Silverweed

Silverweed (Potentilla anserina L.): A Comprehensive Reference

1. Identity: Botanical Classification, Nomenclature, and Natural Source

Silverweed, known scientifically as Potentilla anserina L., is a short herbaceous perennial in the rose family, Rosaceae. Due to changes in botanical nomenclature, silverweed can be properly identified by either of its Latin names, Potentilla anserina or Argentina anserina. The species has recently been moved from the genus Potentilla to the genus Argentina by some authorities, because of the solitary flower at the tip of the stalk. Carl Linnaeus originally placed the plant in the genus Potentilla, but a reclassification into the genus Argentina occurred in 1990 — a reclassification that remains debated and is not universally accepted.

The genus name Potentilla comes from the Latin potens, meaning "powerful," while the specific epithet anserina comes from the Latin for "goose." The specific epithet references the plant often being abundant in areas grazed by geese, or because the leaves of some species in the genus are reminiscent of goose footprints.

Potentilla anserina L. is highly diverse, occurring in two subspecies — ssp. egedii and ssp. anserina — with the latter encompassing several varieties and forms, and being distributed throughout the temperate and cold zones of the entire Northern Hemisphere. It grows in pastures, meadows, and along roadsides. Silverweed is a particularly hardy, stoloniferous plant native to a range of habitats throughout the northern hemisphere, including salt marshes, prairies, and riparian zones.

Morphology

Silverweed is a creeping perennial rarely much taller than 10 cm; the flexible stems run along the ground and root at nodes when they contact disturbed soil. The distinct pinnately compound leaves with silvery undersides, reddish stolons, and vibrant yellow flowers make for easy identification of this species. Flowers, which are solitary in leaf axils, are bright yellow, 2 to 3 cm across with five overlapping petals backed by a smaller five-lobed calyx; each flower has 20 stamens and even more pistils.

Common Names and Synonyms

The plant is known under a wide variety of common names, including Anserina, Argentina anserina, Crampweed, Goose Grass, Goose Tansy, Goosewort, Moor Grass, Potentilla anserina, Prince's Feather, Silverweed, Trailing Tansy, Wild Agrimony, and Wild Tansy. In the Tlingit language of Alaska, it is known as tséit. In Tibetan, it is known as "poke ma" or "Zhuo Lao Sha Zeng." In Chinese, its swollen tuberous root is known as jue ma.

Common Preparations and Forms

The herb, harvested shortly before or at flowering time, consists of leaves, flowers, and flower stalks (called Anserinae herba in the pharmacopeial designation). The roots, which are the most astringent part of the plant, are harvested in late summer or autumn and dried for later use. The leaves are harvested in early summer and dried for later use. Potentilla is available in commercial forms for oral intake, in crude and powder forms. To prepare a tea, boiling water is poured over 2 g of finely cut drug and strained after 10 minutes (1 teaspoon corresponds to approximately 0.7 g of drug). Pharmaceutical preparations include liquid extracts, tinctures, decoctions, infusions, and dry extracts.

2. Traditional and Historical Use

Europe

Across Eurasia, written and oral histories of the medicinal uses of Potentilla, for both internal and external medical applications, have significant time depth. Several ancient European texts, some dating from over 1,000 years ago, describe the use of Potentilla. Among these is the Materia Medica written by Pedanius Dioscorides, a Greek physician and botanist, which describes a concoction of the roots to treat mouth ulcers.

Extracts were prepared with water, milk, honey, and alcoholic solutions and applied for the treatment of toothache, inflammations of the throat, wound-healing, jaundice, ulcers of the mouth, dysentery, and as a hemostatic. Potentilla anserina has a long history of use in traditional European herbal medicine for the treatment of menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding). This use is rooted primarily in folk medicine, particularly in Western and Central Europe, where the aerial parts of the plant were prepared as teas or tinctures to help "regulate" menstruation and alleviate excessive uterine bleeding.

The roots of silverweed were a marginal or famine food in the Scottish Highlands and in Ireland, and were known as a food of the fairies. The roots were roasted, boiled, or eaten raw, or ground into meal to make porridge and a kind of bread. The plant was used extensively before the introduction of the potato, was cultivated, and grew quite large. Records of cultivation go back to prehistoric times, and the Anglo-Saxons are known to have grown silverweed as a root crop.

Indigenous North American Traditions

Pacific silverweed roots were a staple food in the northwest coast region, including Alaska and Washington. Silverweed roots were dug in large quantities, cooked, and often dried for winter and used as a trade item. Silverweed patches were often owned by certain tribal chiefs, especially among the Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwakawakw, and Haida Native American tribes. The roots were generally harvested in the fall, after the leaves had started to die for the winter. Clumps of roots were pried up with a digging stick, and the edible roots — long and sometimes spindle-shaped, with striated brown skins — were broken off. The roots were always cooked through boiling or roasting to remove the bitter flavor, and after cooking they taste like parsnips.

Tibetan and Chinese Traditional Medicine

As a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of use in Tibetan medicine in China, Potentilla anserina Linnaeus belongs to the Rosaceae family. Potentilla anserina L. has been consumed as medicine and food for more than 1,500 years. Traditionally, it has been used to invigorate the spleen, quench thirst, tonify the blood, astringe to stop bleeding, and relieve diarrhea — its frequent usage for treating spleen deficiency, diarrhea, and various bleeding disorders is therefore longstanding. At the same time, P. anserina is often consumed as food by the Tibetan people to obtain nourishment and health benefits.

In Chinese traditional medicine, particularly on the Tibetan Plateau, it is claimed that P. anserina roots and leaves have been used for thousands of years to treat a range of illnesses, including hepatitis B, certain cancers, diabetes mellitus, infections, as well as external problems such as wounds. In Tibetan traditional medicine, Potentilla anserina root extracts have been applied for the treatment of certain viral infections.

General Traditional Medicinal Uses

Medicinally, common silverweed was used mainly as an astringent in gargles, washes, and teas for reducing inflammation and stopping bleeding of the digestive tract, kidneys, and skin. The starchy root — said to taste like parsnips, sweet potatoes, or chestnuts — has served as a human food, while its leaves are valued as a healthful tea. Roasted, boiled, or raw, silverweed's rootstock has been consumed as food by the Native Americans, Chinese, and Europeans for centuries.

3. Key Constituents and Active Compounds

Tannins

The major components of interest in Potentilla species are tannins of the ellagic-acid type, with monomeric and dimeric ellagitannins, similar to those found in green tea. Silverweed contains 5 to 10% tannins, mainly ellagitannins, along with flavonoids, tormentoside, anthocyanins, and phytosterols. Three ellagitannins — potentillin, agrimonic acid A, and agrimonic acid B — have been reported in the Siberian variety of the species.

Flavonoids

The herb also contains antioxidant flavonoids (quercetin and myricetin glycosides) and proanthocyanidins. A full phytochemical profile of P. anserina has established the presence of catechins (catechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin), ellagitannins (agrimoniin, pedunculagin), phenolic acids (gallic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, gentisic, p-coumaric, caffeic, ferulic, chlorogenic acids), coumarins (umbelliferone, scopoletin), and a large range of flavonoids including myricetin, myricitrin, isorhamnetin glucuronide, isoquercitrin, reynoutrin, quercitrin, rutin, nicotoflorin, linarin, astragalin, and tiliroside.

Triterpenoids and Sterols

All triterpenoids reported from P. anserina are pentacyclic triterpenes, including oleanane, ursane, and lupane types, which display outstanding hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Several triterpenes — including potentillanosides A–F, pomolic acid, rosamultin, and euscaphic acid — as well as sterols (β-sitosterol, β-daucosterol) and isoflavones have been identified in the roots. Rosamultin, a major bioactive constituent from Potentilla anserina L., has recognized antioxidative and hepatoprotective activities.

Polysaccharides

Potentilla anserina L. polysaccharides (PAPs) have a variety of physiological and pharmacological properties, such as enhancing immunity and improving antioxidant capacity. The tuberous roots also contain succinic acid, polyphenols, flavanols, and other active substances.

Polyprenols and Other Compounds

Another group of components being investigated is the long- and medium-chain polyprenols; they accumulate in the leaves of Potentilla anserina at a concentration of up to 0.3% fresh weight. The plant also contains long- and medium-chain polyprenols (isoprenoid alcohols) present in the leaves; these polyprenols are reported to have antiviral properties, though research to verify their effectiveness is ongoing.

Mechanisms of Action

Most of the biological effects of Potentilla species can be explained by the high amount of condensed and hydrolysable tannins present in the aerial and underground parts. The rationale behind the astringent use is linked to tannins and other polyphenolic compounds that are thought to constrict blood vessels and reduce bleeding. On isolated rat uterus, a paralyzing (spasmolytic) effect was proven which is due to the presence of ammonium salts; however, the empirical evidence of a spasmolytic effect in clinical dysmenorrhea could not be definitively proven.

Structure-activity relationship studies have disclosed that 3α-OH, 19β-CH₃, 20α-CH₃, 20β-CH₃, 21α-OH, and 30-OH groups in the structure of triterpenoids or saponins strengthen hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. Polysaccharides and triterpenes are the main material components responsible for the pharmacological activity of P. anserina.

4. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use

4.1 Gastrointestinal: Antidiarrheal and Antispasmodic Activity

Potentillae anserinae herba is a drug monographed by the German Drug Codex (DAC) and the German Commission E, and is used in herbal medicinal products for the treatment of mild mucosal inflammation, dysmenorrhea, and diarrhea, among other conditions. The Commission E Monograph specifies internal uses as mild dysmenorrheic complaints and mild, non-specific, acute diarrhea; and external use as mild inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa.

Evidence strength: The Commission E approval represents a regulatory endorsement based on traditional use and pharmacological plausibility, not on the basis of placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in humans. The evidence base from clinical trials is absent: WebMD summarizes that there is "no good scientific evidence" to support the use of potentilla for these conditions. The mechanism proposed — tannin-mediated astringency reducing fluid secretion into the gut — is pharmacologically coherent but unconfirmed in human clinical trial settings.

4.2 Dysmenorrhea and Premenstrual Syndrome

Traditional herbalists have valued Anserina for its astringent and antispasmodic properties, which were believed to help alleviate menstrual cramps, excessive menstrual bleeding, and other uterine complaints; the plant was commonly prepared as a tea or tincture for various gynecological concerns. The Commission E Monograph explicitly lists mild dysmenorrheic complaints as an approved internal indication.

Evidence strength: Scientific validation for the use of silverweed in dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia is very limited. There are few, if any, rigorous clinical trials that evaluate its efficacy for these conditions, and most contemporary references to its use are based on traditional precedent rather than robust clinical data. Recent high-quality clinical trials on Potentilla anserina in humans are limited. There is a clear gap in modern, large-scale human trials to confirm optimal dosing, long-term safety, and efficacy compared to standard treatments for dysmenorrhea and diarrhea.

4.3 Antioxidant Activity

Research shows that P. anserina exhibits rich pharmacological activities, including antioxidant activity, among others. Antioxidant activity assays have demonstrated that ultrasound-assisted extracted polysaccharides had higher superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities when cells were exposed to exogenous H₂O₂, and malondialdehyde levels were also lowered.

Evidence strength: Antioxidant evidence for silverweed is primarily in vitro (cell-based) and preclinical. No human clinical trials measuring antioxidant outcomes from silverweed supplementation are available in the peer-reviewed literature.

4.4 Hepatoprotective Activity

Modern pharmacological studies have revealed that the tuberous roots of P. anserina have multiple properties, including antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory effects. Triterpenoid saponins isolated from the rhizomes of P. anserina exhibited in-vivo (animal model) antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus. A methanol extract from the tuberous roots and several isolated triterpenes showed hepatoprotective activity in preclinical models.

Rosamultin, a major bioactive constituent from Potentilla anserina L. with antioxidative and hepatoprotective activities, was shown in cell-based work to enhance the viability of HEK293 cells treated with cisplatin; in an in-vivo experiment, rosamultin effectively decreased kidney index, reduced blood urea nitrogen level, decreased urinary protein excretion, and ameliorated histopathological damage and fibrosis of renal tissue induced by cisplatin.

Evidence strength: Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective evidence is currently restricted to in-vitro cell studies and animal models. No human clinical trials have evaluated these endpoints.

4.5 Antitussive and Expectorant Activity

Although P. anserina is recorded in famous Chinese medical books including "Chinese Tibetan Herbal Medicine" and "Illustrated Book of Qinghai Plateau Materia Medica" as a folk medicine for the treatment of cough and phlegm, the antitussive and expectorant effects of P. anserina remain unknown to most of the academic community. P. anserina exhibits antitussive, expectorant, and hepatoprotective effects based on animal-based studies.

Evidence strength: Antitussive and expectorant effects have been studied in preclinical (animal) models. No human clinical trials are available.

4.6 Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Studies have been carried out to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of aqueous and ethanol extracts of the whole plant. Silverweed is used as an astringent, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and hemostatic agent, and for treating diarrhea, leucorrhoea, dysmenorrhea, arthritis, cramps, kidney stones, and bleeding piles. In rodent carrageenan paw-edema models, the percentage inhibition of paw edema for the P. anserina aqueous extract (100 and 400 mg/kg) was 49.42% and 60.12%, respectively, with the ethanolic extract showing better activity than aqueous extracts.

Evidence strength: Anti-inflammatory evidence is based on in-vivo animal models and in-vitro assays. No human clinical trials are available for this endpoint.

4.7 Antidiabetic / Blood Glucose Modulation

A well-known perennial herb, P. anserina is widely used in traditional Tibetan medicine and consumed as food in China. Research published in Chemistry & Biodiversity (2023) examined phenolic compounds from P. anserina for their ability to improve insulin sensitivity and inhibit differentiation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro, representing an early-stage investigation of antidiabetic mechanisms. Modern pharmacological studies have generally confirmed the traditional use of Potentilla species and their extracts as an ailment for, among other conditions, diabetes mellitus.

Evidence strength: Antidiabetic activity is based entirely on in-vitro and preclinical animal data. No human clinical trials evaluating silverweed for glycemic control are available.

4.8 Antiviral Activity

In Chinese traditional medicine, Potentilla extracts have been used to treat diarrhea, hepatitis, rheumatism, and scabies, and as a remedy for detoxification. Triterpenoid saponins isolated from the rhizomes of P. anserina exhibited in-vivo antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus in animal models.

Evidence strength: Antiviral activity has been shown in preclinical (cell and animal) models only. No human antiviral clinical trials exist.

4.9 Immunomodulatory Activity

Potentilla anserina L. polysaccharides have pharmacological properties including enhancing immunity and improving antioxidant capacity. Published research (Fitoterapia, 2010) demonstrated immunomodulatory activity in vitro and in vivo from the polysaccharide fraction of P. anserina in rodent models.

Evidence strength: Immunomodulatory effects are supported by preclinical in-vitro and animal studies. No human data are available.

4.10 Cardiovascular and Renal Effects

Potentilla anserina L. polysaccharide (PAP) is a polysaccharide with antioxidant capacity which exerts a protective effect against cadmium-induced damage; however, whether PAP can prevent and treat cadmium-induced cardiomyocyte damage had not been fully established. Research on cardiomyocyte protection involves in-vitro H9c2 cell models and ex-vivo myocardial ischemia/reperfusion models in rodents.

Evidence strength: All cardiovascular and renal evidence is preclinical (in-vitro and animal models). No human clinical trials exist.

Overall Assessment of the Evidence Base

Some traditional applications of P. anserina have been confirmed in preclinical studies. However, due to incomplete evaluation indicators and other reasons, further in-vitro and in-vivo studies are needed to clarify its pharmacological profile. Research has confirmed a significant correlation between traditional uses and modern pharmacological activities of P. anserina, including antioxidants, hepatoprotective effects, blood supplementation, and research on relieving cough and phlegm. The vast majority of pharmacological data remains preclinical. The German Commission E approval, while meaningful as a regulatory recognition of traditional use, was not issued on the basis of placebo-controlled human trials.

5. Body Systems and Health Areas of Association

• Gastrointestinal system: Silverweed has been used for diarrhea, leucorrhoea, dysmenorrhea, arthritis, cramps, kidney stones, and bleeding piles.
• Female reproductive system: Women have traditionally taken it for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and for mildly painful menstrual periods.
• Oral and pharyngeal mucosa: Potentilla is sometimes applied directly to the affected area for soreness and swelling (inflammation) of the mouth and throat.
• Liver: P. anserina exhibits hepatoprotective properties, among other pharmacological activities, supported by preclinical evidence.
• Immune system: Polysaccharides from P. anserina have been reported to enhance immunity in preclinical models.
• Respiratory system: It has also been used traditionally for respiratory conditions involving cough and phlegm, with antitussive and expectorant activities demonstrated in animal models.
• Cardiovascular and metabolic systems: Research shows pharmacological activities including cardiovascular system effects and diabetes treatment in preclinical models.
• Skin and external wounds: Externally, it is used as a powder to treat ulcers and haemorrhoids, while the whole bruised plant placed over a painful area is reported to act as a local analgesic.

6. Dosage Forms and Reported Dosages

The commercially available drug form is Anserinae herba (herb harvested shortly before or at flowering time, consisting of leaves, flowers, and flower stalks). The commercially available drug comes from Hungary, Croatia, and Poland. Silverweed contains tannins (mainly ellagitannins) and flavonoids. The quality of Anserinae herba is specified in the German Drug Codex (DAC).

Tea: A cup of silverweed tea is drunk several times a day between meals. The daily dose is 4 to 6 g of the drug. The tea can also be used as a mouth rinse or gargle. Approximately 150 mL of boiling water is poured over 2 g of finely chopped silverweed and strained after 10 minutes.

As documented in the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) herbal data: potentilla is available in commercial forms for oral intake, also in crude and powder forms. To prepare a tea, boiling water is poured over 2 g of finely cut drug and strained after 10 minutes (1 teaspoon corresponds to approximately 0.7 g of drug). The daily dosage is 4 to 6 g of drug; tea is prepared freshly and drunk several times a day between meals.

In pharmaceutical research, preparations include liquid extracts, tinctures, decoctions, infusions, and dry extracts. Silverweed has not yet been evaluated by the EMA's Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) or by ESCOP. Silverweed has not been classed as a traditional medicinal product under Article 16a of Directive 2001/83/EC.

7. Safety Considerations and Interactions

General Tolerability

Potentilla seems safe for most people. It can cause stomach irritation. When taken by mouth, potentilla is possibly safe; it may cause stomach pain.

Tannin-Related Effects

Silverweed contains a high concentration of tannins, particularly ellagitannins, which are responsible for its strong astringent properties. The high tannin content may reduce absorption of iron and medications if taken simultaneously. In cases of increased stomach acid, the tannins in the plant can cause a burning sensation in the esophagus.

Pregnancy and Lactation

No safety studies are available on the use of silverweed during pregnancy and lactation. The position of WebMD is that not enough is known about the use of potentilla during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Acute Toxicity

An acute toxicity study of P. anserina extract in Kunming mice was conducted by administering the maximum dose of the extract equivalent to 345.6 g/kg of crude drug within 12 hours. In addition, rosamultin showed no obvious toxicity in mice in relevant preclinical studies.

Long-Term Use

Future studies are recommended to concentrate on the quality control and safety evaluation of P. anserina to address research gaps and offer theoretical support for the plant's potential functions and clinical applications.

Drug Identification and Confusion

Care should be taken not to confuse potentilla (Potentilla anserina) with agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) or tormentil (Potentilla erecta), which are also referred to as potentilla. It is also important to distinguish potentilla from jewelweed, because both are known as silverweed.

References

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• Enzyme-assisted extraction, characterization, and in vitro antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from Potentilla anserina L. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2023. PMC.
• Guo T, Wei JQ, Ma JP. Antitussive and expectorant activities of Potentilla anserina. Pharmaceutical Biology. 2016;54(5):807–811.
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• Rosamultin from Potentilla anserina L. exhibits nephroprotection and antioxidant activity by regulating the ROS/CHOP signaling pathway. PubMed. 2021.
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• Luan G, et al. Phenols from Potentilla anserina L. Improve Insulin Sensitivity and Inhibit Differentiation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes in Vitro. Chemistry & Biodiversity. 2023.
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