Omnia SanaCommon names in 26 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 4 pharmacological actions, 7 traditional / indicated uses, with 16 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Soft, downy perennial herb with an erect, branching stem and broad, soft, velvety, greyish-green leaves, shallowly 3-5-lobed and toothed. Pale pink to white five-petalled flowers, typical of the mallow family, are borne singly or in small clusters in the leaf axils. The thick, fleshy, whitish taproot is the main medicinal part, rich in soothing mucilage.[11]
Habitat & Distribution
Grows in damp meadows, salt marshes, ditches and riverbanks, especially near brackish or coastal wetlands; native to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa.[11]
Harvesting
The root is dug in autumn from plants at least two years old, when mucilage content is highest, then washed, peeled and dried quickly to prevent mould, given its high mucilage and sugar content.[11]
Key Constituents
The principal soothing, film-forming constituents; the isolated rhamnogalacturonan also shows direct antitussive activity in animal models.
Pharmacological Actions
Althaea officinalis root extract and its polysaccharides show chemopreventive/anticancer activity, including protection against chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis (preclinical).
Antitussive (calms dry, irritating cough) - in animal studies the root rhamnogalacturonan suppresses the cough reflex dose-dependently, comparably to codeine, via 5-HT2 receptors rather than bronchodilation
Demulcent for irritation of the mouth or throat and associated dry cough (mucilage coats and soothes); Eases mild stomach and gut discomfort, including heartburn / acid reflux and indigestion (protective mucilage)
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Eases mild stomach and gut discomfort, including heartburn / acid reflux and indigestion (protective mucilage)
Althaea officinalis extract is chemoprotective against N-diethylnitrosamine-induced liver carcinogenesis, and marshmallow polysaccharides show documented anticancer activity (preclinical/chemopreventive).
more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →
Antitussive (calms dry, irritating cough) - in animal studies the root rhamnogalacturonan suppresses the cough reflex dose-dependently, comparably to codeine, via 5-HT2 receptors rather than bronchodilation; Demulcent for irritation of the mouth or throat and associated dry cough (mucilage coats and soothes)
inferred from emollient action
Eases mild stomach and gut discomfort, including heartburn / acid reflux and indigestion (protective mucilage)
Topical soothing for irritated skin
Traditional Use & History
Marshmallow root has an ancient reputation, reflected in its Greek name 'Althaea' (to heal), as a soothing demulcent for irritated mucous membranes: dry cough and sore throat, and mild inflammation and discomfort of the stomach and gut. It has also been applied topically as a soothing poultice for irritated skin.[11]
Preparations
Dried root macerated in cold water for several hours to extract the maximum mucilage without degrading it, then strained; the classic preparation for cough and digestive demulcent use.
Dried root gently simmered in water; a warmer alternative preparation, though prolonged heat can reduce mucilage yield.
Dosage
The EU herbal monograph describes traditional use of about 0.5-3 g dried root per cup as a cold macerate, taken up to several times daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Very well tolerated. The mucilage can slow the absorption of other medicines, so take other drugs about an hour before or after marshmallow.
It may mildly lower blood sugar (caution alongside antidiabetic medicines). Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended in the absence of adequate data.
Harvest Readiness
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Mahboubi, M (2020) 'Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis L.) and Its Potency in the Treatment of Cough', Complementary Medicine Research, 27(3), pp. 174-183. doi:10.1159/000503747 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1159/000503747 - Xue, T., Ruan, K., Tang, Z., Duan, J. and others (2023) 'Isolation, structural properties, and bioactivities of polysaccharides from Althaea officinalis Linn.: A review', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 242(Pt 4), pp. 125098. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125098 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125098 - Mohsenikia, M., Rafiee, S., Rozei, L.S., Ebrahimi, A. and others (2020) 'Althaea officinalis improves wound healing in rats: a stereological study', Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics, 14(5), pp. 239-242. doi:10.5582/ddt.2020.03056 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.5582/ddt.2020.03056 - Wang, Z., Jiang, X., Zhang, L. and Chen, H (2023) 'Protective effects of Althaea officinalis L. extract against N-diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in male Wistar rats through antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, mitochondrial apoptosis and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways', Food Science & Nutrition, 11(8), pp. 4756-4772. doi:10.1002/fsn3.3455 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3455 - Karimi, S., Ghanbarzadeh, B., Roufegarinejad, L. and Falcone, P.M (2021) 'Polysaccharide extracted from Althaea officinalis L. root: New studies of structural, rheological and antioxidant properties', Carbohydrate Research, 510, pp. 108438. doi:10.1016/j.carres.2021.108438 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2021.108438 - Naseri, V., Chavoshzadeh, Z., Mizani, A., Daneshfard, B. and others (2021) 'Effect of topical marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) on atopic dermatitis in children: A pilot double-blind active-controlled clinical trial of an in-silico-analyzed phytomedicine', Phytotherapy Research, 35(3), pp. 1389-1398. doi:10.1002/ptr.6899 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6899 - Bonaterra, G.A., Schmitt, J., Schneider, K., Schwarzbach, H. and others (2022) 'Phytohustil and root extract of Althaea officinalis L. exert anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties and improve the migratory capacity of endothelial cells', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, pp. 948248. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.948248 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.948248 - Xue, T.T., Yang, Y.G., Tang, Z.S., Duan, J.A. and others (2022) 'Evaluation of antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, nitric oxide production inhibitory activities and chemical profiles of the active extracts from the medicinal and edible plant: Althaea officinalis', Food Research International, 156, pp. 111166. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111166 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111166 - Amini, F., Namjooyan, F., Zomorodian, K., Zareshahrabadi, Z. and others (2023) 'The efficacy of complementary treatment with marshmallow (Althaea officinalis L.) on vulvovaginal candidiasis: A randomized double-blinded controlled clinical trial', Explore (NY), 19(6), pp. 813-819. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2023.04.005 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2023.04.005 - Berry, J (1884) 'Althaea officinalis', The Hospital, 1(6), pp. 85-86. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Althaea%20officinalis - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (n.d.) 'European Union herbal monograph on Althaea officinalis L., radix (Althaeae radix)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/althaeae-radix Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/althaeae-radix - Sutovska, M., Nosalova, G., Sutovsky, J., Franova, S., Prisenznakova, L. and Capek, P (2009) 'Possible mechanisms of dose-dependent cough suppressive effect of Althaea officinalis rhamnogalacturonan in guinea pigs test system', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 45(1), pp. 27--32. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2009.03.008 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2009.03.008 - ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) (n.d.) 'Althaeae radix (Marshmallow Root) monograph', pp. com. Available at: https://www.escop.com/downloads/althaea-radix-marshmallow-root/ Traditional / reference
https://www.escop.com/downloads/althaea-radix-marshmallow-root/ - Felter, H. W. and Lloyd, J. U (1898) 'Althaea (Althaea officinalis, Marshmallow) — King's American Dispensatory'. Available at: https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/althaea.html Traditional / reference
https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/althaea.html - Fern, Ken 'Althaea officinalis (Marsh Mallow) — Useful Temperate Plants'. Available at: https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Althaea+officinalis Traditional / reference
https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Althaea+officinalis - Sutovska, M., Capek, P., Franova, S., Joskova, M., Sutovsky, J., Marcinek, J. and Kalman, M (2011) 'Antitussive activity of Althaea officinalis L. polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan and its changes in guinea pigs with ovalbumine-induced airways inflammation', Bratislavske Lekarske Listy, 112(12), pp. 670--675. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Antitussive%20activity%20of%20Althaea%20officinalis%20L.%20polysaccharide%20rhamnogalacturonan%20and%20its%20changes%20in%20guinea%20pigs%20with%20ovalbumine-induced%20airways%20inflammation
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.