Couch Grass
Scientific Name(s): Elymus repens (L.) P. Beauv.
Common Name(s): Couch grass, Dog grass, Quack grass, Triticum, Twitch grass
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 23, 2023.
Clinical Overview
Use
In general, clinical studies are lacking to support traditional uses of couch grass. Animal studies suggest potential benefit in diabetes and in the treatment of urinary tract conditions (urolithiasis and infection). However, due to the lack of clinical data, couch grass cannot be recommended for any indication.
Dosing
Clinical studies are lacking to provide a basis for couch grass dosage recommendations.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
There are no known adverse effects associated with use of couch grass, although the potential for allergy exists.
Toxicology
No data.
Scientific Family
- Poaceae (grass)
Botany
Couch grass is a perennial grass native to the Northern Hemisphere and widely distributed as a weed. The grass grows up to 1.5 m in height, with spikes up to 15 cm in length and containing many flowered spikelets. The leaves alternate with sheaths, the blades are long and narrow, and the veins are parallel. The grass also possesses shiny, pale yellow, hollow rhizomes and longitudinally grooved stems that are 2 to 3 mm thick. Thin roots and short fiber-like cataphylls are present at the unthickened nodes. Couch grass has an almost bland but slightly sweet taste. The parts used are the rhizomes, roots, and stems.Bisset 2001, Khan 2010, USDA 2019 Synonyms are Agropyron repens (L.) Gould, Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. Ex Nevski, Elytrigia vaillantiana, Graminis rhizoma, Triticum repens, and Triticum vaillantianum Wulfen & Schreb.
History
In folk medicine, couch grass has been used as a diuretic in cases of bladder catarrh and bladder/kidney stones, and as a cough medicine to alleviate bronchial irritation. It has been used to treat gout, rheumatic disorders, and chronic skin disorders. The product components, primarily the rhizome, are typically imported from Eastern Europe.Bisset 2001, Duke 2002, Khan 2010
Chemistry
The major constituent of couch grass is triticin (3% to 8%), a polysaccharide related to inulin. Also present are mucilaginous substances (10%); saponins; sugar alcohols (mannitol and inositol [2% to 3%]); essential oil with polyacetylenes or carvone (0.01% to 0.05%); small amounts of vanilloside (vanillin monoglucoside), vanillin, and phenolcarboxylic acids; silicic acid; silicates; and iron. Lectins found in the seedlings and leaves may also be present in the rhizome. Lectin content of the leaves varies from season to season. Other constituents found in couch grass include agropyrene (volatile oil constituent [95%]), mucilage, thymol, menthol, and other minerals. Albumin content in couch grass and other wheat-related plants has been evaluated.Bisset 2001, Khan 2010, USDA 2016
Uses and Pharmacology
Anti-inflammatory activity
In vitro data
Rhizomes of A. repens demonstrated in vitro inhibitory activity against markers of inflammation in a screening study of 71 Austrian traditional herbal drugs.Vogl 2013
Diabetes
Animal data
In an experiment in healthy and diabetic rats, T. repens demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect independent of an effect on insulin.Eddouks 2005 In another animal study, an aqueous rhizome extract of T. repens decreased plasma triglycerides and cholesterol levels in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. A decrease in body weight after 2 weeks was also reported.Maghrani 2004
Urinary tract infection
Animal and in vitro data
Extracts of E. repens demonstrated moderate to limited antioxidant activity in a laboratory study evaluating medicinal herbs traditionally used to treat urinary tract infection symptoms.Wojcikowski 2007 Antiadhesive activity was demonstrated against uropathogenic E. coli in another study.Rafsanjany 2013 A further in vitro study found A. repens extracts demonstrated no activity against uropathogenic E. coli organisms; however, antiadhesive activity against bacterial attachment to bladder cells was reported.Beydokthi 2017
Urolithiasis
Animal data
In one study reporting on the effects of couch grass on calcium oxalate urolithiasis risk in rats, antilithiasic effects were dependent on diet.Grases 1995 An older study reported a diuretic effect in rats.Khan 2010
Clinical data
A small open-label trial investigated the effect of A. repens in urolithiasis treatment. A potassium citrate and couch grass combination was more effective in reducing the number and size of urinary stones than potassium citrate alone.Brardi 2012
Wound healing
In vitro data
Dried A. repens has been evaluated as a hydrogel for use in wound dressings.Pielesz 2012
Dosing
Clinical studies are lacking to provide a basis for couch grass dosage recommendations. Traditional doses of the rhizome were 6 to 10 g daily for suspected urinary tract infections.Blumenthal 2000, Duke 2002, EMA 2011
Pregnancy / Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented. Interference with laboratory tests is theoretically possible because couch grass leaf lectin exhibits specificity for N-acetylgalactosamine and preferentially agglutinates blood group A erythrocytes.Khan 2010
Adverse Reactions
There are no known adverse effects associated with the use of couch grass. As a member of the grass family, the potential for allergy exists.
Toxicology
No data regarding toxicology are available.
Index Terms
- Agropyron repens (L.) Gould
- Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. Ex Nevski
- Elytrigiavaillantiana
- Graminis rhizoma
- Triticum repens
- Triticum vaillantianum Wulfen & Schreb
References
Disclaimer
This information relates to an herbal, vitamin, mineral or other dietary supplement. This product has not been reviewed by the FDA to determine whether it is safe or effective and is not subject to the quality standards and safety information collection standards that are applicable to most prescription drugs. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this product. This information does not endorse this product as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this product. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this product. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You should talk with your health care provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this product.
This product may adversely interact with certain health and medical conditions, other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, foods, or other dietary supplements. This product may be unsafe when used before surgery or other medical procedures. It is important to fully inform your doctor about the herbal, vitamins, mineral or any other supplements you are taking before any kind of surgery or medical procedure. With the exception of certain products that are generally recognized as safe in normal quantities, including use of folic acid and prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, this product has not been sufficiently studied to determine whether it is safe to use during pregnancy or nursing or by persons younger than 2 years of age.
Further information
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