Verbascum thapsus plant review by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.) is a medicinal plant readily found in roadsides, meadows and pasture lands. Verbascum thapsus is the botanical name for Great Mullein or Common Mullein, a species of mullein native to Europe, northern Africa and Asia, and introduced in the Americas and Australia.

Verbascum thapsus health benefit
Verbascum thapsus herb has been promoted to treat pulmonary problems, inflammatory diseases, asthma, spasmodic coughs, and migraine headaches.

Biological activity of common mullein, a medicinal plant.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2002. Turker AU, Camper ND. Department of Plant Pathology and Physiology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
The objective of this study was to assess the biological activity of Verbascum thapsus extracts and commercial Verbascum thapsus products using selected bench top bioassays, including antibacterial, antitumor, and two toxicity assays--brine shrimp and radish seed. Extracts were prepared in water, ethanol and methanol. Antibacterial activity (especially the water extract) was observed with Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced tumors in potato disc tissue were inhibited by all extracts. Toxicity to Brine Shrimp and to radish seed germination and growth was observed at higher concentrations of the extracts.

Verbascum thapsus herb availability
The dried leaves and flowers, swallow capsules, alcohol extracts and the flower oil of Verbascum thapsus plant can easily be found in health stores or sold on the internet.