Herbs & Botanicals · Herbs · Traditional root tea and vegetable with only very low-certainty human evidence and a history of contaminated tea
Burdock Root
Arctium lappa L. · also called Burdock, greater burdock, great burdock, gobo (Japan), bardane (French), Grosse Klette (German), bardana
Burdock is a tall biennial plant of the daisy family with burr-covered flower heads. Its root is eaten as a vegetable in Japan and sold as tea, powder and extracts. Its fruit (seed) is used in Chinese medicine. Human research is small, and the best-known safety reports involve root tea contaminated with atropine from belladonna.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Burdock Root
Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a daisy-family plant whose root is eaten as a vegetable and sold as tea, powder and extracts, and whose fruit is used in Chinese medicine. The EU lists the root only as a traditional herbal medicine for increasing urine flow and for temporary loss of appetite. Human research is small: single trials suggest lower inflammation markers in knee osteoarthritis and PCOS, and fewer repeat diverticulitis attacks, all at very low certainty. There are no human trials for blood sugar, kidney or liver. The main safety issues are allergy, contaminated tea that has caused atropine poisoning, and missing data for pregnancy and breastfeeding.
What it is
Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a tall biennial of the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to Europe and Asia according to the EU assessment report, with large leaves and round purple flower heads that turn into burrs. The root is the part most used as tea and powder. The fruit (seed) is a separate medicine in Chinese practice. In Japan a cultivated form (gobo) is eaten as a vegetable.
Other burdocks (Arctium minus and A. tomentosum) are separate species, and the German drug standard cited by the EU lets them be mixed.
Traditional and current uses
The EU report describes folk use of the root as a 'blood purifier' and for rheumatism, gout, skin complaints and to increase urine and sweating. In 2010 the EU herbal committee accepted burdock root as a traditional herbal medicine to increase urine flow in minor urinary complaints and for temporary loss of appetite. 'Traditional' means it rests on long use, not on trial proof. A 2020 review made no change.
What is in it and how it works
The root is about 45% inulin, a fibre that feeds gut bacteria, plus phenolic acids such as chlorogenic acid. The fruit is rich in lignans, arctiin and arctigenin. Gut bacteria convert arctiin to arctigenin. In cells and animals arctigenin lowers inflammatory signals, but it is quickly attached to sugars in the body, which may limit its effect after swallowing.
Most lab work is on the fruit compound arctigenin, while most human tea and powder trials used the root. Results do not carry over between the two.
What the research shows
The EU committee found no controlled clinical studies of the root. Since then there are a few small trials. Burdock root tea lowered blood markers of inflammation in 36 people with knee osteoarthritis, root powder improved markers and ovary volume in 60 women with PCOS, and burdock tea was followed by fewer repeat diverticulitis attacks in an open-label trial. Each rests on one study, and none shows clear symptom benefit.
For blood sugar, liver and kidney protection and cancer, support comes from cells and animals. A small phase I trial of an arctigenin-rich fruit extract in 15 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer showed it was tolerable and did not prove benefit.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Folk medicine across Europe and Asia: the EU assessment report describes the root as a 'blood purifier' used for rheumatism, gout, skin complaints and to increase urine and sweating. These are handbook statements, not checked against old texts.
- European Union (2010): accepted as a traditional herbal medicine to increase urine flow in minor urinary complaints and for temporary loss of appetite, based on long use only.
- Japan: a cultivated form (gobo) is eaten as a vegetable.
- Chinese medicine: the dried fruit (Arctii Fructus) is used for sore throat, cough and skin eruptions.
Studied for research
- Knee osteoarthritis inflammation markers, very low
- PCOS oxidative stress and ovary size, very low
- Diverticulitis recurrence, very low
- Blood fats, very low (burdock alone not shown)
- Blood sugar, insufficient (no human trials)
- Skin, acne, liver, kidney, cancer lab: insufficient
Main compounds
- Inulin (prebiotic fibre), about 45% of the dry root per the EU report
- Chlorogenic acid and other phenolic acids in the root
- Arctiin and arctigenin, lignans mainly in the fruit; arctigenin is formed from arctiin by gut bacteria
- Sesquiterpene lactones, the likely cause of allergic reactions in daisy-family plants
Common forms
- Dried root as tea (infusion)
- Root powder
- Liquid extracts and tinctures
- Dried fruit (seed) in Chinese medicine
- Fresh root as a vegetable (gobo)
Research links: EU assessment report on burdock root (European Medicines Agency) · EU herbal monograph on burdock root, consultation draft (European Medicines Agency) · Burdock root tea and knee osteoarthritis trial (PubMed) · Tropane alkaloid contamination of herbal teas (PubMed) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
The plant and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Arctium lappa L.
- Naming authority
- L.; Sp. Pl.: 816 (1753) (GBIF). NCBI lists 'L., 1753'.
- Synonyms
- Arctium edule Beger; Arctium lappa Willd., 1803; Arctium lappa var. lappa; Lappa bardana var. major Celak.; Lappa vulgare (Hill) Evans; Lappa vulgaris subsp. vulgaris; Lappa vulgaris var. vulgaris
- Common names
- Greater burdock (English); Great burdock (English); Burdock (English); Bardana (Italian and Portuguese (GBIF)); Bardana mayor (Spanish (common usage; not confirmed in GBIF)); Grande bardane (French); Bardane commune (French); Grosse Klette (German); Bardana maggiore (Italian); Grote klit (Dutch); Gobo (Japanese (the cultivated root vegetable, per the EU assessment report))
- Botanical family
- Asteraceae (daisy family, also called Compositae); it also holds chamomile, arnica, echinacea, dandelion, ragweed and chicory.
- Classification
- Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Asterales > Asteraceae > Arctium > Arctium lappa
- Native range
- Native in Europe, Northern Asia and North America according to the EU assessment report (citing Wichtl 1994). Not checked against a primary botanical flora.
- Habitat
- Not verified from a primary botanical source.
- What the plant looks like
- Roots: The medicinal part. The EU report says it is collected in the autumn of the first year or the spring of the second year; the roots have large amounts of inulin.; Stems: A biennial plant that can reach 1.5 metres (EU report).; Leaves: Large heart-shaped leaves; the EU report says leaves are collected from one-year-old plants and dried for leaf uses, but the EU monograph covers the root only.; Flowers: Purple flowers from July to September; round flower head 3 to 4 cm across with rough hairs (EU report).; Fruit: The burr heads stick to clothing and fur because of tiny hooks. The dried ripe fruit (Arctii Fructus) is used in Chinese medicine and is rich in lignans.
- Cultivation
- Not verified in detail. The EU report says a cultivated form is eaten as a vegetable, mainly in Japan, and that powdered or cut root has been sold as tea in Spain since 1973.
- Harvest and processing
- Root harvested in autumn of year one or spring of year two (EU report); processing details not verified.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh. (lesser burdock) and Arctium tomentosum Mill. (woolly burdock); Note: Separate accepted species in GBIF (keys 5393103 and 5393080). The German drug standard cited by the EU report allows A. lappa, A. minus, A. tomentosum, related species and hybrids or mixtures.; Name: Atropa belladonna L. (deadly nightshade) root; Note: A nightshade (Solanaceae, GBIF key 3802655) that contains atropine-type alkaloids. Burdock root tea has been contaminated with it; the EU report says older roots or roots that turn blue with iodine may point to belladonna.; Name: Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey) and Rumex obtusifolius L. (broad-leaved dock); Note: Named by the EU report as roots that may be substituted for burdock. Dock is in the knotweed family (Polygonaceae, GBIF key 2889011).; Name: Burdock fruit (Arctii Fructus) versus root; Note: Different parts, different compounds: the fruit is rich in lignans (arctiin, arctigenin), the root in inulin and phenolic acids. Studies on one part do not apply to the other.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not verified. Burdock is a widespread weedy plant; no IUCN assessment was retrieved.
The plant and the parts used
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Folk medicine across Europe and Asia | The EU assessment report says burdock has been widely used in folk medicine. The root is described as a 'blood purifier', used for rheumatism, gout, skin complaints, to increase urine and sweating, and in some sources as a stomach and liver remedy. These are statements from handbooks (De Smet, Bradley, Duke), not checked against old texts. | s-ema-ar-burdock-root |
| Traditional Chinese medicine (fruit) | Dried ripe fruit (Arctii Fructus) is used to 'dispel wind-heat', for sore throat, cough and eruptions (per a systematic review of the fruit). | p36781057 |
| European Union herbal committee (2010) | Burdock root accepted as a traditional herbal medicine for increasing urine flow in minor urinary complaints and for temporary loss of appetite, based on more than 30 years of use, not on clinical trials. The 2020 review made no change. | s-ema-hmpc-burdock-monograph |
| Spain (market) | The EU report says powdered or cut root has been sold as tea in Spain since 1973. | s-ema-ar-burdock-root |
| Japan (food) | A cultivated form is eaten as a vegetable, mainly in Japan (known as gobo). | s-ema-ar-burdock-root |
| Herbal tea blends such as Essiac | The EU report mentions teas that contain burdock with other herbs and are used by some cancer patients; it gives no dose details and says the composition varies. Not evidence of benefit. | s-ema-ar-burdock-root |
| North America (leaves for burns) | The Amish community uses burdock leaves for burns, according to a 2020 case series (two children whose wounds became infected). | p32412894 |
Traditional use shows how a plant was used. It does not show that a supplement works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What the plant contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inulin (inulin-type fructans) | fibre carbohydrate (fructan) | Root About 45% of the dry root, with total carbohydrates up to 70% (EU report, citing Blaschek 1998). | Prebiotic fibre that feeds gut bacteria in lab tests; reviews note burdock as a source. 5 24 | Laboratory research |
| Chlorogenic acid PubChem 1794427 | phenolic acid | Root (and leaf) Fresh root has 1.9 to 3.65% total polyphenols including chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid and caffeic acid (EU report). | Antioxidant in lab tests. 5 24 28 | Laboratory research |
| Caffeic acid PubChem 689043 | phenolic acid | Root Present (EU report); amount not given separately. | Antioxidant in lab tests. 5 28 | Laboratory research |
| Quercetin PubChem 5280343 | flavonoid | Root (per review) Not given in the abstract. | Antioxidant in lab tests. 24 28 | Laboratory research |
| Arctiin PubChem 100528 | lignan glycoside | Fruit (main); also reported in root Not given. | In skin cells it lowered IL-6 and TNF-alpha and raised collagen synthesis; gut bacteria convert it to arctigenin. 17 13 5 28 | Laboratory research |
| Arctigenin PubChem 64981 | lignan (aglycone of arctiin) | Fruit Not given. | The most potent anti-inflammatory compound in most studies; in cancer cells it makes cells less tolerant of glucose lack; blocks mitochondrial complex I. Studied as a drug-style fruit extract (GBS-01) in 15 patients. 13 15 9 39 7 28 | Human data |
| Matairesinol PubChem 119205 | lignan | Fruit Not given. | Listed among fruit lignans (EU report); no activity result read. 5 28 | Laboratory research |
| Dehydrocostus lactone PubChem 73174 | sesquiterpene lactone | Root (essential oil) Not given. | Sesquiterpene lactones of this kind are the likely cause of allergic reactions to daisy-family plants (EU report). 5 28 | Authoritative guidance |
| Arctiopicrin PubChem 5281423 | sesquiterpene lactone | Not stated Not given. | Named by the EU report as a weak sensitizer. 5 28 | Authoritative guidance |
| Atropine (a contaminant, not a burdock compound) PubChem 174174 | tropane alkaloid from nightshade plants | Not in burdock; found in contaminated teas About 2.28 mg estimated in one patient's dose (1984 report). | Blocks acetylcholine receptors; causes dry mouth, fast heartbeat, confusion. 29 3 5 28 | Human data |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflammatory signalling (NF-kB, iNOS) | NFKB1 / NOS2 | Arctigenin lowers inducible nitric oxide synthase and several inflammatory cytokines in cells and animals. Reviews list NF-kB, JAK/STAT and NLRP3 effects in skin models. 13 35 | Laboratory research |
| PP2A activation in kidney podocytes | PPP2CA | Arctigenin activated PP2A and lowered NF-kB inflammation in diabetic mouse kidney and cultured podocytes. 39 | Animal research |
| Mitochondrial complex I inhibition | Complex I | Arctigenin inhibits it; plasma lactate rose temporarily in about half of 15 patients taking an arctigenin-rich extract. 9 15 | Human data |
| Glucose deprivation tolerance in cancer cells | Not specified | Arctigenin makes cancer cells less tolerant of glucose lack in the lab; this is the reasoning for the phase I pancreatic cancer trial. 15 7 | Laboratory research |
| Insulin signalling and glucose uptake (AMPK, GLUT4) | PRKAA1 / SLC2A4 | Reviews describe AMPK activation and more GLUT4 movement in cell and animal studies of burdock extracts and compounds. 34 1 | Animal research |
| Collagen and hyaluronan synthesis in skin | HAS2 | Pure arctiin raised collagen synthesis in skin cells; a fruit-extract cream raised hyaluronan synthase-2 expression in volunteers. 17 | Human data |
| Gut bacteria and prebiotic fibre | Gut microbiome | Inulin from burdock root stimulated growth of beneficial bacteria in lab tests (EU report, citing Li 2008); human gut bacteria convert arctiin to arctigenin and enterolactone. 5 24 | Laboratory research |
| Antioxidant systems (SOD, catalase, TAC) | SOD / CAT | Root tea and root powder raised SOD, catalase or total antioxidant capacity in two small human trials, alongside lower MDA. 20 33 | Human data |
| Liver protection against toxins | Glutathione / CYP450 | In mice, burdock root reversed falls in glutathione and cytochrome P450 caused by carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen. 19 40 | Animal research |
| Drug-metabolising enzymes | CYP3A4, CYP2C19, CYP19 | An ethanol root extract was only a weak inhibitor in a screen of 10 plant extracts (11% to 33% depending on the batch). 5 | Laboratory research |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- No human pharmacokinetic study of burdock root tea or powder was found. In rats, arctiin is split in the gut to arctigenin, which appeared in blood at 1 hour and peaked at 4 hours after a 200 mg/kg dose (EU report). In patients given the arctigenin-rich fruit extract GBS-01, arctigenin bioavailability was described as high.
- Distribution
- Not established for burdock compounds in people.
- Metabolism
- Gut bacteria convert arctiin to arctigenin and several other metabolites, including enterolactone (human faecal incubation, 2003, quoted by the EU report). Arctigenin is quickly glucuronidated: in rats the conjugated form was 30 times higher than free arctigenin; a review says it is extensively glucuronidated and hydrolysed in liver, gut and plasma, which may limit its effect after swallowing.
- Elimination
- Not established in people. In rats arctigenin was no longer detectable 8 hours after the dose.
- Bioavailability
- Described as high for arctigenin in the GBS-01 trial, but rapid conjugation means the free form is a small part of what is in the blood. Root tea bioavailability is unknown.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
Most lab and cancer research is on arctigenin or arctiin, compounds that are mainly in the fruit. Most human tea and powder trials used the root, which is rich in inulin and phenolic acids and has little arctigenin. So results from the pure compound or the fruit cannot be assumed for the root, and the other way around. Whole-root products also carry the risks of the whole plant (allergy to sesquiterpene lactones, and contamination), which isolated compounds do not.
Nutritional composition
Burdock root is eaten as a vegetable (gobo) in Japan. The EU report gives about 45% inulin and up to 70% total carbohydrate in the dry root, and 23 mg of vitamin C per 100 g (as quoted from Blaschek 1998). A full nutrient table was not checked and does not apply to a medicinal tea.
7 very low certainty7 not enough evidence1 evidence against
What was looked at
The 15 benefits and uses checked for Burdock Root, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Knee osteoarthritis: inflammation and oxidative stress markersVery low certainty
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): oxidative stress, inflammation and ovary sizeVery low certainty
- Blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) and artery stiffnessVery low certainty
- Blood sugar and type 2 diabetesNot enough evidence
- General inflammation and oxidative stressVery low certainty
- Recurrence of diverticulitis (inflamed pouches in the colon)Very low certainty
- Helicobacter pylori infection (stomach bug)Very low certainty
- Skin aging (wrinkles) with a fruit-extract creamVery low certainty
- AcneNot enough evidence
- Eczema, psoriasis and other immune skin conditionsNot enough evidence
- Burn and wound care with burdock leavesEvidence against
- Liver protectionNot enough evidence
- Kidney protection and diabetic kidney diseaseNot enough evidence
- Cancer: laboratory research on arctigenin (no treatment claim)Not enough evidence
- 'Blood purifier' and water pill usesNot enough evidence
Lab markers tracked in the studies
C-reactive protein (CRP / hs-CRP)Interleukin-6 (IL-6)Malondialdehyde (MDA)Superoxide dismutase (SOD)Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and catalaseOvary volume on ultrasoundLDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglyceridesPulse wave velocity (artery stiffness)Diverticulitis recurrenceUrea breath test (H. pylori)Acne lesion counts and gradingProcollagen, hyaluronan and wrinkle volumePlasma lactateGamma-GT and bilirubin (liver tests)
What is Burdock Root good for?
The main proposed uses and how strong the human evidence is for each. "Very low" means one small trial or a measure that is not a symptom. "Insufficient" means no usable human evidence.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Knee osteoarthritis: inflammation and oxidative stress markers
Very low certaintyOne small Iranian trial gave people with knee osteoarthritis three cups of burdock root tea a day for six weeks. Blood markers of inflammation went down and antioxidant markers went up compared with plain water. The abstract does not report pain, stiffness or walking, so we do not know if people felt better.
3 studiesBurdock root tea in that trial; the amounts above are what the trial …
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Burdock root tea, 3 cups a day (2 g of root in 150 mL of boiled water per cup), for 42 days in 36 adults aged 50 to 70 with knee osteoarthritis (Maghsoumi-Norouzabad 2016). Everyone also took acetaminophen and glucosamine. The control group drank plain boiled water. Blood hs-CRP, IL-6 and malondialdehyde fell and total antioxidant capacity and SOD activity rose in the tea group. No pain or function results appear in the abstract. No other osteoarthritis trial of burdock was found. Note: the tea tested was made from the root, not the fruit.
Results
Lower blood inflammation and oxidative stress markers in one small trial; clinical benefit (pain, movement) not shown.
Effect sizes as reported
IL-6 P = 0.002; hs-CRP P = 0.003; MDA P < 0.001; TAC P < 0.001; SOD P = 0.009. Group means and confidence intervals are not in the abstract.
Why this rating
A single 36-person trial, 6 weeks, blood markers only, no pain or function result in the abstract, background medicines in both groups, blinding not described in the abstract, and no second trial to confirm it.
Form and dose studied
Burdock root tea in that trial; the amounts above are what the trial gave, not advice. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.
Who was studied
Adults 50 to 70 with knee osteoarthritis in Tabriz, Iran (10 men, 26 women).
Limits
Very small; short; markers rather than symptoms; one centre; added to existing medicines; no confirmation.
Why researchers looked
Burdock root is a traditional 'blood cleanser' and anti-rheumatic herb, and lab work shows its compounds (such as arctigenin) dampen inflammatory signals.
Traditional use
Reviews describe the root as a traditional Chinese-medicine herb and list an anti-rheumatic use. This is traditional and lab-based, not proof.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
In cells and animals, burdock lignans such as arctigenin lower inflammatory signals (NF-kB, nitric oxide synthase). It is not known whether this happens at useful levels in people who drink the tea.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
No side effects are reported in the abstract. See the safety section for allergy and tea-contamination warnings.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): oxidative stress, inflammation and ovary size
Very low certaintyA 2026 Iranian trial gave 60 women with PCOS either burdock root powder or a placebo for 12 weeks. Markers of oxidative stress and inflammation improved and ovary volume was smaller on ultrasound. The abstract does not report results for body hair or periods.
2 studiesRoot powder in the trial; the amount is the trial's, not advice. Ask …
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Burdock root powder 460 mg a day or placebo for 12 weeks in 60 women with PCOS (30 per group), Arak, Iran, 2023-2024 (Taheri 2026). Superoxide dismutase and catalase rose; malondialdehyde and C-reactive protein fell; right and left ovary volume fell (P = 0.02 and 0.01) compared with placebo. Hirsutism score and menstrual frequency were measured, but the abstract gives no result for them. The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Results
Better oxidative stress and inflammation markers and smaller ovaries on ultrasound versus placebo in one small trial; periods, hair growth and fertility results were not reported in the abstract.
Effect sizes as reported
SOD and catalase up and MDA and CRP down, all P < 0.001; ovary volume P = 0.02 (right) and P = 0.01 (left). Means and confidence intervals are not in the abstract.
Why this rating
One small placebo-controlled trial (60 women, 12 weeks) from one centre, reporting blood markers and ultrasound volume, not symptoms or pregnancy, with no second trial.
Form and dose studied
Root powder in the trial; the amount is the trial's, not advice. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.
Who was studied
Women with PCOS in Arak, Iran.
Limits
Small; 12 weeks; one centre; convenience sample; surrogate markers; symptom results not in the abstract.
Why researchers looked
PCOS is linked with raised oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation, so antioxidant herbs have been tried.
Traditional use
No specific traditional PCOS use is documented in the sources read. The root is described in reviews as a traditional herb; no PCOS use was verified.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Burdock root contains chlorogenic acids, quercetin and lignans that act as antioxidants in the lab. Whether they do so at useful levels in women with PCOS is not known.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Side effects are not described in the abstract. Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive should read the pregnancy section of the safety tab.
Blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) and artery stiffness
Very low certaintyOne small Korean study in older women combined water exercise with burdock. Blood fats improved in the exercise group and the exercise-plus-burdock group; the abstract does not report a significant change for burdock alone, so burdock cannot be credited.
2 studiesProduct and dose not stated in the abstract.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Forty women aged 70 to 80 in Korea were put into four groups for 12 weeks: control (8), water exercise (11), water exercise plus burdock (11) and burdock only (10) (Ha 2018). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C and LDL-C changed significantly in the exercise group and in the exercise-plus-burdock group. The abstract does not list a significant change for the burdock-only group. Pulse wave velocity (artery stiffness) did not change significantly in any group. The product, plant part and amount are not given in the abstract.
Results
No clear effect of burdock alone on blood fats or artery stiffness.
Effect sizes as reported
P < 0.05 to P < 0.001 within the exercise and exercise-plus-burdock groups. No numbers are in the abstract.
Why this rating
Tiny groups, exercise explains the change, burdock alone not reported as significant, product unknown.
Form and dose studied
Product and dose not stated in the abstract.
Who was studied
Korean women aged 70 to 80.
Limits
Exercise is a bigger factor than burdock here; very small; unclear product; the authors' conclusion is stronger than the abstract's data.
Why researchers looked
Burdock root fibre (inulin) and antioxidants are thought to help blood fats in lab and animal work.
Traditional use
Described in modern papers as a 'blood purifier'; no traditional blood-fat use was verified.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Inulin-type fibre and chlorogenic acids may affect fat handling; most support is from cells and animals.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None reported in the abstract.
Blood sugar and type 2 diabetes
Not enough evidenceBurdock is often sold for blood sugar, but we found no trial of burdock in people with diabetes. The support is from cell and animal studies only.
2 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 2019 critical review found only lab and animal studies and stated that no clinical studies in people with type 2 diabetes had been done (Annunziata 2019). A 2026 narrative review says the same: limited human data are in people without diabetes and look at inflammation, and randomized trials of blood sugar control are needed (Uzbekova 2026). We searched PubMed and found no human trial of burdock on blood sugar.
Results
No human evidence for lowering blood sugar.
Why this rating
No human trials were found; reviews rely on cells and animals.
Who was studied
No human diabetes population studied.
Limits
Animal results often do not carry over to people; products and doses vary widely.
Why researchers looked
Lab and animal work shows burdock extracts and compounds (arctigenin, arctiin, inulin) improve insulin signalling in cells and lower blood sugar in diabetic animals.
Traditional use
Reviews say burdock is used traditionally in Eastern and European medicine for metabolic problems.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Reviews describe AMPK activation, insulin-signalling changes and more GLUT4 movement in cells and animals.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
People taking diabetes medicine should not use burdock in place of it; see safety tab.
General inflammation and oxidative stress
Very low certaintyTwo small trials (knee osteoarthritis and PCOS) found lower C-reactive protein and malondialdehyde after burdock root. Both used blood markers in specific patient groups, so they do not show a general anti-inflammatory benefit for healthy people.
4 studiesRoot tea and root powder were used in those trials.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Burdock root lowered hs-CRP, IL-6 and malondialdehyde in 36 people with knee osteoarthritis over 6 weeks (Maghsoumi-Norouzabad 2016) and CRP and malondialdehyde in 60 women with PCOS over 12 weeks (Taheri 2026). A 2025 review of skin diseases and a 2026 review of blood sugar both describe the human evidence as limited and preliminary.
Results
Marker improvements in two small trials in specific groups.
Effect sizes as reported
See the osteoarthritis and PCOS entries.
Why this rating
Two small trials, surrogate markers, different patient groups, no confirmation.
Form and dose studied
Root tea and root powder were used in those trials.
Who was studied
Adults with knee osteoarthritis; women with PCOS.
Limits
Marker changes are not proof of symptom relief; no healthy-person trials found.
Why researchers looked
Burdock lignans and phenolic acids reduce inflammatory signals in lab models.
Traditional use
Reviews describe it as a traditional herb with anti-inflammatory use; this is not proof.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Arctigenin lowers inflammatory signalling (e.g. NF-kB, iNOS) in cells and animals. Arctigenin is extensively glucuronidated in the liver, gut and blood, which may limit its effect after swallowing.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
See safety tab.
Recurrence of diverticulitis (inflamed pouches in the colon)
Very low certaintyIn one open-label Japanese trial, people who drank burdock tea had fewer repeat attacks of diverticulitis than people who took nothing. It did not reduce repeat bleeding from diverticula.
2 studiesBurdock tea, 1.5 g three times a day in that trial; not advice. Ask a…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Newly diagnosed patients with colonic diverticular bleeding (91) or acute diverticulitis (70) were randomly assigned to burdock tea 1.5 g three times a day or no treatment (Mizuki 2019). Follow-up was a median of about 22 months (bleeding) and 30 months (diverticulitis). Diverticulitis recurrence was 5/47 (10.6%) with burdock tea versus 14/44 (31.8%) without; recurrence-free time was 59.3 months (95% CI 54.0-64.7) versus 45.1 months (37.1-53.0), log-rank P = 0.012. No significant effect on bleeding recurrence. The abstract's group sizes for diverticulitis (47 + 44 = 91) do not match the stated 70, so the counts need checking in the full paper.
Results
Fewer repeat diverticulitis attacks in one open-label trial; no benefit for repeat bleeding.
Effect sizes as reported
10.6% versus 31.8% recurrence; log-rank P = 0.012; recurrence-free 59.3 versus 45.1 months.
Why this rating
One trial, open-label (no placebo, people knew their group), group-size numbers in the abstract do not add up, Japanese patients only, no confirmation.
Form and dose studied
Burdock tea, 1.5 g three times a day in that trial; not advice. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.
Who was studied
Japanese adults with diverticular disease.
Limits
Open-label; one country; no placebo tea; plant part and tea type not stated in the abstract; unreplicated.
Why researchers looked
Burdock root is a source of inulin-type fibre and antioxidants, and Japanese doctors tested it to prevent repeat attacks.
Traditional use
Burdock root is also eaten as a vegetable (a 2000 mouse study calls it a popular vegetable).
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Inulin-type fibre is prebiotic fibre and burdock compounds have anti-inflammatory activity in the lab. Neither has been shown to explain this result.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
No harms are reported in the abstract. Burdock tea has an allergy and contamination risk; see safety tab.
Helicobacter pylori infection (stomach bug)
Very low certaintyA Taiwanese trial tested a four-ingredient mixture that included burdock in people with H. pylori and no symptoms. Breath-test values and inflammation markers improved versus placebo. Because it was a mixture, burdock cannot be credited alone.
1 studiesNot stated in the abstract.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Thirty-six H. pylori-positive adults (urea breath test above 10%) took the burdock complex (19) or placebo (17) for 8 weeks (Yen 2018). The complex was burdock plus angelica (Angelica sinensis), gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon) and sesame oil. Breath-test value and inflammatory markers fell and antioxidant measures improved versus placebo (P < 0.05); the authors say the ulcer wound healed on endoscopy. Whether the infection was cleared is not stated. Not a burdock-alone product.
Results
Mixed product improved breath-test value and markers in a small trial.
Effect sizes as reported
P < 0.05 for the main changes; no numbers in the abstract.
Why this rating
Small trial (36); four-herb combination so burdock's share is unknown; details not in the abstract.
Who was studied
Taiwanese adults with H. pylori and no symptoms.
Limits
Combination product; small; short; infection clearance not reported.
Why researchers looked
Burdock complex is used in traditional Chinese medicine, and cell work suggested it stops H. pylori sticking to stomach cells.
Traditional use
The mixture combines burdock, angelica, gromwell and sesame oil, all used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
In stomach-cell experiments the mixture blocked H. pylori adhesion and lowered inflammatory markers.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Safety results are not given in the abstract.
Skin aging (wrinkles) with a fruit-extract cream
Very low certaintyA cosmetics-company study found a cream containing burdock fruit extract raised collagen and hyaluronan markers in skin and reduced crow's-feet wrinkle volume versus a plain cream.
2 studiesA cream with fruit extract; amount not stated.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Home-use studies of a cream with Arctium lappa fruit extract (Knott 2008). Over 12 weeks procollagen synthesis, hyaluronan synthase-2 expression and hyaluronan levels rose versus the plain cream; after 4 weeks crow's-feet wrinkle volume was reduced. Volunteer numbers are not in the abstract. Authors work for a cosmetics company (Beiersdorf).
Results
Better skin markers and less wrinkle volume in a company-run study of a cream (not a tea or capsule).
Effect sizes as reported
Significant versus vehicle; no numbers in the abstract.
Why this rating
Company-run, volunteer numbers not in the abstract, no replication, a cream and not a tea.
Form and dose studied
A cream with fruit extract; amount not stated.
Who was studied
Volunteers (adults); details not stated.
Limits
Industry-linked; small details; topical only; cannot be applied to eating the root.
Why researchers looked
Arctiin (from burdock fruit) lowered inflammatory signals and raised collagen production in skin cells in the lab.
Traditional use
Burdock is a traditional skin herb; this study tested the fruit extract in a cream.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
Pure arctiin lowered IL-6 and TNF-alpha and raised collagen synthesis in skin cells.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Skin reactions are possible: contact allergy to burdock has been reported (see safety).
Acne
Not enough evidenceOne uncontrolled study of a homeopathic burdock preparation found acne improved over six months. With no comparison group and homeopathic dilutions, it says little about burdock root or tea.
1 studiesHomeopathic potencies; not comparable to tea or powder.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Thirty-four people with acne vulgaris (32 finished) were given homeopathic Lappa in potencies from 6c to 1M for 6 months with no control group (Miglani 2014). Lesion counts, acne grading and Acne-QoL improved (P < 0.001). The authors call for controlled trials.
Results
Improvement in an uncontrolled homeopathic study.
Effect sizes as reported
P < 0.001 for all three measures; numbers not in the abstract.
Why this rating
No control group, homeopathic dilutions rather than herbal root, small.
Form and dose studied
Homeopathic potencies; not comparable to tea or powder.
Who was studied
People with acne in New Delhi.
Limits
Uncontrolled; natural improvement cannot be ruled out; homeopathic product.
Why researchers looked
Burdock is used in traditional Western and Chinese medicine for acne and appears in homeopathic literature for it.
Traditional use
Traditional skin 'cleanser'.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
No mechanism tested in this study.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Not described in the abstract.
Eczema, psoriasis and other immune skin conditions
Not enough evidenceA 2025 review found mostly cell and mouse work on burdock and its compounds for eczema, psoriasis and similar conditions. It concludes the evidence is preliminary, with no robust randomized trials.
1 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Yang 2025 searched PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus to July 2025 for Arctium lappa, arctiin and arctigenin in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, lupus, alopecia, systemic sclerosis and vasculitis. Most data were from cells or mice using varied preparations. The authors state clinical validation is limited, no standard dose exists and there are no robust randomized trials.
Results
No usable human result.
Effect sizes as reported
Cell doses 10-100 micromolar; mouse doses 15-100 mg/kg (as reported by the review).
Why this rating
Review of cell and mouse studies; no randomized human trials.
Limits
Mixed preparations; no human trials.
Why researchers looked
Burdock lignans calm several inflammatory pathways in skin cells.
Traditional use
Reviews list burdock among traditional skin remedies.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Reviewed work shows effects on NF-kB, JAK/STAT and NLRP3 inflammasome signalling and on mast cells and keratinocytes in cells and mice.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Burdock can itself cause contact dermatitis; see safety.
Burn and wound care with burdock leaves
Evidence againstIn two Amish toddlers with large scald burns treated at home with burdock leaves and an ointment, both wounds became infected and both children needed surgery. This is a warning, not support.
1 studiesLeaf poultice; not advice.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Case series of two children (11 and 24 months) with scald burns over 17% and 20% of the body treated with Burns and Wounds ointment and burdock leaves; both had positive wound cultures soon after reaching hospital, treatment was stopped and both had surgery (Nathan 2020). The authors say standard burn care should remain an option.
Results
Both wounds infected; no benefit shown.
Effect sizes as reported
Two children.
Why this rating
Two cases; both wounds were culture-positive soon after arrival; no comparison group.
Form and dose studied
Leaf poultice; not advice.
Who was studied
Two Amish toddlers.
Limits
Tiny, uncontrolled.
Why researchers looked
Burdock leaves are used for burns in the Amish community, according to the case series.
Traditional use
Used by some Amish families for burns.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
None tested.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Large burns, especially in young children, need medical care.
Liver protection
Not enough evidenceIn rats and mice, burdock root extract limited liver damage from cadmium, carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen. There is no human trial of burdock for the liver, and a case report links a burdock-containing tea to liver injury.
4 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Rats given cadmium and burdock root extract 300 mg/kg for 7 or 56 days had liver indicators suggesting protection (de Souza Predes 2014). Mice given burdock root had lower liver enzyme rises after carbon tetrachloride or acetaminophen (Lin 2000). A 2024 review lists protection against cadmium, lead, chromium and acetaminophen damage in animals (Shyam 2024). In the other direction, a woman developed liver injury after a six-herb tea containing burdock root (Niazi 2022); the cause could not be assigned to burdock.
Results
Animal protection only; no human trial.
Effect sizes as reported
Animal doses as reported (300 mg/kg in rats).
Why this rating
Only rodent studies; one human case points the other way.
Limits
Animal work does not show benefit in people; human liver safety is unstudied.
Why researchers looked
Burdock is a traditional liver and 'blood cleansing' herb.
Traditional use
Traditional liver-cleansing tea.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Animal work points to antioxidant effects that protect liver cells.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
See safety tab (liver).
Kidney protection and diabetic kidney disease
Not enough evidenceArctigenin, a compound from burdock fruit, protected kidney cells and reduced protein in the urine in diabetic mice. No human trial of burdock for the kidneys was found.
2 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Mouse and cell study (Zhong 2019): arctigenin attenuated proteinuria and podocyte injury in diabetic mice. The paper cites a traditional fruit remedy that reduced proteinuria in diabetic patients, but we did not read that human evidence. A 2026 dog toxicity study of concentrated fruit lignans reported kidney, liver, heart and gut damage after 28 days at a high dose (Zhang 2026).
Results
Animal and cell evidence only.
Effect sizes as reported
Not given in the abstracts.
Why this rating
Mouse work only.
Limits
Mice are not people; purified compound, not tea.
Why researchers looked
A traditional herbal remedy from burdock fruit is reported to reduce protein in the urine in diabetic patients.
Traditional use
Fructus Arctii is a traditional Chinese remedy.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
In mice, arctigenin activated PP2A in kidney podocytes and lowered NF-kB inflammatory signalling.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Concentrated fruit lignans were toxic to dogs at high doses; see safety.
Cancer: laboratory research on arctigenin (no treatment claim)
Not enough evidenceArctigenin from burdock fruit slows several cancer cell types in the lab. A small safety trial of an arctigenin-rich fruit extract in 15 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer found it tolerable, but it was not designed to show it works. Burdock tea or root is not a cancer treatment.
3 studiesA drug-style fruit extract; not comparable to tea.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 2026 review summarises arctigenin's anticancer effects in cells and animals (Elsori 2026). In a phase I trial (Ikeda 2016), 15 patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer took GBS-01, a burdock fruit extract rich in arctigenin, at 3.0, 7.5 or 12.0 g a day. No dose-limiting toxicities occurred; mild rises in gamma-GT, blood sugar and bilirubin were the main adverse events; one patient had a partial response and four stable disease; median progression-free survival was 1.1 months and overall survival 5.7 months. Blood lactate rose temporarily in about half (Fujioka 2018). Several authors have links to the drug maker.
Results
Tolerability data in 15 patients; no proof of benefit.
Effect sizes as reported
1 partial response and 4 stable disease out of 15; median overall survival 5.7 months.
Why this rating
Phase I safety study, no comparison, industry-linked, lab data not human results.
Form and dose studied
A drug-style fruit extract; not comparable to tea.
Who was studied
Adults with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Limits
Not designed to test efficacy; tiny.
Why researchers looked
Arctigenin blocks cancer cells' tolerance to glucose deprivation and affects several growth pathways in cells.
Traditional use
No traditional cancer use was verified in the sources read.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
Cell and animal work: arrest of cell cycle, cell-death pathways and effects on growth signals.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Mild liver-test and blood sugar rises were reported.
'Blood purifier' and water pill uses
Not enough evidenceBurdock is traditionally called a diuretic and blood purifier. A 2022 review lists it among popular diuretic plants that still lack scientific studies. We found no human trial of its diuretic effect.
2 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Mariano 2022 lists Arctium lappa among exotic Brazilian diuretic plants that lack scientific studies and notes clinical studies of such plants are scarce. The Korean exercise study calls the root a blood purifier and natural diuretic in its background section but did not test diuresis (Ha 2018).
Results
No human evidence.
Why this rating
Traditional claim; no tests found.
Limits
No data.
Why researchers looked
Traditional claim only.
Traditional use
Used as a cleansing tea.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
None shown.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
If taken with water pills or if you have kidney disease, ask a doctor; see safety.
Connections to the rest of health
How Burdock Root connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Support | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Knee osteoarthritis: inflammation and oxidative stress markers: One small Iranian trial gave people with knee osteoarthritis three cups of burdock root tea a day for six weeks. Blood markers of inflammation went down and antioxidant markers went up compared with plain water. The abstract does not report pain, stiffness or walking, so we do not know if people felt better. | 20 37 32 |
| Inflammation Balance | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Knee osteoarthritis: inflammation and oxidative stress markers: One small Iranian trial gave people with knee osteoarthritis three cups of burdock root tea a day for six weeks. Blood markers of inflammation went down and antioxidant markers went up compared with plain water. The abstract does not report pain, stiffness or walking, so we do not know if people felt better. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): oxidative stress, inflammation and ovary size: A 2026 Iranian trial gave 60 women with PCOS either burdock root powder or a placebo for 12 weeks. Markers of oxidative stress and inflammation improved and ovary volume was smaller on ultrasound. The abstract does not report results for body hair or periods. | 20 37 32 33 24 13 35 |
| Womens Wellness | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): oxidative stress, inflammation and ovary size: A 2026 Iranian trial gave 60 women with PCOS either burdock root powder or a placebo for 12 weeks. Markers of oxidative stress and inflammation improved and ovary volume was smaller on ultrasound. The abstract does not report results for body hair or periods. | 33 24 |
| Hormone Balance | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): oxidative stress, inflammation and ovary size: A 2026 Iranian trial gave 60 women with PCOS either burdock root powder or a placebo for 12 weeks. Markers of oxidative stress and inflammation improved and ovary volume was smaller on ultrasound. The abstract does not report results for body hair or periods. | 33 24 |
| Cholesterol Balance | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) and artery stiffness: One small Korean study in older women combined water exercise with burdock. Blood fats improved in the exercise group and the exercise-plus-burdock group; the abstract does not report a significant change for burdock alone, so burdock cannot be credited. | 14 24 |
| Heart Health | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) and artery stiffness: One small Korean study in older women combined water exercise with burdock. Blood fats improved in the exercise group and the exercise-plus-burdock group; the abstract does not report a significant change for burdock alone, so burdock cannot be credited. | 14 24 |
| Blood Sugar Balance | Potential benefit | Not enough evidence | Blood sugar and type 2 diabetes: Burdock is often sold for blood sugar, but we found no trial of burdock in people with diabetes. The support is from cell and animal studies only. | 1 34 |
| Metabolic Health | Potential benefit | Not enough evidence | Blood sugar and type 2 diabetes: Burdock is often sold for blood sugar, but we found no trial of burdock in people with diabetes. The support is from cell and animal studies only. Kidney protection and diabetic kidney disease: Arctigenin, a compound from burdock fruit, protected kidney cells and reduced protein in the urine in diabetic mice. No human trial of burdock for the kidneys was found. | 1 34 39 38 |
| Healthy Aging | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | General inflammation and oxidative stress: Two small trials (knee osteoarthritis and PCOS) found lower C-reactive protein and malondialdehyde after burdock root. Both used blood markers in specific patient groups, so they do not show a general anti-inflammatory benefit for healthy people. Skin aging (wrinkles) with a fruit-extract cream: A cosmetics-company study found a cream containing burdock fruit extract raised collagen and hyaluronan markers in skin and reduced crow's-feet wrinkle volume versus a plain cream. | 20 33 13 35 17 16 21 14 |
| Digestive Support | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Recurrence of diverticulitis (inflamed pouches in the colon): In one open-label Japanese trial, people who drank burdock tea had fewer repeat attacks of diverticulitis than people who took nothing. It did not reduce repeat bleeding from diverticula. Helicobacter pylori infection (stomach bug): A Taiwanese trial tested a four-ingredient mixture that included burdock in people with H. pylori and no symptoms. Breath-test values and inflammation markers improved versus placebo. Because it was a mixture, burdock cannot be credited alone. | 23 24 36 |
| Gut Health | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Recurrence of diverticulitis (inflamed pouches in the colon): In one open-label Japanese trial, people who drank burdock tea had fewer repeat attacks of diverticulitis than people who took nothing. It did not reduce repeat bleeding from diverticula. Helicobacter pylori infection (stomach bug): A Taiwanese trial tested a four-ingredient mixture that included burdock in people with H. pylori and no symptoms. Breath-test values and inflammation markers improved versus placebo. Because it was a mixture, burdock cannot be credited alone. | 23 24 36 |
| Healthy Skin | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Skin aging (wrinkles) with a fruit-extract cream: A cosmetics-company study found a cream containing burdock fruit extract raised collagen and hyaluronan markers in skin and reduced crow's-feet wrinkle volume versus a plain cream. Acne: One uncontrolled study of a homeopathic burdock preparation found acne improved over six months. With no comparison group and homeopathic dilutions, it says little about burdock root or tea. | 17 16 22 35 26 |
| Liver Support | Potential benefit | Not enough evidence | Liver protection: In rats and mice, burdock root extract limited liver damage from cadmium, carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen. There is no human trial of burdock for the liver, and a case report links a burdock-containing tea to liver injury. | 40 19 32 27 |
| Immune Support | Potential benefit | Not enough evidence | Cancer: laboratory research on arctigenin (no treatment claim): Arctigenin from burdock fruit slows several cancer cell types in the lab. A small safety trial of an arctigenin-rich fruit extract in 15 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer found it tolerable, but it was not designed to show it works. Burdock tea or root is not a cancer treatment. | 7 15 9 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune system | Adverse effect or risk | Very low certainty | One reported anaphylaxis after boiled burdock root; one report of very low platelets after a burdock and yellow dock tea. Preparation or compound: Burdock root eaten as food or tea |
31 18 |
| Nervous system | Adverse effect or risk | Very low certainty | Anticholinergic poisoning reports from contaminated tea; atropine is not a burdock compound. Preparation or compound: Burdock root tea contaminated with belladonna (atropine) |
29 3 5 |
| Musculoskeletal System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Knee osteoarthritis: inflammation and oxidative stress markers | 20 37 32 |
| Immune System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Knee osteoarthritis: inflammation and oxidative stress markers Studied for: General inflammation and oxidative stress | 20 37 32 33 13 35 7 15 9 |
| Reproductive System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): oxidative stress, inflammation and ovary size | 33 24 |
| Endocrine System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): oxidative stress, inflammation and ovary size Studied for: Blood sugar and type 2 diabetes | 33 24 1 34 |
| Cardiovascular System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) and artery stiffness | 14 24 |
| Metabolism Weight | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) and artery stiffness Studied for: Blood sugar and type 2 diabetes | 14 24 1 34 |
| Digestive System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Recurrence of diverticulitis (inflamed pouches in the colon) Studied for: Helicobacter pylori infection (stomach bug) | 23 24 36 |
| Integumentary System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Skin aging (wrinkles) with a fruit-extract cream Studied for: Acne | 17 16 22 35 26 |
| Hepatic System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Liver protection | 40 19 32 27 |
| Urinary System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Kidney protection and diabetic kidney disease Studied for: 'Blood purifier' and water pill uses | 39 38 21 14 |
C. Body parts and organs
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin | Adverse effect or risk | Very low certainty | Allergic contact dermatitis in case reports; cross-reaction with other daisy-family plants is assumed. A safety relationship, not a benefit. Preparation or compound: Burdock plasters, leaves; sesquiterpene lactones |
30 5 |
| Liver | Adverse effect or risk | Very low certainty | One cholestatic liver injury case in a six-herb tea; mild liver-test rises in a cancer safety trial. Animal studies show liver protection, which is not a human benefit. Preparation or compound: Multi-herb detox tea including burdock root; concentrated arctigenin-rich fruit extract |
27 15 40 |
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | Contraindication | Not enough evidence | Not recommended due to lack of safety data (EU). Preparation or compound: Burdock root |
5 4 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-reactive protein (CRP / hs-CRP) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 20 33 |
| Interleukin-6 (IL-6) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 20 |
| Malondialdehyde (MDA) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 20 33 |
| Superoxide dismutase (SOD) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 20 33 |
| Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and catalase | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 20 33 |
| Ovary volume on ultrasound | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 33 |
| LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 14 |
| Pulse wave velocity (artery stiffness) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 14 |
| Diverticulitis recurrence | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 23 |
| Urea breath test (H. pylori) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 36 |
| Acne lesion counts and grading | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 22 |
| Procollagen, hyaluronan and wrinkle volume | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 17 |
| Plasma lactate | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 9 |
| Gamma-GT and bilirubin (liver tests) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 15 |
J. Genes, receptors and enzymes
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOS2 (inducible nitric oxide synthase) | Preliminary mechanism | In vitro | Lowered by arctigenin in inflammation models. | 13 |
| PPP2CA (PP2A phosphatase) | Preliminary mechanism | Animal | Activated by arctigenin in mouse podocytes. | 39 |
| HAS2 (hyaluronan synthase-2) | Preliminary mechanism | Human | Expression rose after a fruit-extract cream in volunteers. | 17 |
| CYP3A4, CYP2C19, CYP19 | Preliminary mechanism | In vitro | Weak inhibition by a root extract in a screen. | 5 |
| Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (blocked by atropine) | Preliminary mechanism | Human | The target of atropine from contaminated tea; not a burdock effect. | 29 3 |
K. Biological pathways
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inulin (inulin-type fructans) | Biological association | In vitro | Prebiotic fibre that feeds gut bacteria in lab tests; reviews note burdock as a source. Preparation or compound: Root |
5 24 |
| Chlorogenic acid | Biological association | In vitro | Antioxidant in lab tests. Preparation or compound: Root (and leaf) |
5 24 28 |
| Caffeic acid | Biological association | In vitro | Antioxidant in lab tests. Preparation or compound: Root |
5 28 |
| Quercetin | Biological association | In vitro | Antioxidant in lab tests. Preparation or compound: Root (per review) |
24 28 |
| Arctiin | Biological association | In vitro | In skin cells it lowered IL-6 and TNF-alpha and raised collagen synthesis; gut bacteria convert it to arctigenin. Preparation or compound: Fruit (main); also reported in root |
17 13 5 28 |
| Arctigenin | Biological association | Human | The most potent anti-inflammatory compound in most studies; in cancer cells it makes cells less tolerant of glucose lack; blocks mitochondrial complex I. Studied as a drug-style fruit extract (GBS-01) in 15 patients. Preparation or compound: Fruit |
13 15 9 39 7 28 |
| Matairesinol | Biological association | In vitro | Listed among fruit lignans (EU report); no activity result read. Preparation or compound: Fruit |
5 28 |
| Dehydrocostus lactone | Biological association | Authoritative guidance | Sesquiterpene lactones of this kind are the likely cause of allergic reactions to daisy-family plants (EU report). Preparation or compound: Root (essential oil) |
5 28 |
| Arctiopicrin | Biological association | Authoritative guidance | Named by the EU report as a weak sensitizer. | 5 28 |
| Atropine (a contaminant, not a burdock compound) | Biological association | Human | Blocks acetylcholine receptors; causes dry mouth, fast heartbeat, confusion. Preparation or compound: Not in burdock; found in contaminated teas |
29 3 5 28 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what changed in 14 lab markers
Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.
The evidence
The research centre for Burdock Root. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We searched PubMed for burdock, Arctium lappa, arctigenin and related safety terms, read the EU assessment report on burdock root (26 pages), the 2010 consultation draft of the EU monograph and the 2020 addendum, and checked plant names in GBIF and NCBI and compounds in PubChem. Nearly all studies were read as abstracts only. Not verified: LiverTox, NCCIH and LactMed entries could not be read; the 1953 and 1978 papers on atropine poisoning have no abstracts, so only their titles are verified and their contents come from the EU report and one web-read abstract of the 1984 paper; the final adopted EU monograph wording was not read (the consultation draft was). Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading, not formal grades. No study is cited that we could not verify in PubMed or at the source.
Study library: every study we checked 40
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annunziata 2019 Arctium lappa contributes to the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus by regulating glucose homeostasis and improving oxidative stress: A critical review of in vitro and in vivo animal-based studies Phytother Res · PMID 31232489 · DOI |
Narrative review mixed |
Critical review of in vitro and animal studies of Arctium lappa in type 2 diabetes | Arctium lappa and its compounds various |
Found only lab and animal studies. Its authors state that no clinical studies in people with type 2 diabetes had been conducted. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood sugar, insulin resistance, oxidative stress Limitations: Review is from 2019; later human trials were not covered. Read: abstract |
| Bryson 1978 Burdock root tea poisoning. Case report involving a commercial preparation JAMA · PMID 642161 |
Case report |
Burdock root tea poisoning, 'case report involving a commercial preparation' | Commercial burdock root tea root Not read Not read |
Title only was verified; the report's details were not read. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Poisoning after commercial burdock root tea Limitations: Title and journal verified in PubMed; no abstract exists, text not read. Read: summary-only |
| Chan 2017 Worldwide Occurrence and Investigations of Contamination of Herbal Medicines by Tropane Alkaloids Toxins (Basel) · PMID 28914776 · DOI |
Narrative review |
Worldwide reports 1978-2014 of anticholinergic poisoning from herbal teas and herbs contaminated with tropane alkaloids | Herbal teas and herbs contaminated with Solanaceae plants various |
Almost all reports in 1978-2014 involve herbal teas or one of the prescribed herbs in a mixed formula. Contamination most likely happens during harvest or processing. The alkaloids are fairly heat-stable and can be present in large amounts. WHO good agricultural and collection practices and DNA barcoding are advised. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Occurrence and investigation of tropane alkaloid contamination Limitations: Burdock is not named in the abstract; which burdock cases the review counts was not read. Read: abstract |
| EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) 2010 Community herbal monograph on Arctium lappa L., radix (draft text of 14 January 2010 read; adoption on 16 September 2010 is stated in the 2020 addendum) EMA/HMPC/246763/2009 · Source |
Authoritative guidance |
Adults; traditional use only | Burdock root (Arctii radix) root |
Traditional use only: to increase urine flow as an adjuvant in minor urinary tract complaints, and for temporary loss of appetite. Adults and elderly: tea, liquid extract or tincture (amounts not repeated here). Not recommended under 18 years. Contraindication: hypersensitivity. Concomitant synthetic diuretics not recommended. Interactions: none reported. Pregnancy and lactation: use not recommended for lack of data. Undesirable effects: one case reported, frequency not known. No overdose case reported. Reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity tests have not been performed. See a doctor if symptoms last more than 2 weeks. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Traditional uses, contraindications, warnings, interactions, pregnancy and lactation, undesirable effects, overdose Limitations: The text read is the draft released for consultation; the final adopted wording may differ slightly. Read: full-text |
| EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) 2011 Assessment report on Arctium lappa L., radix (burdock root) EMA/HMPC/246764/2009 (26 pages, read in full) · Source |
Authoritative guidance |
Adults; traditional use only | Burdock root (Arctii radix) root |
Concludes burdock root preparations can only be considered for traditional use; no controlled clinical studies of root preparations were found. Safe under the monograph conditions, but no list entry because reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity tests have not been done on the root. Main risks: allergic reactions (probably sesquiterpene lactones; cross-reaction with other Asteraceae assumed), one reported anaphylaxis (Sasaki 2003), three contact dermatitis cases from plasters (Rodriguez 1995), and contamination of the root with belladonna root (atropine-like poisoning from tea), with substitution by Symphytum officinale or Rumex obtusifolius also mentioned. No documented drug interactions; nothing known about added effect with diuretic drugs. Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding not recommended because of insufficient data; a reported uterine stimulant action was cited from Barnes 2007, but the EMA found no case reports or studies to support it. No overdose reported. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Traditional uses, contraindications, warnings, interactions, pregnancy and lactation, undesirable effects, overdose Limitations: Traditional-use document; it does not prove burdock works. Safety statements rely on handbooks (De Smet 1993, Barnes 2007) and a few case reports. Read: full-text |
| EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) 2020 Addendum to Assessment report on Arctium lappa L., radix (periodic review 2011-2019) EMA/HMPC/509409/2019 · Source |
Authoritative guidance |
Adults; traditional use only | Burdock root (Arctii radix) root |
HMPC reviewed literature to 2019 (33 references judged relevant) and agreed by consensus not to revise the monograph or assessment report: no new clinical studies, no new safety concerns. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Traditional uses, contraindications, warnings, interactions, pregnancy and lactation, undesirable effects, overdose Limitations: Short review document. Read: full-text |
| Elsori 2026 Arctigenin as a promising anticancer agent: a comprehensive review of molecular mechanisms across major carcinomas Front Pharmacol · PMID 42422076 · DOI |
Narrative review mixed |
Review of arctigenin and cancer cell research | Arctigenin (a compound of burdock fruit) fruit |
Arctigenin slows the growth of several cancer cell types in the lab. The authors mention limitations in preclinical and clinical research. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Anticancer mechanisms in cells and animals Limitations: Lab and animal work; not a clinical result. Read: abstract |
| Fletcher 1978 Burdock root tea poisoning JAMA · PMID 691140 · DOI |
Case report |
Burdock root tea poisoning (letter) | Burdock root tea root Not read Not read |
Title only was verified; the letter's details were not read. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Poisoning after burdock root tea Limitations: Title and journal verified in PubMed; no abstract exists, text not read. Read: summary-only |
| Fujioka 2018 Change in plasma lactate concentration during arctigenin administration in a phase I clinical trial in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer PLoS One · PMID 29856804 · DOI |
Clinical trial |
15 The same 15 patients as the GBS-01 phase I trial |
GBS-01, arctigenin-rich fruit extract of Arctium lappa fruit 3.0 to 12.0 g a day Phase I study |
About half the patients had a temporary rise in blood lactate. Lactate did not track with arctigenin blood levels or clinical outcome. Not given as numbers in the abstract. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Plasma lactate (arctigenin blocks a part of cell energy production) Limitations: Same 15 patients as the main phase I paper; exploratory. Funding and conflicts: One author is an employee of Kracie Pharmaceutical Company and another received commissioned research funding from it; industry-linked. Read: abstract |
| GANDOLFO 1953 [Atropine poisoning by ingestion of decoction of burdock roots] Rend Ist Sup Sanit · PMID 13167508 |
Case report |
Atropine poisoning from a decoction of burdock roots (Italian paper, 1953) | Decoction of burdock roots root Not read Not read |
Title only was verified; the paper's details were not read. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Atropine poisoning Limitations: Title and journal verified in PubMed; no abstract exists, text not read. Read: summary-only |
| GBIF 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy matches for Arctium minus (5393103), Arctium tomentosum (5393080), Atropa belladonna (3802655, family Solanaceae) and Rumex obtusifolius (2889011, family Polygonaceae) GBIF API, read 2026-10-25 · Source |
Database record |
Plant name records | Arctium minus and Arctium tomentosum are separate accepted species; deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) is in the nightshade family Solanaceae, not Asteraceae; broad-leaved dock is Rumex obtusifolius, family Polygonaceae. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted names and families of look-alikes and contaminants Limitations: Name database. Read: full-text | |
| GBIF 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Arctium lappa L. (usageKey 7353729) GBIF API, read 2026-10-25 · Source |
Database record |
Plant name record | Accepted species Arctium lappa L., Sp. Pl.: 816 (1753), family Asteraceae, order Asterales; synonyms returned include Arctium edule Beger, Arctium lappa Willd. 1803, Lappa vulgaris and Lappa bardana var. major. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted name, authority, family, synonyms Limitations: Name database, not a clinical source. Read: full-text | |
| Gao 2018 Overview of the anti-inflammatory effects, pharmacokinetic properties and clinical efficacies of arctigenin and arctiin from Arctium lappa L Acta Pharmacol Sin · PMID 29698388 · DOI |
Narrative review mixed |
Overview of arctigenin and arctiin: anti-inflammatory effects, pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy | Arctigenin and arctiin from Arctium lappa fruit/various |
Arctigenin is more potent than arctiin in most studies. It is extensively glucuronidated and hydrolysed in liver, gut and plasma, which may limit its effect after swallowing. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Anti-inflammatory activity and what the body does with the compounds Limitations: Narrative review. Read: abstract |
| Ha 2018 Effects of aquarobic exercise and burdock intake on serum blood lipids and vascular elasticity in Korean elderly women Exp Gerontol · PMID 29154814 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
40 Women aged 70-80, Korea (control 8, exercise 11, exercise plus burdock 11, burdock only 10) |
Burdock intake ('burdock extract'; exact product and plant part not stated in the abstract) unspecified 12 weeks · vs No exercise, no burdock control group; water-exercise group |
Blood lipids fell in the water-exercise group and the exercise-plus-burdock group. The abstract does not report a significant change for burdock alone, and pulse wave velocity did not change significantly in any group. p<0.05 to p<0.001 within the exercise and the exercise-plus-burdock groups; no significant pulse-wave-velocity change in any group. Values not in the abstract. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, and pulse wave velocity (artery stiffness) Limitations: Very small groups (8 to 11), exercise could explain the lipid change, burdock-alone result not reported as significant, product and dose unknown, authors' wording about burdock is stronger than the abstract's data. Read: abstract |
| Ikeda 2016 Phase I trial of GBS-01 for advanced pancreatic cancer refractory to gemcitabine Cancer Sci · PMID 27685612 · DOI |
Clinical trial |
15 Adults with advanced pancreatic cancer that no longer responded to gemcitabine, Japan |
GBS-01, a fruit extract of Arctium lappa rich in arctigenin (a drug-style preparation) fruit 3.0 g, 7.5 g or 12.0 g a day by mouth (3.0 g of GBS-01 contains 1.0 g burdock fruit extract) First 28 days for dose-limiting toxicity assessment |
No dose-limiting toxicity at any dose; the main side effects were rises in gamma-GT, blood sugar and bilirubin, all mild. One of 15 had a partial response and 4 had stable disease. Median progression-free survival was 1.1 months and overall survival 5.7 months. 1 partial response, 4 stable disease out of 15; median progression-free survival 1.1 months; median overall survival 5.7 months. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Dose-limiting toxicity, side effects, blood levels of arctigenin, tumour response, survival Limitations: A safety study in 15 people with no comparison group; it cannot show that the extract treats cancer. The preparation is not a tea or ordinary supplement. Funding and conflicts: Several authors work with the drug developer (see the companion lactate paper: one author is an employee of Kracie Pharmaceutical Company); industry-linked. Read: abstract |
| Jin 2023 A systematic review on botany, ethnopharmacology, quality control, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of Arctium lappa L. fruit J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 36781057 · DOI |
Systematic review mixed |
Systematic review of Arctium lappa fruit (Arctii Fructus): botany, ethnopharmacology, chemistry, pharmacology and toxicity | Arctii Fructus (fruit) and its lignans fruit |
More than 200 compounds were identified; the fruit extract had no toxicity in the studies reviewed, but arctigenin itself was toxic at a certain dose. The authors say clinical studies show effects on chronic inflammation and ageing, but the abstract gives no details. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Chemistry, pharmacology, toxicity Limitations: Abstract only; clinical claims not checked. Read: abstract |
| Knott 2008 Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging skin J Cosmet Dermatol · PMID 19146605 · DOI |
Clinical trial |
Volunteers using a cream on skin (number not given in the abstract); also cell experiments with pure arctiin | Cream containing Arctium lappa fruit extract (topical, on skin) fruit 4 weeks (wrinkles) and 12 weeks (collagen and hyaluronan markers) · vs Vehicle (cream without extract) on a comparison area |
Compared with the plain cream, the fruit-extract cream raised procollagen and hyaluronan markers at 12 weeks and reduced crow's-feet wrinkle volume at 4 weeks. Reported as significant; the abstract gives no numbers. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Procollagen and hyaluronan synthesis, hyaluronan synthase-2 gene expression, wrinkle volume (crow's feet) Limitations: Skin-cream (not eaten) study of fruit extract, number of volunteers not in the abstract, run by the company's own researchers, no numbers in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Authors are employees of Beiersdorf AG (cosmetics company); industry-linked. Read: abstract |
| Latif 2022 Herbal Teas and Thrombocytopenia: A Curious Case of Yellow Dock and Burdock-Induced Thrombocytopenia Eur J Case Rep Intern Med · PMID 35402325 · DOI |
Case report |
1 A 38-year-old woman with a platelet count of 5 K/microlitre one week after drinking a herbal tea |
Herbal tea containing yellow dock (Rumex crispus) and burdock (Arctium lappa) unspecified About one week before presentation |
Symptomatic thrombocytopenia developed one week after the tea. The authors suggest a link but say the association between these herbs and immune thrombocytopenia needs research. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Immune thrombocytopenia (very low platelets) Limitations: One case, two herbs in the tea, so the cause cannot be pinned on burdock; no frequency can be drawn from a single report. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests. Read: abstract |
| Lin 2000 Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa on carbon tetrachloride- and acetaminophen-induced liver damage Am J Chin Med · PMID 10999435 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Male mice with liver damage from carbon tetrachloride or acetaminophen | Arctium lappa root root Several doses (not read) Not read · vs Mice without extract |
Liver enzyme rises were reduced dose-dependently and liver damage was milder; the authors suggest an antioxidant effect. Not given as numbers in the abstract. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT), glutathione, liver tissue Limitations: Mouse study from 2000; not proof of effect in people. Read: abstract |
| Maghsoumi-Norouzabad 2016 Effects of Arctium lappa L. (Burdock) root tea on inflammatory status and oxidative stress in patients with knee osteoarthritis Int J Rheum Dis · PMID 25350500 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
36 Adults aged 50-70 with knee osteoarthritis (10 men, 26 women), Tabriz, Iran |
Burdock root tea (infusion) root 3 cups a day, each 2 g in 150 mL boiled water, half an hour after meals 42 days · vs 3 cups of plain boiled water a day; everyone in both groups also took acetaminophen and glucosamine |
Burdock tea lowered IL-6, hs-CRP and malondialdehyde and raised total antioxidant capacity and SOD activity versus control. GPX rose but not significantly. Pain, stiffness and function were not reported in the abstract. IL-6 P = 0.002; hs-CRP P = 0.003; MDA P < 0.001; TAC P < 0.001; SOD P = 0.009. Mean values and confidence intervals are not in the abstract. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood hs-CRP and IL-6 (inflammation), and oxidative stress markers (TAC, SOD, GPX, MDA) Limitations: Very small trial (36), 6 weeks, blood markers only and no pain or function result in the abstract, background drugs given to everyone, blinding not stated in the abstract, one centre. Read: abstract |
| Mariano 2022 Exotic Medicinal Plants Used in Brazil with Diuretic Properties: A Review Chem Biodivers · PMID 35544364 · DOI |
Narrative review mixed |
Review of exotic plants used for diuresis in Brazil | Many plants; Arctium lappa listed among those lacking scientific study various |
The review lists Arctium lappa among popular diuretic plants that still lack scientific studies and says clinical studies of such plants are scarce. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Diuretic action Limitations: Narrative review; no data on burdock itself. Read: abstract |
| Miglani 2014 Observational study of Arctium lappa in the treatment of acne vulgaris Homeopathy · PMID 24931753 · DOI |
Observational |
34 People with acne vulgaris, New Delhi (32 finished) |
'Lappa': homeopathic preparation of Arctium lappa in potencies from 6c to 1M unspecified Potency 6c rising to 1M as the doctor judged 6 months |
Lesion counts, grading scores and quality-of-life scores improved over 6 months. P < 0.001 for all three; numbers not in the abstract. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Acne lesion counts, Global Acne Grading System, Acne-QoL questionnaire Limitations: No control group, so natural improvement and placebo effects cannot be separated. Homeopathic potencies are not the same as herbal root or tea. Funding and conflicts: Registered NCT01040390; funding not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Mizuki 2019 Effects of Burdock tea on recurrence of colonic diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding: An open-labelled randomized clinical trial Sci Rep · PMID 31043657 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
161 Adults newly diagnosed with colonic diverticular bleeding (n = 91) or acute colonic diverticulitis (n = 70), Japan |
Burdock tea unspecified (tea; plant part not stated in the abstract) 1.5 g of burdock tea three times a day Median follow-up about 22 months (bleeding group) and 30 months (diverticulitis group) · vs No treatment |
Diverticulitis came back less often with burdock tea (10.6% versus 31.8%) and the time free of recurrence was longer. Diverticular bleeding recurrence was not significantly different. Diverticulitis recurrence 5/47 (10.6%) versus 14/44 (31.8%); Kaplan-Meier recurrence-free time 59.3 months (95% CI 54.0-64.7) versus 45.1 months (37.1-53.0), log-rank P = 0.012. No significant effect on bleeding recurrence. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Recurrence of diverticular bleeding and of acute diverticulitis Limitations: Open-label (no placebo, patients knew their group), so expectations and other habits may differ. The abstract's diverticulitis group sizes (47 and 44, which add to 91) do not match the stated 70 diverticulitis patients, so the exact counts should be checked in the full paper. Japanese patients only. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests. Read: abstract |
| Moro 2021 Burdock (Arctium lappa L) roots as a source of inulin-type fructans and other bioactive compounds: Current knowledge and future perspectives for food and non-food applications Food Res Int · PMID 33641945 · DOI |
Narrative review mixed |
Review of burdock root as a source of inulin-type fructans and other compounds | Burdock root root |
Burdock root is a source of prebiotic fibre, chlorogenic acids, lignans and quercetin; assays show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties (lab). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Chemistry and food uses Limitations: Narrative review; mostly lab work. Read: abstract |
| NCBI 2026 NCBI Taxonomy: Arctium lappa (taxid 4217), great burdock NCBI Taxonomy, read 2026-10-25 · Source |
Database record |
Plant name record | Arctium lappa, authority L., 1753, rank species, GenBank common name 'great burdock'. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted name, common name, rank Limitations: Name database, not a clinical source. Read: full-text | |
| Nathan 2020 The management of paediatric burns with Burns and Wounds ointment and burdock leaves: a case series J Wound Care · PMID 32412894 · DOI |
Case series |
2 Two Amish children (11 and 24 months old) with scald burns covering 17% and 20% of the body, Philadelphia |
Burns and Wounds ointment with burdock leaves applied to the burn leaf Until wound infection was found soon after arrival at hospital |
Both children developed positive wound cultures soon after reaching the hospital, the home treatment was stopped, and both needed surgery. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Wound outcome Limitations: Two children, no comparison; the authors say the treatment's efficacy is limited and standard burn care should stay available. Read: abstract |
| Niazi 2022 Drug-Induced Liver Injury from Herbal Liver Detoxification Tea Case Rep Gastroenterol · PMID 36636365 · DOI |
Case report |
1 A 36-year-old woman with acute liver injury (cholestatic pattern) |
Over-the-counter herbal 'liver detox' tea: burdock root, stinging nettle leaf, cleavers herb, dandelion root, lemon peel and lemon myrtle leaf root+leaf+herb (mixed) |
The authors describe liver injury linked to the six-herb tea and call it the first reported liver harm from any of its ingredients. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Drug-induced liver injury Limitations: One case, six ingredients, so the cause cannot be pinned on burdock; no causality score is in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflicts of interest. Read: abstract |
| PubChem (NCBI) 2026 PubChem compound records for arctigenin (CID 64981), arctiin (100528), chlorogenic acid (1794427), caffeic acid (689043), 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (122685), quercetin (5280343), luteolin (5280445), (-)-matairesinol (119205), (-)-trachelogenin (452855), dehydrocostus lactone (73174), arctiopicrin (5281423) and atropine (174174) PubChem PUG REST, read 2026-10-25 · Source |
Database record |
Compound records | CIDs and molecular formulas confirmed by name lookup. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Compound identities and formulas Limitations: Database record, not a clinical source. Inulin returned no single compound record (it is a mixture of chains). Read: full-text | |
| Rhoads 1984 Anticholinergic poisonings associated with commercial burdock root tea J Toxicol Clin Toxicol · PMID 6535850 · DOI |
Case report |
People who drank a commercial burdock root tea (Arizona); a second laboratory-confirmed case had been described before | Commercial burdock root tea root Dose estimated by the authors at about 2.28 mg atropine Single exposures |
The tea contained atropine and caused mild anticholinergic symptoms. The authors could not tell whether the atropine came from burdock root itself or from another plant mixed into the product. Estimated atropine dose about 2.28 mg (the usual adult oral dose as an antispasmodic is about 0.3 to 1.2 mg, per the authors). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Anticholinergic poisoning (atropine-type) Limitations: Case report. The PubMed record has no abstract; the abstract was read in a university research repository, not in PubMed. Read: summary-only |
| Rodriguez 1995 Allergic contact dermatitis due to burdock (Arctium lappa) Contact Dermatitis · PMID 8549139 · DOI |
Case report |
Allergic contact dermatitis due to burdock (Spain) | Burdock (Arctium lappa) by skin contact; plant part not read unspecified Not read Not read |
Title only was verified; details were not read. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Allergic contact dermatitis Limitations: Title and journal verified in PubMed; no abstract exists, text not read. Read: summary-only |
| Sasaki 2003 Anaphylaxis due to burdock Int J Dermatol · PMID 12786879 · DOI |
Case report |
1 Anaphylaxis due to burdock (letter, Tohoku University, Japan) |
Burdock (food; part not read) unspecified Not read Not read |
Title only was verified; the letter's details were not read. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Anaphylaxis Limitations: Title and journal verified in PubMed; no abstract exists, text not read. Read: summary-only |
| Shyam 2024 Harnessing the power of Arctium lappa root: a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic applications Nat Prod Bioprospect · PMID 39162715 · DOI |
Narrative review mixed |
Review of burdock root pharmacology | Arctium lappa root extract root |
Reports encouraging results for liver damage from cadmium, lead, chromium and acetaminophen (animal work), plus anti-diabetic, lipid-lowering and other effects. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Overview of reported effects Limitations: Narrative review; mostly animal and lab work. Read: abstract |
| Taheri 2026 Effects of Arctium lappa L. Root Powder on Some Markers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial Study JBRA Assist Reprod · PMID 41757842 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
60 Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Arak, Iran, 2023-2024 |
Burdock root powder root 460 mg a day 12 weeks · vs Placebo 460 mg a day |
Superoxide dismutase and catalase rose, malondialdehyde and C-reactive protein fell, and both ovaries were smaller versus placebo. The abstract does not report results for hirsutism score or menstrual frequency. SOD and catalase up, MDA and CRP down (all P < 0.001); right ovary volume P = 0.02, left P = 0.01. Group means are not in the abstract. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Oxidative stress and inflammation markers, ovary volume, hirsutism score, menstrual frequency Limitations: Small (30 per group), 12 weeks, one centre, convenience sample, blood markers and ultrasound volume rather than symptoms or pregnancy. Hirsutism and menstrual results not given in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflicts of interest. Read: abstract |
| Uzbekova 2026 Unveiling the Antihyperglycemic Potential of Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae): Traditional Application, Phytochemistry, and Molecular Insights Foods · PMID 41750986 · DOI |
Narrative review mixed |
Narrative review (2000-2025) of Arctium lappa and blood sugar | Arctium lappa and its compounds (arctigenin, arctiin, inulin) various |
Antidiabetic effects seen in cells and animals; limited human data are in people without diabetes and look at inflammation. The authors call for randomized trials of blood sugar control in people with diabetes. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood sugar mechanisms and safety Limitations: Narrative review. Read: abstract |
| Yang 2025 Immunopharmacological potential of Arctium lappa L. in immune-mediated skin diseases: A critical review of experimental and clinical evidence Front Pharmacol · PMID 41111517 · DOI |
Systematic review mixed |
Experimental and clinical work on Arctium lappa, arctiin and arctigenin in immune-mediated skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, lupus, alopecia, systemic sclerosis, vasculitis); searched to July 2025 | Arctium lappa extracts, arctiin, arctigenin various 10-100 micromolar in cell assays; 15-100 mg/kg in animals |
Mostly cell and mouse data on mixed preparations with limited clinical validation. The authors call the evidence preliminary and note there are no robust randomized trials. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Immune and skin effects Limitations: Narrative synthesis of heterogeneous studies; no human-trial result is drawn from it. Read: abstract |
| Yen 2018 Beneficial effect of Burdock complex on asymptomatic Helicobacter pylori-infected subjects: A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial Helicobacter · PMID 29520881 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
36 H. pylori-positive adults with no symptoms (urea breath test above 10%), Taiwan; plus cell experiments |
'Burdock complex': burdock (Arctium lappa), angelica (Angelica sinensis), gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon) and sesame oil (combination product) unspecified 8 weeks (tests at 4, 8 and 10 weeks) · vs Placebo (n = 17; burdock complex n = 19) |
The combination lowered the breath-test value and inflammatory markers and improved antioxidant measures versus placebo, and the authors say it healed the ulcer wound. In cells it reduced H. pylori sticking to stomach cells. Burdock cannot be credited alone. P < 0.05 for the main changes; numbers are not given in the abstract. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Urea breath test value, inflammatory markers, antioxidant capacity, endoscopy Limitations: Four-herb combination, so no effect can be assigned to burdock alone. Small (36). Endoscopy findings are only described in general terms in the abstract. Whether H. pylori was cleared is not stated. Read: abstract |
| Yosri 2023 Arctium lappa (Burdock): Insights from ethnopharmacology potential, chemical constituents, clinical studies, pharmacological utility and nanomedicine Biomed Pharmacother · PMID 36516694 · DOI |
Narrative review mixed |
Review of Arctium lappa: traditional use, chemistry, pharmacology, clinical studies and nanomedicine | Arctium lappa roots, fruits, seeds, leaves and their compounds various |
Lists many effects shown in cells and animals and says clinical studies are few and deserve more attention. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Overview of reported effects Limitations: Narrative review; no stated method for picking studies in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Zhang 2026 Oral acute and subacute toxicity studies as well as safety pharmacology in beagle dogs of total lignans from Arctii Fructus Drug Chem Toxicol · PMID 40548442 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Beagle dogs | Total lignans of Arctii Fructus (a concentrated fruit-lignan extract) fruit Single doses up to over 5000 mg/kg; repeated 540 mg/kg 28 days · vs Untreated dogs |
The approximate lethal single dose was above 5000 mg/kg. Repeated 540 mg/kg for 28 days killed 50% of the dogs; damage was mainly in digestive system, heart, liver and kidneys. The authors say this lowers the chance of developing it as a diabetes drug. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Acute and repeated-dose toxicity Limitations: A concentrated lignan extract in dogs, not burdock root tea or food. Read: abstract |
| Zhong 2019 Arctigenin attenuates diabetic kidney disease through the activation of PP2A in podocytes Nat Commun · PMID 31586053 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Mouse models of diabetes and cultured kidney podocytes | Arctigenin (pure compound from Fructus Arctii) fruit Not read Not read · vs Untreated diabetic mice |
Arctigenin lowered protein in the urine and podocyte injury in diabetic mice, through PP2A activation and less NF-kB inflammation. Not given as numbers in the abstract. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Proteinuria and kidney cell injury Limitations: Mouse and cell work only. One author has a patent application on an arctigenin analogue. Funding and conflicts: One author has applied for a patent on arctigenin and its analogue. Read: abstract |
| de Souza Predes 2014 Hepatoprotective effect of Arctium lappa root extract on cadmium toxicity in adult Wistar rats Biol Trace Elem Res · PMID 24929543 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Male Wistar rats given a single cadmium chloride injection | Arctium lappa root extract root 300 mg/kg a day by gavage 7 or 56 days · vs Rats without extract |
Liver-function indicators suggested the extract protected the liver against cadmium damage. Not given as numbers in the abstract. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Liver enzymes and liver structure Limitations: Rat study; not proof of effect in people. Read: abstract |
What we do not know yet
- What the evidence supports: nothing about burdock is above very low certainty. Knee osteoarthritis markers, PCOS, diverticulitis and blood fats each rest on one small trial; blood sugar, liver, kidney, skin and cancer-lab uses have no usable human evidence.
- No trial reports pain or function in osteoarthritis, and no trial tests burdock for blood sugar in people with diabetes.
- No trial compares root tea, powder, extract or fruit, and none lasts beyond about 2.5 years.
- No study measured pyrrolizidine alkaloids, pesticides or heavy metals in burdock products.
- Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been studied.
- The details of the 1978 JAMA letters and the 1953 Italian paper on atropine poisoning from burdock tea were not read (no abstracts).
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and are placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any evidence rating or safety wording. New publications never change ratings automatically.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Metabolic 1
LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides
Mixed results in trials
Blood fats linked with heart disease risk.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A standard heart-risk measure.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Exercise is the more likely cause; burdock alone not shown to help.
Safety implication
None identified.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Fell significantly in the exercise and the exercise-plus-burdock groups; the burdock-only group is not reported as significant in the abstract. Values not given. | 40 women aged 70 to 80 | Burdock intake (product not stated) with or without water exercise, 12 weeks |
Inflammatory 2
C-reactive protein (CRP / hs-CRP)
Lowered in trials
A blood protein that rises with inflammation.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A common marker of body-wide inflammation.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Statistically significant in two small trials; a lower CRP does not by itself mean better health or less pain.
Safety implication
None identified from this measure.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | hs-CRP significantly lower with burdock root tea than with water (P = 0.003); values not in the abstract. | 36 adults with knee osteoarthritis | Burdock root tea, 3 cups a day, 42 days |
| 33 | CRP significantly lower than placebo (P < 0.001); values not in the abstract. | 60 women with PCOS | Burdock root powder 460 mg a day, 12 weeks |
Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
Lowered in trials
A signalling protein that drives inflammation.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Other 11
Malondialdehyde (MDA)
Lowered in trials
A by-product of fat damage by free radicals; a marker of oxidative stress.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Shows oxidative stress.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Significant in two trials; a lab marker, not a symptom.
Safety implication
None identified.
Superoxide dismutase (SOD)
Raised in trials
An antioxidant enzyme made by the body.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Shows antioxidant defence.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Significant in two small trials.
Safety implication
None identified.
Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and catalase
Raised in trials
Blood measures of antioxidant power (TAC) and an antioxidant enzyme (catalase).
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Shows antioxidant defence.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Surrogate markers only.
Safety implication
None identified.
Ovary volume on ultrasound
Lowered in trials
Size of the ovaries measured by ultrasound; enlarged ovaries are common in PCOS.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Used as a physical sign of PCOS.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Statistically significant in one small trial; the size of change and what it means for symptoms or fertility is not given.
Safety implication
None identified.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Right ovary volume P = 0.02 and left ovary volume P = 0.01 lower than placebo; sizes not in the abstract. | 60 women with PCOS | Root powder 460 mg a day, 12 weeks |
Pulse wave velocity (artery stiffness)
No clear change in trials
How fast the pulse wave travels along arteries; higher means stiffer arteries.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Diverticulitis recurrence
Lowered in trials
Whether acute diverticulitis (infected or inflamed colon pouches) comes back.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A real clinical outcome.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A clinical outcome but from one open-label trial with unclear group sizes.
Safety implication
None identified.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Recurrence 5/47 (10.6%) with burdock tea versus 14/44 (31.8%) with no treatment; log-rank P = 0.012. No effect on bleeding recurrence. | Japanese adults with diverticular disease | Burdock tea 1.5 g three times a day, median follow-up about 2 years |
Urea breath test (H. pylori)
Lowered in trials
A breath test for H. pylori infection.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Tracks H. pylori activity.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Combination product; the breath value falling is not the same as clearing infection.
Safety implication
None identified.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Lower than placebo after 8 weeks (P < 0.05); values not in the abstract. | 36 adults with H. pylori | Burdock complex (four ingredients) |
Acne lesion counts and grading
Lowered in trials
Number of acne spots and a severity score.
Not enough evidenceResults and what it means
Why it was measured
The usual acne outcome.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
No comparison group.
Safety implication
None identified.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Lesion counts, GAGS and Acne-QoL improved (P < 0.001); numbers not in the abstract. | 32 people finished 6 months | Homeopathic Lappa 6c-1M, uncontrolled |
Procollagen, hyaluronan and wrinkle volume
Mixed results in trials
Markers of skin structure and a measure of wrinkle depth.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Used to test anti-aging creams.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Company-run cream study.
Safety implication
Skin irritation or allergy possible.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Procollagen, hyaluronan synthase-2 and hyaluronan rose at 12 weeks; crow's-feet wrinkle volume fell at 4 weeks; no numbers in the abstract. | Volunteers (number not stated) | Cream with burdock fruit extract versus plain cream |
Plasma lactate
Raised in trials
A blood chemical that can rise when cell energy production is blocked.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Arctigenin blocks part of cell energy production, so lactate was checked.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Safety signal in a concentrated drug-style extract; not seen with tea.
Safety implication
Shows that concentrated arctigenin acts on cell energy production.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Temporary rises in about half of the patients; no link with arctigenin blood levels or outcome. | 15 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer | GBS-01 arctigenin-rich fruit extract, 3.0-12.0 g a day |
Gamma-GT and bilirubin (liver tests)
Raised in trials
Blood tests that rise with liver or bile-duct stress.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Safety check.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
The patients were seriously ill, so the cause may be the disease; no comparison group.
Safety implication
A safety relationship, not a benefit.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Increased gamma-GT, hyperglycemia and increased total bilirubin were the main adverse events, all mild. | 15 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer | GBS-01 3.0-12.0 g a day |
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 6
- Buy burdock root tea or powder only from a maker that tests the root: contaminated burdock tea has caused atropine poisoning. Burdock root does not contain atropine. But since 1953 doctors have reported people poisoned with atropine-type (anticholinergic) symptoms after drinking burdock root tea, including a commercial tea in the United States in the late 1970s and 1980s. The EU assessment says the root has been contaminated with belladonna root (deadly nightshade). One case report's authors could not tell whether the atropine came from the burdock itself or from another plant mixed in. This is a quality problem, not a normal effect of burdock, but you cannot see it by looking at a tea bag. Case report 29 2 8 10 3 5 11
- Allergy: people allergic to daisy-family plants (ragweed, chamomile, chicory) may react, and burdock has caused contact dermatitis and anaphylaxis. Burdock is in the daisy family (Asteraceae). The EU assessment reports three cases of contact dermatitis from burdock plasters (two men in their thirties and a 14-year-old girl), and one case of anaphylaxis in a 53-year-old man after eating boiled burdock root (he also tested allergic to carrot). It names sesquiterpene lactones as the likely cause and assumes cross-reaction with other daisy-family plants. No frequency is known. Case report 30 31 5
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: not recommended because there are no safety data. The EU monograph says use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended for lack of data. The assessment report cites a handbook that mentions a possible uterine-stimulating action, but the EU committee found no case reports or studies that support it. So the advice rests on missing evidence, not on a proven harm. Authoritative guidance 5 4
- Diuretics, diabetes medicines and blood thinners: mostly theory, with little human evidence. Burdock is called a diuretic in traditional use, but no trial tested this and the EU monograph advises against using it together with synthetic water pills. For diabetes medicines, lab work suggests burdock might lower blood sugar, and the EU report mentions possible interference seen in experiments with plant parts other than the root; no human interaction has been documented. For blood thinners, we found no study. One case report describes very low platelets after a tea of burdock and yellow dock, so anyone with a bleeding problem or a low platelet count should ask a doctor first. Pharmacological theory 4 5 21 34 18
- Concentrated fruit-lignan extracts are a different matter: high doses killed half the dogs in a 28-day study. This was a concentrated extract of lignans from burdock fruit, not tea or root, given to dogs for 28 days at high doses (540 mg per kg). Damage was seen in the digestive system, heart, liver and kidneys. It does not show harm from ordinary root tea, but it shows that concentrated burdock-fruit products are not harmless. Animal research 38 16
- Several case reports involve multi-herb teas, so the cause cannot be pinned on burdock. A liver injury happened after a six-herb 'detox' tea and very low platelets after a burdock and yellow dock tea. Burdock may or may not have caused either. Single case reports cannot tell how often such things happen. Case report 27 18
Side effects 7
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atropine-type poisoning from contaminated burdock root tea (dry mouth, fast heartbeat, confusion, flushed skin are typical of this kind of poisoning) The symptom list is the general pattern of anticholinergic poisoning, not details taken from these papers (most have no abstract). The 1984 report estimated an atropine dose of about 2.28 mg and found mild symptoms; the Arizona authors could not tell if the atropine came from burdock root itself or another plant. Contamination with belladonna root is the explanation in the EU report. | Not established | serious Not described in the sources read | Case report 29 2 8 10 3 5 |
| Allergic contact dermatitis (red, weeping rash) from burdock plasters or plant contact Three cases are summarised by the EU report (Rodriguez 1995). | Not established | moderate Not described in the sources read | Case report 30 5 |
| Anaphylaxis after eating boiled burdock root One 53-year-old man in Japan; he also tested allergic to carrot. The EU report notes only one such case is known. | Not established | serious Recovered after epinephrine, fluids and steroids | Case report 31 5 |
| Immune thrombocytopenia (very low platelets) one week after a burdock and yellow dock tea A single 38-year-old woman; two herbs in the tea, so the cause is uncertain. | Not established | serious Not described in the abstract; the authors say treatment is the same as for immune thrombocytopenia (steroids, platelets if bleeding) | Case report 18 |
| Acute liver injury (cholestatic pattern) after a herbal liver detox tea Six ingredients including burdock root; burdock cannot be singled out. | Not established | serious Not described in the abstract | Case report 27 |
| Mild rises in liver tests (gamma-GT, bilirubin) and blood sugar with a concentrated arctigenin-rich fruit extract Fifteen patients with advanced cancer at 3.0 to 12.0 g a day of a drug-style extract; the patients' illness may explain some changes. | Not established | mild Not stated | Other 15 |
| Mechanical skin or eye injury from the barbed burrs on the fruit heads The EU report says tiny barbed needles can embed in the eye and cause serious damage; this is not relevant to the root. | Not established | moderate Not described | Authoritative guidance 5 |
Liver
There is no LiverTox entry for burdock that we could read. In animals, burdock root extract reduced liver damage from cadmium, carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen. In people, one case report describes acute cholestatic liver injury after a six-herb detox tea containing burdock root, which cannot be assigned to burdock. In a small cancer safety trial, a concentrated fruit extract caused mild rises in gamma-GT and bilirubin. No trial of burdock root in liver disease was found. 27 40 19 15
How often. No frequency is known. Not finding reports is not proof that none exist.
Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice was found. Anyone with liver disease or on liver-affecting medicine should ask a doctor first.
- . 27
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Burdock Root supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 6
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water pills (synthetic diuretics) prescription | Burdock has a traditional reputation as a diuretic, so a combined water-losing effect is theoretically possible. | Nothing is known about added effects (EU assessment); the EU monograph does not recommend using burdock with synthetic diuretics. | Pharmacological theory Very low certainty 5 4 21 | If you take water pills, ask your doctor or pharmacist before using burdock. |
| Diabetes medicines (insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas and others) prescription | Cell and animal studies suggest burdock extracts may lower blood sugar, so an added effect is theoretically possible. No human trial of burdock on blood sugar was found. | No human interaction has been documented. The EU report says possible interference with antidiabetic medicines was seen in experiments with plant parts other than root. | Pharmacological theory Very low certainty 5 1 34 | Do not use burdock in place of diabetes medicine. If you use both, check blood sugar as your care team advises and tell them. |
| Blood thinners and antiplatelet medicines (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel and others) prescription | No tested mechanism was found. One case report links a burdock and yellow dock tea to very low platelets, which would add bleeding risk. | No interaction study exists. The single case report cannot show that burdock caused the low platelets. | Case report Very low certainty 18 5 | If you take blood thinners or have a bleeding problem, ask a doctor before using burdock, and tell your surgical team about it before an operation. |
| Medicines with anticholinergic effects (some antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, bladder medicines) - only if a tea is contaminated with belladonna prescription | A tea contaminated with atropine-type alkaloids would add to the same effect as these drugs. | This applies to contaminated products, not pure burdock. No interaction case was found in the sources read. | Pharmacological theory Very low certainty 29 3 5 | Use only products from makers that test for contamination. Stop and seek help if you get dry mouth, fast heartbeat, flushing or confusion after a burdock tea. |
| Disulfiram (alcohol-aversion medicine) and alcohol tinctures prescription | Burdock tinctures contain alcohol, which can cause vomiting with disulfiram. | The EU report notes this is covered by a general alcohol warning for tinctures. | Authoritative guidance Low certainty 5 | Avoid alcohol-based burdock tinctures if you take disulfiram. |
| Other medicines in general prescription | No effect on the liver's drug-handling enzymes of concern was found; the EU report says reported actions on the cytochrome system are not a reason for concern. | The EU report says there are no documented interactions and no concerns about interactions with conventional medicines. | Authoritative guidance Low certainty 5 | Tell your pharmacist about every herb you take. |
Who should check first 7
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Allergy to burdock, or to other daisy-family plants with a past reaction (ragweed, chrysanthemum, chamomile, arnica, marigold) | Do not use burdock. The EU monograph lists hypersensitivity as the contraindication, and the EU report assumes cross-reaction with other Asteraceae. | Authoritative guidance 5 4 31 30 |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended; there are no safety data. | Authoritative guidance 5 4 |
| Breastfeeding | Not recommended; there are no safety data. We did not find a lactation database entry we could read. | Authoritative guidance 5 4 |
| Children and teenagers under 18 | The EU monograph does not recommend use under 18 for lack of data. Do not treat burns or large wounds in children with burdock leaves. | Authoritative guidance 5 4 26 |
| Bleeding disorders, low platelets, or planned surgery | Ask a doctor first. This is precaution from a single case report and from missing data, not a proven risk. | Case report 18 |
| Kidney disease, or taking water pills | Ask a doctor first; the monograph does not recommend combining with synthetic diuretics. | Authoritative guidance 5 4 |
| Glaucoma, urinary blockage or fast heartbeat - relevant only if a tea might be contaminated with belladonna | These conditions are made worse by atropine-type substances. Another reason to buy tested products only. | Pharmacological theory 3 5 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. Burdock root as a vegetable or tea has a long history of food use and the EU committee calls root preparations safe under traditional-use conditions, but says certain tests (reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity) have not been done on the root. The documented dangers come from contamination, allergy and concentrated fruit-lignan extracts.
Animal. A very old rat study fed a diet of 33% burdock root for 120 days with no tumours in 12 rats (quoted by the EU report from De Smet 1993; not read directly). In beagle dogs, a concentrated fruit-lignan extract was not lethal in a single dose above 5000 mg/kg, but 540 mg/kg a day for 28 days killed half the animals, with damage in the gut, heart, liver and kidneys.
Human doses studied. Trials used root tea 3 cups a day for 6 weeks, root powder 460 mg a day for 12 weeks, and tea 1.5 g three times a day for about 2 years of follow-up. No serious harms were mentioned in the abstracts, but harms were not the focus. A fruit extract preparation was given up to 12.0 g a day in 15 patients with advanced cancer with mild lab changes.
High dose or long term signals. No overdose case has been reported with root preparations (EU). No long-term safety study of root tea was found beyond the roughly 2-year diverticulitis trial.
Genotoxicity. The EU report says no genotoxicity tests were done on root preparations. Tests of fruit extracts gave mixed results (one aqueous fruit extract was positive in one bacterial test with liver enzymes, another study found no mutagenicity); how this applies to the root is unclear.
Toxic plant parts. The root is the standard medicinal part. The burr-covered fruit heads have barbed hooks that can injure eyes, skin and, in dogs, the mouth. The EU monograph is limited to the root.
The best-documented danger with burdock is not the plant but what can be mixed in with it.
Belladonna (atropine) contamination of root tea. Atropine-type poisoning after burdock root tea was reported in 1953 and in the late 1970s to 1980s. A tea analysed in the 1984 Arizona report contained atropine, estimated at about 2.28 mg in one patient's dose. The authors could not tell whether it came from the burdock or from another plant mixed in. The EU assessment says atropine is not a constituent of burdock and that the contaminant was probably belladonna root. A 2017 review of herbal-tea tropane poisoning says contamination most likely occurs during harvest or processing and that the alkaloids are fairly heat-stable, so boiling may not remove them. 29 2 8 10 3 5
Substitution with other roots. The EU assessment, quoting a German handbook, says burdock root may be substituted or adulterated with comfrey (Symphytum officinale) or broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius). Comfrey is generally known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can injure the liver; this general fact is not from the EU text and was not verified here. 5 11
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, pesticides and heavy metals in burdock products. We searched PubMed and found no study that measured pyrrolizidine alkaloids, pesticide residues or heavy metals in burdock root products. This is a gap, not proof of safety. Burdock roots, like other roots, can take up what is in the soil; the EU report says quality must be checked. 5
No pharmacopoeia standard. The EU assessment notes there is no European Pharmacopoeia monograph for burdock root (the latest official text is a 2008 German one), and says contamination or adulteration with serious health risks is possible and must be excluded by quality control. 5
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) (European Union) | Community herbal monograph on burdock root (Arctii radix), adopted 16 September 2010: traditional use only, to increase urine flow in minor urinary complaints and for temporary loss of appetite. Contraindication: hypersensitivity. Not recommended under 18, in pregnancy or breastfeeding, or with synthetic diuretics. Reviewed in 2020 with no change. source | 2010-09-16 |
| European Medicines Agency, HMPC assessment report (European Union) | Concludes root preparations can only be considered for traditional use, 'safe but no list entry', with quality (belladonna contamination, substitution) and allergy as the main concerns. source | 2011-04-13 |
When to get medical help
- Trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, widespread hives, dizziness or fainting soon after eating or drinking burdock: call emergency services now (possible anaphylaxis).
- Very dry mouth, flushed hot skin, racing heartbeat, wide pupils, confusion, hallucinations or inability to pass urine after a burdock tea: stop the tea, keep the package, and get emergency care (possible atropine-type poisoning from contamination). Tell the doctor you drank a herbal tea.
- Easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, tiny red or purple skin spots or black stools after using burdock tea: seek medical care promptly (low platelets).
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools or severe itching: see a doctor promptly (liver injury).
- A burn on a child or any large burn: go to a hospital. Do not treat it with leaves or home poultices.
Stop the supplement and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does burdock root help arthritis?
Maybe a little, but the evidence is very weak. One trial of 36 people with knee osteoarthritis found lower blood markers of inflammation after six weeks of burdock root tea, but it did not report pain or movement, and no second trial exists. Certainty is very low.
Can burdock lower blood sugar?
Is burdock a blood purifier or detox herb?
That is a traditional description, not something tested in modern trials. The EU lists burdock root only for increasing urine flow and for temporary loss of appetite, based on long use. A six-herb 'detox' tea containing burdock was linked to one case of liver injury, so 'detox' teas are not automatically harmless.
Is burdock tea safe?
Burdock root as a food or tea has a long history, and the EU committee considers root preparations safe under traditional-use conditions. The main problems are allergy and contaminated product. Several reports describe people poisoned by burdock root tea that contained atropine, which does not come from burdock.
Why were people poisoned by burdock root tea?
Reports from 1953 and from the late 1970s and 1980s describe atropine-type poisoning after burdock root tea. Burdock does not contain atropine. The EU assessment says the root has been contaminated with belladonna (deadly nightshade) root, and that comfrey or dock root can also be substituted. Authors of one report could not tell where the atropine came from. Buy only from makers that test their product.
Who should avoid burdock?
People allergic to burdock or to daisy-family plants (ragweed, chamomile, arnica, chicory), people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and children under 18, according to the EU monograph. Ask a doctor first if you take water pills, diabetes medicine or blood thinners, have a bleeding problem or low platelets, or have kidney disease.
Is burdock safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Does burdock interact with medicines?
No interaction has been documented in people. The EU monograph does not recommend using it with synthetic water pills. Burdock might add to diabetes medicine in theory, based on animal work, and one case report links a burdock and yellow dock tea to very low platelets. Ask a pharmacist if you take any of these.
Is burdock allergy common?
No frequency is known. Reports include contact dermatitis from burdock plasters (three cases in the EU report) and one case of anaphylaxis after eating boiled burdock root. Burdock belongs to the daisy family, and cross-reaction with other daisy-family plants is assumed. Seek emergency help for trouble breathing or swelling.
Does burdock help skin problems like acne or eczema?
Does burdock fight cancer?
Is burdock root the same as burdock fruit or seed?
No. The root is rich in inulin fibre and phenolic acids; the fruit (seed) is rich in lignans such as arctiin and arctigenin. Most cancer, kidney and blood sugar research is on arctigenin from the fruit, while the human tea and powder trials used the root. Results do not carry over from one part to the other.
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Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We searched PubMed for burdock, Arctium lappa, arctigenin and related safety terms, read the EU assessment report on burdock root (26 pages), the 2010 consultation draft of the EU monograph and the 2020 addendum, and checked plant names in GBIF and NCBI and compounds in PubChem. Nearly all studies were read as abstracts only. Not verified: LiverTox, NCCIH and LactMed entries could not be read; the 1953 and 1978 papers on atropine poisoning have no abstracts, so only their titles are verified and their contents come from the EU report and one web-read abstract of the 1984 paper; the final adopted EU monograph wording was not read (the consultation draft was). Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading, not formal grades. No study is cited that we could not verify in PubMed or at the source.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown. If one is added later it will be labelled and kept apart from the evidence.
Sources 40
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Annunziata G, Barrea L, Ciampaglia R, et al.. Arctium lappa contributes to the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus by regulating glucose homeostasis and improving oxidative stress: A critical review of in vitro and in vivo animal-based studies. Phytother Res. 2019. PMID 31232489. DOI 10.1002/ptr.6416. (abstract)
- Bryson PD, Watanabe AS, Rumack BH, et al.. Burdock root tea poisoning. Case report involving a commercial preparation. JAMA. 1978. PMID 642161. (summary-only)
- Chan TYK. Worldwide Occurrence and Investigations of Contamination of Herbal Medicines by Tropane Alkaloids. Toxins (Basel). 2017. PMID 28914776. DOI 10.3390/toxins9090284. (abstract)
- EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Community herbal monograph on Arctium lappa L., radix (draft text of 14 January 2010 read; adoption on 16 September 2010 is stated in the 2020 addendum). EMA/HMPC/246763/2009. 2010. (full-text)
- EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Assessment report on Arctium lappa L., radix (burdock root). EMA/HMPC/246764/2009 (26 pages, read in full). 2011. (full-text)
- EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Addendum to Assessment report on Arctium lappa L., radix (periodic review 2011-2019). EMA/HMPC/509409/2019. 2020. (full-text)
- Elsori D, Pandey P, Abohassan M, et al.. Arctigenin as a promising anticancer agent: a comprehensive review of molecular mechanisms across major carcinomas. Front Pharmacol. 2026. PMID 42422076. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2026.1794520. (abstract)
- Fletcher GF, Cantwell JD. Burdock root tea poisoning. JAMA. 1978. PMID 691140. DOI 10.1001/jama.240.15.1586b. (summary-only)
- Fujioka R, Mochizuki N, Ikeda M, et al.. Change in plasma lactate concentration during arctigenin administration in a phase I clinical trial in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer. PLoS One. 2018. PMID 29856804. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0198219. (abstract)
- GANDOLFO N, ACCASCINA G. [Atropine poisoning by ingestion of decoction of burdock roots]. Rend Ist Sup Sanit. 1953. PMID 13167508. (summary-only)
- GBIF. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy matches for Arctium minus (5393103), Arctium tomentosum (5393080), Atropa belladonna (3802655, family Solanaceae) and Rumex obtusifolius (2889011, family Polygonaceae). GBIF API, read 2026-10-25. 2026. (full-text)
- GBIF. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Arctium lappa L. (usageKey 7353729). GBIF API, read 2026-10-25. 2026. (full-text)
- Gao Q, Yang M, Zuo Z. Overview of the anti-inflammatory effects, pharmacokinetic properties and clinical efficacies of arctigenin and arctiin from Arctium lappa L. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2018. PMID 29698388. DOI 10.1038/aps.2018.32. (abstract)
- Ha MS, Kim JH, Kim YS, et al.. Effects of aquarobic exercise and burdock intake on serum blood lipids and vascular elasticity in Korean elderly women. Exp Gerontol. 2018. PMID 29154814. DOI 10.1016/j.exger.2017.11.005. (abstract)
- Ikeda M, Sato A, Mochizuki N, et al.. Phase I trial of GBS-01 for advanced pancreatic cancer refractory to gemcitabine. Cancer Sci. 2016. PMID 27685612. DOI 10.1111/cas.13086. (abstract)
- Jin X, Liu S, Chen S, et al.. A systematic review on botany, ethnopharmacology, quality control, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of Arctium lappa L. fruit. J Ethnopharmacol. 2023. PMID 36781057. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116223. (abstract)
- Knott A, Reuschlein K, Mielke H, et al.. Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2008. PMID 19146605. DOI 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2008.00407.x. (abstract)
- Latif A, Fichadiya H, Abid F, et al.. Herbal Teas and Thrombocytopenia: A Curious Case of Yellow Dock and Burdock-Induced Thrombocytopenia. Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2022. PMID 35402325. DOI 10.12890/2022_003247. (abstract)
- Lin SC, Chung TC, Lin CC, et al.. Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa on carbon tetrachloride- and acetaminophen-induced liver damage. Am J Chin Med. 2000. PMID 10999435. DOI 10.1142/S0192415X00000210. (abstract)
- Maghsoumi-Norouzabad L, Alipoor B, Abed R, et al.. Effects of Arctium lappa L. (Burdock) root tea on inflammatory status and oxidative stress in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Int J Rheum Dis. 2016. PMID 25350500. DOI 10.1111/1756-185X.12477. (abstract)
- Mariano LNB, Boeing T, da Silva RCV, et al.. Exotic Medicinal Plants Used in Brazil with Diuretic Properties: A Review. Chem Biodivers. 2022. PMID 35544364. DOI 10.1002/cbdv.202200258. (abstract)
- Miglani A, Manchanda RK. Observational study of Arctium lappa in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Homeopathy. 2014. PMID 24931753. DOI 10.1016/j.homp.2013.12.002. (abstract)
- Mizuki A, Tatemichi M, Nakazawa A, et al.. Effects of Burdock tea on recurrence of colonic diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding: An open-labelled randomized clinical trial. Sci Rep. 2019. PMID 31043657. DOI 10.1038/s41598-019-43236-0. (abstract)
- Moro TMA, T P S Clerici M. Burdock (Arctium lappa L) roots as a source of inulin-type fructans and other bioactive compounds: Current knowledge and future perspectives for food and non-food applications. Food Res Int. 2021. PMID 33641945. DOI 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109889. (abstract)
- NCBI. NCBI Taxonomy: Arctium lappa (taxid 4217), great burdock. NCBI Taxonomy, read 2026-10-25. 2026. (full-text)
- Nathan S, Nanassy AD, Burkey BA, et al.. The management of paediatric burns with Burns and Wounds ointment and burdock leaves: a case series. J Wound Care. 2020. PMID 32412894. DOI 10.12968/jowc.2020.29.Sup5a.S30. (abstract)
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- PubChem (NCBI). PubChem compound records for arctigenin (CID 64981), arctiin (100528), chlorogenic acid (1794427), caffeic acid (689043), 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (122685), quercetin (5280343), luteolin (5280445), (-)-matairesinol (119205), (-)-trachelogenin (452855), dehydrocostus lactone (73174), arctiopicrin (5281423) and atropine (174174). PubChem PUG REST, read 2026-10-25. 2026. (full-text)
- Rhoads PM, Tong TG, Banner W Jr, et al.. Anticholinergic poisonings associated with commercial burdock root tea. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1984. PMID 6535850. DOI 10.3109/15563658408992587. (summary-only)
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Where to buy
Check the label first. Whatever you buy, look for these:
- The plant part and the extract type or ratio on the label
- A standardized amount of the active compounds, where relevant
- A third-party testing mark (USP, NSF or ConsumerLab)
- Interactions: ask a pharmacist if you take medicines, are pregnant or have a medical condition
Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you start any supplement, especially if you take medicines. See the Safety tab for interactions.
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