Ribwort Plantain, ( english Plantain ).History In Europe, English plantain has been used since ancient times (Blumenthal 2000). Farmers considered English plantain a preferred food for sheep and thus was frequently planted in meadows and pastures
Current Medicinal Uses
Germany’s Commission E approved the internal use of plantain herb for inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa; externally, it is used for skin inflammations (Blumenthal 2000).
Psyllium seed, especially the seed husks, are rich in mucilage polysaccharides. Although P. lanceolata is not used commercially for this purpose, the seeds and husks of other species of plantain, especially P. psyllium, P. indica, and P. ispaghula are used as bulk-forming laxatives and to lower cholesterol levels (Fugh-Berman 2003)
Plantain is a perennial weed with almost worldwide distribution. There are about 250 species. P. lanceolata and P. major are among the most widely distributed, and they grow aggressively. Plantain is wind-pollinated, facilitating its growth where there are no bees and few other plantain plants. P. major produces 13,000 to 15,000 seeds per plant, and the seeds have been reported to remain viable in soil for up to 60 years. P. lanceolata produces 2,500 to 10,000 seeds per plant and has a somewhat shorter seed viability. Plantain seeds can survive passage through the gut of birds and other animals, facilitating their distribution. Plantain, or psyllium seeds, are small (1.5 to 3.5 mm), oval, boat-shaped, dark reddish-brown, odorless, and nearly tasteless. They are coated with mucilage, which aids in their transportation by allowing adhesion to various surfaces.
Ribwort Plantain, ( english Plantain ).History In Europe, English plantain has been used since ancient times (Blumenthal 2000). Farmers considered English plantain a preferred food for sheep and thus was frequently planted in meadows and pastures
Current Medicinal Uses
Germany’s Commission E approved the internal use of plantain herb for inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa; externally, it is used for skin inflammations (Blumenthal 2000).
Psyllium seed, especially the seed husks, are rich in mucilage polysaccharides. Although P. lanceolata is not used commercially for this purpose, the seeds and husks of other species of plantain, especially P. psyllium, P. indica, and P. ispaghula are used as bulk-forming laxatives and to lower cholesterol levels (Fugh-Berman 2003)
Plantain is a perennial weed with almost worldwide distribution. There are about 250 species. P. lanceolata and P. major are among the most widely distributed, and they grow aggressively. Plantain is wind-pollinated, facilitating its growth where there are no bees and few other plantain plants. P. major produces 13,000 to 15,000 seeds per plant, and the seeds have been reported to remain viable in soil for up to 60 years. P. lanceolata produces 2,500 to 10,000 seeds per plant and has a somewhat shorter seed viability. Plantain seeds can survive passage through the gut of birds and other animals, facilitating their distribution. Plantain, or psyllium seeds, are small (1.5 to 3.5 mm), oval, boat-shaped, dark reddish-brown, odorless, and nearly tasteless. They are coated with mucilage, which aids in their transportation by allowing adhesion to various surfaces.