Agrimoniae herba

Agrimoniae herba, also known as agrimony, is a Commission E and ESCOP positive monograph drug used in herbal medicinal products for the treatment of, inter alia, diarrhoeal diseases and mucosal inflammation. The drug consists of the cut and dried shoot tips of the above-ground plant during the flowering season.

HMPC: traditional use with the indication of mild diarrhoea, moderate inflammation of the throat and pharynx, skin and skin wounds.

Agrimoniae herba contains 4% to 10% catechin tanning agents (according to Ph. Eur. at least 2%), flavonoids, phenolic carboxylic acids and triterpenes, including ursolic acid.

Agrimoniae herba relieves existing itching in inflammatory skin diseases (Commission E, ESCOP), has a mild anesthetic effect, also has astringent, antiphlogistic, bacteriostatic and antiviral effects.

Agrimony herb is used in accordance with the guidelines of Commission E for mild, non-specific and acute diarrhoea, mild inflammation of the skin and inflammation of the mouth and throat mucosa. According to ESCOP, WHO and HMPC monographs, agrimony herb is also used for external application as a compress or as an irrigation to support wound healing.

The daily dose of the drug agrimony lies between 3 and 6 g. In case of external use, use compresses with a 10% decoction several times a day.

Photoallergic reactions possible after local application of the drug and subsequent UV exposure.

There are no known contraindications.

There are no known interactions with other drugs. However, when used internally, it is possible that other drugs taken at the same time may be inhibited.

1. Bae H et al (2010) Inhibitory effect ofAgrimoniae
   Herba on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokine production in BV2 microglial cells. Neurol Res 32 Suppl 1:53-57.

2. Granica S et al (2015) The phytochemical investigation of Agrimonia eupatoria L. and Agrimonia procera Wallr. as validsources
   of Agrimoniae herba--The pharmacopoeial plant material. J Pharm Biomed Anal 114:272-279.

3. Qu D et al (2014) Synthesis and in vitro antineoplastic evaluation of silver nanoparticles mediated by Agrimoniae herba extract. Int J Nanomedicine. 9:1871-1882.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24790429

4. Schilcher H (2016) in: Guide to Phytotherapy, Urban & Fischer Verlag Munich, S. 233 f.