Bogbean

At a glance

Origin / distribution: US, France, Turkey, Spain, Canada(Kwakiutl), China, Europe, US(DC)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Apertif, Bitter-Principle, Cancer(Skin), Cathartic

Science studied: ASCORBIC-ACID, BENZYL-ALCOHOL, BETULINIC-ACID, CAFFEIC-ACID

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Menyanthaceae

Scientific name: Menyanthes trifoliata

Common names: Bogbean, Buckbean, Bog Myrtle, Marsh Clover, Marsh Trefoil, Water Trefoil, Almindelig Bukkeblad, Bearnán lachan, Bitterklee, Bobrek trójlistkowy, Bogbean (EN), Bukkeblad, FAVA-DE-ÁGUA, Ffa'r Corsydd, Ffa'r Gors, Ffa'r Gors Teirdalen, Ffaen y Gors, Ffaen y Gors Teirdalen

POWO: 50970102-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in US, Elsewhere, France, Turkey, Spain, Canada(Kwakiutl), China, Europe and 2 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Apertif
• Bitter-Principle
• Cancer(Skin)
• Cathartic
• Cholagogue
• Deobstruent
• Depurative
• Diaphoretic

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• US
• Elsewhere
• France
• Turkey
• Spain
• Canada(Kwakiutl)
• China
• Europe
• US(DC)
• Scandinavia

Documented cultural uses

• Apertif
• Bitter-Principle
• Cancer(Skin)
• Cathartic
• Cholagogue
• Deobstruent
• Depurative
• Diaphoretic
• Diuretic
• Dropsy
• Dyspepsia
• Emetic

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Apertif · US · "
• Bitter-Principle · Elsewhere · "
• Cancer(Skin) · France · "
• Cathartic · Turkey · "
• Cholagogue · Turkey · "
• Deobstruent · Elsewhere · "
• Depurative · Turkey · "
• Diaphoretic · Elsewhere · "
• Diuretic · Turkey · "
• Dropsy · Elsewhere · "
• Dyspepsia · US · "
• Dyspepsia · Spain · "
• Emetic · Elsewhere · "
• Eruption · US · "
• Fever · Elsewhere · "
• Fever · Turkey · "
• Flu · Canada(Kwakiutl) · "
• Gout · Elsewhere · "
• Hemoptysis · Canada(Kwakiutl) · "
• Hypnotic · Turkey · "
• Hypnotic · China · "
• Laxative · US · "
• Narcotic · China · "
• Nervine · Turkey · "

31 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Evaluation of the sedative-hypnotic effects of Menyanthes trifoliata L. extract in mice. · 2024 source ↗
• Diurnal Change of the Photosynthetic Light-Response Curve of Buckbean (<i>Menyanthes trifoliata</i>), an Emergent Aquatic Plant. · 2022 source ↗
• Anti-inflammatory lupane triterpenoids from <i>Menyanthes trifoliata</i>. · 2018 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ASCORBIC-ACID
• BENZYL-ALCOHOL
• BETULINIC-ACID
• CAFFEIC-ACID
• CATECHIN-TANNINS
• CERYL-ALCOHOL
• CHOLINE
• 7',8'-DIHYDROFOLIAMENTHIN
• FERULIC-ACID
• GENTIALUTINE
• GENTIANIDINE
• HYPERIN
• INULIN
• LOGANIN
• MELIATIN
• MENTHIAFOLIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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