Grindelia robusta

Grindelia robusta is a perennial herbaceous plant up to 100 cm high, which is native to western North America. Its reddish-yellow stem is richly branched upwards and bears white-fluffy-haired flower branches with terminal yellow flowers. The leaves are lancet-shaped and serrated at the edges. The plant blooms in July.

In California, Grindelia robusta has been valued as a remedy since the 18th century. In American naturopathy, Grindelia robusta is used as the parent plant of the Herba Grindeliae, which is official in the USA. Herba Grindeliae is official in France, England, Russia, Argentina, Venezuela and Mexico.

Herba Grindeliae is used in the USA for bronchial asthma, as an antispasmodic and for bronchial catarrh.

Diluted tinctures of Herba Grindeliae are used externally for acute dermatitis (e.g. dermatitis caused by Rhus toxicodendron).

In homeopathy, Grindelia is used for asthmatic conditions, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and as a spleen remedy.

Efficacy determining ingredients of Herba Grindeliae are essential oil with Borneol (15.2%), alpha pinene (10.3%), trans-pinocarveol (7.0%), Bornyl acetate and limonene (Fraternale D et al. 2007). Furthermore, numerous carboxylic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, as well as phenolic acids such as: caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, vanillic acid, salicylic acid, ellagic acid. (Nowak S et al. 2012).

The genus name Grindelia comes from the German botanist David Grindel (1766-1836), after whom the genus was named.

1. Ferreres F et al (2014) HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS(n) analysis of phenolic compounds for quality control of Grindelia robusta Nutt. and bioactivities. J Pharm Biomed Anal 94:163-172.
2. Fraternale D et al;(2007) Essential oil composition and antioxidant activity of aerial parts of Grindelia robusta from Central Italy. Fitoterapia 78:443-445.
3. Nowak S et al. (2012) Phenolic acids in the flowers and leaves of Grindelia robusta Nutt. and Grindelia squarrosa Dun. (Asteraceae). Acta Pol Pharm 69:693-698.
4. La VD et al (2010) Active principles of Grindelia robusta exert antiinflammatory properties in a macrophage model. Phytother Res 24:1687-1692.
5. Krenn L et al (2009) Contribution of methylated exudate flavonoids to the anti-inflammatory activity of Grindelia robusta. Fitoterapia 80:267-269.