Omnia SanaCommon names in 24 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 5 pharmacological actions, 10 traditional / indicated uses, with 15 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Perennial herb, 20-60 cm tall, with square, densely white-woolly (tomentose) stems characteristic of the mint family. Leaves are opposite, ovate-rounded, crinkled and coarsely toothed, grey-green and woolly beneath, with a strong bitter, slightly musky smell when crushed. Small white, two-lipped flowers are clustered in dense whorls (verticillasters) in the leaf axils up the stem. The fruit splits into four small nutlets typical of the Lamiaceae.[11]
Habitat & Distribution
Harvesting
The flowering aerial parts are cut during the flowering season (summer), when bitter marrubiin content is highest, and dried promptly out of direct sunlight; harvest site and season measurably affect the marrubiin and antioxidant content of the dried herb.[8, 11]
Key Constituents
The characteristic bitter principle (pharmacopoeial material contains at least 0.7%); drives the expectorant and digestive actions. A phytochemical/pharmacological overview identifies marrubiin and the phenolic fraction as the basis for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents.
Astringent and aromatic constituents of the herb.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Bitter digestive for dyspeptic complaints (indigestion, bloating, flatulence) and loss of appetite
Bitter digestive for dyspeptic complaints (indigestion, bloating, flatulence) and loss of appetite
Expectorant for productive cough and catarrh of the upper respiratory tract / bronchitis
inferred from anticancer action
more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →
Antispasmodic (traditional use in whooping cough); Expectorant for productive cough and catarrh of the upper respiratory tract / bronchitis
Bitter digestive for dyspeptic complaints (indigestion, bloating, flatulence) and loss of appetite
inferred from antispasmodic action
inferred from antispasmodic action
inferred from expectorant action
Soothes sore throat (traditional)
Traditional Use & History
White horehound has a long European and Mediterranean folk-medicine history as a bitter expectorant for coughs, bronchitis and catarrh, and as a digestive bitter for poor appetite and dyspepsia. It is one of the classic ingredients of traditional cough syrups and horehound candy. A modern critical review found reasonable, though not conclusive, scientific support for these traditional respiratory and digestive uses.[2, 11, 12]
Preparations
Dosage
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
As a strong bitter it may aggravate hyperacidity; theoretical caution in peptic ulcer. Large amounts have shown effects on heart rhythm and blood pressure in studies, so avoid excessive intake.
Traditional use only; a cough or digestive complaint that persists needs medical assessment. Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended.
Harvest Readiness
[14]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Lazarova, M.I., Tsvetanova, E.R., Georgieva, A.P., Stefanova, M.O. and others (2024) 'Marrubium vulgare Extract Improves Spatial Working Memory and Oxidative Stress Damage in Scopolamine-Treated Rats', Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 99(s1), pp. S157-S169. doi:10.3233/JAD-231011 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-231011 - Rodriguez Villanueva, J. and Martin Esteban, J (2016) 'An Insight into a Blockbuster Phytomedicine; Marrubium vulgare L. Herb. More of a Myth than a Reality?', Phytotherapy Research, 30(10), pp. 1551-1558. doi:10.1002/ptr.5661 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5661 - Acimovic, M., Ivanovic, S., Simic, K., Pezo, L. and others (2021) 'Chemical Characterization of Marrubium vulgare Volatiles from Serbia', Plants (Basel), 10(3), pp. 600. doi:10.3390/plants10030600 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030600 - Amri, B., Martino, E., Vitulo, F., Corana, F. and others (2017) 'Marrubium vulgare L. Leave Extract: Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Wound Healing Properties', Molecules, 22(11), pp. 1851. doi:10.3390/molecules22111851 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22111851 - Lazarova, M., Stefanova, M., Denev, P., Taseva, T. and others (2024) 'Neuroprotective Effect of Marrubium vulgare Extract in Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Rats: Behavioral and Biochemical Approaches', Biology (Basel), 13(6), pp. 426. doi:10.3390/biology13060426 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13060426 - Aitbaba, A., Kabdy, H., Baslam, A., Azraida, H. and others (2024) 'Chemical Investigation and Antinociceptive Activity Evaluation of Marrubium vulgare L. Aqueous Extract', Chemistry & Biodiversity, 21(5), pp. e202400228. doi:10.1002/cbdv.202400228 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202400228 - Abidi, A., Dhaouafi, J., Brinsi, C., Tounsi, H. and Sebai, H (2022) 'Tunisian Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) Aqueous Extract Improves Treatment of Bleomycin-Induced Lung Fibrosis in Rat', Dose-Response, 20(3), pp. 15593258221119300. doi:10.1177/15593258221119300 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1177/15593258221119300 - Rezgui, M., Basma, M., Neng, N., Nogueira, J.M. and others (2021) 'Evaluation of Marrubium vulgare Growing Wild in Tunisia for Its Potential as a Dietary Supplement', Foods, 10(11), pp. 2864. doi:10.3390/foods10112864 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10112864 - Gourich, A.A., Touijer, H., Drioiche, A., Asbabou, A. and others (2023) 'Insight into biological activities of chemically characterized extract from Marrubium vulgare L. in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches', Frontiers in Chemistry, 11, pp. 1238346. doi:10.3389/fchem.2023.1238346 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2023.1238346 - Yousefi, K., Hamedeyazdan, S., Torbati, M. and Fathiazad, F (2016) 'Chromatographic Fingerprint Analysis of Marrubiin in Marrubium vulgare L. via HPTLC Technique', Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 6(1), pp. 131-136. doi:10.15171/apb.2016.019 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.15171/apb.2016.019 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2013) 'European Union herbal monograph on Marrubium vulgare L., herba (Marrubii herba)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/marrubii-herba Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/marrubii-herba - ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) (n.d.) 'Marrubii herba (White Horehound) monograph', pp. com. Available at: https://www.escop.com/downloads/white-horehound/ Traditional / reference
https://www.escop.com/downloads/white-horehound/ - Acimovic, M., Jeremic, K., Salaj, N., Gavaric, N., Kiprovski, B., Sikora, V. and Zeremski, T (2020) 'Marrubium vulgare L.: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Overview', Molecules, 25(12). doi:10.3390/molecules25122898 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25122898 - Plants For A Future 'Marrubium vulgare (White Horehound)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Marrubium+vulgare Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Marrubium+vulgare - Yamaguchi, K., Liggett, J.L., Kim, N.C. and Baek, S.J (2006) 'Anti-proliferative effect of horehound leaf and wild cherry bark extracts on human colorectal cancer cells', Oncology Reports, 15(1), pp. 275-281. doi:10.3892/or.15.1.275 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3892/or.15.1.275
Selected studies & references
All 14 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.