horehound
Marrubium vulgare · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (722 studies) · ★★★★★
Horehound, scientifically known as Marrubium vulgare, is a perennial herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Renowned for its aromatic foliage, this plant has long been utilized in traditional medicine as a potent expectorant. It is primarily valued for treating respiratory ailments, soothing coughs, and supporting overall bronchial health.
Names
Common Names
- common horehound
- horehound
- white horehound
- Common Hoarhound
- Hoarhound
- Marvel
- Whitehoarhound
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Malrrubio
- Marubio
- Murrion
- Pelusilla
- Marrubio cano
- Manroyo
- Marrullo
- Murrión
- Marrubio común
- Hierba cuyana
- Juanrubio
- Juan rubio
- Marrubio comun
- marrubio común
- Marrubio de monte
German:
- Gewöhnlicher Andorn
- Weißer Andorn
- Dorant
- Gemeiner Andorn
- Helfkraut
- Weißer Dorant
- Andorn
- Andorn
- Gewöhnlicher Andorn
- Gemeiner Andorn
- Gewöhnliche Andorn
French:
- Marrube blanc
- Marube
- marrube
- marrube
- marrube blanc
- marrube commun
- marrube vulgaire
- Marrube commune
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Marrubium vulgareSynonyms
- 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
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Marrubium | 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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as white horehound, is a perennial herb where the entire plant can be utilized for various therapeutic purposes. Most medicinal applications focus on the aerial parts, which include the stems and flowers, but the most significant component is the leaves. These leaves are rich in bioactive compounds and contain specific essential oils that contribute to the plant's characteristic aroma and pharmacological potency. While the roots may also be harvested, the concentrated therapeutic value is most frequently derived from the foliage and the aromatic essences extracted from the above-ground structures.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower | Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
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.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Marrubiin | 10 supporting sources | ★★★★★ |
| Flavonoids | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| CHLOROGENIC ACID | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Forsythoside B | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Saponins | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| marrubenol | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALPHA-PINENE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Marrubiin
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
- The Biochemical journal
- The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
- BMC plant biology
View 5 additional sources
- Farmaco (Societa chimica italiana : 1989)
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Pharmaceutical biology
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Flavonoids
- Fitoterapia
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
- PloS one
- Natural product research
CHLOROGENIC ACID
- Dr. Duke
- International journal of molecular sciences
- Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
polyphenols
- Fitoterapia
- PloS one
- Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene
- The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
- BMC plant biology
Forsythoside B
- International journal of molecular sciences
- Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
Saponins
- Dr. Duke
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
marrubenol
- Dr. Duke
- Planta medica
quercetin
- Dr. Duke
- Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
ALPHA-PINENE
- 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.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Hypolipidemic | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Nephrotoxic | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperlipidemic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Marrubium vulgare has 44 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, Acute Kidney Injury.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cardiovascular diseases | BMC plant biology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal disorders | Journal of medicinal food (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acute Kidney Injury | Case reports in nephrology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus subtilis | Journal of microbiological methods (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | Journal of microbiological methods (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Journal of microbiological methods (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Journal of microbiological methods (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| methanolic extracts | Journal of medicinal food (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aqueous extracts | Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Crude extracts of the aerial parts | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts | Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Methanol Extracts | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract from aerial part infusion | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| essential oil | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic extract | Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extract | Therapie (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |