Great Burnet

Sanguisorba officinalis · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Extensive (286 studies) · ★★★★★

Great Burnet, scientifically known as Sanguisorbia officinalis, is a perennial herb cherished in traditional herbalism for its astringent properties. Characterized by its distinctive reddish flowers, this plant contains high tannin levels, making it a potent remedy for digestive issues, skin irritations, and supporting overall mucosal health and vitality.

Family
Rosaceae
Native range
Europe
Parts used
Root
Common names
Great Burnet · Official Burnet · 3 more
Scientific synonyms
Pimpinella Officinalis · Poterium Officinale · 73 more

Names

Common Names

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Néspola
  • Pimpinela mayor
  • Nísperero del Japón
  • Sanguisorba cylindrica
  • Sanguisorba major
  • Pimpinella officinalis
  • Pempinela
  • Sanguisorba altissima
  • Hierba de la mora
  • Pempinella
  • Sanguisorba hispanica
  • Hierba de la enjarretadura
  • Jazmia
  • Sanguisorba serotina
  • Sanguisorba sabauda
  • Poterium boreale
  • Nespola
  • Nisperero del Japon
  • pimpinela mayor
  • niéspola

German:

  • Großer Wiesenknopf
  • Groß-Wiesenknopf
  • großer Wiesenknopf
  • Groß-Wiesenknopf

French:

  • Sanguisorbe officinale
  • Sanguisorba major
  • Grande pimprenelle
  • sanguisorbe
  • grande pimprenelle
  • pimprenelle officinale
  • sanguisorbe
  • sanguisorbe officinale

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sanguisorba officinalis

Synonyms

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Sanguisorbia.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Rosales WCVP
Family Rosaceae WCVP
Genus Sanguisorba WCVP

Distribution

This plant, known as Sanguisorbica officinalis, exhibits a specific presence across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland landscapes of Denmark. Its distribution also extends to the northern territories of Finland. Additionally, the species is documented within the natural habitats of Great Britain. Finally, its range encompasses the island nations of both Iceland and Ireland.

Region Area Source
Northern Europe Denmark WCVP
Northern Europe Finland WCVP
Northern Europe Great Britain WCVP
Northern Europe Iceland WCVP
Northern Europe Ireland WCVP
Northern Europe Norway WCVP
Northern Europe Sweden WCVP
Middle Europe Austria WCVP
Middle Europe Belgium WCVP
Middle Europe Czechia-Slovakia WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Sanguisorba officinalis, is highly valued in traditional medicine, particularly for its medicinal properties derived from its roots. The roots of this species contain key bioactive compounds that are harvested and processed for therapeutic use. Because the most potent pharmacological effects are concentrated within this underground structure, the roots serve as the primary component in various herbal preparations and remedies.
Plant Part Sources Consensus
root Phytochemistry (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Sanguisorba officinalis has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Sanguiin H-6, Ziyuglycoside I, ziyuglycoside II, (+)-Gallocatechin, (+)-catechin.

Chemicals reported in Sanguisorba officinalis
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Sanguiin H-6 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Ziyuglycoside I 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
ziyuglycoside II 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
(+)-Gallocatechin 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
(+)-catechin 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
19-Dehydroursolic acid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cyanidin 3-glucoside 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Ellagitannins 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
FAT 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Phenols 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Sanguiin H-6

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Ziyuglycoside I

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

ziyuglycoside II

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

(+)-Gallocatechin

  1. Dr. Duke

(+)-catechin

  1. Dr. Duke

19-Dehydroursolic acid

  1. Dr. Duke

Cyanidin 3-glucoside

  1. Dr. Duke

Ellagitannins

  1. Dr. Duke

FAT

  1. Dr. Duke

Phenols

  1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Sanguisorba officinalis has 234 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antitumor, Antiviral, Hypoglycemic.

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Consensus
Antibacterial Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Antitumor Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Antiviral Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Hypoglycemic Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Neuroprotective Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
11B-HSD-Inhibitor Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
ACE-Inhibitor Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
ATPase-Inhibitor Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Sanguisorba officinalis has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bleeding, burns, duodenal ulcers, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, atherosclerosis.

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Consensus
bleeding The Korean journal of physiology & pharmacology : official journal of the Korean Physiological Society and the Korean Society of Pharmacology (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
burns Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
duodenal ulcers The Korean journal of physiology & pharmacology : official journal of the Korean Physiological Society and the Korean Society of Pharmacology (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
atherosclerosis Planta medica (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
diarrhea Planta medica (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
leukopenia The American journal of Chinese medicine (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
vascular diseases Planta medica (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Preparations

Preparations Sources Consensus
methanol extracts Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Ethanol extract Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
MeOH extract Phytochemistry (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
ZYM-201 sodium succinate Planta medica (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
aqueous or ethanolic extracts Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
aqueous solutions of ethanolic tinctures Biology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
crude ethanolic extracts Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
crude extracts Journal of applied microbiology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
extract Yao wu shi pin fen xi = Journal of food and drug analysis (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
extracts BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆