Buck's-horn Plantain Drug Interactions, Uses, Safety & More

Buck's-horn plantain is a low-growing plant with narrow, deeply toothed leaves whose shape is said to resemble a deer's antlers, which is how it got its name. Its scientific name is Plantago coronopus, and it belongs to the plantain family (Plantaginaceae). It is not related to the banana-like tropical plantain.

It grows wild along coasts and in sandy, salty soils across Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and parts of Asia, and it has spread to other regions. The plant tolerates salt well, so it is sometimes grown as a specialty salad green sometimes sold under names like "minutina" or "erba stella."

People most often eat the young leaves raw in salads or cook them like spinach. In traditional folk medicine the leaves have also been used for digestive and minor skin or urinary complaints.

Most of what we know about buck's-horn plantain comes from its long use as a food and from traditional medicine, not from high-quality human studies. There is limited to no reliable clinical evidence showing it treats any specific medical condition.

Traditionally, the leaves have been used to ease digestive upset, as a mild diuretic, and applied to skin to soothe irritation or minor wounds. Like other plantain species, it contains plant compounds and fiber that may have mild soothing effects, but this has not been well proven for Plantago coronopus specifically.

As a vegetable, it is a source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and some laboratory studies report antioxidant activity in its extracts. These lab findings are interesting but do not prove any health benefit in people.

The plant contains compounds common to the plantain family, including mucilage (a soothing, gel-like fiber), flavonoids, phenolic acids, and iridoid glycosides. In test-tube studies, these compounds can show antioxidant and mild anti-inflammatory activity.

The mucilage may help explain its traditional use for digestion and for soothing skin, since this type of fiber can form a protective, slippery coating. Most of these mechanisms are based on laboratory or animal research, and it is not clear how strongly, if at all, they apply when the plant is eaten or used by people.

Eaten as a normal food or salad green, buck's-horn plantain is generally regarded as safe for most healthy people. Safety information about medicinal or concentrated forms, such as strong teas or extracts, is very limited.

People with allergies to plantain plants or to pollen should be cautious, as allergic reactions are possible. Anyone with a medical condition or who takes regular medication should check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it as a remedy.

Because there is not enough safety data, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid medicinal amounts and stick to using it only as an occasional food, if at all. The same caution applies to giving it to young children for medicinal purposes.

When eaten as a vegetable, buck's-horn plantain is not known to cause significant problems. As with any high-fiber plant, large amounts could cause mild bloating, gas, or loose stools in some people.

Allergic reactions are possible but uncommon. Stop using it and seek medical care if you notice itching, rash, swelling, or trouble breathing. Because the plant often grows near coasts and roadsides, only eat plants you are sure are clean and correctly identified.

There is no established standardized medicinal dose for buck's-horn plantain. It is most often used simply as a food, in the amounts you would eat any leafy green.

If you choose to use a commercial product such as a dried herb or tea, follow the directions on the label and do not exceed the recommended amount. Because reliable dosing information is lacking, it is best to check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it for any health purpose.