Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Perennial in the Lamiaceae family. Recorded native range: Temperate and subtropical Northern Hemisphere to Central America. The listed pharmacopoeial material is fruiting spike.
Also known as: No synonyms listed.
Check the species, plant part and complete botanical name together. A photograph alone cannot identify a harvest safely for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Pharmacopoeial material: fruiting spike
The fruiting spike of Prunella vulgaris is the listed material. A vernacular name linking it to comfrey does not make it a Symphytum species. This notice infers no therapeutic indication.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the sourcePolyphenol fraction: experimental effects
Effects on lipid oxidation, some cells and inflammatory-mediator production were measured. The concentrated fraction is not tea; these experiments validate no clinical indication.
Laboratory or animal observation. A human benefit cannot be inferred from this finding alone.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
Contraindications & precautions
- Insufficient dataThis targeted audit does not provide a comprehensive contraindication review; this does not mean contraindications are absent.
Medicine interactions
- Insufficient dataThis dossier cannot establish compatibility with medication. A limited study does not replace an interaction review of the exact product.
Other retained warnings · review incomplete
These existing warnings remain relevant to consult. Their exhaustive reassessment is outside this targeted review.
Restrictions and precautions
- This botanical dossier does not establish medicinal-use safety. Anyone with a medical condition or taking medicine needs professional assessment of the specific product.
Medicine interactions
- Interactions have not been sufficiently assessed in the sources retained for this notice; an incomplete assessment guarantees no compatibility.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children
No medicinal use is offered during pregnancy or breastfeeding; this dossier cannot establish safety in these situations.
No paediatric preparation or dose is offered in this notice.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- This notice does not provide a complete adverse-effect assessment. Historical use alone cannot exclude toxicity.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
No medicinal use is offered during pregnancy or breastfeeding; this dossier cannot establish safety in these situations.
Children & adolescents
No paediatric preparation or dose is offered in this notice.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Forms & how they are used
DOCUMENTED FORMS
One plant, several preparations.
Only forms documented in this profile’s sources are presented.
Studied preparation — documentary referencePart not explicit in the abstract reviewed; do not infer it from the inventory. · Route: not recommended for self-treatment
Organic fraction of Prunella vulgaris extract rich in rosmarinic acid.
Please note: Research description only; no self-treatment dose, recipe or duration is offered.
Read the sourceAvailable evidence
EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE
The available evidence.
This reference concerns a defined preparation of Prunella vulgaris L.. The result is experimental: a compound, an extract and a whole plant differ, as do a laboratory assay and a human benefit.
Constituents to know.
Their presence and quantity depend on the plant part and preparation.
- Rosmarinic acid
- The studied organic fraction was rich in it; this does not describe every tea.Read the reference
Polyphenol fraction: experimental effects
Positive results across biological assays help form a hypothesis; they do not prove efficacy in a disease.
Laboratory or animal observation. A human benefit cannot be inferred from this finding alone.
Read the referenceLimitations to keep in mind.
Positive results across biological assays help form a hypothesis; they do not prove efficacy in a disease.
Studies, findings & limitations
THE RESEARCH
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Polyphenol fraction: experimental effects — 2003
Laboratory or animal observation. A human benefit cannot be inferred from this finding alone.
- Type of research
- Biochemical assays and cell or tissue models, including animal-derived systems.
- Preparation concerned
- Organic fraction of Prunella vulgaris extract rich in rosmarinic acid.
- Observed results
- Effects on lipid oxidation, some cells and inflammatory-mediator production were measured.
- Limitations to consider
- The concentrated fraction is not tea; these experiments validate no clinical indication.
What can we take from this?
The concentrated fraction is not tea; these experiments validate no clinical indication. Interactions, pregnancy and long-term use require separate assessment.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- ANSM — French Pharmacopoeia, List A, January 2026, p. 8Accessed on 09/10/2026
- Kew POWO — Prunella vulgaris L.Accessed on 09/10/2026
- Psotová J et al. (2003) — Biological activities of Prunella vulgaris extractAccessed on 09/10/2026
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