Key Constituents

Iridoid glycosides (aucubin, catalpol)^[11]

Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial constituents.

Iridoid glycosidesGlycosides

Mucilage polysaccharides (~2-3%)^[11]

Coat and protect inflamed mucous membranes and reduce cough-receptor sensitivity.

PolysaccharidesMucilage

Phenylethanoids (acteoside/verbascoside, plantamajoside) and flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin)^[11]

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents.

Verbascoside (acteoside)FlavonoidsApigeninLuteolin

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[9, 11, 12]}

Anti-inflammatory for temporary mild inflammation of the mouth and throat (sore throat); in vitro the extract inhibits nitric oxide production and inducible NOS in macrophages, supporting its traditional respiratory anti-inflammatory use

Antimicrobial^{[1, 6, 11, 13]}

Antibacterial, antiviral and immunostimulant (in vitro)

Antiviral^{[11, 13]}

Antibacterial, antiviral and immunostimulant (in vitro)

Demulcent (soothing mucilage)^{[11, 13]}

Demulcent for catarrh of the respiratory tract and dry, irritating cough / bronchitis (mucilage soothes and protects irritated airways)

Immunomodulator / immune support^{[11, 13]}

Antibacterial, antiviral and immunostimulant (in vitro)

Vulnerary (wound healing)^{[7, 8, 11, 13]}

Vulnerary for minor wounds and insect bites (topical)

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →

Bronchitis^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

Demulcent for catarrh of the respiratory tract and dry, irritating cough / bronchitis (mucilage soothes and protects irritated airways)

more plants for bronchitis →detailed sources →

Bruising^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from vulnerary action

more plants for bruising →detailed sources →

Cold & flu^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from immunomodulator action

more plants for cold & flu →detailed sources →

Cough^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

Demulcent for catarrh of the respiratory tract and dry, irritating cough / bronchitis (mucilage soothes and protects irritated airways)

more plants for cough →detailed sources →

Immune support^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from immunomodulator action

more plants for immune support →detailed sources →

Infection (general)^{[1, 6, 11, 13]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

more plants for infection (general) →detailed sources →

Inflammation (general)^{[9, 11, 12]}Traditional · 1/10

more plants for inflammation (general) →detailed sources →

Skin irritation^{[11, 13]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from demulcent action

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

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

more plants for sore throat →detailed sources →

Wounds^{[7, 8, 11, 13]}Traditional · 2/10

Vulnerary for minor wounds and insect bites (topical)

more plants for wounds →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[11]Info

Generally very well tolerated. A cough or throat irritation 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-0960, REF-0961, REF-0962, REF-0963, REF-0964, REF-0965, REF-0966, REF-0967, REF-0968, REF-0969

References & Sources

Laanet, P.R., Bragina, O., Joul, P. and Vaher, M (2024) 'Plantago lanceolata and Plantago major Exhibit Antioxidant and Borrelia burgdorferi Inhibiting Activities', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(13), pp. 7112. doi:10.3390/ijms25137112 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137112
Budzianowska, A. and Budzianowski, J (2022) 'A new flavonoid, a new phenylethanoid glycoside and related compounds isolated from the inflorescences of Plantago lanceolata L', Natural Product Research, 36(15), pp. 3813-3824. doi:10.1080/14786419.2021.1888289 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2021.1888289
Gadermaier, G., Eichhorn, S., Vejvar, E., Weilnbock, L. and others (2014) 'Plantago lanceolata: an important trigger of summer pollinosis with limited IgE cross-reactivity', Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 134(2), pp. 472-475. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2014.02.016 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2014.02.016
Sousa, R., Osorio, H., Duque, L., Ribeiro, H., Cruz, A. and Abreu, I (2014) 'Identification of Plantago lanceolata pollen allergens using an immunoproteomic approach', Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology, 24(3), pp. 177-183. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25011355/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25011355/
Reza, M.M., Redoy, M.R.A., Rahman, M.A., Ety, S. and others (2021) 'Response of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) supplementation on nutritional, endo-parasitic, and endocrine status in lambs', Tropical Animal Health and Production, 53(1), pp. 82. doi:10.1007/s11250-020-02514-0 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-020-02514-0
Rahamouz-Haghighi, S., Bagheri, K., Mohsen-Pour, N. and Sharafi, A (2022) 'Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Activities of Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) Root Fractions and Phytochemical Analysis by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry', Archives of Razi Institute, 77(6), pp. 2131-2143. doi:10.22092/ARI.2022.358045.2143 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.22092/ARI.2022.358045.2143
Kovac, I., Durkac, J., Holly, M., Jakubcova, K. and others (2015) 'Plantago lanceolata L. water extract induces transition of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and increases tensile strength of healing skin wounds', Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 67(1), pp. 117-125. doi:10.1111/jphp.12316 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/jphp.12316
Jaric, S., Kostic, O., Mataruga, Z., Pavlovic, D. and others (2017) 'Traditional wound-healing plants used in the Balkan region (Southeast Europe)', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 211, pp. 311-328. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.09.018 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.09.018
Zeng, X., Guo, F. and Ouyang, D (2019) 'A review of the pharmacology and toxicology of aucubin', Fitoterapia, 140, pp. 104443. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2019.104443 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2019.104443
Drava, G., Cornara, L., Giordani, P. and Minganti, V (2019) 'Trace elements in Plantago lanceolata L., a plant used for herbal and food preparations: new data and literature review', Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 26(3), pp. 2305-2313. doi:10.1007/s11356-018-3740-1 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3740-1
European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (n.d.) 'European Union herbal monograph on Plantago lanceolata L., folium (Plantaginis lanceolatae folium)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/plantaginis-lanceolatae-folium Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/plantaginis-lanceolatae-folium
Vigo, E., Cepeda, A., Gualillo, O. and Perez-Fernandez, R (2005) 'In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Pinus sylvestris and Plantago lanceolata extracts: effect on inducible NOS, COX-1, COX-2 and their products in J774A.1 murine macrophages', Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 57(3), pp. 383--391. doi:10.1211/0022357055605 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357055605
ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) (n.d.) 'Plantaginis lanceolatae folium-herba (Ribwort Plantain Leaf/Herb) monograph', pp. com. Available at: https://www.escop.com/downloads/ribwort-plantain-leaf-herb/ Traditional / reference
https://www.escop.com/downloads/ribwort-plantain-leaf-herb/

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