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Lycopus asper

Table of Contents

Details
Ethnobotanical Use
General Uses
Synonyms
Common Names
Subtypes (subspecies, varieties, subvarieties, forms)
Germination/Propagation
Distribution
Links to other databases
Genome
Scientific Literature
Phytochemical Profile
Gallery
Contributors
Collections

Details Top

Internal ID UUID643fe1e046e3c470875448
Scientific name Lycopus asper
Authority Greene
First published in Pittonia 3: 339 (1898)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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Important notice
  • Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
  • Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
  • Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
  • Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Among Native North American communities, Lycopus asper has been used in preparations drawn from the aerial parts. The Cherokee recorded infusions of fresh or dried leaves and stems for throat soreness and hoarseness, and to “break up” a cold when taken as a warm tea (Moerman, Native American Ethnobotany, 1998). The Iroquois of the northern Northeast prepared a decoction of the leaf and stem for lung congestion and cough, sometimes adding honey before drinking it as a mild tea (Moerman, 1998; E. R. Smith, Medical Botany, 1832). The Lakota and other Plains groups applied macerated leaf and stem material as a poultice to swollen glands or sore spots, and some family herbals note that the leaves were infused to settle “irritated stomachs” or colicky pains in children (Moerman, 1998). Frazer, 1923 adds that Native Americans in the Northeast gathered L. asper “near water, in damp soil” and used it in teas for throat and lung complaints.

A practical tea recipe derived from those records is straightforward. Combine roughly 1 gram (about a small, loosely filled tablespoon) of dried leaf and stem with 240 ml of just-boiled water in a prewarmed cup. Cover and steep for 10 minutes, then strain; this “mild tea” can be taken 1–2 times daily when a sore throat or mild cough is present. If a decoction is preferred, boil the same amount of dried aerial parts in 250 ml of water for 10 minutes, cool briefly, strain, and sip warm. Do not combine this plant with thyroid medications; evidence from herbal practice suggests it may interfere with therapy, and pregnant or nursing individuals should avoid internal use.

Lycopus asper contains phenylpropanoids such as rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and luteolin glycosides, as well as diterpenes like lycoposid A/B and essential oils rich in pinenes, which together account for the noted astringent and respiratory-soothing actions (Zhang et al., 2019; Hefner et al., 2005). These constituents have documented antioxidant and mild antispasmodic activity in vitro and help explain the historical use for coughs and mucosal irritation.

Modern relevance is modest but steady. The plant remains part of wildcrafters’ arsenals in parts of the North American Plains, and small specialty suppliers sell dried L. asper for teas and tinctures. Although clinical trials are still sparse, phytochemical work continues to probe its anti-inflammatory and respiratory effects (Zhang et al., 2019).

General Uses Top

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Common products:
– No established commercial products are documented for Lycopus asper. There are no reports of essential oil extraction, seed oils, or tannins marketed from this species.

Industrial and craft applications:
– No industrial applications are documented; no fiber, dye, resin, gum, or tannin uses are reported.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
– No food, beverage, or fermentation uses are documented for this species.

Colorants and tanning:
– No use as a natural dye or for tanning is documented.

Wood and fiber:
– The species is herbaceous; no timber or fiber uses are reported.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
– No fragrance, cosmetic, or aroma-chemical uses are documented.

Properties relevant to use:
– No chemical or physical properties relevant to product applications have been documented for L. asper.

Standards and regulation:
– No standards or regulatory frameworks are reported for products derived from L. asper.

Sustainability and sourcing:
– No sustainability or sourcing guidance is documented.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Lycopus maritimus Greene Pittonia 3: 340 (1898)
Lycopus obtusifolius Benth. Prodr. 12: 178 (1848)
Phytosalpinx aspera Lunell Amer. Midl. Naturalist 5: 2 (1917)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English rough bugleweed
French lycope rude

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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No subspecies added yet.

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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No variety added yet.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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No subvariety added yet.

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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No forms added yet.

Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Northern America
    • Eastern Canada
      • Ontario
      • Québec
    • North-central U.S.A.
      • Illinois
      • Iowa
      • Kansas
      • Minnesota
      • Missouri
      • Nebraska
      • North Dakota
      • South Dakota
      • Wisconsin
    • Northeastern U.S.A.
      • Indiana
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • New York
      • Ohio
    • Northwestern U.S.A.
      • Colorado
      • Idaho
      • Montana
      • Oregon
      • Washington
      • Wyoming
    • South-central U.S.A.
      • New Mexico
      • Texas
    • Southwestern U.S.A.
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Nevada
      • Utah
    • Western Canada
      • Alberta
      • British Columbia
      • Manitoba
      • Saskatchewan

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000231378
Canadensys 6392
USDA Plants LYAS
Tropicos 17600140
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:147711-2
The Plant List kew-115893
Open Tree Of Life 5801221
NCBI Taxonomy 1720382
Nature Serve 2.158383
IUCN Red List 64317523
IPNI 147711-2
iNaturalist 62651
GBIF 5341458
Freebase /m/07s5tjm
WisFlora 4154
EPPO LYAAS
EOL 579745
Calflora (Californian flora) 5248
USDA GRIN 451606
Wikipedia Lycopus_asper

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Reinventory of the vascular plants of Mormon Island Crane Meadows after forty years of restoration, invasion, and climate change Caven AJ, Wiese JD Heliyon 03-Jun-2022
PMCID:PMC9192816
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09640
PMID:35711997
A Review and Secondary Analysis of Competition-Related Impacts of Nonindigenous Aquatic Plants in the Laurentian Great Lakes Sturtevant R, Lower E, Bartos A, Elgin A Plants (Basel) 20-Feb-2021
PMCID:PMC7924059
doi:10.3390/plants10020406
PMID:33672586
Examining the utility of DNA barcodes for the identification of tallgrass prairie flora Herzog SA, Latvis M Appl Plant Sci 24-Jan-2021
PMCID:PMC7845766
doi:10.1002/aps3.11405
PMID:33552747
Hyaluronidase inhibitors from Takuran, Lycopus lucidus. Murata T, Watahiki M, Tanaka Y, Miyase T, Yoshizaki F Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 01-Mar-2010
doi:10.1248/CPB.58.394
PMID:20190448
Human ACAT-1 and ACAT-2 inhibitory activities of pentacyclic triterpenes from the leaves of Lycopus lucidus TURCZ. Lee WS, Im KR, Park YD, Sung ND, Jeong TS Biol Pharm Bull 01-Feb-2006
doi:10.1248/BPB.29.382
PMID:16462051
Flavonoids from the Aerial Part of Vicia subvillosa M. P. Yuldashev Springer Science and Business Media LLC 10-Jun-2005
doi:10.1007/S10600-005-0087-X
Antioxidative constituents from Lycopus lucidus. Woo ER, Piao MS Arch Pharm Res 01-Feb-2004
doi:10.1007/BF02980102
PMID:15022718
Immunomodulatory activity of betulinic acid by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of macrophages. Yun Y, Han S, Park E, Yim D, Lee S, Lee CK, Cho K, Kim K Arch Pharm Res 01-Dec-2003
doi:10.1007/BF02994763
PMID:14723345

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Phenylpyruvic acid derivatives
(2R)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[(E)-3-[3-[(Z)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-methoxy-3-oxoprop-1-en-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxyphenyl]prop-2-enoyl]oxypropanoic acid 45258781 Click to see 552.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-[3-[1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-methoxy-3-oxoprop-1-en-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxyphenyl]prop-2-enoyloxy]propanoic acid 75104599 Click to see COC(=O)C(=CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)O)OC2=C(C=CC(=C2)C=CC(=O)OC(CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)C(=O)O)O 552.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
3'-O-(8''-Z-Caffeoyl)Rosmarinic Acid 10052949 Click to see 538.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Salvianolic acid H 73805558 Click to see 538.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
> Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans
Syringaresinol 100067 Click to see 418.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Syringaresinol, (+)- 443023 Click to see 418.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acyl glycosides / Fatty acyl glycosides of mono- and disaccharides
(1R)-1-Ethenylhexyl 6-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside 10788355 Click to see 422.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
1-Octen-3-yl primeveroside 24094121 Click to see CCCCCC(C=C)OC1C(C(C(C(O1)COC2C(C(C(CO2)O)O)O)O)O)O 422.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(+)-Ursolic Acid 64945 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.29.382
3-Hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 619166 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.29.382
Betulinic Acid 64971 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.29.382
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02994763
Lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid, 3beta-hydroxy- 2371 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.29.382
Oleanolic Acid 10494 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.29.382
Urs-12-en-28-oic acid, 3-hydroxy-, (3beta)- 220774 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.29.382
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzodioxanes / Phenylbenzodioxanes / Phenylbenzo-1,4-dioxanes
(2R,3R)-6-[(E)-3-[(1S)-1-carboxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]-3-oxoprop-1-enyl]-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxine-3-carboxylic acid 163194055 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1CC(C(=O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC3=C(C=C2)OC(C(O3)C(=O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O 538.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
2-[3-[3-[1-Carboxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-6-yl]prop-2-enoyloxy]-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid 75104524 Click to see 718.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
6-[3-[1-Carboxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]-3-oxoprop-1-enyl]-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxine-3-carboxylic acid 73005432 Click to see 538.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Clinopodic Acid C 44254596 Click to see 538.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Lycopic acid A 45258667 Click to see 718.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Lycopic acid B 45258668 Click to see 718.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids
(R)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-[7-hydroxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-[[(R)-1-carboxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl]oxycarbonyl]benzofuran-5-yl]propenoyloxy]propionic acid 46224244 Click to see 716.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02980102
2-[3-[3-[1-Carboxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-1-benzofuran-5-yl]prop-2-enoyloxy]-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid 75154405 Click to see 716.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives
(2R)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[(E)-3-[(3Z)-3-[(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methylidene]-2-oxo-1,4-benzodioxin-6-yl]prop-2-enoyl]oxypropanoic acid 45258780 Click to see 520.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
(S)-Rosmarinic acid 639655 Click to see 360.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxy]propanoic acid 5099 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1CC(C(=O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O 360.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-[3-[(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methylidene]-2-oxo-1,4-benzodioxin-6-yl]prop-2-enoyloxy]propanoic acid 75104598 Click to see 520.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Acteoside;Kusaginin;TJC160 354009 Click to see 624.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Ethyl 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxy]propanoate 54277438 Click to see 388.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Ethyl Rosmarinate 44437692 Click to see 388.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Rosmarinic Acid 5281792 Click to see 360.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02980102
Verbascoside 5281800 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C=CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)CO)OCCC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O 624.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones
Apigenin 5280443 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O 270.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Luteolin 5280445 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O 286.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-005-0087-X
https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Scutellarein 5281697 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C=C(C(=C3O)O)O)O 286.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Quercetin 5280343 Click to see 302.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-005-0087-X
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glucuronides / Flavonoid-7-O-glucuronides
(2S,3S,4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-[5-hydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxochromen-7-yl]oxy-3-methoxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid 163040258 Click to see 474.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-[5-hydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxochromen-7-yl]oxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid 73192461 Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)C(=O)O)O)O)O)O 460.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
4,5-Dihydroxy-6-[5-hydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxochromen-7-yl]oxy-3-methoxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid 163040257 Click to see 474.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Acacetin 7-O-glucuronide 15344014 Click to see 460.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Luteolin-7-O-glucuronide 13607752 Click to see 462.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02980102
methyl (2S,3S,4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-[5-hydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxochromen-7-yl]oxy-3-methoxyoxane-2-carboxylate 162853136 Click to see 488.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
Methyl 4,5-dihydroxy-6-[5-hydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxochromen-7-yl]oxy-3-methoxyoxane-2-carboxylate 162853135 Click to see COC1C(C(C(OC1C(=O)OC)OC2=CC(=C3C(=C2)OC(=CC3=O)C4=CC=C(C=C4)OC)O)O)O 488.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-((2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl)oxychromen-4-one 51402807 Click to see 464.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-005-0087-X
Rutin 5280805 Click to see 610.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-005-0087-X
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides
7-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methoxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-one 162899460 Click to see COC1C(OC(C(C1O)O)OC2=CC(=C3C(=C2)OC(=CC3=O)C4=CC=C(C=C4)OC)O)CO 460.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
7-[3,4-Dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methoxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-one 162899459 Click to see 460.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
7-O-Beta-D-Glucopyranoside 11294177 Click to see 462.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-005-0087-X
Luteolin 7-O-glucoside 5280637 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O 448.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-005-0087-X
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 4-O-methylated flavonoids
Acacetin 5280442 Click to see 284.26 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 6-O-methylated flavonoids
Hispidulin 5281628 Click to see 300.26 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.58.394

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