horehound

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• common horehound
• horehound
• white horehound
• Common Hoarhound
• Hoarhound
• Marvel
• Whitehoarhound

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Marrubium vulgare var. caucasicum
• Marrubium vulgare var. microphyllum
• Marrubium hyperleucum var. comosum
• Marrubium vaillantii
• Marrubium hyperleucum var. brevidens
• Marrubium vulgare var. lanatum
• Marrubium ballotoides
• Marrubium vulgare var. apulum
• Marrubium apulum
• Marrubium vulgare var. oligodon
• Marrubium hamatum
• Marrubium hyperleucum
• Marrubium vulgare subsp. apulum
• Marrubium vulgare var. vaillantii
• Marrubium vulgare var. gossypinum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae, it is classified under the genus Marrubium. Consequently, its specific scientific name is Marrubium vulgare.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark, Great Britain, and Ireland. It can also be found extending further north into Sweden. Additionally, the species is located within Middle Europe, specifically in Austria. These locations highlight its preference for temperate European climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Marrubium vulgare is characterized by a broad adaptability to various environmental conditions, spanning a significant altitudinal gradient from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to high-altitude environments reaching 4000 m AMSL. This species demonstrates a notable affinity for anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópicamente), often colonizing habitats disturbed or created by human activity, such as roadsides, pastures, and cultivated lands. Its ability to thrive across such a vast elevational range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing it to persist in diverse climatic zones ranging from lowland coastal regions to montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

4000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Marrubium vulgare are characterized by a degree of chromosomal variation that suggests complex evolutionary processes, such as polyploidy or hybridization. Specifically, the species exhibits distinct chromosome numbers, with documented values of 34 and 36. This variation in the diploid number indicates a level of genomic plasticity within the species, which may contribute to its ability to adapt to diverse ecological niches. Such chromosomal fluctuations are significant markers in understanding the cytogenetic structure and the evolutionary lineage of this medicinal plant.

Chromosome number :

34, 36

Life history

The life history of Marrubium vulgare is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. Its growth habit is categorized under two distinct life forms, functioning as both a hemicryptophyte and a chamaephyte, which dictates its survival strategy where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its structural integrity and photosynthetic capabilities are preserved across varying environmental conditions.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Marrubium vulgare is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. It is a terrestrial species that maintains a self-supporting structure, exhibiting an erect shoot orientation without the need to climb as a liana or vine. The plant's stature is relatively modest, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 1 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.4125 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.4125 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Marrubium vulgare is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. The plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability. Its vegetative morphology is defined by elliptic leaf forms that exhibit significant dimensional variability; leaf length ranges from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, while leaf width fluctuates between 0.8 cm and 4 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 2.8 cm. The average leaf size is recorded at 7.31 cm², and the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 142 cm²/g, reflecting its specific leaf mass distribution and resource acquisition strategy.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

7.31 cm²

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.8 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

142 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Marrubium vulgare is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in August, though the timing can be variable. The plant produces white flowers that measure between 0.5 cm and 0.7 cm in length. Its pollination syndrome is biotic, specifically relying on insects, with bees acting as a primary pollinator. The plant is capable of self-fertilization. Following pollination, the fruit develops with a mean length of 0.3 cm (reaching a maximum of 0.2 cm) and contains a high volume of seeds, often exceeding 1,000 seeds per fruit. These seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.000936579 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00046 g to a maximum of 0.00178 g. Dispersal is categorized as unspecialized, though it also exhibits anthropochorous tendencies, meaning it can be dispersed by human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

0.7 cm

Flower length min:

0.5 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.2 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00178 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000936579 g

Seed mass min:

0.00046 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Marrubium vulgare has 4 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, root, stem.

Leaf

1. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Flower

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Stem

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Marrubium vulgare has 90 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Marrubiin, Flavonoids, CHLOROGENIC ACID, polyphenols, 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene.

Marrubiin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. The Biochemical journal
4. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
5. BMC plant biology

Flavonoids

1. Fitoterapia
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. PloS one
4. Natural product research

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

polyphenols

1. Fitoterapia
2. PloS one
3. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene

1. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
2. BMC plant biology

Forsythoside B

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Saponins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

marrubenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Marrubium vulgare has 478 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Hypolipidemic, Nephrotoxic, Anthelmintic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Life sciences
3. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Pharmaceutical biology

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Farmaco (Societa chimica italiana : 1989)
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Nephrotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Case reports in nephrology
3. Current drug metabolism

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Marrubium vulgare has 44 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, Acute Kidney Injury.

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Diabetes mellitus

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Therapie
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Cardiovascular diseases

1. BMC plant biology
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Acute kidney injury

1. Case reports in nephrology

Alzheimer's disease

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Bacillus subtilis

1. Journal of microbiological methods

Escherichia coli

1. Journal of microbiological methods

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Journal of microbiological methods

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Journal of microbiological methods

Preparations

Marrubium vulgare has 22 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanolic extracts, Aqueous extracts, Crude extracts of the aerial parts, Extracts, Methanol Extracts.

Methanolic extracts

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Acta tropica

Aqueous extracts

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Crude extracts of the aerial parts

1. Planta medica

Extracts

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanol extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Aqueous extract

1. Fitoterapia

Aqueous extract from aerial part infusion

1. Fitoterapia

Essential oil

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanolic extract

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Extract

1. Therapie