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Herb & Supplement Encyclopedia: |
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Lady's Mantle
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 Scientific Names |
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 Forms |
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 Traditional Usage |
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 Overview |
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 Active Ingredients |
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 Suggested Amount |
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 Drug Interactions |
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 Contraindications |
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 Side Effects |
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 References |
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Scientific Names: |
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Alchemilla vulgaris L. and related Alchemilla species [Fam. Rosaceae] |
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Forms: |
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Tea and extract from the roots and dried aboveground parts of lady's mantle.
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Traditional Usage: |
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- Antimicrobial
- Astringent
- Diarrhea
- Digestive Disorders
- Female Health Maintenance
- Heart Health Maintenance
- Menopause
- Menstrual Health Maintenance
- Painful Period
- PMS
- Skin Disorders
- Stomach Irritation
- Sugar Control
- Vascular Disorders
- Wounds |
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Overview: |
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Lady's Mantle, Alchemilla vulgaris L. [Fam. Rosaceae], is a perennial herb found in Europe, North America, and Asia that has been used medicinally since the Middle Ages. The word Alchemilla is a derivative of the Arab word Alkemelych, which means alchemy, and was named for the plant's magical healing powers. An astringent that affects the production rate of enzymes in the pancreas, lady's mantle is commonly recommended for treating diarrhea and stomach ailments. In folk medicine, lady's mantle was also used to soothe infections of the mucous membranes of mouth and throat. The tea and extracts were also used as a bath additive to treat skin irritations and wounds. The leaf tea and dewdrops from the leaves of the living plant are most commonly employed to help female conditions such as menorrhagia, menopause and painful periods. Lady's mantle was also used traditionally for treating blood sugar control diseases, although no evidence exists to support its usefulness. In vitro experiments were conducted on the inhibitory properties of extracts from Alchemilla vulgaris L. (fractions A1 + A2, A1, A2) on activity of the proteolytic enzymes elastase, trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin to determine the potential usefulness of lady's mantle for protecting vascular tissues of individuals. Alchemilla vulgaris L. (Fraction A1) inhibited 50% of the activity of porcine pancreas elastase at concentrations of 0.56 mg/ml and 0.16 mg/ml, respectively, against a synthetic substrate. Inhibition was less effective on activity of trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin. Marked in vivo angioprotective properties were shown by the compounds studied, except Fraction A2 of Alchemilla vulgaris L. that had no significant activity. The results suggest a possible role of lady's mantle tea and extracts in the protection of conjunctive and elastic tissues adversely affected by proteolytic enzymes. Researchers also noted the lack of toxicity of the extracts as an additional advantage.
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Active Ingredients: |
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Lady's mantle contains: 6-8% tannins (partly gallotannins), ellagitannins (pedunculagin, the dimeric alchemillin), flavonoids (quercetin 3-O-b-D-glucuronide has been identified in French leaves), and ubiquitous substances. In France, the dried aerial parts of Alchemilla xanthochlora Rothm. are used medicinally, as well as those of A. glabra Neygenf., A. coriacea Buser and A. filicaulis Buser. All of these plants were found to present a similar flavonoid and tannin profile. In the case of A. xanthochlora, the mean levels of the principal compounds were: total flavonoids 2.22%, glucuronyl-3 quercetol 1.18%, tannins 16.0% and ellagic acid 0.36%. The flavonoid levels were higher before flowering and the tannin levels higher during flowering. Four commercial batches were examined for a comparative study. Pharmacopoeial specifications were proposed for a revision of the monograph "Alchemillae herba". [Fraisse D, Carnat A, Carnat AP, Lamaison JL. 1999. Standardization of the aerial parts of Alchemilla. (Article in French). Ann Pharm Fr 1999 Sep; 57(5): 401-5; Borodin IuI, Seliatitskaia VG, Obukhova LA, Pal'chikova NA, Odintsov SV, Kukushkina TA. 1999. Effect of polyphenol fraction from Alchemilla vulgaris on the morphofunctional state of the thyroid in rats exposed to cold. Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1999 Jun; 127(6): 697-9. (Russian)]. |
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Suggested Amount: |
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For tea, pour boiling water over 1-2 grams (1 teaspoon = 0.9 grams) of lady's mantle, steep 10 minutes, then strain. An alternative method is to let the drug sit in cold water for several hours at room temperature. |
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Drug Interactions: |
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None known. |
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Contraindications: |
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None known. |
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Side Effects: |
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The Standard License warns that lady's mantle may cause liver damage, however these findings are controversial and may be exaggerated. In general, over-consumption of tannin-rich teas may cause liver damage. |
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References: |
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Djipa CD, Delmee M, Quetin-Leclercq J. 2000. Antimicrobial activity of bark extracts of Syzygium jambos (L.) alston (Myrtaceae). J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Jul; 71(1-2): 307-13.
Jonadet M, Meunier MT, Villie F, Bastide JP, Lamaison JL. 1986. [Flavonoids extracted from Ribes nigrum L. and Alchemilla vulgaris L.: 1. In vitro inhibitory activities on elastase, trypsin and chymotrypsin. 2. Angioprotective activities compared in vivo]. J Pharmacol. 1986 Jan-Mar; 17(1): 21-7. French.
Sufka KJ, Roach JT, Chambliss WG Jr, Broom SL, Feltenstein MW, Wyandt CM, Zeng L. 2001. Anxiolytic properties of botanical extracts in the chick social separation-stress procedure. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2001 Jan 1; 153(2): 219-24.
Swanston-Flatt SK, Day C, Bailey CJ, Flatt PR. 1990. Traditional plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetologia. 1990 Aug; 33(8): 462-4.
Wichtl M and NG Bisset (eds). 1994. Lady's Mantle. In Herbal Drugs and Phyto-pharmaceuticals. (English translation by Norman Grainger Bisset). CRC Press, Stuttgart, Pp. 52-54. |
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