Greater burdock

Biennial or perennial plant. It can grow to a height of up to two metres. Its leaves are alternate, cordiform, downy on the underside, with long petioles. It flowers during the months of July and August. Its purplish-coloured flowers are grouped into clusters of spherical capitula. They are surrounded by an involucre, formed of numerous bracts with curved tips forming hooks that facilitate their dissemination by animals (zoochory). The root of greater burdock is edible. It is a relatively long (up to 50 cm) fleshy taproot. The fruits are long, compressed achenes with a short pappus.

Latin name

Arctium lappa L.

Origin

Species originating in the temperate regions of the old world: Europe (from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and the British Isles to Russia), Near East Asia to China and Japan, as well as the Indian subcontinent.

Used part

The root.

Active components

Phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid): have an antioxidant and detoxifying effect.

Lignans: contribute to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.

Usage

In the Middle Ages, burdock root was eaten as a vegetable: the young roots were eaten raw, the older roots were cooked first. The plant was also used in medicine for skin diseases and upper respiratory tract infections. It was also used to purify the blood and as a hair tonic. Its traditional use to combat skin problems skin continues to this day. Thanks to its inflammatory action, it is beneficial to the skin's health. _1-7 Moreover, it supports the body's elimination systems. _6-9

Bibliographical references

Anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of butanol extract from Arctium Lappa L.
Sohn EH, Jang SA, Joo H, Park S, Kang SC, Lee CH, Kim SY.
Clin Mol Allergy. 2011 Feb 8;9(1):4.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21303540
In vitro anti-inflammatory effects of arctigenin, a lignan from Arctium lappa L., through inhibition on iNOS pathway.
Zhao F, Wang L, Liu K.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Apr 21;122(3):457-62.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19429312
In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Allergic Effects of Arctium lappa L.
Karen Knipping*,1, Elisabeth C. A. M. van Esch*, Selva C. Wijering*, Sicco van der Heide†, Anthony E. Dubois† and Johan Garssen*
Exp Biol Med November 2008 vol. 233 no. 11 1469-1477
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18703753
Lignans from Arctium lappa and their inhibition of LPS-induced nitric oxide production.
Park SY, Hong SS, Han XH, Hwang JS, Lee D, Ro JS, Hwang BY.
Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2007 Jan;55(1):150-2.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17202721
Anti-inflammatory and radical scavenge effects of Arctium lappa.
Lin CC, Lu JM, Yang JJ, Chuang SC, Ujiie T.
Am J Chin Med. 1996;24(2):127-37.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8874669
A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock).
Chan YS, Cheng LN, Wu JH, Chan E, Kwan YW, Lee SM, Leung GP, Yu PH, Chan SW.
Inflammopharmacology. 2011 Oct;19(5):245-54.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20981575
Community herbal monograph on Arctium lappa L., radix
Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC)
EMA/HMPC/246763/2009 Corr.11 16 September 2010
European Medicines Agency: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Herbal_-_Community_herbal_monograph/2011/01/WC500100388.pdf
Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa Linne on liver injuries induced by chronic ethanol consumption and potentiated by carbon tetrachloride.
Lin SC, Lin CH, Lin CC, Lin YH, Chen CF, Chen IC, Wang LY.
J Biomed Sci. 2002 Sep-Oct;9(5):401-9.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12218354
Hepatoprotective Effects of Arctium Lappa on Carbon Tetrachloride- and Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Damage
Song-chow Lin, Tsao-chuen Chung, Chun-ching Lin, Tzuu-Huei Ueng, Yun-ho Lin, Shuw-yuan Lin, Li-ya Wang
Am. J. Chin. Med. 28, 163 (2000).
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10999435

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