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Omnia Sana · Plant Monograph

White bedstraw

Galium album

Family RubiaceaeParts used Flower, Leaf, Aerial partsAlso known as hedge bedstraw, white lady's bedstraw

This monograph compiles 5 documented constituents, 1 pharmacological action, supported by 9 cited sources, drawn directly from the Omnia Sana plant database.

Key Constituents

Iridoid glycosides (asperuloside, asperulosidic acid)[1, 4]
Flavonoids (including quercetin and luteolin derivatives)[1, 2, 3, 4]
Anthraquinones (including galiprenylin and other prenylated anthraquinones)[5, 6, 8, 9]
Polyphenolic acids (including chlorogenic acid)[1, 2, 4, 7]
Dioxatricyclodecenone compounds (mollugosides A and B)[3]

Pharmacological Actions

Antioxidant[1, 2, 3, 4]

Aerial-part and flower extracts of Galium album / G. mollugo show free-radical-scavenging and reactive-oxygen-species-reducing activity attributed to their polyphenol, flavonoid and iridoid content.

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety noteInfo

White bedstraw (Galium album) is a widespread grassland plant that shares the bedstraw genus's folk-medicinal reputation as a mild diuretic and as a topical remedy for minor skin and wound complaints. Modern evidence is limited to phytochemical and antioxidant studies; no clinical trials exist. It is generally regarded as low in toxicity at culinary or tea amounts, but it has not been formally evaluated for safety in pregnancy, in lactation, or alongside medication, so caution is advised.

Synonyms

Galium mollugo subsp. erectum, Galium mollugo (sensu lato)

References

REF-0818, REF-2352, REF-2353, REF-2354, REF-2355, REF-2356, REF-2357, REF-2358, REF-2359

Common Slug

white-bedstraw

References & Sources

  1. Laanet, P.R., Saar-Reismaa, P., Jõul, P., Bragina, O. and Vaher, M (2023) 'Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Estonian Galium Species', Molecules, 28(6), pp. 2867. doi:10.3390/molecules28062867 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062867
  2. Csepregi, R., Bencsik, T. and Papp, N (2016) 'Examination of secondary metabolites and antioxidant capacity of Anthyllis vulneraria, Fuchsia sp., Galium mollugo and Veronica beccabunga', Acta Biologica Hungarica, 67(4), pp. 442-446. doi:10.1556/018.67.2016.4.10 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1556/018.67.2016.4.10
  3. Chaher, N., Krisa, S., Delaunay, J.C., Bernillon, S., Pedrot, E., Merillon, J.M., Atmani, D. and Richard, T (2015) 'Unusual compounds from Galium mollugo and their inhibitory activities against ROS generation in human fibroblasts', Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 117, pp. 79-84. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2015.07.027 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2015.07.027
  4. Hemcinschi, A., Gille, E., Trifan, A., Necula, R. and Stanescu, U (2009) 'Contributions to the study of the chemical variability of some Galium album Mill. populations harvested from wild flora in northern Moldavia', Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Iasi, 113(4), pp. 1280-1284. Preclinical
    Find this source
  5. Kuiper, J. and Labadie, R.P (1981) 'Polyploid complexes within the genus Galium: anthraquinones accumulating in the roots of Galium album Mill', Planta Medica, 42(8), pp. 390-399. doi:10.1055/s-2007-971661 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-971661
  6. Kuiper, J. and Labadie, R.P (1983) 'Polyploid complexes within the genus Galium: galiprenylin, a new A-ring prenylated anthraquinone from Galium album Mill', Planta Medica, 48(1), pp. 24-26. doi:10.1055/s-2007-969872 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-969872
  7. Milic, P.S., Rajkovic, K.M., Stamenkovic, O.S. and Veljkovic, V.B (2013) 'Kinetic modeling and optimization of maceration and ultrasound-extraction of resinoid from the aerial parts of white lady's bedstraw (Galium mollugo L.)', Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 20(1), pp. 525-534. doi:10.1016/j.ultsonch.2012.07.017 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2012.07.017
  8. Heide, L., Kolkmann, R., Arendt, S. and Leistner, E (1982) 'Enzymic synthesis of o-succinylbenzoyl-CoA in cell-free extracts of anthraquinone producing Galium mollugo L. cell suspension cultures', Plant Cell Reports, 1(4), pp. 180-182. doi:10.1007/BF00269193 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00269193
  9. Kolkmann, R. and Leistner, E (1987) '4-(2'-Carboxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyryl coenzyme A ester, an intermediate in vitamin K2 (menaquinone) biosynthesis', Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung C, 42(11-12), pp. 1207-1214. doi:10.1515/znc-1987-11-1212 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1515/znc-1987-11-1212

Record last updated 2026-06-27 · Provenance: pubmed · Status: draft

This fact sheet is generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and reflects its latest synced data. It is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.

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Generated July 6, 2026 from omniasana.bio