PARTE UTILIZADA=USED PART: semilla

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA=PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION: regulador instestinal, laxante y desinflamador

POSOLOGÍA=POSOLOGY: dejar maserar toda la noche una cucharada de semmillas en un vaso con agua y bebiendo ese liquido en ayunas

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA =GEOGRAFICAL ZONE: Argentina

Ethnobotanical and general use

Medical use
Name of the drug: Folia, Semen, Planta. Leaf  The leaves are slightly astringent. Leaves are said to have cooling, diuretic and alterative effects. Leaves are used against liver and kidney diseases, cancer, inflammations, ulcers, haemorrhoids, fever, malaria, chronic gastritis and diarrhoea. They are also used as a laxative, against cold and to cure bladder ailments. Fresh leaves rubbed on a bee sting bring relief. Indians mix crushed leaves with a raw egg and take 2 teaspoonfuls twice a day to cure fever and bronchitis. Crushed leaves are put on the wound to accelerate the haemostatic action. Leaves are also used for cicatrization. An infusion of the leaves is used to cure diarrhoea, liver conditions, ulcers and bruises. Leaf tea, dew on leaf and leaf juice is used for eye-washes in ophthalmia. Leaf juice is used for eyedrops. Root. A decoction of roots or leaves is used to treat liver problems. It is also applied as an emmenagogue when irregularities of the menstruation are observed. Entire plant. A decoction of the plant is applied as an eye lotion. Tea made of the plant is taken for dysmenorrhoea and for cooling. Mixed with bath water treats skin rashes in babies. A decoction is used for gargles, internally taken it alleviates heart diseases. Seed. The mucilaginous layer of the seeds has a laxative effect.

Method of use
Leaves and entire plant are used fresh, crushed (sap) and in the form of a decoction, tea or infusion. Roots are used in decoction. Seeds are taken untreated or dried. There are also commercial products for sale. The leaf juice is extracted by placing a leaf over the top of a clean cup, and covering it with hot iron; the juice that drops down is collected in the cup. This juice is used for eyedrops. Gargles, cataplasms and compresses are also common. Crushed leaves with oil of Lilium candidum (azucena) are applied externally to cure pimples. The pure sap of the leaves, (3 or more drops a day), are used against pain in the ear canal. Sap with hot vinegar, taken in the morning, helps against intermittent fever. Sap mixed with honey of roses is used as a mouth rinse to cure aphthae and inflammation of the tonsils. Sap diluted with water or mixed with some starch, wine and sugar can be used as an eyewash (3-4 times a day) to cure cataracts. Sap in the form of an ointment calms the pain of haemorrhoids; it is applied against eczema in the form of a bandage. Taken internally, the sap is said to cure ulcers, chronical gastritis, and diseases of the liver. Infusions of the leaves are taken as a febrifuge, against malaria and heart diseases. A decoction of leaves taken internally is good for the stomach, the liver and kidneys, helps against kidney stones, as a haemostatic and as a vaginal lotion. A weak decoction of leaves is given to children for indisposition, against cough and to relieve gout. In a proportion of 60/1000 (leaves/water) the decoction helps against dysentery, intestinal diseases, as a diuretic, a refresher during diseases of kidney, liver and bladder: 3 cups are taken daily. Adding oil or fat, a cream is made of the decoction to cure haemorrhoids. Gargles or mouth rinses prepared with the leaves help against angina, and inflammations of mouth and throat. A cataplasm has maturing and resolving effects, when used for wound healing and against ulcers. A compress has emollient effects. A special recipe helps against herpes: 60 g leaves of Plantago, 15 g leaves of Pilea microphylla (yedra), 15 g roots of Beta vulgaris, 10 g saltpetre. Root boiled in beef-tea is given to children against diarrhoea. The entire plant boiled and mixed with toasted rice is given to children to cure diarrhoea. Seeds are used in suppositories for haemorrhoids. Seeds are taken internally against diarrhoea and dysentery. Four grams of pulverized seeds are taken with milk to cure haemorrhoids. Seeds in decoction have diuretic effects. The plant is almost a panacea (universal remedy), remarks RODRIGUEZ!

Healing properties
The following curative properties are ascribed to the plant: it is astringent, wound healing, purifying, emollient, abortive, refreshing, diuretic, laxative, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antipyretic, antihaemorrhagic, oestrogenic. It also has cholesterol reducing effects, acts as an expectorant, and dissolves kidney stones. It is used against infections of the urinary tract, prostatitis, acute conjunctivitis, necrotic oedema, hepatitis etc. Extracts of the plant which contain flavonoids, polyphenols and alkaloids have an antiinflammatory action. Plantamajoside has antibacterial effects (against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus). A mixture of polyphenols extracted from Plantago major has anticarcinogenic effects. Hydroxycinnamic acids exercise an antiinflammatory effect.

Chemical contents
The seeds contain oil and slime. The following substances were found in the slime: galactose, glucose, xylose, arabinose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, saccharose and fructose, plantabiose and the trisaccharide planteose, whereas in the subterraneous organs the tetrasaccharide stachyose was found. Further contents of the plant are: hydroxy cinnamic acid, polyphenolic compounds, caffeic acid sugar ester (plantamajoside), iridoid glycosides (iridoid aucubin), alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenes, coumaric acid, betha-sitosterol, vitamins A and C and others.

South American medicinal plants : botany, remedial properties, and general use / I. Roth, H. Lindorf. Berlin ; New York : Springer, c2002. -- p. 492.