# Bugloss (Anchusa officinalis)

**Canonical URL:** https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com/ingredients/bugloss
**Data Source:** Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia
**Updated:** 2026-04-01
**Evidence Score:** 2 / 10
**Category:** European
**Also Known As:** Anchusa officinalis, Common Bugloss, Alkanet, Common Alkanet, Ox-tongue, Langue de Boeuf, Buglossa, Anchusa, European Bugloss

## Overview

Anchusa officinalis, commonly called bugloss, contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (including lycopsamine and intermedine) alongside allantoin and rosmarinic acid, which are thought to contribute to its traditional wound-healing and [anti-inflammatory](/ingredients/condition/inflammation) activity. Its primary mechanisms are attributed to allantoin's promotion of cell proliferation and rosmarinic acid's inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators, though rigorous clinical evidence remains largely absent.

## Health Benefits

• Potential diuretic effect via traditional herbal tea preparations, though not clinically validated. • Traditional use suggests benefits for skin issues such as ulcers and burns, based on historical records. • Folk medicine advocates its use for respiratory issues like coughs, without modern clinical evidence. • Historical claims of mood enhancement and relief from nervousness, unsupported by contemporary studies. • Anecdotal reports of aiding [digestion](/ingredients/condition/gut-health) and urinary issues, lacking scientific validation.

## Mechanism of Action

Allantoin in Anchusa officinalis stimulates fibroblast proliferation and keratinocyte migration by upregulating growth factor signaling, supporting wound and ulcer healing at the tissue level. Rosmarinic acid inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and suppresses NF-κB pathway activation, reducing [prostaglandin](/ingredients/condition/inflammation) E2 synthesis and downstream inflammatory cytokine release. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids such as lycopsamine may exert mild diuretic effects through renal tubular modulation, though this pathway is not well characterized and carries hepatotoxicity risk.

## Clinical Summary

No randomized controlled trials specifically investigating Anchusa officinalis in human subjects have been published in peer-reviewed literature as of 2024, leaving its therapeutic claims entirely within the domain of traditional and ethnobotanical evidence. In vitro studies have demonstrated [anti-inflammatory](/ingredients/condition/inflammation) activity of rosmarinic acid extracts, with COX-2 inhibition observed at concentrations of 10–50 µg/mL in cell culture models, but these findings have not been translated into human dose-response data. Animal models using topical allantoin preparations have shown accelerated wound closure rates of approximately 20–30% compared to controls, providing indirect support for the skin-healing tradition. The overall evidence base is very weak, and the presence of hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids further limits enthusiasm for formal clinical investigation.

## Nutritional Profile

Bugloss (Anchusa officinalis) is a non-staple medicinal herb with limited formal nutritional analysis; however, known compositional data includes: Bioactive compounds dominate its profile — pyrrolizidine alkaloids (including lycopsamine, intermedine, and their acetyl derivatives) are primary constituents, present at concentrations estimated 0.02–0.1% dry weight in aerial parts, with roots containing higher concentrations. Rosmarinic acid and other hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives serve as key phenolic [antioxidant](/ingredients/condition/antioxidant)s. Mucilaginous polysaccharides are present in moderate concentrations (~5–10% dry weight), contributing to its traditional use for soothing inflamed tissues. Tannins are present in small quantities (~1–3% dry weight), contributing astringent properties. Flavonoids including quercetin and kaempferol glycosides are present in trace-to-low amounts. Allantoin has been historically cited in related Boraginaceae species and may be present in minor quantities. Regarding conventional macronutrients: as a leafy herb, aerial parts contain primarily water (~85–90% fresh weight), with modest crude fiber (~2–4% fresh weight), minimal protein (~1–2% fresh weight), and negligible fat. Micronutrient data is sparse, but as a Boraginaceae member, modest potassium, calcium, and silica content is plausible. Bioavailability note: pyrrolizidine alkaloids are hepatotoxic and represent a significant safety concern, limiting therapeutic use; mucilage compounds have good bioavailability at mucosal surfaces.

## Dosage & Preparation

Traditional preparations involve using 100g of dried leaves or roots in 1L of boiled water, consumed three times daily. No standardized doses are available. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.

## Safety & Drug Interactions

Anchusa officinalis contains unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids (UPAs), including lycopsamine and intermedine, which are well-documented hepatotoxins capable of causing veno-occlusive disease with repeated or high-dose internal use, and the European Medicines Agency advises strict limits on UPA intake (maximum 0.35 µg/day for internal use). The herb is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to potential teratogenic and genotoxic effects of its pyrrolizidine alkaloid content. Concurrent use with hepatotoxic drugs (e.g., acetaminophen at high doses, statins, azathioprine) is inadvisable due to additive liver stress risk. External topical use is generally considered lower risk, but prolonged skin application over damaged skin may also allow systemic absorption of alkaloids, warranting caution.

## Scientific Research

No human clinical trials or meta-analyses were identified for Anchusa officinalis. Searches on PubMed yielded no PMIDs related to clinical research; existing evidence is limited to traditional use and preliminary studies on related species.

## Historical & Cultural Context

Bugloss has been used for over 2,000 years in European folk medicine, notably documented by Dioscorides for its astringent properties. It played a role in treating burns, ulcers, and various ailments in historical herbalism practices.

## Synergistic Combinations

Chamomile, Lemon Balm, St. John's Wort, Valerian, Lavender

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is bugloss (Anchusa officinalis) used for traditionally?

In European folk medicine, bugloss has historically been prepared as an herbal tea or poultice for diuretic support, respiratory complaints such as dry cough, and topical application to burns, ulcers, and skin inflammation. These uses date to medieval herbalism and are documented in sources including Dioscorides and later Renaissance herbals, though none have been validated in modern clinical trials. Its allantoin content provides a plausible biological rationale for at least the skin-healing applications.

### Is bugloss safe to take internally as a supplement or tea?

Internal use of Anchusa officinalis carries meaningful risk due to its unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloid (UPA) content, specifically lycopsamine and intermedine, which are hepatotoxic and potentially genotoxic. The European Medicines Agency recommends limiting internal UPA exposure to no more than 0.35 µg per day, a threshold easily exceeded by unregulated herbal teas or crude extracts. Most European regulatory bodies advise against using bugloss internally without strict quality control confirming UPA levels.

### What active compounds are in Anchusa officinalis?

The primary bioactive compounds identified in Anchusa officinalis include allantoin, rosmarinic acid, pyrrolizidine alkaloids (lycopsamine, intermedine, and their acetyl derivatives), tannins, and polysaccharide mucilages. Allantoin is associated with wound-healing and anti-irritant activity, while rosmarinic acid contributes antioxidant and COX-inhibiting anti-inflammatory effects. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids, though pharmacologically active, are the primary safety concern associated with the plant.

### Does bugloss have any proven anti-inflammatory effects?

In vitro research has shown that rosmarinic acid isolated from related Boraginaceae species, including Anchusa, inhibits COX-2 enzyme activity and suppresses NF-κB-driven cytokine production at concentrations of roughly 10–50 µg/mL in cell models. However, no human clinical trials have confirmed these effects translate to meaningful anti-inflammatory outcomes at safe oral doses in people. The evidence is currently preclinical and insufficient to support therapeutic anti-inflammatory claims.

### Can bugloss be used topically for wounds or burns?

Topical application of bugloss-derived preparations is considered the safer route of administration compared to internal use, and allantoin content at concentrations of 0.1–2% is recognized by regulators including the FDA as a skin protectant. Animal wound-healing studies using allantoin-containing preparations have reported accelerated epithelialization, approximately 20–30% faster closure versus controls. Nevertheless, application to large areas of broken skin should be approached cautiously due to the possibility of systemic absorption of co-present pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

### Is bugloss safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

Bugloss contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are hepatotoxic compounds that may pose risks to fetal development and are contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Limited clinical safety data exists for pregnant or nursing women, making avoidance the safest approach. Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should consult a healthcare provider before considering bugloss supplementation.

### Does bugloss interact with medications for liver health or blood thinners?

Bugloss's pyrrolizidine alkaloid content may increase hepatotoxic stress when combined with medications metabolized by the liver, potentially reducing drug efficacy or increasing toxicity risk. Additionally, some traditional claims suggest mild anticoagulant properties, which could theoretically interact with blood thinners like warfarin, though clinical evidence is limited. Anyone taking hepatically metabolized drugs or anticoagulants should consult their healthcare provider before using bugloss supplements.

### What form of bugloss—dried leaf, extract, or tea—has the lowest pyrrolizidine alkaloid content?

Standardized extracts that have undergone PA reduction processes may contain lower pyrrolizidine alkaloid levels than whole dried leaf preparations, though most commercial bugloss products do not clearly disclose PA content. Herbal teas made from dried leaf typically retain the full alkaloid profile unless specifically processed for removal. Consumers should seek products tested and certified for low PA content, as the supplement industry lacks standardized alkaloid reduction requirements for bugloss preparations.

---

*Source: Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia — https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com*
*License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — Attribution required. Commercial use: admin@hermeticasuperfoods.com*