Plantain leaf
Plantain leaf suppliers and sourcing guide
Plantain leaf is the dried leaf of ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) or broadleaf plantain (Plantago major), common perennial weeds of temperate regions; it is unrelated to the banana-like plantain fruit. Leaves are cultivated or wild-collected, dried and sold cut and sifted, powdered, or as water or water-ethanol extracts and syrups. Psyllium comes from the seeds of other Plantago species and is a separate ingredient.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Plantago lanceolata · ribwort plantain · Plantago major · Plantaginis lanceolatae folium
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of plantain leaf
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cut and sifted leaf
Dried leaf cut to a tea grade; the species should be on the specification.
Leaf powder
Milled dried leaf for capsules and blends.
Liquid extract and syrup base
Water, hydroalcoholic or glycerin extract of the leaf, used in syrups and liquid products.
Dry extract
Extract dried to a powder, sometimes sold on iridoid glycosides (aucubin, catalpol) or verbascoside.
Organic
Leaf from certified organic or certified wild-collected sources, with the certificate tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity (macroscopy, microscopy, HPTLC)
- Checks to confirm Plantago lanceolata or P. major leaf as specified, and to flag foxglove (Digitalis lanata), a documented contaminant of plantain lots.
- Marker assay (HPLC)
- Aucubin, catalpol or verbascoside by a named HPLC method, where the specification sets a minimum.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and any Prop 65 exposure targets.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli or coliforms, and Salmonella.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue pesticide screen, required for organic claims and commonly requested for conventional material.
- Physical tests
- Loss on drying, mesh or particle size, bulk density and, for extracts, the extract ratio, carrier and residual solvent.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep dried herb and powder sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark place; cut herb loses aroma and color with light and air, and powder picks up moisture once opened. Dry extracts are hygroscopic, so reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification.
Lots and expiry dates
Species, marker content and color vary with harvest and drying, so check each lot's identity and COA against your specification. Record the supplier lot, species and origin, and rotate stock first-expiry-first-out.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
The European Medicines Agency's Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products has a European Union herbal monograph for ribwort plantain leaf (Plantaginis lanceolatae folium, Plantago lanceolata L.).
Source: ema.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Plantain leaf suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking plantain leaf suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell plantain leaf? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of plantain leaf can brands buy?
Common forms include cut and sifted leaf, leaf powder, liquid extract and syrup base, dry extract and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for plantain leaf include?
Expect identity (macroscopy, microscopy, HPTLC), marker assay (HPLC), heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and physical tests, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should plantain leaf be stored?
Keep dried herb and powder sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark place; cut herb loses aroma and color with light and air, and powder picks up moisture once opened. Dry extracts are hygroscopic, so reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification.
What is the regulatory status of plantain leaf?
The European Medicines Agency's Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products has a European Union herbal monograph for ribwort plantain leaf (Plantaginis lanceolatae folium, Plantago lanceolata L.).
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