Couch Grass
Scientific Name(s): Elymus repens (L.) P. Beauv.
Common Name(s): Couchgrass, Dog grass, Quack grass, Triticum, Twitchgrass
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 24, 2022.
Clinical Overview
Use
In general, clinical studies are lacking to support traditional uses. Studies in animals suggest potential benefit in diabetes and in the treatment of urinary tract conditions.
Dosing
No recent clinical studies provide a basis for dosage recommendations.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not yet been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
There are no known adverse effects, although the potential for allergy exists.
Toxicology
No toxicological information is available.
Scientific Family
- Poaceae (grasses)
Botany
Couch grass (A. repens) is a weed that is widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The grass grows up to 1.5 m tall with spikes up to 15 cm long 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 rhizomes, roots, and stems are used to formulate the product.Bisset 2001, Khan 2009, USDA 2014 Synonyms are Agropyron repens (L.) Gould, Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. Ex Nevski, E. vaillantiana, Graminis rhizoma, Triticum repens, and T. 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 drug products, primarily the rhizome, are typically imported from Eastern EuropeBisset 2001, Duke 2002, Khan 2009
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 also may be present in the rhizome. However, the 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, iron, and other minerals. Albumin content in couch grass and other wheat-related plants has been evaluated.Bisset 2001, Duke 1996, Khan 2009
Uses and Pharmacology
Diabetes
Animal data
An experiment in healthy and diabetic rats determined that T. repens had a hypoglycemic effect independent of an effect on insulin.Eddouks 2005
Clinical data
There are no clinical data regarding the use of couch grass in diabetes.
