https://medicinalherbals.net/figwort-scrophularia-nodosa-natural-skin-healer/
WebMD (n.d.) 'Figwort: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions'. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-446/figwort Traditional / reference
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-446/figwort
Ahmad, M., Muhammad, N., Mehjabeen, Jahan, N., Ahmad, M., Obaidullah, Qureshi, M. and Jan, S.U (2012) 'Spasmolytic effects of Scrophularia nodosa extract on isolated rabbit intestine', Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 25(1), pp. 267--275. Traditional / reference
Find this source

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