Last update June 28, 2023

Malva neglecta, Malva sylvestris

Compatible

Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.

 

The flowers and dried leaves of the plant are used. Contains mucilages (acidic and neutral monosaccharides: rhamnose, galactose, arabinose, galactouronic acid and glucuronic acid), anthocyanosides and scopoletin, ursolic acid and phytosterols (Fitoterapia.net). Use in traditional medicine for pharyngeal irritation, cough and dyspepsia and other diseases. (Mousavi 2021, Gasparetto 2012)

At the time of the last update, we found no published data on its excretion in breast milk.

There is very little published data on the therapeutic use of this plant, but it appears to be devoid of toxicity, except when consumed in large doses which can cause liver damage. (EMA 2018)

Given its lack of toxicity at the correct doses, moderate consumption would be compatible with breastfeeding.

Precautions when taking plant preparations (Anderson 2017, Powers 2015, Posadzki 2013, Efferth 2011, Kopec 1999, Hsu 1995):

  • Make sure they are from a reliable source: Poisonings have occurred from mistaking one plant for another with toxic properties (Hsu 1995), poisonings due to heavy metals that the plants extract from the soil, and food poisonings from contamination with bacteria or fungi. (Anderson 2017)
  • Do not take in excess; follow recommendations from expert phytotherapy professionals. “Natural” products are not good in any quantity: plants contain active substances from which much of our traditional pharmacopoeia has been obtained and can cause intoxications or act as endocrine disruptors if consumed in exaggerated quantity or time, as they contain phytoestrogens. (Powers 2015, Zava 1998)

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

Malva neglecta, Malva sylvestris is Common mallow in Latin, botanical name.

Is written in other languages:

Group

Malva neglecta, Malva sylvestris belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Malva neglecta, Malva sylvestris in its composition:

  • Arcid™. Contains other elements than Malva neglecta, Malva sylvestris in its composition

References

  1. Fitoterapia.net. Vanaclocha B, Cañigueral S. Fitoterapia.net. 1992 - - Disponible en: https://www.fitoterapia.net. Consulted on Dec. 21, 2023 Abstract
  2. Mousavi SM, Hashemi SA, Behbudi G, Mazraedoost S, Omidifar N, Gholami A, Chiang WH, Babapoor A, Pynadathu Rumjit N. A Review on Health Benefits of Malva sylvestris L. Nutritional Compounds for Metabolites, Antioxidants, and Anti-Inflammatory, Anticancer, and Antimicrobial Applications. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Aug 14;2021:5548404. Abstract
  3. EMA, Assessment report on Malva sylvestris L. and/or Malva neglecta Wallr., folium and Malva sylvestris L., flos. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). 2018 Full text (in our servers)
  4. Anderson PO. Herbal Use During Breastfeeding. Breastfeed Med. 2017 Abstract
  5. Al-Hammad BA, Abd El-Salam MM. Evaluation of heavy metal pollution in water wells and soil using common leafy green plant indicators in the Al-Kharj region, Saudi Arabia. Environ Monit Assess. 2016 Jun;188(6):324. Abstract
  6. Powers CN, Setzer WN. A molecular docking study of phytochemical estrogen mimics from dietary herbal supplements. In Silico Pharmacol. 2015 Mar 22;3:4. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  7. Posadzki P, Watson L, Ernst E. Contamination and adulteration of herbal medicinal products (HMPs): an overview of systematic reviews. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Abstract
  8. Gasparetto JC, Martins CA, Hayashi SS, Otuky MF, Pontarolo R. Ethnobotanical and scientific aspects of Malva sylvestris L.: a millennial herbal medicine. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2012 Feb;64(2):172-89. Abstract
  9. Efferth T, Kaina B. Toxicities by herbal medicines with emphasis to traditional Chinese medicine. Curr Drug Metab. 2011 Abstract
  10. Kopec K. Herbal medications and breastfeeding. J Hum Lact. 1999 Jun;15(2):157-61. Review. No abstract available. Abstract
  11. Zava DT, Dollbaum CM, Blen M. Estrogen and progestin bioactivity of foods, herbs, and spices. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1998 Abstract
  12. Hsu CK, Leo P, Shastry D, Meggs W, Weisman R, Hoffman RS. Anticholinergic poisoning associated with herbal tea. Arch Intern Med. 1995 Abstract

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