plantain
Plantago · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Sparse (62 studies) · ★★☆☆☆
Plantain, scientifically known as Plantago, is a versatile medicinal herb widely recognized for its healing properties. Often found in lawns and meadows, this resilient plant contains bioactive compounds that offer anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing benefits. It is traditionally used topically to soothe stings, scrapes, and minor skin irritations.
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Seed · Leaf
- Common names
- Plantain · Plantains
- Scientific synonyms
- Bougueria · Asterogeum · 1 more
Names and Synonyms
Common Names
- plantain
- plantains
Scientific Names
Accepted name
PlantagoSynonyms
- Bougueria
- Asterogeum
- Psyllium
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Llantenes
German:
- Wegeriche
- Wegerich
- Wegerich
- Wegeriche
French:
- plantain
Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Plantaginaceae and falls under the genus Plantago.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Family | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus | Plantago |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its distribution also extends to the island territories of the Førøyars. Furthermore, the plant is well-established throughout Great Britain. Finally, its geographical reach includes the unique environment of Iceland.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark |
| Northern Europe | Finland |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain |
| Northern Europe | Iceland |
| Northern Europe | Ireland |
| Northern Europe | Norway |
| Northern Europe | Sweden |
| Middle Europe | Austria |
| Middle Europe | Belgium |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Plant Parts
Plantago has 2 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, leaf.
| Plant part | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | 5 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Leaf | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
Seed
- Food chemistry: X
- The American journal of clinical nutrition
- Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets
- Acta bio-medica de L'Ateneo parmense : organo della Societa di medicina e scienze naturali di Parma
- The American journal of gastroenterology
Leaf
- Food chemistry: X
- The Biochemical journal
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Chemicals
Plantago has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aucubin, Catalpol, Arborescoside, Arborescosidic acid, Bartsioside.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Aucubin | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Catalpol | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Arborescoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Arborescosidic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bartsioside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CHLOROGENIC ACID | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Caryoptoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Deoxyloganic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Linalool | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Loganin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Aucubin
- The Biochemical journal
- Phytochemistry
- The American journal of Chinese medicine
Catalpol
- The Biochemical journal
- Phytochemistry
- Electrophoresis
Arborescoside
- Phytochemistry
Arborescosidic acid
- Phytochemistry
Bartsioside
- Phytochemistry
CHLOROGENIC ACID
- The American journal of Chinese medicine
Caryoptoside
- Phytochemistry
Deoxyloganic acid
- Phytochemistry
Linalool
- The American journal of Chinese medicine
Loganin
- Electrophoresis
Activities
Plantago has 7 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Diuretic, Hypoglycemic.
| Activity | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypotensive | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Prebiotic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Antibacterial
- Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
Antiinflammatory
- Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
Antioxidant
- Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
Diuretic
- Journal of separation science
Hypoglycemic
- Journal of separation science
Hypotensive
- Journal of separation science
Prebiotic
- Food chemistry: X
Conditions
Plantago has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include appetite, diuretic, hypoglycemic, hypoglycemic effect, leukemia.
| Condition | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Appetite | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic effect | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leukemia | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Lymphoma | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Strains | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ulcerative colitis | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Wound healing | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Appetite
- Complementary therapies in medicine
Diuretic
- Journal of separation science
Hypoglycemic
- Journal of separation science
Hypoglycemic effect
- Food chemistry: X
Leukemia
- The American journal of Chinese medicine
Lymphoma
- The American journal of Chinese medicine
Strains
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Ulcerative colitis
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Wound healing
- Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
Preparations
Plantago has 22 reported preparations identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Mixing psyllium with the cereal, Plantago extract, Plantago pollen extracts, Psyllium colloid, RTE cereal.
| Preparation | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Mixing psyllium with the cereal | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plantago extract | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plantago pollen extracts | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Psyllium colloid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Rte cereal | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Balms | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bulk laxatives | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Capsules | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dietary fibre treatments | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fibre | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Mixing psyllium with the cereal
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition
Plantago extract
- Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology
Plantago pollen extracts
- Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology
Psyllium colloid
- Acta hepato-gastroenterologica
Rte cereal
- Artery
Balms
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Bulk laxatives
- Annals of allergy
Capsules
- Digestion
Dietary fibre treatments
- The British journal of nutrition
Fibre
- Frontiers in pharmacology