Verbasci flos

Verbasci flos, also called woolly flowers or mullein flowers, is a drug made from the dried flowers reduced to the petals, taken in herbal medicines for the treatment of catarrhic upper respiratory tract infections, among other uses.

HMPC monograph: Traditional-use. Sore throat with dry cough and coldESCOP monograph
: common cold, cough, sore throat, as a mild expectorant.
Commission E-monograph: Catarrh of the airways

Royal candle blossoms contain between 1.4 and 4 % flavonoids, including the glycosides kaemperol, quercetin, diosmin, apigenin, chrysoeride, luteolin, hesperetin, tamarixetin and eriodictyrol. Other ingredients are invert sugar (11 %), mucilage (3 %), saponins and iridoids such as aucubin.

Royal candle blossoms have an anti-inflammatory, soothing and expectorant effect.

According to Commission E, mullein flowers are used as tea infusions in the treatment of upper respiratory tract catarrhs, coughs and simple colds.

The average daily dose of mullein flowers is 3 to 4 g. The drug is mostly used in the form of infusions.

There are no known adverse effects.

Allergy to one of the ingredients, children and adolescents under 12 years of age

There are no known interactions with other substances.

1. Serkedjieva J (2000) Combined antiinfluenza virus activity of Flos verbasci infusion and amantadine derivatives. Phytother Res 14:571-574.
2. Slagowska A et al,(1987) Inhibition of herpes simplex virus replication by Flos verbasci infusion. Pol J Pharmacol Pharm 39:55-61.
3. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/index.php?en_pflanzen=65
4. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-verbascum-thapsus-l-v-densiflorum-bertol-v-thapsiforme-schrad_en.pdf