What is Althaea officinalis?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Althaea officinalis is a plant that contains several phytochemicals, including phytosterols, flavonoids, and polysaccharides.[1][2][3][4][5] The roots, flowers, and leaves of Althaea officinalis are used in traditional herbal medicine to treat a variety of problems, including coughs and colds.[6] Cough syrups that contain Althaea officinalis extracts (e.g., Phytohustil) are available in some countries.[7][8]

    Althaea officinalis is also known as “marshmallow”,[6][9][10][5][11][12][13] but it should not be confused with its foam-like confectionery namesake. Dietary supplements derived from Althaea officinalis are sometimes called “marshmallow root” or “marshmallow leaf” and are often claimed to reduce inflammation, improve digestive health, and prevent coughs and colds.

    References

    1. ^Rani S, Khan SA, Ali MPhytochemical investigation of the seeds of Althea officinalis L.Nat Prod Res.(2010-Sep)
    2. ^Gudej JFlavonoids, Phenolic Acids and Coumarins from the Roots of Althaea officinalis.Planta Med.(1991-Jun)
    3. ^Karimi S, Ghanbarzadeh B, Roufegarinejad L, Falcone PMPolysaccharide extracted from Althaea officinalis L. root: New studies of structural, rheological and antioxidant properties.Carbohydr Res.(2021-Dec)
    4. ^Sadighara P, Gharibi S, Moghadam Jafari A, Jahed Khaniki G, Salari SThe antioxidant and Flavonoids contents of Althaea officinalis L. flowers based on their color.Avicenna J Phytomed.(2012)
    5. ^Deters A, Zippel J, Hellenbrand N, Pappai D, Possemeyer C, Hensel AAqueous extracts and polysaccharides from Marshmallow roots (Althea officinalis L.): cellular internalisation and stimulation of cell physiology of human epithelial cells in vitro.J Ethnopharmacol.(2010-Jan-08)
    6. ^Mahboubi MMarsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis L.) and Its Potency in the Treatment of Cough.Complement Med Res.(2020)
    7. ^Bonaterra GA, Schmitt J, Schneider K, Schwarzbach H, Aziz-Kalbhenn H, Kelber O, Müller J, Kinscherf RPhytohustil and root extract of L. exert anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties and improve the migratory capacity of endothelial cells .Front Pharmacol.(2022)
    8. ^Bonaterra GA, Bronischewski K, Hunold P, Schwarzbach H, Heinrich EU, Fink C, Aziz-Kalbhenn H, Müller J, Kinscherf RAnti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidative Effects of Phytohustil and Root Extract of L. on Macrophages .Front Pharmacol.(2020)
    9. ^Sendker J, Böker I, Lengers I, Brandt S, Jose J, Stark T, Hofmann T, Fink C, Abdel-Aziz H, Hensel APhytochemical Characterization of Low Molecular Weight Constituents from Marshmallow Roots (Althaea officinalis) and Inhibiting Effects of the Aqueous Extract on Human Hyaluronidase-1.J Nat Prod.(2017-Feb-24)
    10. ^Curnow A, Owen SJAn Evaluation of Root Phytochemicals Derived from Althea officinalis (Marshmallow) and Astragalus membranaceus as Potential Natural Components of UV Protecting Dermatological Formulations.Oxid Med Cell Longev.(2016)
    11. ^Zaghlool SS, Shehata BA, Abo-Seif AA, Abd El-Latif HAProtective effects of ginger and marshmallow extracts on indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer in rats.J Nat Sci Biol Med.(2015)
    12. ^Vahedeh Naseri, Zahra Chavoshzadeh, Azadeh Mizani, Babak Daneshfard, Farzaneh Ghaffari, Mahdi Abbas-Mohammadi, Latif Gachkar, Mohammad Kamalinejad, Razieh Jafari Hajati, Zahra Bahaeddin, Soghrat Faghihzadeh, Mohsen NaseriEffect of topical marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) on atopic dermatitis in children: A pilot double-blind active-controlled clinical trial of an in-silico-analyzed phytomedicinePhytother Res.(2020 Oct 9)
    13. ^Popovych V, Koshel I, Malofiichuk A, Pyletska L, Semeniuk A, Filippova O, Orlovska RA randomized, open-label, multicenter, comparative study of therapeutic efficacy, safety and tolerability of BNO 1030 extract, containing marshmallow root, chamomile flowers, horsetail herb, walnut leaves, yarrow herb, oak bark, dandelion herb in the treatment of acute non-bacterial tonsillitis in children aged 6 to 18 years.Am J Otolaryngol.(2019)