Plantaginis lanceolatae herba

Plantaginis lanceolatae herba is the medically used, officinal ribwort herb (DAB, Commission E monograph). Plantaginis lanceolatae herba is collected at flowering time. It consists of dried, whole or divided leaves, also from flower stems and parts of the stem.

Plantaginis lanceolatae herba contains up to 2.5% aucubin, catapol, tannins, flavonoids, about 7% tanning agents, phenyl carboxylic acids (caffeic acid), 1% silicic acid (silicon), acetoside and mucilage.

Irritant, antibacterial (effect of the glycoside aucubin which is split into glucose and aucubigenin, the actual antibiotically active ingredient), antiphlogistic (acetoside), astringent, anti-edematous.

Internal: Main application areas are diseases of the respiratory tract, inflammatory diseases of the mouth and throat
External: Skin injuries, insect bites

Internal: Ribwort tea or tea blends with ribwort, syrup or juice of ribwort.
Preparation: Pour 150ml of hot water over 3g of cabbage and strain after 10min. Dosage: 2- 3 cups per day. The average TD for internal use in adults is 4-6g of ribwort herb.
Ribwort extracts are mainly offered in cough syrups and syrups, often in combinations

Due to missing data an internal application should not be used.

No internal use in children <3 years,

The proof of antibiotic efficacy of Plantaginis lanceolatae herba requires further investigations.

1. Gonda S et al (2013) Determination of phenylethanoid glycosides and iridoid glycosides from therapeutically used Plantago species by CE-MEKC. Electrophoresis 34:2577-2584.
2. Wiesenauer M (2008) PhytoPraxis. Springer Medicine Publisher Heidelberg S 116-117