Life Root

Scientific Name(s): Senecio aureus L.
Common Name(s): Cocashweed, Coughweed, False valerian, Female regulator, Golden groundsel, Golden senecio, Grundy-swallow, Life root, Ragwort

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 24, 2022.

Clinical Overview

Use

Life root has been traditionally used to hasten labor and reduce labor pain in childbirth. It has also been used to treat a wide range of illnesses, from cough to hemorrhage. However, use of the plant is not recommended due to its toxic and possibly carcinogenic properties.

Dosing

There is no clinical evidence to provide dosing recommendations for life root. Use is not recommended because of potential toxicity due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Contraindications

No longer considered safe.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use. Emmenagogue and teratogenic effects have been reported, as well as toxicity due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Research reveals little or no information regarding adverse reactions associated with life root use.

Toxicology

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been associated with the development of hepatotoxicity, liver cancer, and hypertensive pulmonary vascular disease. Infants and children are most sensitive to toxicity. Fatal pyrrolizidine toxicity occurred in a 2-month old infant whose initial symptoms mimicked those of Reye syndrome.

Scientific Family

• Asteraceae (daisy)

Botany

Life root is a perennial herb with a slender, erect stem that bears bright yellow flower heads. The lower leaves are heart shaped. It grows to approximately 1.2 m in height and is found in swampy thickets and areas of moist ground in the eastern and central United States. The entire dried plant, not only the roots, is used medicinally.Dobelis 1986, NewCrop 1998, Tyler 1987 Life root has been confused with a variety of other plants with broadly purported healing powers, including mandrake root and ginseng root.

History

Life root has played an important role in traditional American Indian herbal medicine and was used as a tea by the Catawba women to hasten labor and reduce labor pain in childbirth.Lewis 1977 The plant has been used to treat a variety of illnesses, including hemorrhage and cough.Duke 1985 Despite concerns regarding its safety, the plant continues to be used in some herbal preparations to control irregular menses and other gynecologic disturbances.Newall 1996

Chemistry

Life root plant contains a number of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, including senecionine (approximately 0.006% in the root), senecifoline, senecine, otosenine, floridanine, florosenine, and other related compounds. Presence of an astringent tannin has also been reported.Duke 1985, Newall 1996, Tyler 1987 Chemical composition of other various Senecio spp. has been reported.Pérez 1999, van Dooren 1981

Uses and Pharmacology

Life root has traditionally been used for the treatment of amenorrhea, menopause, and leucorrhea.Newall 1996 Life root has also been used as a uterotonic, diuretic, and mild expectorant.Newall 1996 Although it is widely believed that life root can influence activity of female reproductive organs (hence the name "female regulator"), there is little pharmacologic evidence of a uterotonic effect or influence on hormone level...