Plant Profile

Ribwort Plantain

Compiled by the Omnia Sana editorial team from the plant database ·Last updated August 15, 2026

Plantago lanceolata

Family: Plantaginaceae · Parts used: Leaf (and aerial parts) · Also known as: Narrowleaf plantain, English plantain, Lamb's tongue

Common names in 30 European languages →

The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 6 pharmacological actions, 11 traditional / indicated uses, with 14 cited sources.

Botanical Description

Perennial herb (Plantaginaceae) forming a low rosette of narrow, lance-shaped leaves with prominent parallel ribs (hence 'ribwort'). Slender, furrowed, leafless flowering stalks rise from the rosette bearing a dense, short, dark brown-black ovoid to cylindrical flower spike ringed by a 'collar' of protruding cream-white stamens.^[11]

Height: Low rosette; flowering stalks 10-45 cm

Habit: Low rosette-forming perennial herb

Leaves: Narrow, lance-shaped, prominently 3-5-ribbed, in a basal rosette

Flowers: Dense, short, dark brown-black ovoid to cylindrical spike with a ring of cream-white stamens

Stem: Slender, furrowed, leafless flowering stalk

Root: Fibrous perennial rootstock

Fruit: Small capsule with 1-2 seeds

Flowering Period: May-September

Habitat & Distribution

Native throughout Europe and temperate Asia and naturalised worldwide; common in grassland, meadows, lawns, roadsides and waste ground, tolerating trampling and a wide range of soils.^[11]

Harvesting

Leaves and aerial parts are gathered during the growing season, ideally before or during flowering, and dried quickly.^[11]

Parts: Leaf (aerial parts)

Season: Growing season, before or during flowering

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, 14]}

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, 14]}Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 1

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →

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

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

Evidence: 1

Label: Bronchitis

more plants for bronchitis →detailed sources →

Bruising^{[11, 13]}Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from vulnerary action

Evidence: 1

Label: Bruising

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

inferred from immunomodulator action

Evidence: 1

Label: Cold & flu

more plants for cold & flu →detailed sources →

Cough^{[11, 13]}Preliminary · 1/10

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

Evidence: 1

Label: Cough

more plants for cough →detailed sources →

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

inferred from immunomodulator action

Evidence: 1

Label: Immune support

more plants for immune support →detailed sources →

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

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 2

Label: Infection (general)

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Inflammation (general)^{[9, 11, 14]}Preliminary · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Inflammation (general)

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

inferred from demulcent action

Evidence: 1

Label: Skin irritation

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Sore throat^{[11, 14]}Preliminary · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Sore throat

more plants for sore throat →detailed sources →

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

Vulnerary for minor wounds and insect bites (topical)

Evidence: 2

Label: Wounds

more plants for wounds →detailed sources →

Traditional Use & History

Ribwort plantain has an official European herbal-monograph tradition for the temporary relief of dry cough and irritation of the mouth and throat, and for minor skin wounds, reflecting its long folk use as a demulcent respiratory remedy and wound herb. Modern research confirms mucilage-driven demulcent action alongside antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity.^{[11, 13]}

Preparations

Infusion (tea)^[11]

Dried leaf steeped in hot water for cough and sore throat.

Fresh pressed juice / syrup^[13]

Fresh leaf juice, traditionally made into a cough syrup, often combined with honey.

Poultice^[13]

Crushed fresh leaf applied to minor wounds and insect bites.

Dosage

Infusion (tea)^{[11, 13]}

EMA/ESCOP herbal-monograph guidance suggests roughly 2-4 g dried leaf per cup as an infusion, up to three times daily, or an equivalent liquid extract. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

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.

Harvest Readiness

^[12]

Part: leaf

Signals: Gather the leaves young through the growing season - the very young leaves are best (less fibrous).

Basis: traditional

Source Quote: The very young leaves are somewhat better and are less fibrous.

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: PFAF (REF-3312); the young leaves are gathered through the growing season (flowering April-August). Single lineage -> provisional.

^[12]

Part: aerial-parts

Signals: Gather the aerial parts while in flower, in summer.

Basis: traditional

Source Quote: It is in flower from April to August, and the seeds ripen from June to September.

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: PFAF (REF-3312); the aerial parts are gathered while in flower (April-August). Single lineage -> provisional.

External Identifiers

GBIF ›Wikidata ›

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
Plants For A Future 'Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Plantago+lanceolata Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Plantago+lanceolata
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/
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

Selected studies & references

PreclinicalPlantago lanceolata and Plantago major Exhibit Antioxidant and Borrelia burgdorferi Inhibiting Activities source↗ (2024)

PreclinicalA new flavonoid, a new phenylethanoid glycoside and related compounds isolated from the inflorescences of Plantago lanceolata L. source↗ (2022)

PreclinicalEvaluation of Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Activities of Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) Root Fractions and Phytochemical Analysis by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry source↗ (2022)

PreclinicalResponse of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) supplementation on nutritional, endo-parasitic, and endocrine status in lambs source↗ (2021)

PreclinicalTrace elements in Plantago lanceolata L., a plant used for herbal and food preparations: new data and literature review source↗ (2019)

PreclinicalPlantago lanceolata L. water extract induces transition of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and increases tensile strength of healing skin wounds source↗ (2015)

PreclinicalIdentification of Plantago lanceolata pollen allergens using an immunoproteomic approach source↗ (2014)

PreclinicalPlantago lanceolata: an important trigger of summer pollinosis with limited IgE cross-reactivity source↗ (2014)

All 13 studies in the Knowledge Finder →

Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.

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