Ballota nigra
Black horehound
Ballota nigra, commonly known as black horehound, is a perennial medicinal herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Renowned for its distinctive dark leaves and grayish flowers, it has historically been used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments, coughs, and digestive issues, offering valuable therapeutic properties in herbalism.
- Scientific name: Ballota nigra
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Ballota, with the species name nigra.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ballota | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Ballota nigra, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Poland, it is referred to as Mierznica czarna, while in Russia, it is called белокудренник чёрный. In Hebrew, the plant is known as גלונית מבאישה, and in Catalonia, it goes by the name malrubí negre. Finally, in Finland, it is commonly called tummaporro.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Mierznica czarna | Wikidata |
| ru | белокудренник чёрный | Wikidata |
| he | גלונית מבאישה | Wikidata |
| ca | malrubí negre | Wikidata |
| fi | tummaporro | Wikidata |
| hu | fekete peszterce | Wikidata |
| uk | м'яточник чорний | Wikidata |
| de | Schwarznessel | Wikidata |
| hsb | Čorna měrnica | Wikidata |
| nl | echte ballote | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. It can also be found further north within the borders of Sweden. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is established in Belgium. Additionally, its range extends through the central territories of Czechia and Slovakia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as black horehound, possesses various components that are utilized for its medicinal properties. The most frequently used elements are the leaves, which contain the essential oils and bitter compounds necessary for therapeutic use. Additionally, the flowered aerial parts are often harvested to ensure a high concentration of active constituents during the plant's reproductive stage. Overall, the entire aerial parts of Ballota nigra are valued in traditional herbalism, as they encompass all the above-ground structures required for effective preparation.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowered aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Ballota nigra has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ballotetroside, arenarioside, forsythoside B, verbascoside, 13-hydroxyballonigrinolide.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ballotetroside | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| arenarioside | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| forsythoside B | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| verbascoside | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 13-hydroxyballonigrinolide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caffeoyl-L-malic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Ballota nigra has 3 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Neurosedative, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Neurosedative | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ballota nigra has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Candida albicans, anxiety, atherogenesis, depression.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anxiety | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atherogenesis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| depression | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |