This document summarizes information about the herbal plant Colt's foot (Tussilago farfara). It details that Colt's foot is a perennial plant found in Europe, the USA, and East Indies. The dried flowers and leaves contain constituents like mucilage, flavonoids, and tannins. Pharmacologically, it acts as an astringent, demulcent, expectorant, and tonic. Its main uses are for respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and cough. However, it should be administered with caution due to potential liver toxicity from pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which may be destroyed by boiling the plant.

1. Under administration of :
Prof. Dr/ Maged Abu-Hashim
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3.  General information.
 Active constituents.
 Pharmacological actions.
 Medical uses.
 Dosing.
 Warning and precautions.
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4.  Name: Tussilago farfara family
Compositae., also known as
 Bull's Foot.
 Butterbur.
 Cough wort.
 Foal's Foot.
 Foal’s wort.
 Colt’s foot is a perennial plant.
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5. Found in:
USA.
Europe.
East Indies.
England.
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6. Medicinal parts used are :
Dried flowers.
Dried Leaves.
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7.  Flowers:
Mucilage.
Flavonoids (rutin and carotene).
Taraxanthin.
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8.  Flowers:
Arnidiol & Faradiol.
Tannins.
Essential oils.
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9.  Leaves:
 Mucilage.
 Abundant tannin.
 Glycosidal bitter principle.
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10.  Leaves
 Inulin.
 Phytosterol.
 Zinc.
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11.  Astringent.
 Demulcent.
 Emollient.
 Expectorant .
 Tonic.
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12. Brain and Nervous System
Conditions
Giddiness with headache.
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13. Respiratory Tract Conditions:
General cough remedy, especially
combined with Horebound and
Marshmallow.
Racking, dry, unproductive cough.
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14. Respiratory Tract Conditions:
Bronchial asthma.
Chronic bronchitis.
Irritation and tightness of chest.
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15. Respiratory Tract Conditions:
Laryngitis.
Persistent cough.
Pharyngitis.
Pneumonia.
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16.  Dried herb: 0.6-2g or by infusion.
 Liquid extract: 1:1 in 25% alcohol,
0.6-2ml.
 Tincture: 1:5 in 45% alcohol, 2-8ml.
 Syrup: liquid extract 1:4 in syrup, 2-
8ml.
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17.  Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been
shown to cause liver damage in rats
therefore This herb is restricted in
Australia and New Zealand.
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18.  However, they occur in minute
quantities, and Swedish research
suggests that they are destroyed by
boiling.
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19.  Mucilage present in the plant
makes the alkaloid safe.
 In UK it is recommended that this
herb should be used internally only
under professional guidance.
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20.  Name: Tussilago farfara family
Compositae.
 It is a perennial plant.
 Constituents found in:
 Flower
 leaves
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21.  Active constituents:
 Bitter amorphous glycoside.
 Mucilage.
 Tannin.
 Zinc.
 Faradiol & Arnidiol.
 Phytosterol.
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22.  Pharmacology:
 Astringent.
 Demulcent & Emolient.
 Expectorant.
 Tonic.
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23.  Mainly indicated for C.O.P.D. :
Bronchial asthma.
Chronic bronchitis.
Irritation and tightness of chest.
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24.  Administer with caution because:
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been
shown to cause liver damage.
Boil the plant to destroy toxic
alkaloids
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