Althaea officinalis
What's the taxonomical classification of Althaea officinalis?
Althaea officinalis belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta. Moving down the taxonomic hierarchy, it is situated in the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malvales, it is placed in the family Malvaceae. Finally, the plant is identified by its genus, Althaea, and its specific species designation, officinalis.
| Taxonomic Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Malvales |
| Family | Malvaceae |
| Genus | Althaea |
| Species | officinalis |
What are the morphological characteristics of this plant?
Althaea officinalis has a perennial, rhizomatous rootstock and erect, woody stems that can reach heights of up to 1.5 meters. The leaves are alternate, heart-shaped to ovate, and possess long petioles with crenate margins and a soft, pubescent texture. Its flowers are pale pink to white, featuring five petals and a prominent central column of stamens that characterizes the Malvaceae family. The plant is notable for its dense covering of fine, silky hairs across its entire surface, which provides a velvety feel. Each flowering season produces numerous small, kidney-shaped seed capsules that eventually release dark, brownish seeds.
What is the geographical distribution of this plant?
This plant is native to a wide range of temperate regions across Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. It thrives in various habitats including moist meadows, riverbanks, and disturbed soils throughout its natural range. Due to its historical use in traditional medicine, it has been widely introduced to other continents like North America. In these new environments, it often grows as a naturalized species in gardens and along waterways. Its ability to adapt to different climates has allowed it to establish populations far beyond its original evolutionary borders.
How is this plant cultivated?
This plant requires well-drained, fertile soil and full sun to moderate shade to thrive during its growing season.
It is typically sown in early spring or late autumn to ensure adequate establishment of the root system. Regular watering is essential to maintain consistent moisture levels, especially during periods of high heat. Once established, the plant is relatively hardy and can tolerate various soil types as long as they do not become waterlogged.
Harvesting the roots for medicinal use is best performed during the plant's second year of growth in the autumn.
What parts of this plant are used medicinally?
This plant Althea officinalis is utilized medicinally through its aerial parts, flowers, leaves, radix, and roots. The aerial parts, which include both the flower and the leaf, contain mucilage used to soothe irritated mucous membranes. For more potent therapeutic effects, the radix, or the roots, are harvested and processed for their high mucilage content. Both the roots and the various above-ground structures contribute to the plant's overall emollient properties. These diverse components work together to provide relief for respiratory and digestive ailments.
According to a study published by "Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)", the aerial parts of Althaea officiinalis (APAO) contain 76 identified compounds, including 8 phenolic acids, 17 flavonoids, 6 coumarins, 9 triterpenes, and 11 alkaloids. Fraction C-2 of APAO exhibited the highest total phenolic content of 175.8 ± 1.5 mg GAE/g and total flavonoid content of 466.9 ± 5.0 mg RE/g. Regarding enzyme inhibition, Fr. A showed an α-glucosidase IC50 value of 3.8 ± 0.1 μg/mL. Additionally, Fr. B displayed a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 8.4 ± 1.6 μg/mL. Fr. B also demonstrated potent inhibitory activities on NO production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 Cells with an IC50 value of 15.7 ± 1.6 μg/mL.
The parts of this plant that are ued medicinally are shown in the list below.
- aerial parts
- flower
- leaf
- radix
- roots
What traditional systems uses this plant?
This plant Althaea officinalis has been utilized across various historical medical traditions to treat respiratory ailments, skin irritations, and gastrointestinal inflammation due to its high mucilage content. In many ancient European practices, the root was decocted into soothing syrups or teas to calm persistent coughs and soothe sore throats. Serbian Traditional Medicine specifically incorporates this plant into folk remedies to alleviate inflammation and support the healing of mucous membranes. Historical herbalists also applied external poultices made from the plant to address minor wounds and skin abrasions. These diverse applications demonstrate a long-standing global reliance on the plant's natural emollient properties.
According to a study published by "Life (Basel, Switzerland)", marshmallow is among the most used herbs for the treatment of inflammations of various causes in Serbian tradition. Since ancient times, natural compounds have been used for the treatment of inflammation. Serbia is classified as one of 158 world centers of biodiversity, which confirms the country is a treasure of medicinal herbs. The biological activity and anti-inflammatory effect of selected plants are attributed to different groups of secondary biomolecules such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, sterols, terpenoids, sesquiterpenes, and tannins.
The hystorical systems that uses this plant are shown in the list below.
- Serbian Traditional Medicine
What are the pharmacological activities of Althaea officinalis?
This plant has anti-inflammatory, antitussive, expectorant, soothing oral and throat mucosa, and mucoprotective pharmacological activities. The presence of high amounts of mucilage allows it to form a protective layer over irritated tissues. This mechanism provides a soothing effect on the oral and throat mucosa during respiratory distress. Its expectorant properties help to thin mucus, making it easier to clear from the airways. Additionally, the plant exhibits antitussive effects to suppress coughing and anti-inflammatory actions to reduce swelling. These combined properties make it an effective natural remedy for various upper respiratory ailments.
According to a study published by "Frontiers in pharmacology", the root extract of Althaeaa officiinali's L. exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. This root extract has been used since ancient times to treat a cough by inducing a protective film for faster regeneration of the lesioned laryngopharyngeal mucosa. In an in vitro study, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were pretreated for 24 h with the root extract before being incubated with hydrogen peroxide for 1 h or with lipopolysaccharides for 3 h. The results showed that the root extract was not cytotoxic and inhibited the LPS-activated IL6 release. Furthermore, the root extract inhibited H2O2-induced cytotoxicity and intracellular ROS production while significantly stimulating wound closure. These findings suggest that the root extract improves the migratory capacity of vascular endothelial cells.
The primary pharmacological activities of this plant are shown in the list below.
- anti-inflammatory
- antitussive
- expectorant
- soothing oral and throat mucosa
- wound healing
What medicinal compounds this plant contains?
This plant contains mucilage, flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, and alkaloids as its primary medicinal compounds. The high concentration of mucilage provides a soothing, protective layer for inflamed mucous membranes in the respiratory and digestive tracts. Flavonoids and phenolic acids contribute significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to the herbal formula. Additionally, the presence of coumarins and alkaloids can influence blood circulation and provide mild sedative or analgesic effects. Together, these diverse chemical constituents make the species effective for treating various ailments.
According to a study published by "Iranian journal of medical sciences", Althaea officiinali is identified as one of the various mucilage-producing plants in traditional Persian medicine. This plant contains mucilage compounds which are pharmacologically important polysaccharides. These substances have an extensive range of applications including binding agents, thickeners, water retention agents, emulsion stabilizers, suspending agents, disintegrates, film formers, and gelling agents. Althaea officiinali has been used traditionally via oral or topical routes for the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, musculoskeletal, and genital systems as well as skin disorders.
The primary medicinal compounds of this plant are shown in the list below.
- mucilage
- flavonoids
- phenolic acids
- coumarins
- alkaloids
What health conditions is this plant used for?
This plant is used for treating a cough, dry cough, dry coughs, irritative cough, and sore throat. It contains high levels of mucilage which creates a protective layer over the mucous membranes. This soothing action helps to calm an irritative cough and reduce the urge to cough. The plant is particularly effective at relieving the discomfort associated with a dry cough. Additionally, its properties provide significant relief for a sore throat.
According to a study published by "International journal of biological macromolecules", the rhamnogalacturonan isolated from the roots of Althaea officiinalis L. showed various biological effects on the citric acid-induced cough reflex. This plant substance possessed a dose-dependent cough suppression effect that was comparable with the opioid agonist codeine. While it affected the cough reflex, the reactivity of the airways smooth muscle was not significantly affected in either in vitro or in vivo conditions. The study also noted that the cough suppression effect was not significantly modified by the pretreatment of K(+) (ATP) ion channels. Instead, pretreatment with a selective 5-HT(2) receptors antagonist significantly decreased the antitussive efficacy of the Althaea officiinalis polymer.
The main health conditions this plant is used for are shown in the list below.
- cough
- dry cough
- dry coughs
- irritative cough
- sore throat
What are the herbal preparations of this plant?
This plant is Althea officinalis, commonly known as marshmallow, and it is used to create medicinal preparations such as decoction, cough syrup, herbal tea, lozenge, and tincture to soothe irritated mucous membranes. A decoction involves simmering the roots to extract mucilage, which can then be sweetened into a thick cough syrup. Many people prefer drinking a gentle herbal tea for mild throat discomfort or using a lozenge to provide localized relief during a sore throat. For a more concentrated dose, a tincture can be prepared using alcohol to pull out the plant's soothing properties. These various forms allow for flexible administration depending on the severity of the symptoms.
According to a study published by "Frontiers in pharmacology", the root extract of Althaea officinalis L. (REA) has been utilized as a medicinal plant since ancient times to treat a cough. Applying REA leads to a protective film that induces a faster regeneration of the lesioned laryngopharyngeal mucosa caused by dry coughs. In an in vitro study, HUVEK were pretreated for 24 h with REA before being incubated with H2O2 for 1 h or with LPS for 3 h. The results showed that REA was not cytotoxic and inhibited H2O2-induced cytotoxicity and intracellular ROS production. Furthermore, REA inhibited LPS-activated IL6 release and significantly stimulated wound closure compared to the control. These findings demonstrate that REA exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties while improving the migratory capacity of vascular endothelial cells.
The main herbal preparations of this plant are shown in the list below.
- Decoctation
- cough syrup
- herbal tea
- lozenge
- tincture
What side effects this plant can have?
This plant can cause erythrocyte haemolysis, which is the premature destruction of red blood cells, as one of its potential health side effects. While often used for its soothing mucilaginous properties, improper administration or excessive consumption may trigger adverse hematological reactions. Such damage to red blood cells can lead to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, or jaundice. Individuals with existing blood disorders should exercise extreme caution when using extracts derived from this species. Monitoring clinical responses is essential to avoid complications related to impaired oxygen transport in the body.
According to a study published by "BioMed research international", the methanolic extract of Althaea officiinalis demonstrated significant antibacterial activity. This plant showed a zone of inhibition (ZI) ranging from 16-20 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Althaea officiinalis was recorded between 15.62-31.25 μg/mL. The antimicrobial properties were specifically linked to the flavonoid fraction of the plant. Regarding toxicity, effective plant extracts showed an erythrocyte haemolysis level of 0.93-0.7%.
The main side effects this plant can have are shown in the list below.
- erythrocyte haemolysis
What herbs are paired with Althaea officinalis?
This plant pairs most effectively with slippery elm, marshmallow root, and licorice to enhance its demulcent properties for soothing mucous membranes.
These combinations are frequently used in herbal syrups and teas to treat dry coughs and sore throats. Adding chamomile or calendula can further calm inflammation in the digestive tract or throat. When used for skin irritations, combining it with aloe vera or comfrey helps increase its cooling and healing effects.
These synergistic mixtures allow the mucilage to work more efficiently against irritation.