mullein
Verbascum thapsus · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (593 studies) · ★★★★★
Mullein, scientifically known as Verbascum thapsus, is a versatile perennial herb celebrated in traditional herbalism. Renowned for its soft, velvety leaves, it is primarily utilized to support respiratory health. From soothing coughs to easing congestion, this resilient plant offers significant therapeutic potential for holistic wellness and lung support.
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Seed
- Common names
- Common Mullein · Flannel Mullein · 20 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names
Common Names
- common mullein
- flannel mullein
- great mullein
- Aaron's-rod
- blanketweed
- flannelleaf
- flannelplant
- grey mullein
- hag taper
- mullein
- torches
- velvet-dock
- velvetplant
- wild tobacco
- Aaron's rod
- Charmin of the woods
- Wooly Mullein
- camper's helper
- cowboy's toilet paper
- fisherman's friend
- toilet paper plant
- woolly mullein
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Matapezes
- Verbascum schraderi
- Gordolobo blanco macho
- Candela regia
- Rabasco
- Verbascum bicolle
- Verbascum angustius
- Verbascum indicum
- Verbascum alatum
- Verbascum mas
- Verdelobo
- Guardilobo
- Verbascum neglectum
- Verbascum lanatum
- Pencas de verdelobo
- Verbascum tapsus
- gordolobo
- candelera
- anagálide acuática
- verbasco
- palo
- friegaplatos
- acerones
- barbasco
- barbasco grande
- casamo
- engordalobo
- engordolobo
- orejas de lobo
- tripo
- turciburci
- yerba de paño
- gordolobo común
- gordolobo macho
- guardalobo
- guardalobos
- guardolobo
- guardolobos
- hopo de zorra
- jopo de zorra
- moñigas de lobo
- oreja de lobo
- gordolobo común
- guardalobo
- Hierba del Paño
- Gordolobo
German:
- Kleinblütige Königskerze
- Brennkraut
- Fackelkraut
- Frauenkerze
- Feldkerze
- Echte Königskerze
- Kleinblütiges Wollkraut
- Wollblume
- Marienkerze
- Wundblume
- Himmelsbrand
- Wetterkerze
- Wollkraut
- Fackelblume
- Himmelkerze
- Löwenfackel
- cierge de Notre-Dame
- Artengruppe Kleinblütige Königskerze
- Kleinblütige Königskerze
- Kleinbluetige Koenigskerze
French:
- Molène Bouillon-blanc
- Grande molène
- Herbe de saint Fiacre
- Bouillon-blanc
- Molène thapsus
- Cierge de Notre-Dame
- Molene thapsus
- bouillon blanc à petites fleurs
- bonhomme
- bouillon blanc
- bouillon-blanc
- grande molène
- molène bouillon-blanc
- molène vulgaire
- tabac du diable
- molène
- Molène thapsus
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Verbascum thapsusTaxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is a member of the family Scrophulariaceae. It is specifically classified under the genus Verbascum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Scrophulariaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Verbascum | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across various regions of Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Denmark. Its presence is also well-documented throughout the territories of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, the species is commonly observed across the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. These locations highlight its ability to thrive within the Northern European climate.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | 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 |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as mullein, utilizes various components for its traditional medicinal applications. The seeds are often collected and can be used in specific herbal preparations, while the aerial parts, which include the leaves and flowering stalks, are the most frequently utilized portions for infusions and teas.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| seed | Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Verbascum thapsus has 72 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, Flavonoids, Verbascoside, 2-HEXENE, ALUMINUM.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Saponins | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Verbascoside | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-HEXENE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALUMINUM | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ARABINOGALACTAN | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ajugol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Arachidic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ash | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aucubin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Saponins
- Dr. Duke
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- Medicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates))
Flavonoids
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- Medicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates))
Verbascoside
- Dr. Duke
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
2-HEXENE
- Medicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates))
ALUMINUM
- Dr. Duke
ARABINOGALACTAN
- Dr. Duke
Ajugol
- Dr. Duke
Arachidic acid
- Dr. Duke
Ash
- Dr. Duke
Aucubin
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Verbascum thapsus has 474 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, (+)-Inotropic, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antiinflammatory | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-Inotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Chronotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Inotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AP-1-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acaricide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Verbascum thapsus has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, migraine headaches, anti-allergic, colon, diarrhea.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| asthma | Natural product communications (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| migraine headaches | Natural product communications (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anti-allergic | Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colon | Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| earache | Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatoma | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| otalgia | Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| prostate | Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pulmonary diseases | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Aqueous extracts | The West Indian medical journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Methanolic extracts | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alcoholic extracts | Revista latinoamericana de microbiologia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol extract | Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic extract | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |