Common Plantain

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, ", Dominican Republic, Japan*, Kurdistan, Venezuela, US(Appalachia), US(Amerindian)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Ache(Ear), Ache(Head), Alexiteric, Alterative

Science studied: ACETOSIDE, APIGENIN, APIGENIN-7-GLUCOSIDE, ASPERULOSIDE

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

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

Names and identity

Family: Plantaginaceae

Scientific name: Plantago major

Common names: Common Plantain, Breit-Wegerich, Breit-Wegerich (Artengruppe), Breit-Wegerich (DE); Greater Plantain (EN), Breitwegerich, Broadleaf Plantain, Buckhorn Plantain, Cabaits y Llawr, Common plantain, Dail Llydan y Ffordd

POWO: 321286-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, China, ", Dominican Republic, Japan*, Kurdistan, Venezuela, US(Appalachia) and 26 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Ache(Ear)
• Ache(Head)
• Alexiteric
• Alterative
• Anodyne
• Antidiarrheic
• Antidote(Bee sting)
• Antiphlogistic

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Elsewhere
• China
• "
• Dominican Republic
• Japan*
• Kurdistan
• Venezuela
• US(Appalachia)
• US(Amerindian)
• Java
• Canada(Kwakiutl)
• Mexico

Documented cultural uses

• Ache(Ear)
• Ache(Head)
• Alexiteric
• Alterative
• Anodyne
• Antidiarrheic
• Antidote(Bee sting)
• Antiphlogistic
• Antitussive
• Apertif
• Aphrodisiac
• Astringent

Cultural record detail

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

• Ache(Ear) · Elsewhere · "
• Ache(Head) · Elsewhere · "
• Alexiteric · China · "
• Alterative · " · "
• Anodyne · Dominican Republic · "
• Antidote(Bee sting) · " · "
• Apertif · Kurdistan · "
• Aphrodisiac · China · "
• Astringent · China · "
• Astringent · Venezuela · "
• Bacteriostat · Elsewhere · "
• Bite(Bug) · US(Appalachia) · "
• Bite(Snake) · US(Amerindian) · "
• Bladder stone · Java · "
• Blister · Canada(Kwakiutl) · "
• Bruise · Mexico · "
• Bruise · UK · "
• Burn · Mexico · "
• Cachexia · China · "
• Cancer · Algeria · "
• Cancer · Poland · "
• Cancer(Mouth) · Canary I · "
• Cancer(Mouth) · Germany · "
• Catarrh · Spain · "

119 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

• The laxative efficacy of a mixed extract of <i>Cassia alata</i> with <i>Plantago major</i> in rats. · 2026 source ↗
• Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities of Plantago major subsp. intermedia (Gilib.) Lange. · 2026 source ↗
• First report of Colletotrichum destructivum causing anthracnose on Plantago major in Brazil · 2025 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ACETOSIDE
• APIGENIN
• APIGENIN-7-GLUCOSIDE
• ASPERULOSIDE
• AUCUBIN
• BAICALIN
• BENZOIC-ACID
• CATALPOL
• CHLOROGENIC-ACID
• CINNAMIC-ACID
• CITRIC-ACID
• 3,4-DIHYDROAUCUBIN
• DI-O-METHYLGALACTOSE
• EO
• FAT
• FIBER

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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