Mullein

Mullein’s central use is for the chest and throat: dry, unproductive coughs, catarrh, bronchial irritation and spasmodic coughs ^{1Reference 1Turker AU · 2005ReviewCommon mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research — reviewView study →}. The leaf and flower are taken as infusions, tinctures and syrups. The leaf is favoured for dry coughs and the root for productive ones. The dried leaf has also been smoked.

Its old folk names link it to consumption. It has a long history as a remedy for tuberculosis, tubercular skin disease and leprosy, and for mycobacterial disease in animals ^{12Reference 12McCarthy E · 2011ReviewWhat’s in a name? Can mullein weed beat TB where modern drugs are failing? — reviewView study →}.

It has also been used for diarrhoea, inflammatory complaints and migraine, and as a remedy for worms ^{1,14,17Reference 1Turker AU · 2005ReviewCommon mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research — reviewView study →Reference 14Ali N et al. · 2012In vitroAnthelmintic and relaxant activities of Verbascum thapsus mullein — in vitro/ex vivoView study →Reference 17Escobar FM et al. · 2011AnimalGenotoxic evaluation of a methanolic extract of Verbascum thapsus using micronucleus test in mouse bone marrow — animal modelView study →}.

Topically, the leaf is applied to skin irritations. The flower, infused in oil and often combined with garlic, is dropped into the ear for earache.

The European Union’s herbal monograph recognises mullein flower, from V. thapsus and two related species, as a traditional herbal medicine to relieve a sore throat with a dry cough and a cold. It is taken as an infusion of the dried flower ^{19Reference 19Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products ( · 2018Systematic reviewEuropean Union herbal monograph on Verbascum thapsus L., V. densiflorum Bertol. (V. thapsiforme Schrad) and V. phlomoides L., flos — EMA/HMPC/611537/2016, final, first systematic reviewView study →}.

In India the dried leaves and flowers, extracts and flower oil are used in traditional formulations for disorders of the lungs, throat and skin. A root extract is used for toothache and to relieve stiffness and seizures ^{2Reference 2Gupta A et al. · 2022ReviewHealth-promoting and disease-mitigating potential of Verbascum thapsus L. (common mullein): a reviewView study →}.

In the Malakand region of northern Pakistan, tribal healers use mullein as an antispasmodic, for tuberculosis and to expel worms ^{14Reference 14Ali N et al. · 2012In vitroAnthelmintic and relaxant activities of Verbascum thapsus mullein — in vitro/ex vivoView study →}.

Mullein extracts inhibit a range of bacteria in the laboratory. In one study, water, ethanol and methanol extracts were active against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli, with the water extract especially active ^{3Reference 3Turker AU · 2002In vitroBiological activity of common mullein, a medicinal plant — in vitro (antibacterial, antitumor, toxicity)View study →}.

An ethanol extract was tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The Gram-negative strains were more tolerant, and Bacillus cereus was the most sensitive ^{13Reference 13Mahdavi S et al. · 2020In vitroThe antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial properties of Verbascum thapsus L. — in vitroView study →}.

The plant’s old folk names link it to tuberculosis, and a review has made the historical and scientific case for testing it against Mycobacterium ^{12Reference 12McCarthy E · 2011ReviewWhat’s in a name? Can mullein weed beat TB where modern drugs are failing? — reviewView study →}.

All of this is in vitro. No clinical infection trial exists, and activity varies with the solvent and plant part, so a real-world dose is undefined.

Antioxidant results vary between extracts. An ethanol extract inhibited 91% of DPPH radicals at 300 mg/L, similar to the synthetic antioxidant BHT at the same concentration ^{13Reference 13Mahdavi S et al. · 2020In vitroThe antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial properties of Verbascum thapsus L. — in vitroView study →}. A methanol extract showed low DPPH and ABTS scavenging compared with standard antioxidants ^{7Reference 7Zhang N et al. · 2023In vitroAntioxidant, AChE inhibitory, and anticancer effects of Verbascum thapsus extract — in vitroView study →}.

Much of the activity is attributed to the phenylethanoid glycoside verbascoside, whose antioxidant behaviour is documented across a large review literature ^{4Reference 4Alipieva K et al. · 2014ReviewVerbascoside — a review of its occurrence, (bio)synthesis and pharmacological significanceView study →}.

These are cell-free measurements. Whether drinking mullein tea changes antioxidant status in people has not been tested.

The anti-inflammatory evidence is strongest for single constituents. At 100 µM, verbascoside reduced the expression and activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cut superoxide production in inflamed human THP-1 cells ^{8Reference 8Speranza L et al. · 2010In vitroAnti-inflammatory effects in THP-1 cells treated with verbascoside — in vitroView study →}.

A water extract of the flowers of the related Verbascum phlomoides, also used as mullein in European folk medicine, reduced an inflammatory adhesion molecule in endothelial cells but failed to reduce paw swelling in rats. The authors concluded its polyphenols had only a weak influence on inflammation ^{9Reference 9Grigore A et al. · 2013In vitroCorrelation between polyphenol content and anti-inflammatory activity of Verbascum phlomoides (mullein) — in vitro and rat in vivoView study →}.

Reviews list anti-inflammatory action among mullein’s effects ^{1,2Reference 1Turker AU · 2005ReviewCommon mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research — reviewView study →Reference 2Gupta A et al. · 2022ReviewHealth-promoting and disease-mitigating potential of Verbascum thapsus L. (common mullein): a reviewView study →}. No whole-herb animal or human trial has tested it.

This is the only indication with human randomised data. Two trials in Israel tested herbal ear drops in children with ear pain from acute otitis media.

The first (103 children aged 6–18) compared Otikon, a drop of garlic, mullein, calendula and St John’s wort in olive oil, with an anaesthetic ear drop. The two were equally effective over three days ^{5Reference 5Sarrell EM et al. · 2001RCTEfficacy of naturopathic extracts in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media — randomised controlled trialView study →}.

The second was double-blind, in 171 children aged 5–18. The herbal drop also contained lavender and vitamin E. Each group improved over three days, and the herbal drop did somewhat better than the anaesthetic drop. The authors found that about 80% of the pain relief was self-limiting and explained by time alone, and that adding amoxicillin did not help ^{6Reference 6Sarrell EM et al. · 2003RCTNaturopathic treatment for ear pain in children — randomised, double-blind trialView study →}.

Because mullein is one of several ingredients in an olive-oil base, neither trial can attribute the benefit to mullein. The effect measured is pain relief, not cure of the infection.

Gap: No trial has used mullein oil alone.

Mullein extracts show antiviral activity in cell culture. In a screen of 41 Nepalese medicinal plants, a methanol extract of V. thapsus showed strong activity against influenza A virus ^{10Reference 10Rajbhandari M et al. · 2009In vitroAntiviral activity of some plants used in Nepalese traditional medicine — in vitro anti-influenza screenView study →}.

A methanol extract inhibited pseudorabies virus plaque formation at 35 µg/mL, with selectivity indices of 31–41. It blocked the virus almost completely (99%) when mixed with the virus or added while the virus was attaching to cells, but not afterwards, which points to an effect at the attachment stage ^{11Reference 11Escobar FM et al. · 2012In vitroAntiviral effect and mode of action of methanolic extract of Verbascum thapsus on pseudorabies virus — in vitroView study →}.

Both studies are in cell culture. There is no animal or clinical antiviral evidence.

One study tested a crude water-methanol extract. It paralysed and killed roundworms (Ascaridia galli) and tapeworms (Raillietina spiralis) in vitro, and against the tapeworm it was more potent than albendazole. It also relaxed spontaneous and potassium-induced contractions of isolated rabbit jejunum, acting in part like a calcium-channel blocker ^{14Reference 14Ali N et al. · 2012In vitroAnthelmintic and relaxant activities of Verbascum thapsus mullein — in vitro/ex vivoView study →}.

These findings come from one isolated-tissue and worm experiment, with no confirmation in a living animal or in people.

This is mullein’s principal traditional use and its least tested. The soothing effect is attributed to the mucilage in the leaf and flower, and the expectorant effect to triterpene saponins ^{1,2Reference 1Turker AU · 2005ReviewCommon mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research — reviewView study →Reference 2Gupta A et al. · 2022ReviewHealth-promoting and disease-mitigating potential of Verbascum thapsus L. (common mullein): a reviewView study →}.

The European Union recognises the flower tea for a sore throat with a dry cough on the strength of long-standing use, not clinical data ^{19Reference 19Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products ( · 2018Systematic reviewEuropean Union herbal monograph on Verbascum thapsus L., V. densiflorum Bertol. (V. thapsiforme Schrad) and V. phlomoides L., flos — EMA/HMPC/611537/2016, final, first systematic reviewView study →}.

Gap: No cough or respiratory clinical trial exists; the demulcent and expectorant action is inferred from the mucilage and saponin content, not measured.

Water, ethanol and methanol extracts all inhibited tumours caused by Agrobacterium in potato-disc tissue, and were toxic to brine shrimp at higher concentrations ^{3Reference 3Turker AU · 2002In vitroBiological activity of common mullein, a medicinal plant — in vitro (antibacterial, antitumor, toxicity)View study →}.

A methanol extract was tested for toxicity to colon and prostate cancer cells and to non-cancerous kidney cells, and also inhibited the enzyme acetylcholinesterase ^{7Reference 7Zhang N et al. · 2023In vitroAntioxidant, AChE inhibitory, and anticancer effects of Verbascum thapsus extract — in vitroView study →}. An ethanol extract contained several compounds described as anticarcinogenic by GC-MS ^{13Reference 13Mahdavi S et al. · 2020In vitroThe antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial properties of Verbascum thapsus L. — in vitroView study →}.

These are early in vitro results with no animal or human follow-up.

Oils extracted from mullein leaf, stem and root were profiled and tested against fungi. The root oil was the most active against Candida species, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 31.2–62.5 µg/mL ^{15Reference 15Singh R et al. · 2026In vitroPhytochemical profiling and antifungal activity of mullein (Verbascum thapsus) tissue oils — in vitroView study →}. This is a single laboratory report on an oil preparation, not the water or alcohol extracts most people use.

An ethanol extract of mullein induced programmed cell death in Trichomonas vaginalis, the parasite behind trichomoniasis, in vitro. Its 50% inhibitory concentration after 24 hours was 39 µg/mL, against 0.03 µg/mL for metronidazole ^{16Reference 16Kashan ZF et al. · 2015In vitroEffect of Verbascum thapsus ethanol extract on induction of apoptosis in Trichomonas vaginalis — in vitroView study →}. This is one cell-based study, with no in vivo or clinical follow-up.

Side effects. None are known for the flower tea ^{19Reference 19Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products ( · 2018Systematic reviewEuropean Union herbal monograph on Verbascum thapsus L., V. densiflorum Bertol. (V. thapsiforme Schrad) and V. phlomoides L., flos — EMA/HMPC/611537/2016, final, first systematic reviewView study →}. A methanol extract caused no genetic damage in the mouse bone-marrow micronucleus test at 100–500 mg/kg ^{17Reference 17Escobar FM et al. · 2011AnimalGenotoxic evaluation of a methanolic extract of Verbascum thapsus using micronucleus test in mouse bone marrow — animal modelView study →}.

Leaf hairs. The fine hairs on the leaf are a mechanical irritant and can make the skin, mouth or throat itch. Leaf teas should be strained through fine cloth. Smoke from the dried leaf can irritate sensitive airways.

Heavy metals. Mullein often grows on roadsides and disturbed ground and takes up heavy metals from polluted soil, so wild material should come from clean sites ^{18Reference 18Chaplygin V et al. · 2022Influence of soil pollution on the morphology of roots and leaves of Verbascum thapsus L. — heavy-metal accumulationView study →}.

Children. The EU monograph does not recommend the tea under 12 years of age, because there is not enough data ^{19Reference 19Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products ( · 2018Systematic reviewEuropean Union herbal monograph on Verbascum thapsus L., V. densiflorum Bertol. (V. thapsiforme Schrad) and V. phlomoides L., flos — EMA/HMPC/611537/2016, final, first systematic reviewView study →}.

When to see a doctor. The monograph advises seeing a doctor if symptoms last more than a week or get worse, or if breathlessness, fever or discoloured sputum appear ^{19Reference 19Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products ( · 2018Systematic reviewEuropean Union herbal monograph on Verbascum thapsus L., V. densiflorum Bertol. (V. thapsiforme Schrad) and V. phlomoides L., flos — EMA/HMPC/611537/2016, final, first systematic reviewView study →}.

Interactions. None have been reported ^{19Reference 19Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products ( · 2018Systematic reviewEuropean Union herbal monograph on Verbascum thapsus L., V. densiflorum Bertol. (V. thapsiforme Schrad) and V. phlomoides L., flos — EMA/HMPC/611537/2016, final, first systematic reviewView study →}. No formal interaction studies have been done.