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

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)

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)

Traditional & Indicated Uses

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

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →

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

inferred from analgesic action

more plants for back pain →detailed sources →

Bruising^{[12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from vulnerary action

more plants for bruising →detailed sources →

Constipation^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Mild laxative for occasional constipation (mucilage; traditional)

more plants for constipation →detailed sources →

Cough^[11]Traditional · 1/10

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

more plants for cough →detailed sources →

Headache^{[12, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from analgesic action

more plants for headache →detailed sources →

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

inferred from antimicrobial action

more plants for infection (general) →detailed sources →

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

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for inflammation (general) →detailed sources →

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

inferred from analgesic action

more plants for pain (general) →detailed sources →

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

Soothes irritated and inflamed skin and mucous membranes

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Sore throat^[11]Traditional · 1/10

more plants for sore throat →detailed sources →

Wounds^{[8, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

more plants for wounds →detailed sources →

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.

References

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

References & Sources

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5548404
Gasparetto, J.C., Martins, C.A., Hayashi, S.S., Otuky, M.F. and others (2012) 'Ethnobotanical and scientific aspects of Malva sylvestris L.: a millennial herbal medicine', Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 64(2), pp. 172-189. doi:10.1111/j.2042-7158.2011.01383.x Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7158.2011.01383.x
Wu, Y., Qiu, A., Yang, Z., Wu, J. and others (2019) 'Malva sylvestris extract alleviates the astrogliosis and inflammatory stress in LPS-induced depression mice', Journal of Neuroimmunology, 336, pp. 577029. doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2019.577029 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroim.2019.577029
Ben Saad, A., Rjeibi, I., Brahmi, D., Smida, A. and others (2016) 'Malva sylvestris extract protects upon lithium carbonate-induced kidney damages in male rat', Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 84, pp. 1099-1107. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2016.10.026 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2016.10.026
Zuo, H., Li, Y., Cui, Y. and An, Y (2017) 'Cardioprotective effect of Malva sylvestris L. in myocardial ischemic/reperfused rats', Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 95, pp. 679-684. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2017.08.111 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2017.08.111
Benso, B., Rosalen, P.L., Alencar, S.M. and Murata, R.M (2015) 'Malva sylvestris Inhibits Inflammatory Response in Oral Human Cells. An In Vitro Infection Model', PLoS One, 10(10), pp. e0140331. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140331 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0140331
Prudente, A.S., Sponchiado, G., Mendes, D.A.G.B., Soley, B.S. and others (2017) 'Pre-clinical efficacy assessment of Malva sylvestris on chronic skin inflammation', Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 93, pp. 852-860. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2017.06.083 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2017.06.083
Mohaghegh, Z., Golfakhrabadi, F., Faal Siahkal, S., Dastoorpoor, M. and others (2022) 'The Effect of Malva sylvestris Cream on Episiotomy Pain and Healing: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial', International Journal of Community Based Nursing and Midwifery, 10(4), pp. 248-258. doi:10.30476/IJCBNM.2022.95772.2082 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.30476/IJCBNM.2022.95772.2082
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
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115782
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
https://doi.org/10.1002/bmc.3106
European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (n.d.) 'European Union herbal monograph on Malva sylvestris L., folium and flos (Malvae folium / Malvae sylvestris flos)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/malvae-folium Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/malvae-folium
Paul, Z.A. and Malla, A.T. and Dar, M.A. and Masoodi, M.H (2024) 'Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activity of Malva sylvestris L.: A Detailed Insight', Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening, 27(16), pp. 2309--2322. doi:10.2174/0113862073269336231009110313 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.2174/0113862073269336231009110313
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
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-022-02329-w

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