Plantago lanceolata Dried Leaves

Scientific Name: Plantago lanceolata L.
Common Names: Ribwort plantain, Narrowleaf plantain, English plantain, Lamb's tongue, Buckhorn
INCI Name: Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract
CAS Number: 84929-43-1
EC Number: 284-526-5

Plantago lanceolata is a perennial herb native to Eurasia, now naturalized worldwide. Its dried leaves have been used medicinally for centuries, particularly for respiratory and skin conditions.

Traditional Uses

Plantago lanceolata dried leaves have been traditionally used to:

• Soothe respiratory tract irritations
• Alleviate coughs and sore throats
• Promote wound healing
• Reduce skin inflammation
• Support digestive health

Active Compounds

The primary active compounds in Plantago lanceolata leaves include:

• Iridoid glycosides (aucubin, catalpol)
• Phenylethanoids (acteoside, plantamajoside)
• Flavonoids
• Polysaccharides
• Tannins

Preparation and Use

Herbal Tea (Tisane)

Preparation: 

Steep 1-2 teaspoons of dried leaves in 8 oz of hot water for 10-15 minutes. Strain before drinking.

Suggested Use: 

Drink 1-3 cups daily for respiratory support or sore throat relief.

Topical Application

Preparation: 

Create a poultice by crushing dried leaves and mixing with a small amount of warm water.

Suggested Use: 

Apply directly to minor wounds, insect bites, or skin irritations.

Properties

Plantago lanceolata dried leaves exhibit several beneficial properties:

• Anti-inflammatory: Helps reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract and on the skin

   

• Antimicrobial: Demonstrates activity against various bacteria and fungi

   

• Wound healing: Promotes faster wound closure and increased myofibroblast presence at wound sites

   

• Antioxidant: Contains compounds that help protect cells from oxidative stress.

Precautions and Contraindications

• Avoid use during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data.
• May interact with certain medications, including blood thinners and diabetes medications.
• Discontinue use if allergic reactions occur.
• Not recommended for children under 12 years old without professional guidance.

Traditional Wisdom Meets Modern Science

Plantago lanceolata has been used in traditional medicine systems worldwide for centuries. 

Recent scientific studies have begun to validate some of its traditional uses, particularly in respiratory health and wound healing

The plant's anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties make it a valuable addition to natural health protocols

Source : http://www.wikiphyto.org/wiki/plantain

Reference on http://www.wikiphyto.org

Translation in English by Google Translate  (go to the page of the source linked | on Chrome cellphones go on the 3 dots on the top right and select translate in your preferred language | on laptop right click your mouse and select option translate when hoovering on the page

plant name

Plantain, Hare's Ear , Five-seam Grass

International Latin denomination

Plantago major L.,

• Plantago lanceolata L.,
• Plantago intermedia L.

botanical family

Plantaginaceae

Description and habitat

• Perennial plants with leaves in a basal rosette, with convergent veins, oval for Plantago major , lanceolate for Plantago lanceolata
• Simple erect stems, dense cylindrical or ovoid flowering spikes of green flowers
• Wastelands all over Europe, North Africa, West Asia

History and tradition

• Etymology: its botanical name comes from the lation “planta” sole of the foot and “ago” I push, literally “grows under the soles of the feet” or “trampled underfoot”
• He seems to have settled in America after the arrival of the colonists. Native Americans would have named it "white feet" because it settled wherever the white man put his boot (its soles transported the tiny seeds from France or England)

Parts used

• Leaf, whole plant, juice

Dosage forms available

• Whole plant tincture
• EPS

Usual dosages

Composition

Main components of the plant

• Mucilages (2 à 6,5 %) riches en D-galactose, L-arabinose : arabinogalactane, glucomannane, rhamnogalacturonane, rhamnoarabinogalactane
• Iridoids (2 to 3%): aucuboside , catalpol , asperuloside , globularin and derivatives
• Phenylethanoids  : acteoside (= verbascoside 3 to 8%), isoacteoside , plantamajoside , lavandulifolioside
• Flavonoids  : apigenin , luteolin and their derivatives
• Tannins (6.5%)
• Phenol acids  : para-hydroxybenzoic acid , protocatechuic acid , gentisic acid , chlorogenic acid , caffeic acid , etc.
• Saponoside , silicic acid (>1%)
• Concentrates zinc carbonate

Main components of buds or young shoots

Main components of essential oil

Properties

Plant properties

• Anti-inflammatory ( apigenin ) and smooth muscle antispasmodic [1] , [2] , in airway conditions [3] , the anti-inflammatory properties may be due to an inhibition of nitric oxide NO production by macrophages [4] , analgesic
• Antiulcéreux [5]
• Antihistamine, inhibits mast cell degranulation [6] , [7]
• Phenylethanoids ( acteoside and plantamajoside ) inhibit 5-lipoxygenase in vitro
• Aucuboside and acids inhibit cyclo-oxygenase
• Intravenous administration induces the formation of interferon
• Antioxidant, inhibition of lipid peroxidation [8]
• Antitussive and mucolytic, inflammation of the upper airways ( mucilages , tannins )
• Antibacterial especially by the effect of the fresh plant ( aucuboside )
• Antiviral against Herpes virus [9] ( caffeic acid )
• Immunomodulating, increase in TNF alpha by polysaccharides [10] , and potentially anti-cancer [11]
• Hepatoprotective and cholesterol-lowering
• Uricosurique (aucuboside)
• Haemostatic, promotes healing, softening, antipruritic, local antihistamine
• Heat denatures beta-glucosidase which releases aucubigenin from aucuboside , prefer dosage forms which do not involve heat

Bud properties

Properties of essential oil

Indications

Indications of the whole plant (phytotherapy)

• Fistulas, ulcers, external hemorrhoids
• Insect bites (wasps, bees)
• Internal use: gastritis, peptic ulcers, diarrhoea, colitis
• Bronchitis and laryngitis, asthmatic cough, allergic rhinitis
• Hematuria

Indications of the bud (gemmotherapy)

Specific indications of essential oil (aromatherapy)

Known or suspected mode of action

• Emollient, protective role and water retention of mucilage (mucilaginous hydrocolloid)
• Role of iridoids ( catalpol ) and apigenin in anti-inflammatory activity
• Inhibition of PAF acether
• Apigenin blocks a step in the estrogen manufacturing chain

Usual formulations

Regulations

• French Pharmacopoeia list A (sheet)
• Activity recognized by the German Commission E ( Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata )

Possible side effects and precautions for use

Bibliographic references

1. Go↑ Fleer H, Verspohl EJ. Antispasmodic activity of an extract from Plantago lanceolata L. and some isolated compounds. Phytomedicine. 2007 Jun;14(6):409-15. PMID 17298877
2. Go↑ Murai M, Tamayama Y, Nishibe S. Phenylethanoids in the herb of Plantago lanceolata and inhibitory effect on arachidonic acid-induced mouse ear edema. Planta Med. 1995 Oct;61(5):479-80. PMID 7480214
3. Go↑ Wegener T, Kraft K. Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.): anti-inflammatory action in upper respiratory tract infections. Wien Med Wochenschr. 1999;149(8-10):211-6. PMID 10483683
4. Go↑ Vigo E, Cepeda A, Gualillo O, Perez-Fernandez R. 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. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2005 Mar;57(3):383-91. PMID 15807995
5. Go↑ Samuelsen AB. The traditional uses, chemical constituents and biological activities of Plantago major L. A review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Jul;71(1-2):1-21. PMID 10904143
6. Go↑ Ikawati Z, Wahyuono S, Maeyama K. Screening of several Indonesian medicinal plants for their inhibitory effect on histamine release from RBL-2H3 cells. J Ethnopharmacol. 2001 May;75(2-3):249-56. PMID 11297859
7. Go↑ Jong Phil Bak, Jong Bo Kim, Jong Hyuk Park, Yoon Jung Yang, In Su Kim, Eui Su Choung, Se Chan Kang. Screening and compound isolation from natural plants for anti-allergic activity. Journal of the Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistry, June 2011, Volume 54, Issue 3, pp 367–375 https://doi.org/10.3839/jksabc.2011.058
8. Go↑ Marina Gálvez, Carmen Martín-Cordero, Peter J. Houghton, María Jesús Ayuso. Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts Obtained from Plantago Species J. Agric. Food Chem., 2005, 53 (6), pp 1927–1933
9. Go↑ Chiang LC, Chiang W, Chang MY, Ng LT, Lin CC. Antiviral activity of Plantago major extracts and related compounds in vitro. Antiviral Res. 2002 Jul;55(1):53-62. PMID 12076751
10. Go↑ Hetland G. Anti-infective action of immno-modulating polysaccharides (β-glucan and Plantago major L. pectin) against intracelllular (Mycobacteria sp. and extracellular (Streptococcus pneumoniae sp.) respiratory pathogens. Curr Med Chem Anti-Infective Agents 2003 ; 2: 135-146
11. Go↑ Chiang LC, Chiang W, Chang MY, Lin CC. In vitro cytotoxic, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of Plantago major and Plantago asiatica. Am J Chin Med. 2003;31(2):225-34. PMID 12856861

• Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J (Ed). Expanded Commission E Monographs, American Botanical Council, Integrative Medicine Communications, 2000
• Schulz V, Hänsel R, Tyler VE. Rational Phytotherapy - A Physicians'Guide to Herbal Medicine, fourth edition, Springer, 2001, p. 181
• EMEA emea monograph

Store in a cool, dry place, away from light. Keep tightly closed, away from the reach of Children and pets.

Do not exceed the daily dose.

This product is not intended to prevent or cure any form of illness or disease.
 

If you are pregnant or nursing ; If you have a medical condition or are in the course of medical treatment ; If you are programmed for theater/operation in the near future, please consult your healthcare practitioner before using this product.

This product cannot replace a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

This product has not been evaluated by the SAHPRA for its quality, safety or intended use.

For More Information please check our General Safety Herbal products Page