English common name is marsh mallow root from mother plant Althaea officinalis
Contains 5–11% mucilages, composed of branched rhamnogalacturonans, arabinogalacturonans, glucogalacturonans, arabinans, and glucans. Additionally, it contains starch and flavonoids (~0.2%), such as kaempferol, quercetin, and their glycosides, as well as glycosides of hypolaetin and hypolaetin-4'-methylether. It also includes cinnamic acid derivatives, such as caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid, along with coumarins (scopoletin).
It is used for irritation of the oral cavity and pharynx and associated dry cough, as well as for symptomatic relief of mild gastrointestinal discomfort.
The drug's surface is gray-brown and grooved, with a white center. When broken, the outer part is fibrous, while the central part is granular. It may be either peeled or unpeeled.
It is listed in the pharmacopoeia.
In pulverized drug under the microscope we can see:
Druses (calcium oxalate crystals)
Lignified sclerenchymatous fibers
Mucilage cells (best visible with ruthenium red staining)
In unpeeled roots, cork tissue with thin-walled cells can be observed.
