Desert indianwheat
Plantago ovata · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (407 studies) · ★★★★★
Desert indianwheat, scientifically known as Plantago ovata, is a resilient perennial herb native to North America. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, this plant has been used traditionally to treat inflammation, respiratory ailments, and skin irritations. Its nutritional density and medicinal versatility make it a significant subject in ethnobotany.
Names
Common Names
- Blond Plantain
- Indian plantago
- Indian plantain
- blond psyllium
- blonde ispaghula
- ispaghul
- ispaghula
- psyllium
- spogel seeds
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Llanten indio
- Plantago gooddingii
- Plantago insularis var. fastigiata
- Plantago insularis var fastigiata
- Plantago insularis var. scariosa
- Isphagula
- Plantago insularis
- Plantago brunnea
- Plantago minima
- Llantén indio
- Plantago fastigiata
- Plantago insularis var scariosa
German:
- Flohsamen
- Psyllium
- Indischer Flohsamen
- indischer Flohsame
French:
- Ispaghul
- Plantain des indes
- Psyllium
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Plantago ovataSynonyms
- Plantago ovata var. fastigiata
- Plantago ovata var. insularis
- Plantago decumbens var. viridis
- Plantago trichophylla
- Plantago ovata f. linearifolia
- Plantago insularis var. scariosa
- Plantago ovata var. linearifolia
- Plantago insularis var. fastigiata
- Plantago ovata var. decumbens
- Plantago fastigiata var. brunnea
- Plantago brunnea
- Plantago scariosa
- Plantago ispaghul
- Plantago gooddingii
- Plantago decumbens
- Plantago declinata
- Plantago fastigiata
- Plantago insularis
- Plantago ovatifolia
- Plantago monspeliensis
- Plantago mauritii
- Plantago leiocephala
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Plantago ovata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Lamiales. Ultimately, it is a member of the family Plantaginaceae and the genus Plantago.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Plantaginaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Plantago | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several different regions. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within Germany. Its range extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically throughout Spain. Additionally, it is well-established across Northern Africa in Algeria. Finally, the species is also documented in the North African nations of Libya and Egypt.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Morocco | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Tunisia | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Western Sahara | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Madeira | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Plantago ovata, is primarily valued for its unique botanical components used in traditional and modern medicine. The most significant part utilized is the seed, which is harvested in large quantities to produce a powerful natural laxative. When these seeds are processed, the outer layer is often separated to create the seed husk, a substance rich in mucilage. In many therapeutic applications, the entire seeds/husks are consumed to provide dietary fiber, though many preparations focus specifically on the finely ground seed-husk to ensure ease of ingestion and optimal hydration in the digestive tract.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| seed | Cytogenetic and genome research (and other 16 sources) | ★★★★★ |
| leaf | Protoplasma (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Plantago ovata has 86 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include PSYLLIUM, xylose, (+)-Boschniakine, (+)-Boschniakinic acid, (-)-L-Asparagine.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| PSYLLIUM | 6 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| xylose | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-Boschniakine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-Boschniakinic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-L-Asparagine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2,6-Diaminopimelic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aucubin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BETA-SITOSTEROL | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Behenic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CAMPESTEROL | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
PSYLLIUM
- Allergy
- The British journal of nutrition
- 3 Biotech
- Medicina clinica
- The American journal of clinical nutrition
View 1 additional sources
- The American journal of gastroenterology
xylose
- Dr. Duke
- 3 Biotech
(+)-Boschniakine
- Dr. Duke
(+)-Boschniakinic acid
- Dr. Duke
(-)-L-Asparagine
- Dr. Duke
2,6-Diaminopimelic acid
- The British journal of nutrition
Aucubin
- Dr. Duke
BETA-SITOSTEROL
- Dr. Duke
Behenic acid
- Dr. Duke
CAMPESTEROL
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Plantago ovata has 227 reported activities identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Laxative, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Laxative | Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Pharmaceutics (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Demulcent | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acetylcholinergic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Plantago ovata has 24 reported medicinal uses identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, laxative, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| constipation | Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| irritable bowel syndrome | Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| laxative | Saudi journal of biological sciences (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal disorders | Acta bio-medica de L'Ateneo parmense : organo della Societa di medicina e scienze naturali di Parma (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ulcerative colitis | The American journal of gastroenterology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| LDL cholesterol | International journal of biological macromolecules (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Type 2 Diabetes | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| angina pectoris | Angiology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blood glucose | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| seed husk | Cytogenetic and genome research (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| psyllium | Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 20 g granules with 200 ml water | International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 40 °C extract | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 80 °C extract | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MeJA seed priming technique | Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plantago ovata husk | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Psyllium (Isabgol) | 3 Biotech (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract of Plantago ovata (PO) | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic and methanolic extracts | Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |