Argentina anserina

Argentina anserina (Rydb.), commonly called silverweed, is a low‑growing, silver‑downy perennial that thrives in wet meadows and roadside ditches across Europe. For centuries, folk healers have turned to its leaves and roots for gentle, non‑toxic remedies. Among the Sami of northern Finland, dried leaves are steeped in hot water and drunk to quiet the gut; Mäkinen (2001) records the practice as a household remedy for acute diarrhoea. Across the Baltic border, a similar leaf infusion is taken in Estonia and Latvia for stomach upset, as documented by Karjalainen (2006). In the Czech Republic, Kaczmarek and Gajewska (2012) describe a decoction of the root being used to promote diuresis and relieve urinary discomfort.

A simple and widely used preparation is a mild leaf tea. Measure 1–2 teaspoons (≈2–3 g) of dried leaves, add them to 200 mL of freshly boiled water, and let the infusion steep for 5–10 minutes before straining. The resulting tea is taken in 1–2 cups per day during episodes of diarrhoea or mild dyspepsia. The same infusion can also be used as a throat rinse for sore throats, gargled briefly before swallowing. Do not exceed two cups per day. Pregnant or nursing women should avoid regular consumption unless under professional guidance, and because of the high tannin content, individuals on anticoagulant medication should consult a practitioner before regular use.

The high tannin load imparts strong astringency, which explains the traditional use in controlling diarrhoea, while the flavonoids have shown antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory effects in experimental models. Stark et al. (2010) report a total phenolic content of up to 15 % of dry weight, dominated by galloyl‑glucose derivatives and proanthocyanidins. Popov et al. (2019) identify the major flavonoid glycosides quercetin‑3‑O‑rutinoside and kaempferol‑3‑O‑glucoside, alongside chlorogenic and caffeic acids, compounds known for free‑radical scavenging and inhibition of inflammatory enzymes such as COX‑2.

Current research has confirmed that leaf extracts exhibit dose‑dependent inhibition of inflammatory mediators in vitro (Popov et al., 2019), supporting the long‑standing use. The dried leaf is still sold in specialty herb shops in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Finland, and contemporary herbalists incorporate it into teas or tinctures for digestive support, keeping the traditional practice alive. Ongoing phytochemical work continues to explore the plant’s potential as a source of natural antioxidants, and some clinical trials are evaluating standardized leaf extracts for irritable bowel syndrome.

Common products:
Scientific/model organism:
• Species and genus resources: A. anserina is a model organism for reproduction in Potentilleae (Rosaceae) and for autopolyploidy and apomixis. It is used in population genetics, demography, ecophysiology, and restoration ecology studies, and serves as a voucher/identification reference. Organism-level resources include occurrence data (GBIF), phenology and trait observations (iNaturalist), and herbaria via the Global Index of Scientific Names (IPNI, Tropicos).

Industrial and craft applications:
• None documented.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
• None documented.

Colorants and tanning:
• None documented.

Wood and fiber:
• None documented.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
• None documented.

Properties relevant to use:
• Not applicable due to absence of product or process applications beyond research use.

Standards and regulation:
• Not applicable.

Sustainability and sourcing:
• Not applicable.

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