Selected Common Chemical Constituents of Herbs
| COMPOUND | COMMON PROPERTIES | EXAMPLES |
| Pyrrolizidine alkaloids | • Bitters | Borage |
| • Demulcent | Coltsfoot | |
| • Expectorant | Comfrey | |
| Note: Potential for hepatotoxicity with chronic consumption | ||
| Berberine | • Anti-inflammatory | Barberry |
| • Antimicrobial | Blood root | |
| • Antipyretic | Goldenseal | |
| Oregon grape | ||
| Flavonoids | • Antispasmodic | Buckwheat |
| • Hepatoprotective | Hawthorne | |
| Licorice roots | ||
| Milk thistle | ||
| Cardiac glycosides | • Decreases heart rate | Foxglove |
| • Positive inotropic effect | Pleurisy root | |
| • Reduces electrical conductivity through heart | Lily of the valley | |
| Lectins | • Anticancer | Mistletoe |
| • Cathartic | Poke weed | |
| • Immune-stimulating | ||
| • Phytohemagglutinin | ||
| Saponins | • Anti-inflammatory | Golden rod |
| • Expectorant | Chickweed | |
| Wild yam | ||
| Sarsaparilla | ||
| Tannins | • Antidiarrheal | Witch hazel |
| • Anti-inflammatory | Green or black tea | |
| • Astringent | White oak bark | |
| • Coagulant | Uva ursi | |
| Anthraquinones | • Cathartic | Rubarb |
| • Purgative | Senna | |
| Buckthorn | ||
| Aloe |