Evidence supporting the use of: Flavoglycosides
For the health condition: Cough (spastic)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Flavoglycosides are naturally occurring compounds found in various medicinal plants, commonly known for their role as plant secondary metabolites. Their use in supporting or treating spastic cough (a type of dry, irritating cough often associated with bronchial irritation) is primarily rooted in traditional herbal medicine practices rather than robust scientific evidence. Historically, plants rich in flavoglycosides, such as elderflower (Sambucus nigra), linden (Tilia species), and others, have been utilized in traditional European and Asian medicine for their purported antitussive and soothing effects on the respiratory tract. These effects are attributed to the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mild spasmolytic properties of certain flavoglycosides. However, while in vitro and animal studies suggest that some flavoglycosides may exert anti-inflammatory or antispasmodic actions, clinical studies specifically evaluating their efficacy for spastic cough in humans are lacking or limited in quality and scope. Most modern pharmacopeias and systematic reviews conclude that evidence supporting the use of flavoglycosides for this indication is weak and based largely on traditional use rather than rigorous clinical trials. Therefore, their use for spastic cough remains primarily justified by historical and traditional practices, with only limited preclinical scientific support.
Other ingredients used for Cough (spastic)
aloe veraalpha-pinene
apple
waterhyssop
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
Indian frankincense
cat's claw
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
cinnamon
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
elderberry
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
grape
greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
heartwood
Indian tinospora
jujube
lemon
licorice root
lovage
nettle
ophiopogon root
orange
pear
platycodon root
plum fruit
pomegranate
spearmint leaf
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
zhejiang fritillary
zinc
sarsaparilla
boneset
mullein
tangerine
hyssop
atractylodes
lobelia
capsicum
Indian bael
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
punarnava
prickly ash
fritillaria
yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
juniper berries
dodder
sweet flag
eucalyptus
abies spectabilis
horehound
soursop
Alcohol
Aralia
Agastache
Anamarrhena
Alpha-terpineol
Ambergris
acacia
Allicin
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
Aconite
Asafoetida
Andrographolide
Aerva lanata
Asam gelugor
Andrographis
Allyl Sulfide
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Aniseed myrtle
Asarum sieboldii
Alantolactone
Atractylone
Black Seed
Bayleaf
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
Buddha's Hand
Borage
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Cnidium
Cactus
Citron
Citrus
Cineole
Capsaicin
Cistus
Cubeb
Cowslip
Calamus
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cinnamaldehyde
Costus
Chekiang Fritillary
Chondrus
Dragonhead
Diterpenes
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
Ephedrine
Galangal
Ivy
Poppy