Potentilla erecta. P. tormentilla   Common tormentil, Tormentilla, Septfoil   Family: Rosaceae  
PART USED: Rhizome, herb
TASTE: Astringent ODORLESS
ACTIONS
GROUP: The Skin & Mucous Membranes- Astringents
1. Astringent.[1,3]
1. Hemostatic.[1,2]
2. Bitter tonic.[3]
Topically: Styptic.[1] Vulnerary.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Diarrhea-[2] acute or nervous-[1] as infusion.[3] Gastro-intestinal catarrh.  Ulcerative colitis.[1,2]
2. Mild hemorrhages.  Hemorrhoids.
3. Catarrhal conditions. Infections.
4. Pruritis.  Sunburn. Burns. Wounds. Ulcers.
5. Leukorrhea.
6. Haematuria.
7. Sore eyes.
8. Intermittent fevers
Topically: As a gargle and astringent for mucous membranes of throat and mouth.[1] Lotion for hemorrhoids, with Hamamelis Water.[1] Lotion for sores and blisters.[3]
SPECIFIC INDICATION: Diarrhea.[1]
COMBINATIONS
- Diarrhea, use with Black Catechu for prolonging the action on the bowel.[1]
PREPARATIONS  3X /day
Dried rhizome  2-4 g.[1,2]
Infusion[1]   2-4 g in  40-80 ml of water.[2]
Fluid extract root   1:1 in 25% alcohol  2-4 ml.[1,2,3]
Tincture  1:5 in 45% alcohol  2-4 ml.[1,2]
Local: Douche. Eyewash. Gargle or lotion.[1,2]
HABITAT: Moors and in grassy places.
ORIGIN: Britain and Europe
DESCRIPTION
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research
The dimeric ellagitannin exhibited weak antiallergic, immonostimulatin and interferon indcing activity in vitro.[1]
References
[1] Lund, K. and Rimpler, H. (1985) Deutsche Apoth. Ztg. 125 (3),105

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Agrimoniin-Enriched Fractions of Potentilla erecta.
Hoffmann J, Casetti F, Bullerkotte U, Haarhaus B, Vagedes J, Schempp CM, Wölfle U.
Abstract
Potentilla erecta (PE) is a small herbaceous plant with four yellow petals belonging to the Rosaceae family. The rhizome of PE has traditionally been used as an antidiarrheal, hemostatic and antihemorrhoidal remedy. PE contains up to 20% tannins and 5% ellagitannins, mainly agrimoniin. Agrimoniin is a hydrolyzable tannin that is a potent radical scavenger. In this study we tested the anti-inflammatory effect of four PE fractions with increasing amounts of agrimoniin obtained by Sephadex column separation. First, we analyzed in HaCaT keratinocytes the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) induced by ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation. As COX-2 catalyzes the metabolism of arachidonic acid to prostanoids such as PGE2, we also measured the PGE2 concentration in cell culture supernatants. PE inhibited UVB-induced COX-2 expression in HaCaT cells and dose-dependently reduced PGE2. The PE fraction with the highest agrimoniin amount (PE4) was the most effective in this experiment, whereas fraction PE1 containing mainly sugars had no effect. PE4 also dose dependently inhibited the phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which plays a crucial role in UVB-mediated COX-2 upregulation. A placebo-controlled UV-erythema study with increasing concentrations of PE4 demonstrated a dose dependent inhibition of UVB-induced inflammation in vivo. Similarly, PE4 significantly reduced UVB-induced PGE2 production in suction blister fluid in vivo. In summary, PE fractions with a high agrimoniin content display anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo in models of UVB-induced inflammation.
PMID: 27322232 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21060792  Molecules. 2016 Jun 18;21(6). pii: E792. doi: 10.3390/molecules21060792.  ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Determination of acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of Potentilla erecta (Tormentil) rhizomes in rats and mice.
Shushunov S, Balashov L, Kravtsova A, Krasnogorsky I, Latté KP, Vasiliev A.
Abstract
Potentilla erecta, the tormentil, and its rhizome extracts have been known for a long time in traditional medicine as a remedy for the treatment of inflammations, wounds, and gastrointestinal disorders. Tormentil rhizomes have also been used as part of alcoholic beverages in Germany, the Ukraine, and Russia. Acute toxicity of an aqueous P. erecta rhizome extract was evaluated with a single dose administered by the intragastric route to rats and mice in dosages of 2.5 g/kg and 6.8 g/kg of body weight, respectively. Further, a single dose of this extract was applied intraperitoneally to rats and mice in dosages of 3.8 and 14.5 g/kg of body weight, respectively. After an observation period of 2 weeks after intragastric administration and 3 days following intraperitoneal administration, no mortality or any changes in appearance, behavior, or body weight occurred for both rats and mice in the high dosages mentioned. Macroscopic and microscopic studies of the internal organs of these rodents revealed no pathological changes. The data are in line with the long-time traditional use of P. erecta rhizome extracts and results from recent clinical trials in which no signs of any toxic effects have been known after the administration of a P. erecta rhizome extract for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in adults and rotavirus-induced diarrhea in children. Thus P. erecta rhizome extracts should be considered safe with respect to acute toxicity when applied to humans.
PMID: 19857087 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2008.0281  J Med Food. 2009 Oct;12(5):1173-6. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2008.0281. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antimicrobial effect of an aqueous extract of Potentilla erecta rhizome
Alicja Synowiec / Malgorzata Gniewosz / Katarzyna Baczek / Jaroslaw L. Przybyl
Corresponding Author: phone: +48 22 5937659
Abstract
Potentilla erecta is a therapeutic plant used in folk medicine to treat inflammatory states, wounds and diseases of the alimentary tract. The results of the study reveal the effects of an aqueous extract of P. erecta rhizome on certain microorganisms occurring in food. The main components of the extract were catechins. The extract was shown to display an inhibiting effect against Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, as well as against yeast such as Candida lipolitica KKP 322 and Hansenula anomala R 26. The extract did inhibit the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, however, no inhibiting effects were observed on moulds in the studied range of concentrations, i.e. 0.13 to 64 mg dry matter/ml.© 2014 Alicja Synowiec et. al.. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License. (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)
Citation Information: Herba Polonica. Volume 60, Issue 2, Pages 18–28, ISSN (Online) 0018-0599, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hepo-2014-0007, October 2014
Published Online: 2014-10-02  degruyter.com