Potentillae anserinae herba

Potentillae anserinae herba, also known as cinquefoil, is a drug monographed by the DAC and Commission E, which is used in herbal medicinal products for the treatment of mild mucosal inflammation, dysmenorrhea and diarrhea, among other things.

HMPC: not processed;

not classified as a traditional medicinal product according to § 39a AMG.

ESCOP: not processed

Commission E Monograph: Internal: mild dysmenorrheal complaints, mild, non-specific, acute diarrhea; external: mild inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa

Goose cinquefoil contains 5 to 10 % tannins, of which mainly ellagitannins, flavonoids (3-O-beta-glucuronoids of kaemperol, quercetin, myricetin and isorhamnetin), tormentoside, anthocyanins and phytosterols.

Potentillae anserinae herba acts as an astringent tanning drug and increases tone and the contraction frequency increase in the isolated uterus (proven in animal experiments).

Goose cinquefoil is used for mild dysmenorrheic complaints, non-specific and acute diarrhoea and mild inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.

The extract listed under the INCI name Potentilla anserina extract is used in cosmetic formulations. The extract has astringent and anti-inflammatory effects.

The usual daily dose of the drug is between 4 and 6 g.

In the case of irritable stomach complaints, these can be aggravated by taking goose cinquefoil.

There are no known contraindications.

There are no known interactions with other active ingredients.

Compared to other tanning drugs, cinquefoil has a rather weak astringent effect.

1. Guo T et al.(2016) Antitussive and expectorant activities of Potentilla anserina. Pharm Biol 54:807-811.
2. Hermann PT et al. (2014) Hunnius Pharmaceutical Dictionary, 11th edition, De Gruyter Verlag Berlin/Boston p. 1447.
3. Morikawa T et al.(2014) Hepatoprotective triterpenes from traditional Tibetan medicine Potentilla anserina. Phytochemistry 102:169-181.
4. Paduch R et al.(2015) Aqueous Extracts of Selected Potentilla Species Modulate Biological Activity of Human Normal Colon Cells. Curr Drug Targets 16:1495-1502.
5. Schilcher H (2016) Leitfaden Phytotherapie, Urban & Fischer Verlag Munich, p. 133 f.
6. Xu JF et al.(2010) Flavonol glycosides andmonoterpenoids from Potentilla anserina. J Asian Nat Prod Res 12:529-534.
7. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/gaensefingerkraut.php.
8. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 110-111