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Althaea officinalis is a perennial, densely hairy plant characterized by stellate branched hairs. It has one or several stems and a strong, branched, short rhizome with fairly thick, long, fleshy roots. The stems are mostly erect and simple, sometimes branched at the top, reaching heights of 50 to 150 cm.
The leaves are alternate and vary in shape depending on their position on the stem. The upper leaves have long petioles, are ovate, pointed, with irregularly toothed edges, ovate-lanceolate, three-lobed with an elongated central lobe, and broadly wedge-shaped at the base. The middle leaves are slightly rounded or almost flat at the base. The lower leaves are larger and wider than the others, three- to five-lobed, sometimes heart-shaped at the base. All leaves have a grayish-green color and are covered with soft hairs.
The flowers are borne on peduncles clustered at the top of the stem and arranged on common flower stalks emerging from the axils of the upper and middle leaves. The calyx, typical for the Malvaceae family, has broadly ovate, hairy, pointed sepals. The corolla is pale pink, not fully open, consisting of five widely ovate petals that are deeply notched at the tip and narrowed near the base.
The floral formula of Althaea officinalis is: K6+5C5A∞G(∞).
The fruits are small, disc-shaped, aggregated schizocarps covered with short hairs, measuring 7–10 mm in diameter. The seeds are dark brown, smooth, kidney-shaped, and 2–2.5 mm long.
The plant blooms from June to August, with fruits ripening from July.
Harvesting of Raw Materials
In medicine and pharmaceutical industry, the roots of Althaea officinalis (Althaeae radices) are the most widely used medicinal raw material.
The roots are harvested at the beginning of the growing season, before the emergence of the aerial parts (March–May), and also in autumn when the stems begin to dry out. The dug-up roots are cleaned from soil and washed in cold water, then slightly dried in the sun and cut into pieces up to 30 cm long. Thick roots are split lengthwise into 2–3 parts. To obtain clean roots, the gray surface layer is peeled off before drying.
After preparation, the roots are dried in the shade, spread in thin layers on nets, stretched cloths, in open air attics, or well-ventilated rooms. In drying facilities, the raw material is dried at temperatures not exceeding 40°C.
Another species used for medicinal raw material is the Armenian marshmallow (Althaea armeniaca Ten.).
Chemical Composition
Althaea officinalis is classified among plants containing mucilage, and therefore, the polysaccharides in its roots have been the subject of extensive phytochemical study. It has been established that the roots contain between 30 and 35 percent mucilage. Early research in 1912 identified the monosaccharides D-glucose and D-L-xylose within this mucilage, and by 1946, uronic acids, methylpentoses, and hexoses were also discovered.
The dry mucilage from marshmallow roots contains approximately 19.5 to 21.7 percent reducing polysaccharides when measured as glucose equivalents. In addition to mucilage, the roots comprise other compounds such as linear polysaccharide triticin, inverted sugars, tannins, essential amino acids including asparagine and betaine, starch, pectin, fats, organic acids, and carotene. These components together contribute to the plant’s medicinal properties and nutritional value.
Pharmacological Properties
Althaea officinalis exhibits expectorant, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, and mild analgesic effects, primarily due to its high content of heterogeneous mucilage. In modern pharmacological classification, marshmallow root is grouped among antitussive (cough-suppressing) agents. The mucilaginous decoction of the root moistens the vocal cords as it flows down the back of the throat, penetrates into the trachea, softening thick mucus deposits, protecting the nerve endings of the mucous membranes in the throat and trachea from irritants, and accelerating the healing of damaged mucosal areas. Additionally, the colloidal properties of the mucilage facilitate easier expectoration.
When used together with other more active anti-inflammatory agents, the mucilage in marshmallow root can slow their clearance from the body, thereby prolonging and enhancing the therapeutic effect of these medications on affected tissues.
The aqueous extract of marshmallow root, when taken orally, also has a coating effect on the stomach’s mucous membrane. This protective effect increases with higher acidity of gastric juice because interaction with hydrochloric acid raises the viscosity of the mucilage. The plant mucilage and colloidal aqueous solutions form a thin, long-lasting protective layer over the mucous membranes of organs, shielding them from further irritation by harmful factors such as cold or dry air and chemical irritants. This prevents drying and creates favorable conditions for healing.
Furthermore, the mucilage can adsorb and inactivate bacterial and viral toxins and other harmful substances that damage epithelial cells, preventing their contact with the mucous membranes. As a result, tissue regeneration slows down spontaneously and the intensity of inflammation decreases.
Medicinal preparations include infusions, decoctions, dry and liquid extracts of the root, as well as marshmallow syrup.
Use in Traditional Medicine
In traditional medicine, aqueous infusions of marshmallow root are used as an adjunct remedy for inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract accompanied by excessive mucus production. This includes conditions such as whooping cough, pneumonia, bronchitis, and coughs.
The infusion is also applied for inflammation of the urinary bladder, painful and involuntary urination, inflammation of the intestines, as well as for mild diarrhea, dysentery, and dyspeptic diarrhea in children. Additionally, it is used to support the treatment of kidney diseases and is especially valued in cases of stomach and duodenal ulcers.