Tormentil

Related Terms

Agrimoniin, biscuits, bloodroot, cinquefoil, common tormentil, earthbank, elladic acid, ellagic acid, ellagitannins, English sarsaparilla, erect cinquefoil, ewe daisy, flesh and blood, gallic acid, polyphenols, potentilla, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla tormentilla, Rosaceae (family), septfoil, shepherd's knapperty, shepherd's knot, tannins, thormantle, tormentil, tormentil root, tormentilla, Tormentilla erecta, Tormentillae rhizome, tormentille, tormentoside, triterpene glycosides, triterpene saponins, triterpenes.
Select combination products: Quicklyte? (sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium citrate, glucose, tormentil root dry extract).
Note: The common name tormentil has been used for species unrelated to Potentilla erecta, such as spotted cranesbill (Geranium maculatum). The common name cinquefoil is used to refer to different species in the Potentilla genus, other than Potentilla erecta.

Background

Tormentil is a plant in the rose family that has been traditionally used for stomach problems, bleeding, and wound healing.
Some evidence suggests that tormentil may be of benefit for diarrhea. Tormentil has also been studied for other conditions. However, the available human research is limited. More studies are needed.

Evidence Table

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *


Tormentil root extract has been shown to shorten the duration of diarrhea caused by rotavirus and reduce the need for rehydration solution in children. Additional research is needed.

 C


Tormentil root extract has been shown to shorten the duration of diarrhea caused by rotavirus and reduce the need for rehydration solution in children. Additional research is needed.

 C


Tincture of Potentilla tormentilla as a gargle may be a useful adjunct, together with application of codfish oil, in the treatment of some cases of lichen planus (itchy rash in the mouth). Additional research with Potentilla tormentilla alone is needed.

 C


Tincture of Potentilla tormentilla as a gargle may be a useful adjunct, together with application of codfish oil, in the treatment of some cases of lichen planus (itchy rash in the mouth). Additional research with Potentilla tormentilla alone is needed.

 C


In people with tuberculosis, an herbal extract containing tormentil, when used together with standard treatment, was shown to be more effective than standard treatment alone. Additional research with tormentil alone is needed.

 C


In people with tuberculosis, an herbal extract containing tormentil, when used together with standard treatment, was shown to be more effective than standard treatment alone. Additional research with tormentil alone is needed.

 C


In early research, tormentil extract was shown to improve some symptoms in people with ulcerative colitis (disease of the large intestine). Higher-quality studies are needed.

 C


In early research, tormentil extract was shown to improve some symptoms in people with ulcerative colitis (disease of the large intestine). Higher-quality studies are needed.

 C
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)

Tradition / Theory

The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older)
There is little available dosing information from high-quality studies for use of tormentil alone. Tormentil has been taken by mouth as a tea, extract (powdered, liquid, or alcohol), or capsules, and has also been used in combination with other herbs or therapies. It has also been applied to the skin and used as a gargle.
For ulcerative colitis, tormentil capsules (containing 200 milligrams of tormentil extract) have been taken by mouth in daily doses of 1,200 milligrams (three times 400 milligrams), 1,800 milligrams (three times 600 milligrams), 2,400 milligrams (three times 800 milligrams) and 3,000 milligrams (three times 1,000 milligrams) for three weeks.

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Interactions

Interactions with Drugs
Tormentil may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using medications that may also lower blood sugar. People taking insulin or drugs for diabetes by mouth should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Medication adjustments may be necessary.
Tormentil may alter the risk of bleeding when taken with drugs that affect bleeding. Some examples include aspirin, anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin?) or heparin, antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel (Plavix?), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Motrin?, Advil?) or naproxen (Naprosyn?, Aleve?).
Tormentil may also interact with agents that affect the liver, agents that are toxic to cells, agents used for the lungs, agents used for the stomach, agglutinating agents, antibiotics, antielastase agents, anti-inflammatories, antivirals, growth-promoting agents, or hydrocortisone.

Attribution

This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

Bos, M. A., Vennat, B., Meunier, M. T., et al. Procyanidins from tormentil: antioxidant properties towards lipoperoxidation and anti-elastase activity. Biol.Pharm.Bull. 1996;19(1):146-148.
Drozd, J. and Anuszewska, E. The influence of plant raw materials, containing ellagic acid and selected antibiotics on immunological response in mice. Acta Pol.Pharm. 2005;62(3):237-240.
Fecka, I. Development of chromatographic methods for determination of agrimoniin and related polyphenols in pharmaceutical products. J.AOAC Int. 2009;92(2):410-418.
Huber, R., Ditfurth, A. V., Amann, F., et al. Tormentil for active ulcerative colitis: an open-label, dose-escalating study. J.Clin.Gastroenterol. 2007;41(9):834-838.
Kite, G. C., Porter, E. A., and Simmonds, M. S. Chromatographic behaviour of steroidal saponins studied by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. J.Chromatogr.A 5-4-2007;1148(2):177-183.
Langmead, L., Dawson, C., Hawkins, C., et al. Antioxidant effects of herbal therapies used by patients with inflammatory bowel disease: an in vitro study. Aliment.Pharmacol.Ther. 2002;16(2):197-205.
Moss, A. C. and Cheifetz, A. S. Reducing the torment of diarrhea: tormentil for active ulcerative colitis. J.Clin.Gastroenterol. 2007;41(9):797-798.
Nikitina, V. S., Kuz'mina, L. I., Melent'ev, A. I., et al. [Antibacterial activity of polyphenolic compounds isolated from plants of Geraniaceae and Rosaceae families]. Prikl.Biokhim.Mikrobiol. 2007;43(6):705-712.
Spiridonov, N. A., Konovalov, D. A., and Arkhipov, V. V. Cytotoxicity of some Russian ethnomedicinal plants and plant compounds. Phytother.Res. 2005;19(5):428-432.
Subbotina, M. D., Timchenko, V. N., Vorobyov, M. M., et al. Effect of oral administration of tormentil root extract (Potentilla tormentilla) on rotavirus diarrhea in children: a randomized, double blind, controlled trial. Pediatr.Infect.Dis.J. 2003;22(8):706-711.
Tomczyk, M. and Latte, K. P. Potentilla--a review of its phytochemical and pharmacological profile. J.Ethnopharmacol. 3-18-2009;122(2):184-204.
Tunon, H., Olavsdotter, C., and Bohlin, L. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of some Swedish medicinal plants. Inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis and PAF-induced exocytosis. J.Ethnopharmacol. 1995;48(2):61-76.
Vennat, B., Bos, M. A., Pourrat, A., et al. Procyanidins from tormentil: fractionation and study of the anti-radical activity towards superoxide anion. Biol.Pharm.Bull. 1994;17(12):1613-1615.
Volodina, E. V., Maksimovskii, IuM, and Lebedev, K. A. [The combined treatment of lichen ruber planus of the mouth mucosa]. Stomatologiia (Mosk) 1997;76(2):28-32.
Zaiteva SI, Matveeva SL, Gerasimova TG et al. Efficacy and safety of phytoconcentrate Dzherelo (Immunoxel) in treatment of patients with multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) in comparison to standartd chemotherapy. Research Journal of Medical Sciences. 2009;3(2):36-41.