Symptom → Plant Sources
Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) as a tool for helping with Skin irritation
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
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Full Common Sorrel monograph →All plants for skin irritation →
3 sources supporting Common Sorrel for Skin irritation. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's anti-inflammatory action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
The genus Rumex (sorrel/dock), including Rumex acetosa, has been used as food and to treat skin diseases and bleeding after trauma. About 268 substances (anthraquinones, flavonoids, naphthalenes, stilbenes, tannins) have been characterised, and crude extracts and isolates display antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumour, antioxidant and cardiovascular-protective activities.
Edible and medicinal Rumex species (including sorrel) are rich in phenylpropanoids and anthraquinones responsible for anticancer, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-dysenteric, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antihypertensive and anticoagulant properties. This review focuses on preclinical evidence for the efficacy and safety of Rumex species used as traditional foods and herbal remedies.
Curly dock (Rumex crispus, a Rumex congener of sorrel) extracts were tested on LPS-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The extracts significantly inhibited nitric oxide production and pro-inflammatory cytokine and gene expression via the NF-kappaB pathway, demonstrating anti-inflammatory activity within the Rumex genus.