PubMed-compiled information sheet
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Compiled from 27 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a medicinal herb most commonly used for the prophylaxis of migraine headaches [PMID:30000921].
Background
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a plant from the Asteraceae family with a long history of use in traditional and folk medicine, particularly among early European and Greek herbalists [PMID:22096324].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used for fevers, migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, stomach aches, toothaches, insect bites, infertility, problems with menstruation and labor during childbirth, psoriasis, allergies, asthma, tinnitus, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting [PMID:22096324].
Active compounds
The principal active ingredient is thought to be the sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide [PMID:30000921, PMID:31763637]. Other potentially active constituents include flavonoid glycosides and pinenes [PMID:22096324].
Mechanism of action
Parthenolide exhibits anti-inflammatory, redox-modulating, and epigenetic activities [PMID:31763637]. It inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory mediators from macrophages and lymphocytes [PMID:22761185] and may suppress STAT3/NF-κB and inflammasome activation [PMID:35729839].
Clinical evidence
Evidence AMigraine Prophylaxis
Evidence for efficacy is mixed [PMID:32310327, PMID:30627973], although some systematic reviews indicate the majority of trials favor feverfew over placebo [PMID:11276299] and other reviews describe the evidence as promising [PMID:24682554].
Evidence CInflammatory Skin Conditions
Feverfew is noted for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may be useful for treating inflammatory skin dermatoses and photoaging [PMID:18681154, PMID:25226001].
Safety & adverse effects
Generally well tolerated in adults, though occasional gastrointestinal irritation or oral ulcers may occur [PMID:30000921]. Rapid discontinuation may lead to rebound headaches [PMID:30000921]. Rare allergic reactions can occur, including cross-reactions to daisies, marigolds, and chrysanthemums [PMID:30000921]; it is also identified as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis [PMID:18021597].
Pregnancy & lactation
There is no data on the safety and efficacy of feverfew in nursing mothers or infants, nor on the excretion of its components into breastmilk; consequently, some reviewers recommend against its use during breastfeeding [PMID:30000921].
Evidence summary
The evidence for migraine prophylaxis is the most extensively studied but remains mixed across systematic reviews. Preclinical data suggest strong anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of its active compound, parthenolide.
PubMed sources
- 1.PMID: 30000921 (2006) — Migraine Headache Prophylaxis. · American family physician
- 2.PMID: 32310327 (2020) — Herbal treatments for migraine: A systematic review of randomised-controlled studies. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
- 3.PMID: 39265445 (2024) — Parthenolide attenuates hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension through inhibiting STAT3 signaling. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
- 4.PMID: 35729839 (2022) — Parthenolide ameliorates neurological deficits and neuroinflammation in mice with traumatic brain injury by suppressing STAT3/NF-κB and inflammasome activation. · International immunopharmacology
- 5.PMID: 12793186 (2003)