Verbena

Other Names

AristereonBerbenaBlue vervainBriw'r MarchCas-Gan-GythraulCommon verbenaCommon vervainDerwen FendigaidDərman minaçiçəyiEchtes EisenkrautEisenkrautEnchanter's plantErba croceErba dei tagliEuropean verbenaEuropean vervainEuropese VerbenaFerfaenFerfainGewöhnliches EisenkrautHerb of graceHerb of the crossHerb of VenusHerba sacraHerba venerisHerbe sacréeHiera botaneHoly herbHoly wortIndian hyssopIronherbJuno's tearsKumatsuzuraMa bian caoMosquito plantPigeon's grassPigeonweedProstrate verbenaSimpler's joyTears of IsisVan vanVerbena comunVerbena officinalisVerbenacaVervainVerveineWild hyssopWild verbenaYerba de Santa Ana

Synopsis

Verbena (Verbena officinalis L.): A Comprehensive Reference

1. Identity and Nomenclature

Botanical Classification

Verbena officinalis L. is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Verbenaceae, widely distributed in temperate regions. The genus Verbena, also known as vervain, contains about 150 species of annual and perennial herbaceous or semi-woody flowering plants, with V. officinalis, the common vervain or common verbena, as the type species and native to Europe.

In western Eurasia, the term "verbena" or "vervain" usually refers to V. officinalis, the most widespread and common member of the mostly American genus. It grows up to 70 cm high with an upright habit, lobed, toothed leaves, and delicate spikes holding clusters of two-lipped mauve flowers.

Common Names and Synonyms

Verbena officinalis is known by a large number of common names, including: Blue Vervain, Common Verbena, Common Vervain, Eisenkraut, Enchanter's Plant, European Vervain, Herb of Grace, Herb of the Cross, Herba Verbenae, Herbe du Foie, Herbe Sacrée, Holywort, Juno's Tears, Ma Bian Cao (Chinese), Pigeon's Grass, Pigeonweed, Simpler's Joy, Turkey Grass, Verbenae Herba, Vervain, and Verveine Officinale. The common names in many Central and Eastern European languages often associate it with iron, including the Dutch IJzerhard ("iron-hard"), Danish Læge-Jernurt ("medical ironwort"), German Echtes Eisenkraut ("true ironherb"), Slovak Železník lekársky ("medical ironherb"), and Hungarian vasfű ("iron grass").

Critical Distinction: Verbena vs. Lemon Verbena

Lemon verbena and European vervain (Verbena officinalis) are both members of the Verbenaceae family, and both species are frequently referred to as "verbena." This can lead to confusion and the inadvertent substitution of Aloysia citrodora with Verbena species, especially those found in commerce. These are, however, entirely distinct plants: Aloysia citrodora, lemon verbena, is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family Verbenaceae, native to South America. It was brought to Europe by the Spanish and the Portuguese in the 17th century and cultivated for its oil. A. citrodora is a species with a chemical composition different from that of V. officinalis and a different, limited, distribution of its natural habitats. The current article focuses primarily on Verbena officinalis, the pharmacopoeial species historically recognized in European herbal medicine, while noting relevant data on lemon verbena (A. citrodora) where warranted.

Pharmacopoeial Status

Verbena officinalis (common vervain) is a medicinal plant species widely distributed in the world and commonly used in folk medicine of different countries, including traditional Chinese medicine. Monographs on "Verbenae herba" have been included in the European Pharmacopoeia since 2008 and in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia since 1995. The raw material consisting of the aerial parts is included in both the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and the European Pharmacopoeia.

Habitat and Distribution

It is a perennial herbaceous plant that prefers sunny locations with dry soils and can be found as a ruderal species near roads, on stone rubble, in fields, and wastelands. It is widely naturalized outside its native range, for example in North America.

Plant Part Used and Standardization

The drug material used is the aerial part of the plant, harvested at or near flowering. The raw material is standardized based on its phenylethanoid content, specifically the tyrosol derivative acteoside (verbascoside), which must comprise a minimum of 2.5% of dry weight, expressed as ferulic acid. The essential oil content should be at least 3.0 mL/kg in the whole drug and 2.0 mL/kg in the fragmented drug (dry weight).

Common Preparations and Dosage Forms

Verbena officinalis herb has been used in traditional Austrian medicine internally as tea or liqueur for treatment of infections and fever. Medical use of Common Vervain is usually as a herbal tea. Additional preparation forms encountered in research and practice include aqueous and hydroethanolic (70% ethanol) dry extracts, fluid extracts, tinctures, essential oils, and as a constituent of standardized multi-herb combination tablets (e.g., Sinupret®). Externally, verbena herb infusion serves as a gargle for tonsillitis and stomatitis, and as a lotion for skin conditions.

2. Traditional and Historical Use

Ancient Mediterranean Cultures

Verbena has long been associated with divine and other supernatural forces. It was called "tears of Isis" in ancient Egypt, and later "Hera's tears." In ancient Greece it was dedicated to Eos Erigineia. The generic name is the Latin term for a plant sacred to the ancient Romans. Both the Greeks and the Romans believed that vervain was a holy plant. They used the sacred vervain branches to purify their temples. The Greeks called it hierobotane, "holy plant," while the Roman version of the name was herba sacra or "sacred herb." The Romans also used the vervain plant to bless their altars.

Pliny the Elder described vervain as a "sacred plant" with innumerable applications, including the ritual sweeping and smudging of homes and its use in potions for love and good fortune. The Greek physician Hippocrates is said to have recommended Verbena officinalis for fever and plague.

Medieval European Use

In the early Christian era, folk legend stated that V. officinalis was used to stanch Jesus' wounds after his removal from the cross. It was consequently called "holy herb" or, in Wales, "Devil's bane." Revered as a "sacred herb" in European folk medicine since antiquity, it featured prominently in Druidic rituals and medieval Christian healing practices. Medieval German physician and mystic Hildegard von Bingen classified the plant as cooling and referenced vervain in the treatment of throat swelling and inflammation, healing of ulcers, jaundice, and tooth and gum infections.

Verbena officinalis herb was used in traditional Austrian medicine internally as tea or liqueur for the treatment of infections and fever. Nicholas Culpeper's 1652 The English Physitian discusses folk uses.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

In China, medicinal use dates to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), documented in the Shennong Bencao Jing for treating inflammatory disorders and liver ailments. In China, Verbena herb is primarily used to treat abdominal masses, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, throat swelling, abscesses, edema, jaundice, and malaria.

Wide Ethnobotanical Scope

This widely distributed species is used in folk medicine of various countries and in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of many ailments: rheumatism, anxiety, depression, insomnia, bronchitis, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, throat swelling, abscesses, edema, jaundice, malaria, and liver and gallbladder diseases.

In traditional systems of medicine, Verbena officinalis has been used for treatment of melancholia, hysteria, seizures, jaundice, fever, cholecystalgia, anxiety, depression, insomnia, menstrual disorders, abdominal problems, malaria, pharyngitis, edema, cough, asthma, rheumatic and thyroid problems.

Verbena has traditionally been used in folk medicine to support nervous system health and aid conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Moreover, it has been utilized for headache relief, premenstrual tension, and the treatment of cramps, jaundice, and asthma.

Vervain, presumably this species, is one of the original 38 Bach flower remedies, prescribed against "over-enthusiasm."

Female Reproductive Use

Literature highlights the distinct role of Verbena officinalis in treating dysmenorrhea, vaginitis, endometriosis, premenopausal night sweating, as a herbal tonic for pregnant women and lactating mothers, and its use as an emmenagogue.

3. Key Constituents and Active Compounds

Overview of Chemical Profile

The plant is a rich source mostly of iridoids, phenylpropanoid glycosides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and essential oil. Seventy-five compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, iridoids, phenylethanoids, and xanthones, have been identified in V. officinalis.

Iridoid Glycosides

The most characteristic iridoids of this plant raw material are verbenaline (verbenalin) and hastatoside. Other iridoid glycosides, such as 3,4-dihydroverbenaline, aucubin, 7-hydroxydehydrohastatoside, and the secoiridoids verbenoside A, verbeofflin I, and verbenoside B, have also been identified. The main groups of secondary metabolites determining the biological activity profiles of the raw material are iridoid glycosides, including verbenalin (verbenaloside), aucubin (verbenin), and hastatoside, as well as phenylpropanoid glycosides and caffeic acid derivatives, verbascoside (acteoside) and isoverbascoside (isoacteoside), and eukovoside.

Phenylpropanoid Glycosides and Phenolic Acids

The most prevalent phenylpropanoid glycosides of the plant include verbascoside, isoverbascoside, and eukovoside, while isomers of leukoseptoside and cistanoside are also present. Phenolic acids identified in the plant include gallic acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, and protocatechuic acid, along with quinic, chlorogenic, rosmarinic acids, and dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives.

Flavonoids

Numerous flavonoids have been identified in verbena herb extracts, including compounds common in the plant kingdom such as kaempferol, luteolin, and apigenin, and specific flavonoids such as scutellarein and pedalitin. Notable compounds include apigenin, luteolin, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone, scutellarein and its glucoside derivatives (scutellarein 7-glucoside, scutellarein-7-diglucuronide, and scutellarein-7-glucuronide). Additionally, the plant contains pedalitin, pedalitin-6-galactoside, quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, diosmetin, and rutin.

Triterpenoids and Sterols

Chemical investigations of petroleum ether and chloroform extracts led to the isolation of beta-sitosterol, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, 3-epiursolic acid, 3-epioleanolic acid, and minor triterpenoids — derivatives of ursolic acid and oleanolic acids.

Essential Oil

The essential oil composition of V. officinalis varies greatly depending on the geographical location and the specific plant part used in distillation. The plant contains mono-, di-, tri-, and sesquiterpenoids. Among monoterpenoids, the key compounds include citral, limonene, eucalyptol, menthol, α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, and β-phellandrene. Carnosol and rosmanol are identified as the diterpenoids of the plant.

Amino Acids and Fatty Acids

A total of eight main phenolic compounds and 17 amino acids have been determined in V. officinalis dry extracts. Regarding fatty acids, the most abundant compounds are α-linolenic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid.

4. Mechanisms of Action

Neurological / Central Nervous System Activity

Results from animal studies propose that V. officinalis ethanolic extract has anticonvulsant activity against seizure. These effects may be related to potentiation of the GABAergic system. Iridoid constituents may induce CNS activities through different mechanisms such as inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or serotonin receptors, and the type of sugar linkage with the aglycone may be an important factor for sedative activities. Scutellarein and verbascoside — main constituents of V. officinalis — may mediate sedative effects possibly through GABA pathways by acting on sites other than benzodiazepine receptors, or through pathways other than the GABAergic system.

The antidepressant-like effects observed in animal studies may be attributed to terpenes that can modulate the dopaminergic system involved in the physiopathology of depression.

Sleep-Promoting Activity

Herbal tea made from V. officinalis has traditionally been used for the treatment of insomnia and other nervous conditions. Examination of the sleep-promoting activity of hastatoside, verbenalin, and verbascoside by electroencephalographic analysis of rats found that hastatoside (0.64 mmol/kg of body weight) and verbenalin (1.28 mmol/kg of body weight) increased the total time of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep during a 9-hour period by 81% and 42%, respectively, with a lag time of about 3–5 hours after administration. Both compounds also increased the delta activity during NREM sleep.

Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms

Antiphlogistic activities of β-sitosterol, phenylpropanoids like verbascoside, iridoids such as verbenalin and hastatoside, ursolic acid, and other triterpenoids have been demonstrated in the scientific literature. Verbascoside (acteoside) is active against Staphylococcus aureus, and is an inhibitor of protein kinase C; it also has anti-inflammatory effects in THP-1 cells.

Hepatoprotective Activity

Verbenaline has shown hepatoprotective activity on experimental liver damage in rodents. A 2024 study identified two novel iridoid–phenylethanoid glycoside heterodimers — verbenalinoside A and B — isolated from the dry aerial parts of V. officinalis, along with known precursors verbenalin and verbascoside, and reported their hepatoprotective activity in cell-based models.

Immune Modulation

Using network pharmacology approaches, researchers analyzed the potential regulatory roles of five compounds from V. officinalis (acteoside, apigenin, kaempferol, verbenalin, and hastatoside) on immune cell functions, revealing natural killer (NK) cells as a major target. Verbenalin enhanced NK killing efficiency significantly. Further investigation showed that verbenalin reduced contact time required for killing, thereby enhancing total killing events per NK cell, possibly via inhibition of inhibitory receptors.

Antioxidant Activity

The ethyl acetate extract showed the maximum concentration of total phenolic and total flavonoid contents (394.30 ± 1.09 mg GAE·g⁻¹ DE and 137.35 ± 0.94 mg QE·g⁻¹ DE, respectively). Significant antioxidant potential was observed in all fractions by all four antioxidant methods (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP).

Secretolytic / Mucociliary Effects (in combination)

The therapeutic rationale for verbena as part of multi-herb combinations like Sinupret is based on complementary mechanisms, including a secretolytic effect: the combination reduces the viscosity of respiratory mucus and stimulates the ciliated epithelium, improving mucociliary clearance and helping the sinuses to drain. The verbena herb component provides iridoid glycosides (verbenalin, hastatoside) and phenylpropanoid esters with anti-inflammatory and moderate immunomodulatory properties.

5. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use

5.1 Neurological Effects: Anxiety, Sedation, and Anticonvulsant Activity

Pre-clinical (animal) evidence: In a thiopental-induced sleeping test, V. officinalis crude extract (50–300 mg/kg) decreased onset time of sleep and increased its duration (p < 0.05–0.001 vs. saline group). These results indicate that Verbena officinalis possesses anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and sedative activities, providing scientific background for its medicinal application in neurological ailments such as epilepsy, anxiety, and insomnia.

For investigating the mechanism of V. officinalis in the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) seizure model, flumazenil and naloxone were injected before extract administration. The extract showed no toxicity and significantly increased the period before onset and decreased the duration of seizures induced by PTZ. In the maximal electroshock (MES) test, V. officinalis displayed significant reduction in hind limb tonic extension duration in a dose-dependent manner. The results propose anticonvulsant activity against seizure, and these effects may be related to potentiating the GABAergic system.

Oral administration of V. officinalis aqueous extract significantly decreased (p < 0.01) immobility time in the Forced Swim Test, increased time spent in the light area (Light-Dark Box test), and increased the number of entries into the central squares (Open Field Test) in adult rats. The extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg significantly decreased glycemia level (p < 0.05) and suggested no harmful effect on brain histology, suggesting an antidepressant effect.

In a 2025 pharmacological study, behavioural tests including the Open Field Test, Elevated Plus Maze, Black-and-White Box Test, and Tail Suspension Test were used to evaluate neurotropic effects of V. officinalis dry extracts. The dry aqueous–ethanolic extract (extractant 70% ethanol) demonstrated strong anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, while dry modified extracts with valine and arginine consistently exhibited pronounced sedative activity across all studies.

Evidence strength: Although verbena ("vervain") has been used in herbalism and traditional medicine, usually as an herbal tonic, there is no high-quality evidence for its effectiveness. The effects of pharmaceutical preparations on the human central nervous system require clinical studies. All neurological findings to date remain in the pre-clinical (animal and in vitro) domain. No adequately powered, randomized controlled trials in humans have been published as of the most recent literature searches.

5.2 Sinusitis and Upper Respiratory Conditions

Clinical evidence — combination products: There is a lack of clinical studies on verbena preparations alone, although clinical evidence on its use as part of combination products (SinuComp®, Sinupret®) supports its therapeutic use for sinusitis. Verbena is used for the relief of nasal congestion and sinusitis, generally in combination products, and for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with stress, such as mild anxiety, and to aid sleep.

Sinupret® (manufactured by Bionorica, Neumarkt, Germany) is a unique herbal combination used to treat sinusitis or acute and chronic bronchitis. Sinupret contains extracts of five herbs: elder (Sambucus nigra) flowers, primrose (Primula veris) flowers with calyx, common sorrel (Rumex acetosa) herb, European vervain (Verbena officinalis) herb, and gentian (Gentiana lutea) root. Sinupret has been sold in the German and European market for more than 70 years.

Sinupret is an herbal combination in tablet form consisting of sorrel aerial parts (Rumex acetosa) 36 mg, European elder flower (Sambucus nigra) 36 mg, cowslip flower with calyx (Primula veris) 36 mg, European vervain aerial part (Verbena officinalis) 36 mg, and gentian root (Gentiana lutea) 12 mg.

A randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial involving 160 patients with acute bacterial sinusitis assessed the efficacy of an additional treatment with the herbal combination Sinupret (containing gentian root, cowslip flowers, sour dock herbs, elder flowers, and shop vervain wort herbs) on top of therapy with antibiotics and nasal decongestants. Primary outcome criteria were radiographic findings and patient assessment; secondary variables were clinical symptoms of sinusitis. Results showed that therapy with antibiotic and decongestants achieved significant improvement, and conventional therapy for acute bacterial sinusitis can be improved markedly by including Sinupret in the therapeutic regimen.

The herbal medicinal product BNO 1016 (Sinupret® extract), comprising a dry extract of gentian root, primula flower, sorrel herb, elder flower, and verbena herb, has well-documented mucosecretolytic and secretomotoric, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects in vitro and in vivo.

Evidence strength: The clinical evidence for sinusitis is derived exclusively from combination product studies; the contribution of verbena as a single ingredient cannot be isolated. Evidence for the combination product itself is moderate, based on published randomized controlled trials, but no single-herb verbena clinical trial for sinusitis exists.

5.3 Oral Health / Gingivitis

A randomized controlled clinical trial reference (Grawish et al., 2016, published in Quintessence International, 47(6):491–8) assessed the short-term effects of Verbena officinalis decoction on patients with chronic generalized gingivitis in a double-blind, randomized, controlled, multicenter design. This is one of the few reported human trials with the single herb, but full results were not available in the sources retrieved for this review.

5.4 Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects

Pre-clinical evidence: Various extracts of Verbena officinalis (petrol ether, chloroform, methanol extract, flavonoid-enriched extract, and CO₂ extract) inhibited carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. The strongest inhibition was achieved with the CO₂ extract. All three solvent extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, and methanol) were found to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity, with the chloroform extract being the most active.

Evidence strength: Anti-inflammatory effects are well established in vitro and in animal models. No clinical trial data exist to confirm these findings in humans.

5.5 Antioxidant Activity

The bioactive phytoconstituents were evaluated by preliminary phytochemical studies, estimation of polyphenolic contents, and GC-MS analysis of all fractions of V. officinalis. The biological investigation was performed using antioxidant assays including DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP. Significant antioxidant potential was observed in all fractions by all four antioxidant methods.

Evidence strength: In vitro only; no human clinical studies. The flavonoid and phenylpropanoid content accounts for a mechanistically plausible antioxidant profile.

5.6 Antimicrobial Activity

The plant is reported to possess antifungal and antibacterial activities. Antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been tested via microdilution. Verbascoside (acteoside) is active against Staphylococcus aureus and is an inhibitor of protein kinase C.

Evidence strength: In vitro only. No clinical trials of verbena as a single agent for infectious disease exist.

5.7 Antitumor and Antiproliferative Activity

The infusion of vervain has been suggested to inhibit iron availability, and its essential oil and citral showed pro-apoptotic activity in cancer cell lines, possibly due to the activation of caspase 3. Preliminary studies have suggested that essential oil isoprenoids have great potential to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells from human breast adenocarcinoma, leukemia, and colon adenocarcinoma.

Studies have shown antitumor activity of this plant against human choriocarcinoma JAR cells and chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. One in vivo study showed that the extract demonstrated antitumor activity with an inhibition rate of 38.78%.

Extracts of V. officinalis have been considered for the potential treatment of different diseases, including colorectal and liver cancers. Methanolic extract and fractions were studied for their potency against melanoma cell lines. Three potent fractions demonstrated 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) values as low as 2.85 µg/mL against the LOX IMVI cell line. All three fractions showed similar potency in inhibiting the growth of the B16 murine melanoma cell line.

Evidence strength: Entirely pre-clinical (in vitro and limited animal models). No human oncology trials have been conducted with verbena as a primary agent.

5.8 Enzyme Inhibition (Metabolic and Neurodegenerative Implications)

Enzyme inhibition assays in recent research targeted acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, and α-amylase. Maximum urease inhibitory activity in terms of IC₅₀ value was shown by the ethyl acetate fraction (10 ± 1.60 µg/mL) in comparison to the standard hydroxy urea (9.8 ± 1.20 µg/mL). The n-hexane extract showed good α-glucosidase inhibitory efficacy (420 ± 20 µg/mL).

Anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and sedative activities have been described, underlying medicinal application of V. officinalis in neurological disorders such as epilepsy, anxiety, and insomnia. These findings relate to the importance of V. officinalis in the prevention of several pathologies, including the prevention of neuronal loss, a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

Evidence strength: In vitro enzyme inhibition data are preliminary and cannot currently be translated into clinical guidance.

6. Body Systems and Health Areas of Association

Nervous system: Anxiolytic, antidepressant, sedative, anticonvulsant, neuroprotective properties — all established in animal models; traditional use for anxiety, insomnia, depression, and epilepsy is extensive across multiple cultures.
Respiratory system: Used in combination products for sinusitis and rhinosinusitis (Sinupret®); secretolytic and antiviral effects documented in combination product research.
Digestive / hepatic system: Traditional use for jaundice and liver disease; hepatoprotective activity of verbenaline and novel verbenalinoside compounds demonstrated in preclinical models.
Female reproductive system: Traditional role in treating dysmenorrhea, vaginitis, endometriosis, and premenopausal night sweating, as well as use as an emmenagogue and tonic for pregnant and lactating women.
Immune system: NK cell modulation by verbenalin; potential immunomodulatory properties via verbascoside.
Musculoskeletal system: Traditional use for rheumatism; anti-inflammatory compound activity demonstrated in vitro and in animal models.
Oral health: Traditional use in mouthwash and gargles; one small clinical trial in gingivitis patients.
Oncology (pre-clinical only): Antiproliferative effects against multiple cancer cell lines in vitro.

7. Dosage Forms and Reported Dosages

Human clinical dosages for verbena as a single-ingredient preparation are not well established in the peer-reviewed literature. The following represent reported dosages derived from the sources accessed:

Sinupret® combination tablets (sinusitis): 36 mg of verbena combined with 12 mg of gentian root and 36 mg each of elderflower, sorrel, and cowslip flower, taken three times daily.
Animal study dosages (not directly translatable to humans): Oral administration of V. officinalis aqueous extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg indicated a significant antidepressant-like decrease in immobility time in the Forced Swim Test. Crude extract doses of 50–300 mg/kg have been tested in anticonvulsant and sedative studies in rodents.
Sleep study (animal, isolated compounds): Hastatoside at 0.64 mmol/kg and verbenalin at 1.28 mmol/kg of body weight were the doses used in rodent electroencephalographic NREM sleep studies.
Traditional herbal tea dose: Infusion prepared from the dried aerial parts, typically consumed multiple times per day, as described in traditional pharmacopoeias. Specific gram quantities per cup are not standardized across sources.

There is a lack of scientific data about specific effective dosages for verbena in humans. Clinical studies to substantiate the safety or efficacy of any verbena dosing regimen are limited.

8. Safety Considerations and Interactions

General Safety

Verbena is considered likely safe for most people when taken by mouth in food amounts and possibly safe when taken by mouth in small amounts as part of a combination product containing gentian root, elderflower, sorrel, and cowslip flower (SinuComp, Sinupret). There is not enough information to know if verbena is safe when used in medicinal amounts other than as part of the combination product. The combination product can cause digestive system upset and occasionally allergic skin rash.

Pregnancy

It cannot be considered safe to use during pregnancy as it might cause miscarriages. A case report has indicated that the consumption of V. officinalis induced an abortifacient effect. Exposure of female Sprague-Dawley rats to high doses of aqueous extract of V. officinalis during pregnancy indicated evidence-based deleterious toxic effects on the reproductive performance of dams, represented by a decrease in the number of pups per litter, decreased number of live pups per dam, and low birth weight of offspring. Verbena officinalis is not recommended during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, due to a possible effect on the uterus.

Potential Drug Interactions

Possible interactions have been noted with anticoagulants and thyroid hormones. As the plant has several phytochemicals which may act as substrates for drug-metabolizing enzymes, lemon verbena — and, by extension, related verbena species — may cause herb–drug interactions.

Thyroid Conditions

Verbena officinalis has historically been associated with effects on the thyroid. Prolonged use should be avoided in individuals with thyroid conditions without medical supervision.

Estrogenic Activity

Preclinical research has explored potential estrogenic and progestogenic bioactivity of verbena (Zava DT et al., 1998, Proc Soc Exp Biol Med); however, the clinical significance of this activity at doses typically used in herbal preparations has not been established in human trials.

Adverse Effects (Combination Product Data)

The rate of adverse events was 3.4% (27/792) when Sinupret was taken with concomitant medication. In a post-surveillance study, 8 of the 1,013 patients treated with Sinupret without concomitant medication reported gastrointestinal symptoms (n = 7) or dizziness (n = 1).

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions are rare but possible in people sensitive to plants in the Verbenaceae family.

Overall Evidence Characterization

Although verbena has been used in herbalism and traditional medicine, usually as an herbal tonic, there is no high-quality evidence for its effectiveness. Human clinical trials remain scarce. Many studies rely on animal or cell-culture data, making direct translation to humans uncertain. The most robust human data relates to verbena's role as a constituent of the multi-herb preparation Sinupret®, where it cannot be evaluated independently.

References

Health Conditions

Health conditions that Verbena may help support.

No conditions available.

Body Systems

Body systems that Verbena may help support.

No body systems available.