Solidago virgaurea or European Goldenrod herb

Today we are making tincture, fluid extract, powder and cut herb versions of Solidago virgaurea or European Goldenrod herb.

Solidago virgaurea is a native European species and can be found throughout the continent.

All parts of the plant are used except the root.

We obtain our supplies of raw Solidago virgaurea from Poland where it is regarded as a valuable medicinal plant and has been the subject of a number of academic studies.

In Poland Solidago virgaurea is gathered from a variety of wild sites - mainly lowlands, low mountains, dry meadows and forest glades.  Solidago virgaurea abundance in the wild is evaluated according to the Braun-Blanquet scale - if it is not abundant it must not be gathered.  Wild harvesting of herbs can result in variation in the content of biologically-active compounds, therefore sampling is prudent.

Harvesting sites are traditional.  Three harvests are carried out - May/June, July and September.  Variations have been recorded in the compound content of the herb according to when it is harvested, and also the conditions under which it has been grown.

Studies indicate content of polyphenolic acids greatest in the first and last harvests.

Solidago virgaurea seems to prefer partially shaded sites - it does well in a light indicator of 3.0 to 4.0.  The highest content of flavonoids has been obtained from plants grown in this light range.  Significant differences in flavonoid content have been recorded in Solidago virgaurea according to raw material origin within Poland.

Studies indicate that the highest content of flavonoids in Solidago virgaurea is found during the vegetative stage (before flowering).

However studies are at an early stage. 

Irrespective of where and when grown Chromatographic analysis (HPLC) of all samples of Solidago virguarea show the three flavonoids rutin, astragalin and hyperodside plus the two polyphenolic acids rosmarinic and chlorogenic. 

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