This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
How does Potentilla anserina relieve menstrual cramps?
Potentilla anserina exerts its antispasmodic effects primarily through its high tannin and flavonoid content. These compounds help relax smooth muscle tissue in the uterus, reducing the intensity of spasms associated with menstrual cramps. The presence of tormentoside further contributes to this muscle-relaxing action. While the exact molecular pathway requires further clinical study (Evidence Level C), traditional use strongly supports its efficacy in soothing uterine discomfort and reducing menstrual pain.
Is Potentilla anserina safe to take during pregnancy?
No, Potentilla anserina is considered unsafe during pregnancy. Traditional evidence suggests the herb can stimulate uterine contractions, potentially leading to miscarriage or premature labor. While it has been used historically to facilitate childbirth near term, it should be strictly avoided during earlier stages of pregnancy. Due to insufficient safety data and known uterine effects (Evidence Level C), pregnant women are advised to avoid this herb entirely unless directed by a qualified healthcare provider.
What is the recommended dosage for Potentilla anserina?
For adults, the standard therapeutic dosage involves 3 to 6 grams of the dried herb prepared as a tea, or 2 to 3 milliliters of liquid tincture taken three times daily. To prepare the tea, steep the dried herb in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes to ensure proper extraction of active compounds. Dosages for children are not well-established (Evidence Level C), so professional guidance is recommended before pediatric use.
Does silverweed interact with any medications?
Due to its significant tannin content, Potentilla anserina may interfere with the absorption of certain medications, particularly alkaloids and minerals like iron. Tannins can bind to drugs in the digestive tract, reducing their bioavailability and effectiveness. It is generally recommended to separate the intake of silverweed preparations and pharmaceutical drugs by at least two hours. Currently, specific clinical trial data on interactions is lacking (Evidence Level D), so caution is advised.
Can Potentilla anserina be used to treat diarrhea?
Yes, Potentilla anserina is traditionally used to treat acute diarrhea. The herb's high tannin content acts as an intestinal astringent, helping to reduce inflammation and fluid secretion within the digestive tract. This action helps firm stools and provides relief from gastrointestinal upset. While supported by traditional use and pharmacological plausibility (Evidence Level C), users should be cautious, as excessive consumption can lead to constipation.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Potentilla anserina (silverweed cinquefoil) is a perennial herb used in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine as both a food and a medicinal resource [PMID:38909825, PMID:36717756]. It is recognized for its anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant properties [PMID:34288682, PMID:40636944].
Background
Potentilla anserina L. (Rosaceae), also known as silverweed cinquefoil or ginseng fruit, is a plant widely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and western areas of China [PMID:38855725, PMID:34288682, PMID:37528998]. It is characterized as a clonal polyploid herb [PMID:39716778].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used in Chinese and Tibetan medicine to invigorate the spleen and stomach, quench thirst, tonify blood, astringe to stop bleeding, relieve diarrhea, and treat spleen deficiency [PMID:38909825, PMID:37528998]. It has also been used in folk medicine as an antitussive and expectorant [PMID:26695537].
Active compounds
Active constituents include polysaccharides [PMID:39922353], flavonoids such as (+)-catechin, (+)-gallocatechin, and various quercetin and kaempferol glycosides [PMID:17238103], phenols [PMID:36717756], and pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins (e.g., poterinasides A-J and potentillanosides A-F) [PMID:34288682, PMID:24697904].
Mechanism of action
Polysaccharides (PAP) reduce inflammatory levels and M1 macrophage immune responses in acute lung injury [PMID:39922353] and inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, VEGF, NF-κB, and HIF-1α) in hypobaric hypoxia models [PMID:34243609, PMID:32298011]. Flavonoids (PAF) modulate oxidative stress via the kelch-like ECH-associated protein pathway, reduce inflammatory cytokines, and restore intestinal microbiota balance [PMID:40636944]. Phenols improve insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by promoting Akt phosphorylation and suppress adipokine expression to decrease lipid droplet accumulation [PMID:36717756].
A combination extract containing silverweed (Gastritol Liquid) led to relevant improvements in vomiting (-66.7%) and retching (-52.2%) in patients with and without diabetes [PMID:26522087]
Evidence DAcute Lung Injury (ALI)
Polysaccharides (PAP) effectively reduced inflammatory levels and intestinal mucosal barrier impairment in LPS-induced mouse models [PMID:39922353]
Evidence DUlcerative Colitis (UC)
Flavonoids (PAF) mitigated weight loss, blood in stool, and diarrhea in DSS-induced colitis mice [PMID:40636944]
Evidence DCough and mucus
Aqueous extracts and polysaccharides significantly inhibited cough frequency and showed expectorant activity in mice and guinea pigs [PMID:26695537]
Evidence DHepatotoxicity
Triterpenes (potentillanoside A, rosamutin, kaji-ichigoside F1) exhibited in vivo hepatoprotective effects in mice [PMID:24697904]
Evidence D
Safety & adverse effects
An acute toxicity study in mice using a maximum dose of 345.6 g/kg crude drug extract showed no toxic symptoms, with normal body weight, food intake, and organ function [PMID:32352405]. In a human non-interventional study of a combination product containing silverweed, adverse events were reported in 7 patients, including temporary nausea, gastric spasm, and oral burning sensation [PMID:26522087].
Evidence summary
The majority of evidence is derived from in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), demonstrating significant anti-inflammatory and protective effects. There is limited human data, consisting primarily of a non-interventional study on a multi-herb combination [PMID:26522087].
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 38855725 (2023) — The genome sequence of the silverweed cinquefoil, Potentilla anserina L., 1753. · Wellcome open research
2.PMID: 39922353 (2025) — Potentilla anserina L. polysaccharide ameliorates LPS-induced acute lung injury and relevant intestinal mucosal barrier impairment. · International journal of biological macromolecules
3.PMID: 38909825 (2024) — A systematic review on botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Potentilla anserina L. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
4.PMID: 40636944 (2025) — Potentilla anserina L. flavonoids ameliorate ulcerative colitis by modulating oxidative stress, intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, and inflammatory responses. · 3 Biotech
5.PMID: 32352405 (2020) — Acute toxicity of Potentilla anserina L. extract in mice.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
Polysaccharides (PAP) reduced lung water content, alleviated tissue injury, and protected against brain impairment in rat models [PMID:34243609, PMID:32298011]
Evidence DSkin damage (mask-induced)
Extract increased Aquaporin-3 and Filaggrin expression, improving skin hydration and barrier function [PMID:37762597]
· Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
6.PMID: 37528998 (2023) — Enzyme-assisted extraction, characterization, and in vitro antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from Potentilla anserina L. · Frontiers in nutrition
7.PMID: 39716778 (2025) — Drift in small populations predicts mate availability and the breakdown of self-incompatibility in a clonal polyploid. · The New phytologist
8.PMID: 34288682 (2021) — Pentacyclic Triterpenoid Saponins, Poterinasides A-J, from Silverweed Cinquefoil Roots Promising Hepatoprotective and Anti-inflammatory Agents. · The Journal of organic chemistry
9.PMID: 26695537 (2016) — Antitussive and expectorant activities of Potentilla anserina. · Pharmaceutical biology
10.PMID: 36717756 (2023) — Phenols from Potentilla anserina L. Improve Insulin Sensitivity and Inhibit Differentiation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes in Vitro. · Chemistry & biodiversity
11.PMID: 17238103 (1995) — Flavan-3-ols and flavonoids from Potentilla anserina. · Planta medica
12.PMID: 37762597 (2023) — The Protective Effects of Moisturizer Containing Potentilla anserina Extract in the Topical Treatment of Skin Damage Caused by Masks. · International journal of molecular sciences
13.PMID: 34243609 (2021) — Polysaccharide from Potentilla anserina L ameliorate pulmonary edema induced by hypobaric hypoxia in rats. · Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
14.PMID: 24697904 (2014) — Hepatoprotective triterpenes from traditional Tibetan medicine Potentilla anserina. · Phytochemistry
15.PMID: 26522087 (2016) — Treatment of Mild Gastrointestinal Disorders with a Herbal Combination: Results of a Non-interventional Study with Gastritol® Liquid. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
16.PMID: 32298011 (2020) — Polysaccharide extracted from Potentilla anserina L ameliorate acute hypobaric hypoxia-induced brain impairment in rats. · Phytotherapy research : PTR