IngredientsThe botanical definition of the herbal drug is the whole or cut, flowering aerial parts of Alchemilla vulgaris L. sensu latiore; a synonym is Alchemilla xanthochlora Rothm. The plant belongs to the family Rosaceae. The common name "lady's mantle" is applied generically across the genus Alchemilla, as well as specifically to Alchemilla mollis when referred to as a garden plant. Other common names include Alchemilla, bear's foot, common lady's mantle, ladder brake, and lion's foot.
Due to the ever-magical qualities ascribed to dew by early alchemists, lady's mantle is known as Alchemilla, or "the little alchemist." The generic name Alchemilla is derived from the Arabic word Alkemelych (alchemy), and was bestowed on it, according to some old writers, because of the wonder-working powers of the plant. In the Middle Ages, Alchemilla became associated with the Virgin Mary, therefore being called Lady's Mantle. Its species name vulgaris is Latin for "common" or "ordinary," making this the common alchemilla.
The genus Alchemilla L. (lady's mantle) comprises approximately 1,000 species, of which more than 300 have been characterized from Europe. The plant used as a herbal tea or for medicinal usage, such as for gynaecological disorders, is Alchemilla xanthochlora or, in Middle Europe, the so-called common lady's mantle Alchemilla vulgaris.
Alchemilla vulgaris, with the common name lady's mantle, is an herbaceous perennial plant found in Europe and Greenland. These perennial wildflowers, members of the rose family, are sometimes grown in gardens — mainly for their leaves, which collect sparkling water droplets. There are about 700 recognized species, the majority native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of Europe and Asia, with a few species native to the mountains of Africa and the Americas.
The plant has uniquely ruffled, scalloped, bluish-green leaves that are finely toothed at the edges and covered with soft fine hairs and a slight waxy coating. The distinctively corrugated and lobed (5 to 11 lobes, with the upper leaves having fewer) kidney-shaped to semicircular leaves make identification to genus level fairly straightforward. Lady's mantle blooms from late spring to early summer, with small, yellow-green flowers that appear in dense clusters.
Mainly the whole above-ground parts of the plants are used for medicinal purposes, but sometimes the roots are used as well. Lady's mantle is typically gathered in the summertime when it's in bloom, and the above-ground parts are then dried so they can be used later as herbal medicine, often in the form of a tincture, extract, or tea. The main galenic form of the drug prepared from Alchemilla is infusions; however, to test their phytochemical profile and biological activity, apart from water extracts, alcoholic or deep eutectic solvents have also been used.
Several pharmacopoeias contain monographs on Alchemilla species — for example, Alchemillae herba (the flowering, aerial parts of A. vulgaris) in the European Pharmacopoeia 10 and the Polish Pharmacopoeia XII.
The common name "lady's mantle" first appears in Jerome Bock's History of Plants, published in 1532, which Linnaeus later adopted. The herb has a history that stretches back to medieval monastic gardens and beyond, distinguished by a unique profile of tannins, salicylic acid derivatives, and documented folk applications.
As folk medicines, Alchemilla species have long been prescribed for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, pruritus vulvae, menopausal complaints, and related diseases in women. Traditionally, among older herbalists, Alchemilla was prized as one of the very best wound-healing herbs, even for infected wounds and cases of gangrene.
It was used for upper digestive tract complaints and diarrhoea internally, as a wound-healing agent and astringent externally, and as a gargle against mouth and throat inflammation. In Bulgaria, it is used to heal inflammations in the mouth, bleeding of the nose, furuncles, and gynecological diseases, while in Poland it is used as an anti-inflammatory, carminative, and anti-diarrheal remedy, and against gastritis. Traditionally in Montenegro, the aerial parts of the plant are used internally to treat mild and non-specific diarrhoea, menopausal complaints, and dysmenorrhea, and externally against ulcers, eczema, and skin rashes.
In folk medicine it is used to heal inflammations in the mouth, bleeding of the nose, furuncules, gynecological and gastrointestinal diseases. By the 18th century, it began fading from mainstream use as allopathy gained ground, but folk traditions held on. In Swiss and German countryside clinics, it continued to be used for diarrhoea, gum problems, and postpartum care.
Other Alchemilla species have also been used as a diuretic, in the treatment of liver inflammation, asthma, bronchitis, cough, and diabetes, as well as kidney, intestinal, and gastric disorders. In Turkey, Alchemilla species are traditionally used as diuretics and laxatives. However, Alchemilla vulgaris is widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, and menopausal complaints in various countries.
Alchemilla species, as members of the Rosaceae family, produce tannins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, coumarins, triterpenes, and violet compounds. The aerial parts of A. vulgaris contain numerous phenolic components, with an emphasis on phenolic acids (ellagic acid, gallic, and caffeic acids), flavonoids (quercetin, isoquercetin, rutin, avicularin, and tiliroside), and tannins including agrimoniin, pedunculagin, and laevigatin F.
Ellagitannins and gallotannins — high-molecular-weight polyphenols such as agrimoniin and pedunculagin — are abundant in Alchemilla and are largely responsible for their astringent, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Pedunculagin and agrimoniin, as described in earlier reports for A. vulgaris, as well as other monomeric and oligomeric ellagitannins such as sanguiin H-10, castalagin/vescalagin, and galloyl-bis-hexahydroxydiphenoyl (HHDP) hexose, constitute the major phenolic fraction. Gallic and chlorogenic acids were also found in extracts of A. vulgaris.
The German Commission E recognized a positive monograph for lady's mantle herb (Alchemillae herba). The extract contains tannins (6–8% to a maximum of 18%) and flavonoids (approximately 2%). The tannins are mainly hydrolysable tannins, also known as ellagitannins. The main component is agrimoniin, a gallotannin consisting of 4 hexahydroxydiphenic acid units.
Lady's mantle herb extract has been reported to contain about 30% w/w of tannins. The plant tannins are a unique group of phenolics of relatively high molecular weight with the ability to complex strongly with carbohydrates and proteins.
The flavonoid fraction comprises quercetin glucuronide as the major compound, in addition to several other quercetin glycosides. Other active compounds responsible for antioxidant and antimicrobial activities are tannins composed of gallic and ellagic acid, and flavonoids including quercetin, luteolin, and proanthocyanidins.
A. vulgaris possesses a broad phytochemical composition encompassing phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, coumarins, and triterpenes. Phenolic acids — gallic acid and ellagic acid — are common in Alchemilla. Ellagic acid at 3.4 mg/g was quantified in an ethanolic extract of A. vulgaris leaves. Ellagic acid is a known antioxidant and a tyrosinase inhibitor, contributing to skin-lightening effects; gallic acid and its derivatives provide antimicrobial action.
The complexity of Alchemilla's phytochemistry poses challenges: standardizing an extract for consistent bioactivity requires careful control of harvesting, as phenolic content can vary with geography and season.
The wound-healing properties are due largely in part to the rich tannin content, which consists mainly of glycosides of ellagic acid. Tannins give plants their astringent or binding qualities that, when applied to the skin, make them a valuable remedy for healing skin abrasions. Astringency has an overall drying effect on tissue, drawing it together.
Agrimoniin, isolated from A. vulgaris and A. mollis, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NF-κB activation in immune cells. Pedunculagin, found in A. vulgaris and A. mollis leaves, showed significant anti-acne activity; it inhibits Propionibacterium acnes-induced inflammation and reduces sebum oxidation.
Extract of the plant exhibits high scavenging potential, especially towards superoxide anion radical. In an analysis of A. vulgaris, gallic acid content correlated with strong DPPH scavenging activity.
Some studies indicate that phenolics, especially tannins, may contribute to antioxidant activity. Takir et al. (2015) demonstrated that a methanolic extract of Alchemilla vulgaris shows vasorelaxant and hypotensive effects. Treatment with A. vulgaris extract increased the concentrations of lipids and phospholipids in erythrocyte membranes, decreased the number of abnormal erythrocytes, and improved deformability of red blood cells in rats with arterial hypertension.
One study investigated the interaction between the human gut microbiota and lady's mantle herb extract following biotransformation of the extract's constituents, and their impact on colorectal cancer cells (HT-29) and normal CCD 841 CoN epithelial cells. The A. vulgaris herb metabolites were obtained by incubating the extract with human fecal slurries from three healthy donors. LC-PDA-ESI-TOF/MS analysis identified thirty-three compounds including flavonoid derivatives (quercetin and kaempferol O-glucuronides) and tannins (agrimoniin, pedunculagin α or β, and sanguiin H-10 isomer). The study of postbiotic metabolites resulted in the detection of twelve metabolites, where three were identified as brevifolincarboxylic acid, ellagic acid, and urolithin C.
The therapeutic indications recognized in institutional monographs (ESCOP) are non-specific diarrhoea and gastrointestinal complaints. Lady's mantle tea is used for mild (non-specific) diarrhoea caused by gastrointestinal germs. Although therapeutic indications for Alchemillae herba are non-specific diarrhoea and gastrointestinal complaints per institutional guidance, in vitro experiments have demonstrated antibacterial, astringent, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties.
The evidence base for the gastrointestinal indication is primarily mechanistic and preclinical: the tannin content of the herb provides a plausible astringent and antibacterial rationale for use in mild diarrhoea, and this has underpinned official monograph recognition by the German Commission E and ESCOP. Formal placebo-controlled human trials specific to diarrhoea outcomes have not been published in the peer-reviewed literature as of the most recent systematic reviews.
Tasić-Kostov et al. conducted an extensive study on the effects of Alchemilla vulgaris on wound-healing processes using an in vitro wound-healing assay with L929 fibroblasts and in vivo assessment of skin barrier repair potential. The most beneficial effect on fibroblast migration as well as wound healing in vitro was observed for the ethanolic extract, which is most likely related to its rich chemical composition including ellagic acid (3.4 mg/g) and isoquercetin (4.0 mg/g).
A study using a herbal mixture composed of Alchemilla vulgaris and Mimosa demonstrated in histological analysis that the preparation promoted re-epithelialization, collagen synthesis, and especially the regeneration of skin appendages such as hair follicles. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the herbal mixture improved angiogenesis and the stabilization of blood vessels, as well as accelerated the formation of granulation tissue.
Cell culture models were effective in demonstrating Alchemilla wound-healing stimulation and anti-inflammatory impact on skin cells. The most convincing preclinical evidence comes from in vivo models: rodent studies of wound healing illustrated that Alchemilla extracts significantly accelerate actual tissue repair and improve the biomechanical strength of healed skin. Such models capture the integrated effect of the extract on inflammation, cell proliferation, and remodeling phases of healing.
Evidence strength: Predominantly preclinical (in vitro and animal). One clinical study (detailed below under oral ulcers) included wound-healing assessment, but broad wound-healing efficacy in humans has not been established through randomized controlled trials.
An open-label study was conducted in 48 otherwise healthy male and female patients aged 4–44 years to determine the putative healing properties and tolerability of a standard 3% extract of A. vulgaris in glycerine (Aphtarine®) on common minor oral ulcers. Patients with major or herpetiform ulcers were excluded from the study. The 3% extract in glycerine, applied three times daily, showed promising results, with complete healing in 60.4% of patients within 2 days. Clinical data in humans demonstrated its use in patients with minor oral ulcers, and clinical safety data showed good tolerability for a topical preparation.
Evidence strength: A single open-label (uncontrolled, non-blinded) clinical study in a small population. No randomized controlled trial has been published. The ESCOP monograph cites this as the primary human clinical evidence supporting the herb. Preliminary and limited.
As folk medicines, Alchemilla species have long been prescribed for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, pruritus vulvae, menopausal complaints, and related diseases in women. In folk medicine, the tea is also used for menstrual disorders and menopausal complaints.
Alchemilla vulgaris is widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, and menopausal complaints in various countries. An animal study using a DHEA-induced rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) investigated the effects of A. vulgaris extract, where 5 g of dried herb was added to 1,000 mL of hot water and administered orally to rats at a daily dose of 50 mg/100 g body weight.
Evidence strength: Traditional use only; supporting preclinical/animal data. No published human randomized controlled trials on dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, or menopausal symptoms have been identified. This remains an area requiring clinical investigation.
Results of preclinical research demonstrated that the methanol extract of Alchemilla vulgaris has more prominent and favourable vascular effects in normal and experimental hypertensive conditions, reinforcing its traditional use in cardiovascular disorders, in particular hypertension. The investigators noted that these results give rise to further studies to reveal the mechanism of action and clinical value of this herb.
Evidence strength: Animal/preclinical only. No human clinical trial data on blood pressure or vascular outcomes.
A. vulgaris root extract is considered a potent antibacterial agent, with high antibacterial activity. High antibacterial activity was reported against Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhimurium, Micrococcus lysodeikticus, and Bacillus mycoides as the most sensitive examined bacterial species. Antifungal activity for the root extract was also recorded against Phialophora fastigiate, Penicillium canescens, Trichoderma viride, T. longibrachiatum, Aspergillus glaucus, and Fusarium oxysporum.
Evidence strength: In vitro only. No controlled human clinical trials on infectious conditions.
Extracts from the aerial parts of Alchemilla vulgaris, obtained by different extraction procedures, have been shown to have a high potential to decrease the viability of numerous tumor cells in vitro, including tumors of the female reproductive organs (HeLa and A2780), human prostate (PC-3), breast (MCF-7), lung (A549), melanoma (A375), and colon (HCT116) cell lines.
In studies using the MTT assay, antiproliferative effects were associated with cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase and induction of total apoptosis at 27.18%, being mainly early apoptosis. Apoptosis induction was related to the upregulation of the proapoptotic genes P53 and BAX and the downregulation of the antiapoptotic gene BCL2.
An in vivo melanoma model used for A. vulgaris provided evidence that the extract can penetrate a biological system and exert anti-tumor effects. Evidence suggests potential anticancer effects against ovarian and breast cancer cells, linked to specific extract compositions.
Evidence strength: Entirely in vitro and animal (in vivo rodent) preclinical data. No human clinical trial data on cancer outcomes. These findings are preliminary and exploratory.
A. vulgaris is the most extensively studied species and shows well-rounded efficacy, including good antioxidant, antimicrobial, enzyme inhibition, and wound-healing properties, making it a prime candidate for product development. The antioxidant activity is primarily attributable to the high polyphenolic content, including ellagitannins, gallic acid, quercetin, and related flavonoid glycosides, which have been extensively characterized in vitro.
Evidence strength: In vitro. No human antioxidant biomarker trials have been published.
Skin diseases are prevalent and encompass a wide range of disorders with varying clinical manifestations and diverse etiopathogenesis. The response to the necessity of multidirectional treatment is provided by species belonging to the genus Alchemilla, which is used in traditional medicine as well as in cosmetic formulations. Responsible for the healing properties of these plants for skin diseases are mainly compounds such as tannins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins.
The existing models have efficiently identified Alchemilla extract potential, but human trials will confirm its real-world effectiveness. For example, a small clinical study on an Alchemilla cream for acne or eczema would test whether the in vitro antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects translate to patient improvement. Currently, the translation to clinical and patient outcomes remains a gap.
Evidence strength: In vitro and in vivo animal data are promising. Clinical evidence in dermatological conditions beyond the single oral ulcer study is lacking.
To prepare a single part of the infusion, 2–4 g of the dried herb is added to 150 mL of hot water and left for 10 minutes. The usual daily dose of lady's mantle herb is from 5 to 10 g. It is recommended to use 3 portions of the infusion during the day between meals.
The average daily dose is 5.0–10.0 g of the drug. To prepare a tea infusion, pour 1 cup of hot water over 3 teaspoons (1 teaspoon ≈ 0.9 g) and strain off after 10 minutes.
In the clinical study on aphthous ulcers, a standard 3% extract of A. vulgaris in glycerine (Aphtarine®) was applied topically to minor oral ulcers in 48 patients.
In the rat PCOS model, to prepare an infusion, 5 g of dried herb was added to 1,000 mL of hot water and left for 10 minutes, and the resulting extract was administered orally to the rats at a daily dose of 50 mg/100 g body weight. This dose is reported for reference only, as it pertains to an animal experiment and cannot be extrapolated to human dosing.
Clinical studies are lacking to support specific dosing recommendations for lady's mantle. Dosages reported above reflect traditional use guidelines and pharmacopoeia references rather than outcomes from robust human dose-finding trials.
Preclinical safety data did not reveal anything on mutagenicity. Clinical safety data showed good tolerability for a topical preparation. When taken by mouth, there is not enough reliable information to know if alchemilla is safe or what the side effects might be. When applied to the skin, there is similarly not enough reliable information.
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Lady's mantle is not considered suitable in pregnancy or lactation per herbalist references and institutional guidance, primarily on a precautionary basis rather than documented harm. Due to possible uterine stimulation, it is best avoided unless supervised by a qualified practitioner.
The above-ground parts of alchemilla contain chemicals called tannins. Tannins absorb substances in the stomach and intestines. Taking alchemilla along with medications taken by mouth can decrease how much medicine the body absorbs, and may decrease the effectiveness of the medication. To prevent this interaction, alchemilla should be taken at least one hour after medications taken by mouth.
Adulteration with other Alchemilla species can occur, which is a practical quality-assurance consideration for herbal preparations, since the phytochemical profile can vary meaningfully between species.
A. vulgaris belongs to a number of herbal drugs included in The European Pharmacopoeia, analyzed for their tannin content. The main characteristic constituents recognized in the ESCOP monograph are tannins and flavonoids.
An increasing number of studies on the plants in the Alchemilla genus have provided data about the main constituents and their importance in modern medicine. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that Alchemilla plants possess an extensive spectrum of biological activities. Regardless of the remarkable medical potential of Alchemilla extracts, clinical studies are limited and need to be performed to produce safer and less expensive plant-based drugs.
Regardless of the remarkable medical potential of Alchemilla extracts, clinical studies are limited and need to be performed to produce safer and less expensive plant-based drugs. The herb's recognition in official monographs (German Commission E, ESCOP, European Pharmacopoeia) for diarrhoea and gastrointestinal complaints rests principally on a well-characterized phytochemical rationale, traditional use documentation, and preclinical data — with only minimal direct human clinical trial evidence.
Health conditions that Lady's mantle may help support.
Body systems that Lady's mantle may help support.
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