Shepherd's Purse
A small plant of the cabbage/mustard family with medicinal, food, and cosmetic applications.
Shepherd’s purse (scientific name: Capsella bursa-pastoris Medik.) is a hardy annual plant from the mustard and cabbage plant family (Brassicaceae), easily recognized by its heart-shaped seed pods (see image above). It has a peppery, slightly bitter taste with cabbage-like undertones.
Growing up to 60 cm tall, it has a white taproot that may fork depending on soil depth, and its lower leaves are large and serrated, while the stem leaves are smaller and shaped like lances. It produces small white or pink flowers with crosswise-arranged petals, typical of the Brassicaceae family. Blooming begins in early spring and may last into fall in temperate regions, with fruits maturing about a month after flowering. Once sown in sunny or partly shaded, well-aerated soil, shepherd’s purse readily reseeds itself. Young leaves can be harvested just one month after sowing.
While Shepherd’s purse is native to parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, including countries like Turkey, Iran, India, and China, it can also be found growing spontaneously in the US. I’ve found plenty of this herb in roadside ditches in Florida, for example.
This is a remarkably adaptable plant, now widespread across much of the globe. It thrives in a variety of climates—from cool temperate zones to subtropical regions—and grows at elevations ranging from coastal lowlands to mountain slopes. Genetically, Shepherd’s purse is an allopolyploid, having originated through hybridization between two ancestral species: the genetically diverse outcrosser C. grandiflora, found in the Balkan mountains, and the genetically uniform selfer C. orientalis, native to Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Although species in the Capsella genus often appear similar and may vary morphologically with environmental conditions, molecular tools are typically needed to distinguish them with confidence.
Allopolyploidy is the merging of genomes from two distinct species. This process is common in plants and often leads to variation in flowering and physical traits, which may provide a selective advantage in changing environmental conditions.
History of Medical Use
Shepherd’s purse has a long history of medicinal use across cultures and centuries. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates described it as a “uterine agent,” while Dioscorides and Galen used its fruits for liver support and to treat sciatica and ulcers. Later, Paracelsus praised it for its astringent, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bleeding properties. In traditional East Asian medicine, it has been used in China and Japan to reduce fever, promote urination, and stop bleeding, while in Korea it has treated edema and high blood pressure.
In Tibet, the herb has been used for ailments ranging from digestive and liver disorders to respiratory, nervous system, and infectious diseases. Today, it continues to be used in various forms, including fresh juice, cold or hot water extracts, tinctures, tablets, and decoctions (particularly for managing uterine bleeding and circulatory issues).
Chemical Makeup
The chemistry of Shepherd’s purse is complex, consisting of a wide array of phytochemicals across multiple classes. These include an extensive list of flavonoids such as kaempferol, quercetin, luteolin, apigenin derivatives, and rare prenylated compounds. The plant also contains several phenolic acids like caffeoylquinic, coumaroylquinic, and feruloylquinic acids, alongside phenolic glycosides such as coniferin and salidroside. Its nutritional profile includes amino acids (e.g., leucine, tryptophan, and valine), phytosterols like β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, and essential fatty acids including oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acids. Organic acids (e.g., malic, citric, and shikimic acids), sulfur-containing glycosides (like bursapastoris A and B), and lignan glucosides further contribute to its bioactivity. Additionally, it is a source of vitamins (A, C, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin), as well as macro- and microelements such as calcium, potassium, iron, and zinc.
Pharmacological, Food, and Cosmetic Properties
Shepherd’s purse has been subjected to many scientific studies to evaluate its medicinal, food, and cosmetic applications. Here, I summarize some of the major biological activities reported in a 2024 review paper:
Łukaszyk A, Kwiecień I, Szopa A. Traditional Uses, Bioactive Compounds, and New Findings on Pharmacological, Nutritional, Cosmetic and Biotechnology Utility of Capsella bursa-pastoris. Nutrients. 2024 Dec 20;16(24):4390. doi: 10.3390/nu16244390.
Anti-Inflammatory: Compounds like luteolin and pinoresinol-glucoside from shepherd’s purse reduce inflammation by inhibiting nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines in immune cells.
Antioxidant: Quercetin, capsellic acid A, and plant extracts show strong free radical scavenging and iron-reducing activity, comparable to vitamin C.
Antimicrobial: Extracts inhibit several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including drug-resistant strains, and show antifungal and antibiofilm effects against Candida species.
Anticholinesterase: Extracts inhibit acetylcholinesterase, suggesting potential use in supporting cognitive health and neurodegenerative conditions.
Hepatoprotective & Antihypercholesterolemic Effects: Flavonoids from this plant protect liver cells, and icaritin-enriched extracts lower LDL cholesterol in mice by regulating PCSK9 and lipid metabolism genes.
Anticancer & Cardioprotective: Water extracts suppress cervical cancer cell growth and protect heart cells from chemotherapy-induced damage through antioxidant mechanisms.
Circulatory System Support: Hot water extract shows mild ACE inhibitory activity, indicating a possible role in blood pressure regulation.
Digestive Health: Herbal tea reduced hemorrhoid symptoms and pain over a 3-month clinical study.
Gynecological Applications: Clinical trials support its use in reducing heavy menstrual bleeding and improving quality of life during menstruation.
Food and Nutritional Use: Young leaves and seeds are edible and nutritious; traditionally used in dishes across Asia and Europe; also a source of edible oil and honey.
Cosmetological Applications: Used in creams and skin care products for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties.
The Takeaway
Long used in traditional medicine to stop bleeding and support liver and digestive health, today Shepherd’s purse is gaining renewed attention for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cholesterol-lowering properties. Rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other bioactive compounds, this wild plant shows promising potential not just in herbal medicine, but also in nutrition and skincare.
I look forward to reading more about what scientists uncover from this versatile species in the future!
Yours in health, Dr. Quave
Cassandra L. Quave, Ph.D. is a Guggenheim Fellow, CNN Champion for Change, Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, recipient of The National Academies Award for Excellence in Science Communication, and award-winning author of The Plant Hunter. Her day job is as professor and herbarium director at Emory University School of Medicine, where she leads a group of research scientists studying medicinal plants to find new life-saving drugs from nature. She hosts the Foodie Pharmacology podcast and writes the Nature’s Pharmacy newsletter to share the science behind natural medicines. To support her effort, consider a paid or founding subscription to Nature’s Pharmacy or donation to her lab research.
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Thanks for such an interesting article !
Interesting article. As someone brought up in Central Otago in the South Island of New Zealand, Shepherds Purse was ubiquitous and in fact was regarded as a weed. I have not seen it to the same extent in Dunedin (where I currently live) or Tairawhiti (East Coast North Island).