Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

42. A. Fugh-Berman,The 5-Minute Herb and
    Dietary Supplement Consult, Lippincott
    Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA,
    2003, pp. 8–9.


43. S. Yongchaiyudha et al.,Phytomedicine,
    3 , 241 (1996).


44. E. Ernst, Br. J. Dermatol., 143 , 923
    (2000)


45. H. P. H€ormann and H. C. Korting,
    Phytomedicine, 1 , 161 (1994).
    46. R. P. Pelley et al.,Subtrop. Plant Sci.,
    50 , 1 (1998).
    47. J. F. Morton, Econ. Bot., 15 , 311
    (1961).
    48. G. Gjerstad and T. D. Riner, Am. J.
    Pharm., 140 , 58 (1968).
    49. J. F. Nieberding,Am. Bee J., 114 ,15
    (1974).

ALTHEA ROOT

Source: Althea officinalis L. (Family
Malvaceae).

Common/vernacular names: Althaea, althea,
marshmallow.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Perennial herb, velvety hairy, up to 1.5 m
high with three-lobed coarsely serrate
leaves, pink 3 cm wide flowers in peduncled
clusters; grows in marshes and moist places;
under cultivation adaptable to drier soils;
native to Europe and naturalized in the
United States in salt marshes from Massa-
chusetts to Virginia; locally elsewhere. Pre-
ferred part is the peeled root collected in the
fall; whole dried root and dried leaves enter
commerce.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Contains starch, pectin, mucilage, sugar, fats,
tannin, asparagine, and calcium oxalate. The
mucilage content is generally considered to be
25–35%, but that of the homogeneous muci-
laginous polysaccharides is much lower. The
mucilage content changes considerably with
season (6.2–11.6%) and is highest in winter.^1
A purified, homogeneous mucilage, althaea-
mucilage O, is composed of L-rhamnose:
D-galactose:D-galacturonic acid:D-glucuronic

acid in the molar ratio of 3 :2 : 3 : 3, with a

molecular weight of about 34,000 (as the am-

moniumsalt).^2 Thesequenceofthecomponent

sugars and the configurations of the glycoside

linkages have also been examined.^3 Roots also

contain scopoletin, asparagines, hypolaetin

8-glucoside, parahydroxybenzoic acid, quer-

cetin, kaempferol, and chlorogenic, syringic,

caffeic, andp-coumaric acids (BRADLY).^4

PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL

ACTIVITIES

Althaea root extracts reportedly have demul-

cent, soothing properties on the mucous mem-

branes and an antitussive effect. It is believed

that these properties are mainly caused by the

mucilaginous substances. Althaea-mucilage

O has shown potent hypoglycemic activity.^5

The polysaccharide fraction (50 mg/kg p.o.)

isolated from the root (A. officinalisL. var.

robusta) showed significant antitussive activ-

ity in a cat model of cough. It was more

effective than the crude extract of the root

(100 mg/kg p.o.), equally effective compared

to a syrup made from the root (1000 mg/kg

p.o.), and more effective than prenoxdiazine

(30 mg/kg p.o.).^6

TOXICOLOGY

Crude root may delay absorption of other

drugs taken at the same time (BLUMENTHAL1).

Althea root 29