Tanacetum parthenium

{{short description|Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae}} {{about|the Eurasian Asteraceae species|the North American Asteraceae genus|Parthenium|the band|The Feverfew}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{cs1 config|name-list-style=vanc|display-authors=3}} {{Speciesbox | name = Feverfew | image = Feverfew.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |last1=Khela |first1=S. |year=2013 |title=''Tanacetum parthenium'' (Europe assessment) |volume=2013 |article-number=e.T202993A2758453 |access-date=1 November 2025}}</ref><br />(Europe regional assessment) | taxon = Tanacetum parthenium | authority = (L.) Sch.Bip. | synonyms = {{species list |Chrysanthemum parthenium |(L.) Bernh. |Matricaria parthenium |L. |Pyrethrum parthenium |(L.) Sm. }} }}

'''''Tanacetum parthenium''''', known as '''feverfew''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=TAPA6|taxon=Tanacetum parthenium|access-date=8 December 2015}}</ref> is a flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae. It may be grown as an ornament, and may be identified by its synonyms, ''Chrysanthemum parthenium'' and ''Pyrethrum parthenium''. Having its origin in the Balkans region, it is now distributed worldwide.<ref name=nih/>

Although long used in traditional medicine, there is no clinical evidence that it has any therapeutic effects.<ref name="nih">{{cite web|url=https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/feverfew|title=Feverfew|publisher=National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health|date=February 2025|access-date=11 June 2025}}</ref><ref name=drugs/>

==Description==

The plant is a herbaceous perennial that grows into a small bush, up to {{convert|70|cm|in|abbr=on}} high, with pungently-scented leaves.<ref name=drugs/> The leaves are light yellowish green, variously pinnatifid. The conspicuous daisy-like flowers are up to {{convert|20|mm|in|frac=4}} across, borne in lax corymbs. The outer, ray florets have white ligules and the inner, disc florets are yellow and tubular. It spreads rapidly by seed, and will cover a wide area after a few years.<ref>Parnell, J. and Curtis. 2012. ''Webb's An Irish Flora''. Cork University Press. {{ISBN|978-185918-4783}}</ref><ref>Clapham, A.R, Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968. Excursion Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-521-04656-4}}</ref> The plant produces achene fruit, and grows in stony slopes and river beds.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Izadi |first1=Zahra |last2=Esna-Ashari |first2=Mahmood |last3=Piri |first3=Khosro |last4=Davoodi |first4=Poorandokht |date=2010 |title=Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) Essential Oil |url=https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20103309198 |journal=International Journal of Agriculture & Biology |pages=459–463 |via=CABI Digital Library}}</ref>

== Location and cultivation==

Feverfew is native to Eurasia, specifically in the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Caucasus, but cultivation has spread it around the world.<ref name=nih/><ref name=drugs/>

A perennial herb, it favors full sun {{convert|38|to(-)|46|cm|in|abbr=on}} apart. It grows up to {{convert|70|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall. It is hardy to USDA zone 5 ({{convert|−30|°C|°F|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}).

Outside of its native range, it may become an invasive weed.<ref name="Hadjikyriakou-Hadjisterkotis-2002">{{cite journal | last1=Hadjikyriakou | first1=G. | last2=Hadjisterkotis | first2=E. | title=The adventive plants of Cyprus with new records of invasive species | journal=Zeitschrift für Jagdwissenschaft | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media | volume=48 | issue=S1 | year=2002 | issn=0044-2887 | doi=10.1007/bf02192393 | pages=59–71| bibcode=2002ZJag...48...59H | s2cid=42896188 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Feverfew, ''Tanacetum parthenium'': Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States | website=Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas | url=http://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=22427 | access-date=2020-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium Asterales: Asteraceae | website=Invasive.Org | url=http://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=22427&area=75 | access-date=2020-11-21}}</ref>

==Uses== right|thumb|Leaf of feverfew [[File:Parthenolide.svg|thumb|The chemical structure of parthenolide]]

===Phytochemicals and traditional medicine===

Phytochemicals found in feverfew include parthenolide, camphor, and the flavonoids, luteolin, and apigenin.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Wu |first1=Changqing |last2=Chen |first2=Feng |last3=Wang |first3=Xi |last4=Kim |first4=Hyun-Jin |last5=He |first5=Guo-qing |last6=Haley-Zitlin |first6=Vivian |last7=Huang |first7=George |date=May 2006 |title=Antioxidant constituents in feverfew (''Tanacetum parthenium'') extract and their chromatographic quantification |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S030881460500172X |journal=Food Chemistry |language=en |volume=96 |issue=2 |pages=220–227 |doi=10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.02.024|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Feverfew has been used in traditional medicine, particularly in Europe,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pareek |first1=Anil |last2=Suthar |first2=Manish |last3=Rathore |first3=Garvendra S. |last4=Bansal |first4=Vijay |date=January 2011 |title=Feverfew (''Tanacetum parthenium'' L.): A systematic review |journal=Pharmacognosy Reviews |volume=5 |issue=9 |pages=103–110 |doi=10.4103/0973-7847.79105 |doi-access=free |issn=0976-2787 |pmc=3210009 |pmid=22096324}}</ref> where it is mentioned in an herbal monograph as a safe compound.<ref name="EMA-EUHM">{{cite web|url=https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/tanaceti-parthenii-herba|title=''Tanaceti parthenii'' herba|publisher=European Medicines Agency|date=20 October 2020|access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> There is no good evidence for its use in treating migraine headaches<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wider |first1=Barbara |last2=Pittler |first2=Max H |last3=Ernst |first3=Edzard |date=2015 |title=Feverfew for preventing migraine |journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2020 |language=en |issue=4 |article-number=CD002286 |doi=10.1002/14651858.cd002286.pub3 |pmid=25892430 |issn=1465-1858 |pmc=7133498 }}</ref> or any other clinical condition.<ref name=nih/><ref name=drugs/>

===Dietary supplement=== The parthenolide content of commercially available feverfew supplements varies substantially (by more than 40-fold) despite labeling claims of "standardization".<ref name="cjp">{{cite journal | journal = Canadian Pharmacists Journal | vauthors = Draves AH, Walker SE | title = Parthenolide content of Canadian commercial feverfew preparations: Label claims are misleading in most cases | year = 2004 | volume = 136 | issue = 10 | pages = 23–30 | url = http://www.pharmacists.ca/content/CPJPDFS/Jan04/parthenolide.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120420023526/http://www.pharmacists.ca/content/CPJPDFS/Jan04/parthenolide.pdf | archive-date = 2012-04-20 }}</ref>

===Adverse effects=== Long-term use of feverfew followed by abrupt discontinuation may induce a withdrawal syndrome featuring rebound headaches and muscle and joint pains.<ref name="drugs">{{cite web |date=22 August 2024 |title=Feverfew |url=https://www.drugs.com/npp/feverfew.html |access-date=11 June 2025|publisher=Drugs.com}}</ref> Feverfew may cause allergic reactions in those allergic to the daisy family, including contact dermatitis or swelling and numbness of the mouth.<ref name="drugs" /> Other side effects have included gastrointestinal upset such as mild nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence, which are, fortunately mild and transient.<ref name="drugs" /> When the herb is chewed or taken orally it may cause mouth ulcers.<ref name=drugs/> Feverfew should not be taken by pregnant women.<ref name=drugs/> It may interact with blood thinners and increase the risk of bleeding, and also may interact with a variety of medications metabolized by the liver.<ref name=drugs/>

==History and etymology== The word ''feverfew'' possibly derives from a feathery plant known as ''featherfew''.<ref name=drugs/>

Although its earliest use is unknown, it was documented in the 1st century CE by the Greek herbalist physician Dioscorides.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |title=Agricultural (Herbs and Spices): Feverfew Information |url=http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=5a05a8da-ff3e-490b-b280-35f7b22b803b |access-date=6 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104155018/http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=5a05a8da-ff3e-490b-b280-35f7b22b803b |archive-date=4 November 2012 }}</ref> Much earlier, but less specifically, a text of Hippocrates in the 4th century BCE lists it as useful in treating lesions (''On Ulcers'' 14).

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Medicinal plants of Asia parthenium Category:Herbs Category:Medicinal plants of Europe