Omnia Sana · Plant Monograph
Dense-flowered Mullein
Verbascum densiflorum
This monograph compiles 3 documented constituents, 2 pharmacological actions, 8 traditional / indicated uses, supported by 14 cited sources, drawn directly from the Omnia Sana plant database.
Key Constituents
The demulcent constituents that soothe mucous membranes.
Pharmacological Actions
Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough; Soothes catarrh of the upper respiratory tract / bronchitis (mucilage coats irritated mucosa; saponins loosen mucus)
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Soothes catarrh of the upper respiratory tract / bronchitis (mucilage coats irritated mucosa; saponins loosen mucus)
more plants for bronchitis →detailed sources →Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough
more plants for cold & flu →detailed sources →Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough; Soothes catarrh of the upper respiratory tract / bronchitis (mucilage coats irritated mucosa; saponins loosen mucus)
more plants for cough →detailed sources →Traditional infused-oil ('mullein oil') for earache - two RCTs of a naturopathic herbal ear drop containing Verbascum found it as effective as anaesthetic drops for ear pain in acute otitis media (combination products, not mullein alone)
more plants for earache →detailed sources →Traditional infused-oil ('mullein oil') for earache - two RCTs of a naturopathic herbal ear drop containing Verbascum found it as effective as anaesthetic drops for ear pain in acute otitis media (combination products, not mullein alone)
more plants for pain (general) →detailed sources →inferred from expectorant action
more plants for respiratory support →detailed sources →inferred from demulcent action
more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough
more plants for sore throat →detailed sources →Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Per the EU herbal monograph, for use in adults and adolescents over 12 years. Cough that persists beyond about a week, or is accompanied by fever, shortness of breath or purulent sputum, needs medical assessment.
Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended. Strain liquid preparations to remove the fine flower/leaf hairs, which can irritate the throat.
References
REF-1381, REF-1382, REF-1383, REF-1384, REF-1385, REF-1386, REF-0332, REF-1387, REF-1123, REF-1130References & Sources
- Grigore, A., Colceru-Mihul, S., Litescu, S., Panteli, M. and Rasit, I (2013) 'Correlation between polyphenol content and anti-inflammatory activity of Verbascum phlomoides (mullein)', Pharmaceutical Biology, 51(7), pp. 925-929. doi:10.3109/13880209.2013.767361 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2013.767361 - Klimek, B., Olszewska, M.A. and Tokar, M (2010) 'Simultaneous determination of flavonoids and phenylethanoids in the flowers of Verbascum densiflorum and V. phlomoides by high-performance liquid chromatography', Phytochemical Analysis, 21(2), pp. 150-156. doi:10.1002/pca.1171 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.1171 - Suntar, I., Tatli, I.I., Kupeli Akkol, E., Keles, H. and others (2010) 'An ethnopharmacological study on Verbascum species: from conventional wound healing use to scientific verification', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 132(2), pp. 408-413. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2010.08.004 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2010.08.004 - Georgiev, M.I., Ali, K., Alipieva, K., Verpoorte, R. and Choi, Y.H (2011) 'Metabolic differentiations and classification of Verbascum species by NMR-based metabolomics', Phytochemistry, 72(16), pp. 2045-2051. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.07.005 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.07.005 - Torok, T. and Varga, E (2015) 'Pharmacognosy study of Verbascum species', Acta Pharmaceutica Hungarica, 85(3), pp. 89-95. Preclinical
Find this source - Castro, A.I., Carmona, J.B., Gonzales, F.G. and Nestar, O.B (2006) 'Occupational airborne dermatitis from gordolobo (Verbascum densiflorum)', Contact Dermatitis, 55(5), pp. 301. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.2006.00923.x Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0536.2006.00923.x - Rodriguez-Fragoso, L., Reyes-Esparza, J., Burchiel, S.W., Herrera-Ruiz, D. and Torres, E (2007) 'Risks and benefits of commonly used herbal medicines in Mexico', 227(1), pp. 125--135. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2007.10.005 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2007.10.005 - Symoniuk, E., Marczak, Z., Brzezinska, R. and Janowicz, M (2023) 'Effect of the Freeze-Dried Mullein Flower Extract (Verbascum sp.) Addition on Oxidative Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Cold-Pressed Oils', Foods, 12(12), pp. 2391. doi:10.3390/foods12122391 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12122391 - Turker, A.U. and Gurel, E (2005) 'Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research', Phytotherapy Research, 19(9), pp. 733-739. doi:10.1002/ptr.1653 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1653 - Blanco-Salas, J., Hortigon-Vinagre, M.P., Morales-Jadan, D. and Ruiz-Tellez, T (2021) 'Searching for Scientific Explanations for the Uses of Spanish Folk Medicine: A Review on the Case of Mullein (Verbascum, Scrophulariaceae)', Biology, 10(7), pp. 618. doi:10.3390/biology10070618 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10070618 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (n.d.) 'European Union herbal monograph on Verbascum thapsus L., V. densiflorum Bertol. and V. phlomoides L., flos (Verbasci flos)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/verbasci-flos Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/verbasci-flos - ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) (n.d.) 'Verbasci flos (Mullein Flower) monograph', pp. com. Available at: https://www.escop.com/downloads/mullein-flower/ Traditional / reference
https://www.escop.com/downloads/mullein-flower/ - Sarrell, E.M., Mandelberg, A. and Cohen, H.A (2001) 'Efficacy of naturopathic extracts in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media', Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 155(7), pp. 796--799. doi:10.1001/archpedi.155.7.796 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.155.7.796 - Sarrell, E.M., Cohen, H.A. and Kahan, E (2003) 'Naturopathic treatment for ear pain in children', Pediatrics, pp. e574--e579. doi:10.1542/peds.111.5.e574 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.111.5.e574
Generated June 22, 2026 from omniasana.bio