Symptom → Plant Sources
Greater Plantain (Plantago major) as a tool for helping with Bruising
inferred from vulnerary action
Ethnopharmacological relevance The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects from different leaf extracts of the traditional medicinal herb Plantago major L. (plantain) on cell proliferation and migration in vitro, as a test for potential wound healing properties. Materials and methods Water and ethanol-based extracts were prepared from Plantago major fresh and dried leaves, and tested in vitro in a scratch assay with oral epithelial cells. Results The scratch assay produced reliable results after 18 h. Most of the tested extracts increased the proliferation/migration of the oral epithelial cells compared to the negative control. A concentration of 1.0 mg/mL (on dry weight basis) appears to be optimal regardless of type of extract, and among the alternatives, 0.1 mg/mL was always better than 10 mg/mL. Ethanol-based extracts with a concentration of 10 mg/mL had very detrimental effects on cell proliferation/migration. At the other two concentrations, ethanol-based extracts had the most beneficial effect, followed by water extracts of fresh leaves, ethanol plus water extracts of dried leaves and, finally, water extracts of dried leaves. Conclusions This study suggests that both the water extracts and the more polyphenol-rich ethanol-based extracts of Plantago major leaves have medicinal properties. Further research is, however, needed to determine what compounds are responsible for the wound healing effects.
Plantago major L. leaves have been used as a wound healing remedy for centuries in almost all parts of the world and in the treatment of a number of diseases apart from wound healing. These include diseases related to the skin, respiratory organs, digestive organs, reproduction, the circulation, against cancer, for pain relief and against infections. P. major contains biologically active compounds such as polysaccharides, lipids, caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids, iridoid glycosides and terpenoids. Alkaloids and some organic acids have also been detected. A range of biological activities has been found from plant extracts including wound healing activity, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, weak antibiotic, immuno modulating and antiulcerogenic activity. Some of these effects may attribute to the use of this plant in folk medicine.
6 sources supporting Greater Plantain for Bruising. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's vulnerary (wound healing) action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
This systematic review of preclinical studies found that topical Plantago major consistently accelerated skin wound healing in animal models, supporting its traditional vulnerary use.
In a randomised open-label controlled clinical trial, topical Plantago major hydroalcoholic extract improved healing of diabetic foot and pressure ulcers, giving clinical support for the herb's vulnerary use.
A randomised triple-blind controlled trial found that a topical Plantago major formulation improved stage-1 pressure ulcers, supporting the vulnerary use of greater plantain.