Plant Parts Used in Herbal Products: Leaf, Root, Seed, Flower, Bark
Which part of a plant is in an herbal product, such as root, leaf, bark, flower or seed, and why the part named on a label changes what a study or a warning means.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Why the plant part matters
A plant is not one ingredient. The root, the leaf, the bark and the seed of the same plant can differ in what they contain and in how safe they are. One official source on cinnamon says that research indicates the types and parts of cinnamon have important differences in chemical composition.[1] Another says ginkgo leaf, usually as an extract, is the most commonly used form of ginkgo, while fresh ginkgo seeds are toxic when consumed orally.[2]
So a result for one part does not carry over to another. A study of a leaf extract says nothing certain about the seed, the whole plant or a tea. This page explains the common plant-part words. It is information only and does not tell anyone to use a herb.
Plant parts with examples from official sources
This table uses examples from US government fact sheets. The scientific names were checked against GBIF, the global plant-name database.[4]
| Plant part | Example (scientific name) | What the source says about the part |
|---|---|---|
| Root and rhizome (underground stem) | Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) | The roots and rhizomes of valerian are used for medicinal purposes.[5] |
| Root or rhizome | Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) | The root or rhizome is the part used in herbal preparations.[6] |
| Rhizome | Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) | The plant has a bright yellow rhizome.[7] |
| Bark | Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum and related species) | Cinnamon is a spice that comes from the dried bark of various species.[1] |
| Leaf | Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) | Leaf, usually as an extract, is the most commonly used form.[2] |
| Berry and leaf | Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) | The berries and leaves have been used as medicine.[8] |
| Flower, leaf and root | Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) | All three have traditionally been used in Mexican and other North American medicine.[9] |
Words you may see on labels
- Root, rhizome, bark, leaf, flower, berry, seed: the plant part, as in the table above.
- Whole plant or crude plant: the whole organism, not one part. The ginkgo fact sheet notes serious side effects in people who consumed the crude ginkgo plant.[2]
- Extract: a concentrated form made from the part. The UK regulator lists extraction, distillation, expression, fractionation, purification, concentration and fermentation as examples of preparation processes.[3]
- Aerial parts: the sources we read for this page do not define this term. Ask a pharmacist what a label means by it.
Traditional use and research are separate
Many plants have a long record of use in one form, such as dandelion flower, leaf and root in Mexican and other North American medicine.[9] That is traditional use. It is not proof that any form works or is safe. Echinacea is a useful example: NCCIH says products are promoted for colds based on the idea that certain species may stimulate the immune system, so the species and part matter when reading a study.[11]
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Does the part of the plant really change the safety?
Yes, for some plants. Fresh ginkgo seeds are toxic when consumed orally, while the leaf extract is the form most used and studied.[2] Raw elderberry plant parts contain cyanide-producing substances.[10]
Is a root extract the same as a root tea?
Not necessarily. UK regulator wording separates an herbal substance, which is unprocessed, from an herbal preparation made by processes such as extraction or concentration.[3] A study of one form may not apply to the other.
What does "rhizome" mean?
It is an underground stem. NCCIH describes valerian roots and rhizomes, and goldenseal's rhizome, with this plain explanation.[5][7]
Why does cinnamon's label matter?
NCCIH says research shows different cinnamon types and parts differ in chemical composition, and products may not clearly say which were used.[1]
What if a label does not name the plant part?
Proper evidence not found that an unlabeled part can be judged safe; we searched official fact sheets from NCCIH and the MHRA for this. Ask a pharmacist, and see reading supplement labels.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
How regulators describe an herbal substance
In the United Kingdom, the medicines regulator (MHRA) defines an herbal substance as a plant or part of a plant, defined by the plant part used and the botanical name of the plant, either fresh or dried, but otherwise unprocessed.[3] It separates this from an herbal preparation, which is made when herbal substances are put through specific processes.[3] That is why a label that names the botanical name and the part gives you real information. See botanical names and plant parts on labels.
When one plant has several parts with different safety
Plant parts can carry different risks, and the label may not say which one is inside.
- Ginkgo: fresh seeds are toxic when consumed orally, and serious side effects have also occurred in people who consumed roasted seeds or the crude ginkgo plant.[2]
- **Elderberry (Sambucus nigra):** NCCIH states that raw or unripe berries and other parts of the elder tree, such as the leaves and stem, contain poisonous cyanide-producing substances.[10]
- Cinnamon: the same fact sheet notes that products may not clearly indicate which species or parts (bark, leaves, roots) were used.[1]
Because some plant parts are toxic, this site does not give preparation steps for them. If someone has eaten a plant part and feels unwell, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the US, or 911 in an emergency. See poisoning: what to do first.
Safety and who should ask a clinician
Anyone who takes prescription medicines, is pregnant or breastfeeding, has liver or kidney disease, or has surgery planned should ask a pharmacist or clinician before using an herbal product, because the product may contain a different part or a stronger extract than a food would. See medicine interactions and herb quality and labels. Tell the surgical team about any herbal product before an operation.
References
- NCCIH, Cinnamon (US). NCCIH, Cinnamon (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Ginkgo (US). NCCIH, Ginkgo (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- MHRA (gov.uk), Apply for a traditional herbal registration (THR) (UK). MHRA (gov.uk), Apply for a traditional herbal registration (THR) (UK). Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Species Match (accepted names checked 2026-10-23). GBIF Species Match (accepted names checked 2026-10-23). Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Valerian (US). NCCIH, Valerian (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Black Cohosh (US). NCCIH, Black Cohosh (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Goldenseal (US). NCCIH, Goldenseal (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Bilberry (US). NCCIH, Bilberry (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Dandelion (US). NCCIH, Dandelion (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Elderberry (US). NCCIH, Elderberry (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Echinacea (US). NCCIH, Echinacea (US). Read 2026-10-23.