Goldenseal
Hydrastis canadensis L.Ranunculaceae // root · rhizome
Overview
Plant parts
root, rhizome
Known constituents
berberine, hydrastine, canadine
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include berberine; hydrastine; canadine; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Goldenseal has been used for mucosal infections; digestive complaints; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (mucosal infections; digestive complaints), the evidence assessment is insufficient: Insufficient clinical evidence for claimed infections; human pharmacokinetic evidence shows important CYP inhibition.
LOW · regulatory monograph and mixed scientific literature · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is root; rhizome; traditional and modern forms include decoction, tincture, powder/capsule, standardized extract. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include GI effects; neonatal bilirubin concern; conservation/adulteration issues. Contraindications/cautions include Newborns; pregnancy.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Often adulterated/substituted with other berberine-containing plants; chemistry does not prove identity.
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Inhibits CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 and may raise concentrations of many medicines.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding, especially around neonates.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
- Possible adulterantBarberry
Barberry has been detected as a berberine-containing adulterant of goldenseal.
Why it matters: Berberine detection alone cannot authenticate goldenseal; hydrastine/canadine expectations differ.
HIGH · Chemical Authentication of Botanical Ingredients: A Review of Commercial Herbal Products
- Possible adulterantOregon grape
Oregon grape has been detected as a berberine-containing adulterant of goldenseal.
Why it matters: The plants are not pharmacognostically interchangeable despite shared berberine.
HIGH · Chemical Authentication of Botanical Ingredients: A Review of Commercial Herbal Products
- Possible adulterantChinese goldthread
Chinese goldthread has been detected as a berberine-containing adulterant of goldenseal.
Why it matters: Shared berberine can mask substitution; hydrastine and canadine profiles differ.
HIGH · Chemical Authentication of Botanical Ingredients: A Review of Commercial Herbal Products
- Synonym
GBIF resolves Warneria canadensis (L.) Mill. as a synonym of Hydrastis canadensis. The older name still appears in herbal and taxonomic literature.
HIGH · GBIF Species Match API
Botanical synonym
Warneria canadensis Mill.
Taxonomic identity note
- Goldenseal is treated here as Hydrastis canadensis L. in the family Ranunculaceae; recorded older names include Warneria canadensis Mill..
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
- NCCIH Herbs at a Glance5 claims
NCCIH fact sheet
peer-reviewed authentication review
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
EMA monograph
WHO monograph
- GBIF Species Match API1 claim
authoritative taxonomic database