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Folium Plantaginis majoris
Major chemical constituents
Dried leaves contain iridoids as the main constituents: aucubin, 3,4-dihydroaucubin,
6´-O-β−glucosylaucubin, catalpol, plantarenaloside and
melittoside. Also mucilage (up to 12%); flavonoids (apigenin, baicalein,
scutellarein, baicalin, homoplantaginin, nepetrin, luteolin, hispidulin,
plantagoside); carbohydrates (l-fructose, d-glucose, planteose, saccharose,
stachyose, d-xylose, sorbitol, tyrosol, mucilage and gum); alkaloids
(boschniakine, methyl ester of boschniakinic acid); acids (benzoic, caffeic,
chlorogenic, cinnamic, p-coumaric, ferulic, fumaric, gentisic, 4-hydroxybenzoic,
neochlorogenic, salicylic, syringic, ursolic, vanillic and oleanolic);
amino acids; lipids; proteolytic enzymes; tannins (approximately 4%),
saponins; steroids; and vitamins are present (18, 22, 27, 29, 41–47, 91). The
carbohydrate component of the plantaglucide polysaccharide isolated
from leaves of P. major consists of galacturonic acid (27%) and monosaccharides:
galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose, arabinose and fucose (48).
The structures of some characteristic constituents are presented below.
Glc
Glc
HO
HO O H
O H
H
H
O
O
O
H
HO H
HO H
H H
aucubin
catalpol
HO
O
Glc = OH
HO
OH
β-D-glucopyranosyl
Medicinal uses
Uses supported by clinical data
No information was found.
Uses described in pharmacopoeias and well established documents
Plantago major is used internally for catarrh of the respiratory tract,
cough, bronchitis, inflammatory alterations of the oral mucosa, phlegm
congestion, nephritis, cystitis, urinary retention, dysentery, epistaxis
(nosebleed) and excessive diaphoresis (49, 50). It is also used for the treatment
of diarrhoea and constipation (22).
Uses described in traditional medicine
Fresh leaves of Plantago major have been used externally for centuries in
many parts of the world as an antiseptic for treatment of skin irritations,
erysipelas, abscesses, burns, scrofula and inflammatory reactions of the
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