Latin Name: Tussilago farfara
Family: Asteraceae
Coltsfoot is an early Spring herb resembling the dandelion, and may have anti-diabetic and antitussive properties.
RESEARCH
The listings of research below represents a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study. Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action. This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.
SAFETY
- Avoid during pregnancy and lactation. From: Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Khoddami, M., Khazraei, H. R., Dehkordil, E. B., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2017). Hypolipidemic herbals with diuretic effects: A systematic review. In Biol. Sci (Vol. 8, pp. 21-28).
- The pyrrolizidine alkaloid constituent can be hepatoxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic. Thus avoid use of coltsfoot products unless they are certified and labeled: certified and labeled as hepatotoxic PA-free (Natural Medicines, 2015).
- Avoid during pregnancy and lactation (Natural Medicines, 2015).
- May interfere with anticoagulant, antihypertensive, cardiovascular, and cytochrome p450 drugs (Natural Medicines, 2015).
- Avoid with liver disease due to hepatoxic constituents (Natural Medicines, 2015).
GENERAL
- Natural Medicines (2015). Coltsfoot Monograph. Retrieved in July, 2016. Retrieved from www.naturalmedicines.com
- Petersen, D. (2016). Course Material. HERB503, Advanced Herbal Materia Medica II. American College of Healthcare Sciences. www.achs.edu.
DIURETIC
- A compilation of research showed the following herbs to have a diuretic effect: yarrow, lemon verbena, pineapple, dill, gorden asparagus, mugwort, oats, barberry, Indian tree, turnip, marigold, chicory, lemon, cucumber, pumpkin seed, quince, carrot, flix weed, horsetail, asafetida, fig, barely, St. John’s wort, bay, alfalfa, European pennyroyal, mulberry, water cress, catnip, black cumin, parsley, green bean, pistachio, cherry, pomegranate, purstane, savory, tomato, brinjal, tea, haritali, coltsfoot, nettle, bell bean, and corn. From: Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Khoddami, M., Khazraei, H. R., Dehkordil, E. B., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2017). Hypolipidemic herbals with diuretic effects: A systematic review. In Biol. Sci (Vol. 8, pp. 21-28).
DIABETES
- Fifty plants were tested and the flower buds of Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot) showed the highest maltase inhibitory activityin vitro, which could be useful in treating diabetes. From: Gao, H., Huang, Y. N., Gao, B., Xu, P. Y., Inagaki, C., & Kawabata, J. (2008). α-Glucosidase inhibitory effect by the flower buds of Tussilago farfara L. Food chemistry, 106(3), 1195-1201.
- The sesquiterpenoid tussilagone from the flowers of coltsfoot showed potential in in vitro testing for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. From: Park, H. R., Yoo, M. Y., Seo, J. H., Kim, I. S., Kim, N. Y., Kang, J. Y., … & Lee, H. S. (2008). Sesquiterpenoids isolated from the flower buds of Tussilago farfara L. inhibit diacylglycerol acyltransferase. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 56(22), 10493-10497.
NEUROPROTECTIVE
- Tussilago farfara showed neuroprotective activity in vitro, and may be useful for treating neurodegenerative disorders associated with inflammation, excitotoxicity, or oxidative stress. From: Cho, J., Kim, H. M., Ryu, J. H., Jeong, Y. S., Lee, Y. S., & Jin, C. (2005). Neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of the ethyl acetate fraction prepared from Tussilago farfara L. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 28(3), 455-460.
ANTITUSSIVE
- In vivo studies attributed the antitussive effect of coltsfoot to the following constituents: chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and rutin. From: Li, Z. Y., Zhi, H. J., Zhang, F. S., Sun, H. F., Zhang, L. Z., Jia, J. P., … & Qin, X. M. (2013). Metabolomic profiling of the antitussive and expectorant plant Tussilago farfara L. by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis, 75, 158-164.
- Flower buds from coltsfoot had an antitussive and expectorant effect on mice. From: Li, Z. Y., Zhi, H. J., Xue, S. Y., Sun, H. F., Zhang, F. S., Jia, J. P., … & Qin, X. M. (2012). Metabolomic profiling of the flower bud and rachis of Tussilago farfara with antitussive and expectorant effects on mice. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 140(1), 83-90.
- Listed are herbs commonly used for cough suppression. These herbs include: Acacia catechu, Acorus calamus, Adhatoda vasica, Allium sativum, Angelica archangelica, Astragalus membranaceus, Carum copticum, Lavandula angustifolia, Lobelia inflata, Salvia officinalis, Sambucus nigra, Tussilago farfara, Valeriana officinalis, Verbascum thapsus, and Zingiber officinale. From: Sultana, S., Khan, A., & Alhazmi, M. M. S. H. A. (2016). Cough Suppressant Herbal Drugs: A Review. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science Invention, 5(5), 15-28.
ANTIOXIDANT
- Quercetin glycosides from coltsfoot showed antioxidant activity in vitro. From: Kim, M. R., Lee, J. Y., Lee, H. H., Aryal, D. K., Kim, Y. G., Kim, S. K., … & Kang, K. W. (2006). Antioxidative effects of quercetin-glycosides isolated from the flower buds of Tussilago farfara L. Food and chemical toxicology, 44(8), 1299-1307.
By: Kathy Sadowski
Updated: 3/7/19
