Aucubin

PhytochemicalBest with a meal

What is it

Aucubin is an iridoid glycoside compound found naturally in plantain (Plantago), eucommia (Eucommia ulmoides), and several other medicinal plants. It is commonly used as a marker for herbal extract standardization.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Anti-inflammatory / hepatoprotective (preclinical)

Mixed Evidence

Animal and cell studies support multiple bioactivities, but no human clinical trials of isolated aucubin exist.

How it works

Aucubin is a glycosylated iridoid that, when hydrolyzed in the digestive tract, releases an aglycone with biological activity. Preclinical research suggests anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and antimicrobial effects, though human clinical evidence is limited. In supplement context, aucubin is rarely sold alone but appears as a standardization target in plant extracts. The presence of aucubin in a product indicates the source plant material rather than a directly active dose.

Dosage

There is no recommended dose. Standardization typically targets 0.5-2% aucubin in plant extracts. DSLD label data did not include a typical dose.

When and how to take it

Follow the directions for the host herbal product. Typically taken with meals.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Aucubin (in standardized herbal extracts)

Found in plantain, eucommia, and rehmannia products.

Hydrolyzed in the gut to active aglycone.

Safety

Low acute toxicity in animal studies; long human safety record as part of traditional herbal preparations. Isolated aucubin lacks detailed safety profiling.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and lactation due to lack of safety data on isolated compound. Consult a clinician if you have autoimmune disease or take immunosuppressants.

Interactions

Limited data. No clinically documented drug interactions.

Food sources

Plantain leaf, eucommia bark, rehmannia root

Amount
Variable
%DV
—

Frequently asked questions

Can I get aucubin from food?⌄

Trace amounts are found in some leafy plants like plantain, but not in typical Western diets in significant amounts.

Why is aucubin listed on my label?⌄

It is used as a marker compound to verify the identity and consistency of plant extracts like plantain or eucommia.

References

Aucubin on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Aucubin (ChEBI:69796) — ChEBI link

Aucubin (PubChem CID 91458) — PubChem link

Aucubin on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Aucubin (PubMed search) — PubMed link

Track Aucubin with Pilora

Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.