Feverfew

Tanacetum parthenium

Feverfew

Feverfew is native to the Balkan Mountains of Eastern Europe and a member of the Daisy or Asteracea family. It’s numerous white and yellow flowers and dark green foliage have made it a favorite of many gardeners. As with many traditional plants there is a myth corresponding to how the plant was named. The ancient Greeks called Feverfew, “Parthenium” because as mythology has it; parthenium was used to save the life of someone who had fallen from the Parthenon, the temple of Athena on the acropolis in Athens.

What is Feverfew Used For?

The principal measured component of feverfew is parthenolide, one of several sesquiterpene lactones. In Canada regulations call for a minimum of 0.2 percent parthenolide in feverfew products, but the official French pharmacopoeia specifies a minimum of 0.1 percent. Parthenolide levels vary greatly, but most leaves from feverfew grown in North America contain less than 0.1 percent. Much of this variation is due to improper validation of species as there are many sub species of Feverfew which are far less active. Feverfew also contains flavonoid glycosides, particularly apigenin and luteolin. Some analysis also reports that Melatonin is a component of feverfew leaves. Parthenolides have been the focus of much research and do show promise for supporting the traditional uses of feverfew.