Madder
OTHER NAME(S): Bengal Madder, Dyer's Madder, Färberröte, Garança, Garance Des Teinturiers, Granza, Indian Madder, Krapp, Robbia, Rouge Des Teinturiers, Rubia De Tintes, Rubia tinctorum, Rubiae Tinctorum Radix, Rubia tinctorum, Rubia, Garance
Overview
Madder is a plant. The root is used to make medicine.
People use madder for conditions such as kidney stones, menstrual disorders, urinary tract disorders, wound healing, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using madder can also be unsafe.
Some chemicals in madder might help prevent kidney stones. Madder might also slow down the intestines to treat diarrhea.
Some chemicals in madder might help prevent kidney stones. Madder might also slow down the intestines to treat diarrhea.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Kidney stones.
- Menstrual problems.
- Urinary problems.
- Blood disorders.
- Bruises.
- Jaundice.
- Paralysis.
- Spleen disorders.
- Pain along the sciatic nerve (sciatica).
- Wound healing.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of madder for these uses.
Side Effects
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if madder is safe. Some people are allergic to madder when it touches the skin.
When taken by mouth: Madder is LIKELY UNSAFE. The chemicals in madder may cause cancer. Madder can also cause urine, saliva, perspiration, tears, and breast milk to turn red in color.
Precautions
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if madder is safe. Some people are allergic to madder when it touches the skin.
When taken by mouth: Madder is LIKELY UNSAFE. The chemicals in madder may cause cancer. Madder can also cause urine, saliva, perspiration, tears, and breast milk to turn red in color.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE to take madder by mouth if you are pregnant. It might start your menstrual period and that could cause a miscarriage. Madder might also cause birth defects.
It's also UNSAFE to use madder if you are breast-feeding. It might harm the nursing baby, and it might turn breast milk red.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Madder overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of madder depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for madder. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
- Westendorf J, Pfau W, Schulte A. Carcinogenicity and DNA adduct formation observed in ACI rats after long-term treatment with madder root, Rubia tinctorum L. Carcinogenesis 1998;19:2163-8.
- Weiner MA, Weiner JA. Herbs that heal: prescription for herbal healing. Mill Valley, CA:Quantum Books, 1999.
- Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. 1st ed. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corp., 1999.
- Norton SA. Useful plants of dermatology. IV. Alizarin red and madder. J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;39(3):484-485.
- Castelain M, Ducombs G. Contact dermatitis from madder. Contact Dermatitis 1988;19(3):228-229.
- Blomeke B, Poginsky B, Schmutte C, Marquardt H, Westendorf J. Formation of genotoxic metabolites from anthraquinone glycosides, present in Rubia tinctorum L. Mutat Res 1992;265(2):263-272.
- Poginsky B, Westendorf J, Blomeke B, et al. Evaluation of DNA-binding activity of hydroxyanthraquinones occurring in Rubia tinctorum L. Carcinogenesis 1991;12(7):1265-1271.
- Ino N, Tanaka T, Okumura A, et al. Acute and subacute toxicity tests of madder root, natural colorant extracted from madder (Rubia tinctorum), in (C57BL/6 X C3H)F1 mice. Toxicol Ind Health 1995;11(4):449-458.
- Kawasaki Y, Goda Y, Yoshihira K. The mutagenic constituents of Rubia tinctorum. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1992;40(6):1504-1509.
- Westendorf J, Poginsky B, Marquardt H, Groth G, Marquardt H. The genotoxicity of lucidin, a natural component of Rubia tinctorum L., and lucidinethylether, a component of ethanolic Rubia extracts. Cell Biol Toxicol 1988;4(2):225-239.
- Brinkworth RI, Fairlie DP. Hydroxyquinones are competitive non-peptide inhibitors of HIV-1 proteinase. Biochim Biophys Acta 1995;1253(1):5-8.
- Lorenz D, Lucker PW, Krumbiegel G, Mennicke WH, Wetzelsberger N. Pharmacokinetic studies of alizarin in man. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1985;7(12):637-643.
- Boldizsár I, Szucs Z, Füzfai Z, Molnár-Perl I. Identification and quantification of the constituents of madder root by gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr A 2006;1133(1-2):259-74.
- Kalyoncu F, Cetin B, Saglam H. Antimicrobial activity of common madder (Rubia tinctorum L.). Phytother Res. 2006 Jun;20(6):490-2.
- Karim A, Mekhfi H, Ziyyat A, et al. Anti-diarrhoeal activity of crude aqueous extract of Rubia tinctorum L. roots in rodents. J Smooth Muscle Res. 2010;46(2):119-23.
- Manojlovic NT, Solujic S, Sukdolak S, Milosev M. Antifungal activity of Rubia tinctorum, Rhamnus frangula and Caloplaca cerina. Fitoterapia. 2005;76(2):244-6.
- Marhoume FZ, Aboufatima R, Zaid Y, et al. Antioxidant and Polyphenol-Rich Ethanolic Extract of Rubia tinctorum L. Prevents Urolithiasis in an Ethylene Glycol Experimental Model in Rats. Molecules 2021;26(4):1005.