Clinical Reference
A companion to the Food as Medicine article. Organised by what these compounds do rather than by plant — with the evidence tier for each stated plainly, because those tiers are routinely presented as though they were one.
| Mechanism | Plant | Active compound | Systems affected | Evidence tier | Clinical caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receptor modulation | Pomegranate | Punicalagins, ellagic acid → urolithins (gut-converted) | Hormonal · Cardiovascular · Prostate · Gut | Moderate — human trials on urolithin A; SERM activity preclinical | Conversion to urolithins is microbiome-dependent. Non-producers respond less. |
| Inflammatory signalling | Turmeric | Curcumin — NF-κB inhibition | Joints · Gut · Skin · Brain · Metabolic | Mixed — best in osteoarthritis | Poor oral bioavailability. Known assay interference compound. Formulation matters. |
| Biofilm disruption | Cistus incanus | Polyphenols — matrix disruption | Gut · Oral · Chronic infection | Weak — largely in vitro | Mechanistic hypothesis. In vitro biofilm activity translates unpredictably in vivo. |
| Antiparasitic | Artemisia | Artemisinin | Antimicrobial · Gut | Strong for artemisinin in malaria (Nobel 2015); weak for whole-plant use in parasites | Unregulated whole-plant use raises resistance concerns for frontline malaria treatment. |
| Antimicrobial + cardiovascular | Garlic | Allicin (formed on crushing) | Cardiovascular · Antimicrobial · Platelet · Lipid | Reasonable — meta-analytic support for modest BP lowering | Interacts with anticoagulants. Crush and stand before heating. |
| Detoxification support | Coriander | Polyphenols | Detoxification (general) | Weak — animal models only for metal handling | Chelation claims exceed evidence. Genuine metal burden needs medical assessment. |
| Nervous system | Lemon balm | Rosmarinic acid — GABA transaminase inhibition | Nervous system · Sleep · HPA axis | Moderate — small short human trials | Mild antithyroid activity at higher doses. Additive with sedatives. |
| Connective tissue | Rose hip | Vitamin C in food matrix; galactolipids | Connective tissue · Skin · Vascular · Joints | Reasonable in osteoarthritis symptoms | Food-matrix vs ascorbic acid superiority is contested, not established. |
Elimination capacity before mobilisation. Always.
Liberating stored compounds without working bile flow, bowel transit, kidney function and phase II capacity makes people worse. This is the commonest self-inflicted injury in this field.
A standardised extract is closer to a drug than to a vegetable.
Food-level intake and concentrated extract are different interventions with different risk profiles. Tell your prescriber about extracts — particularly alongside anticoagulants, thyroid medication, sedatives or immunosuppressants.
Minerals compete. Raising one shifts others.
Plant-heavy patterns can push manganese high — it shares absorption pathways with iron, so iron-deficient people absorb more. Zinc and copper, calcium and magnesium and iron behave the same way. "Natural, so more is better" is not a principle.
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Book a free 20-minute callEducational reference, not medical advice. Plant extracts have pharmacological activity and interact with prescribed medication.