Marshmallow
Althaea officinalis L.Malvaceae // root · leaf
Overview
Plant parts
root, leaf
Known constituents
mucilage polysaccharides, flavonoids
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include mucilage polysaccharides; flavonoids; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Marshmallow has been used for dry cough; irritated mucosa; mild gastritis; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (dry cough; irritated mucosa; mild gastritis), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Traditional-use support; insufficient clinical trials.
MODERATE · randomized controlled trial · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.
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; leaf; traditional and modern forms include decoction, tincture, powder/capsule, standardized extract, infusion/tea, 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 Generally well tolerated; may alter absorption. Contraindications/cautions include None established beyond allergy.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Mucilage may delay absorption of oral medicines.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Insufficient pregnancy/lactation evidence.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
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
Botanical synonym
Althaea taurinensis DC.
Taxonomic identity note
- Marshmallow is treated here as Althaea officinalis L. in the family Malvaceae; recorded older names include Althaea taurinensis DC..
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
EMA monograph
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
WHO monograph