Synonym(s)
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Farfarae folium, also known as coltsfoot leaves, is a drug used in herbal medicines for the treatment of mild inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat and acute catarrh of the respiratory tract with cough and hoarseness.
HMPC: Not edited.
ESCOP: Not edited.
Commission E-monograph: Acute catarrh of the respiratory tract, cough and hoarseness; acute, mild inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx; warning for pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Deleted from the German Pharmacopoeia due to pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
IngredientsThis section has been translated automatically.
Farfarae folium contains 6 to 10 % acidic mucus polysaccharides, inulin, about 5 % tanning agents, varying amounts of hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids with a 1,2-unsaturated necine skeleton and their N-oxides (tussilagin and sinkirkin).
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EffectsThis section has been translated automatically.
Coltsfoot leaves have an irritant, expectorant and antiphlogistic effect
Field of application/useThis section has been translated automatically.
Farfarae folium is used to treat mild inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat and acute catarrh of the airways with coughing and hoarseness.
DosageThis section has been translated automatically.
The daily dose of the drug is between 4 and 6 g, depending on the preparation. The daily dose of coltsfoot tea should not exceed 10 ug, that of extracts and fresh plant juice should not contain more than 1 ug of pyrrolizidine alkaloids with 1,2 unsaturated necin skeleton including their N-oxides.
The application period should not exceed 4 to 6 weeks per year.
Undesirable effectsThis section has been translated automatically.
There are no known adverse effects.
ContraindicationThis section has been translated automatically.
In the case of an existing pregnancy or during breastfeeding should be used as a precautionary measure on the intake, but there are no concrete suspicious cases.
Children and adolescents under 18 years of age
Allergy to one of the ingredients
InteractionsThis section has been translated automatically.
There are no known interactions with other ingredients.
Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.
Recommendations for limit values issued by the European Medicines Agency EMA in November 2014 state that herbal medicinal products may contain a maximum of 0.35 ug of toxic unsaturated pyrollizidine alkaloids in the daily dose.
Research in the field of breeding has now succeeded in producing coltsfoot leaves that are free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- Schilcher H (ed.) in, Leitfaden Phytotherapie, Urban & Fischer Verlag (2016) Munich, p. 162 f.
- https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/index.php?en_pflanzen=224
- Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 127-128
Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer
Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles
