Editing Plantago (section)

==Uses==
Plantain has been consumed as human food since [[prehistory]]. For example, archaeological recovery along [[California]]'s Central Coast has demonstrated use of this species as a food since the [[Millingstone Horizon]].<ref>C.&nbsp;Michael Hogan (2008). [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18502 ''Morro Creek''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524184144/http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18502 |date=2013-05-24 }}, ed. by A. Burnham.</ref> The broad-leaved varieties are sometimes used as a [[leaf vegetable]] for [[salad]]s, [[green sauce]], and so on.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Renton |first1=Marlow |title=Foraging Pocket Guide |last2=Biggane |first2=Eric |publisher=Wild Food UK |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-9999222-2-1 |edition=2020}}</ref>{{rp|108–109}} Tender young plantain leaves can be eaten raw and older leaves can be cooked. The seeds can be cooked like rice.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nyerges |first1=Christopher |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RwDHCgAAQBAJ |title=Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles |date=2016 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4930-1499-6 |page=142 |access-date=2020-05-20 |archive-date=2024-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610062009/https://books.google.com/books?id=RwDHCgAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Plantago'' species have been used since prehistoric times as [[herbalism|herbal remedies]]. The [[herb]] is [[astringent]], anti-[[toxin|toxic]], [[antimicrobial]], [[anti-inflammatory]], [[anti-histamine]], as well as [[demulcent]], [[expectorant]], [[styptic]] and [[diuretic]].<ref name="Samuelsen-2000-p1">{{cite journal |author=Samuelsen, Anne Berit |title=The traditional uses, chemical constituents and biological activities of Plantago major L. A review |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |volume=77 |issue=1–2 |date=July 2000 |pages=1–21 |doi=10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00212-9 |issn=0378-8741 |pmid=10904143 |pmc=7142308 }}</ref> Externally, a [[poultice]] of the leaves is useful for insect bites, [[poison-ivy]] rashes, minor sores, and [[boil]]s. In [[folklore]] it is even claimed to be able to cure [[snake]]bite and was used by the Dakota Indian tribe of North America for this.<ref name="jama1">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jI01AQAAMAAJ&q=Plantago+snakebite&pg=PA118 |title=Journal of the American Medical Association |volume=1 |page=118 |year=1883 |access-date=2020-10-26 |archive-date=2024-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610062010/https://books.google.com/books?id=jI01AQAAMAAJ&q=Plantago+snakebite&pg=PA118#v=snippet&q=Plantago%20snakebite&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> Internally, it is used for coughs and [[bronchitis]], as a [[tea]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Angier|first=Bradford|url=https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetoedib00angi/page/168/mode/2up|title=Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants|publisher=Stackpole Books|year=1974|isbn=0-8117-0616-8|location=Harrisburg, PA|pages=168|oclc=799792|author-link=Bradford Angier}}</ref> [[tincture]], or [[syrup]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Najafian |first1=Younes |last2=Hamedi |first2=Shokouh Sadat |last3=Kaboli Farshchi |first3=Masoumeh |last4=Feyzabadi |first4=Zohre |date=2018-02-25 |title=Plantago major in Traditional Persian Medicine and modern phytotherapy: a narrative review |url=http://www.ephysician.ir/index.php/browse-issues/10/2/969-6390 |journal=Electronic Physician |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=6390–6399 |doi=10.19082/6390 |pmc=5878035 |pmid=29629064}}</ref> Tea made from the leaves may help cure diarrhea.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/277203364 |title=The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants |publisher=[[Skyhorse Publishing]] |others=[[United States Department of the Army]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-60239-692-0 |location=New York |pages=79 |language=en-US |oclc=277203364 |access-date=2022-06-20 |archive-date=2022-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922095843/http://worldcat.org/title/277203364 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Psyllium seed husks|Plantain seed husks]] expand and become [[mucilaginous]] when wet, especially those of ''P.&nbsp;psyllium'', which is used in common over-the-counter bulk [[laxative]] and fiber supplement products such as [[Metamucil]]. ''P.&nbsp;psyllium'' seed is useful for [[constipation]], [[irritable bowel syndrome]], dietary fiber supplementation, and [[diverticular disease]]. Mucilage from [[Plantago ovata|desert indianwheat]] (''P.&nbsp;ovata'') is obtained by grinding off the [[husk]]. This mucilage, also known as [[psyllium]], is commonly sold as [[Isabgol]], a laxative which is used to control irregular bowel syndrome and constipation.<ref>Sangwan et al. (2011). Mucilages and their Pharmaceutical Applications: an Overview. Pharmacology Online 2: 1265–1271.</ref> It has been used as an [[indigenous peoples|indigenous]] [[Ayurvedic]] and [[Unani]] medicine for a whole range of bowel problems. Psyllium supplements are typically used in powder form, along with adequate amounts of fluids. A dose of at least 7&nbsp;grams daily taken with adequate amounts of fluid (water, juice) is used by some for management of elevated cholesterol. There are a number of psyllium products used for [[constipation]]. The usual dose is about 3.5&nbsp;grams twice a day. Psyllium is also a component of several ready-to-eat cereals.

In Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Russia, leaves from ''Plantago major'' are used as a [[folk remedy]] to preventing infection on cuts and scratches because of its [[antiseptic]] properties. In [[Slovenia]] and other [[Central Europe]]an regions, the leaves were traditionally used topically as a cure for [[blister]]s resulting from [[friction]] (such as caused by tight shoes etc.).

There may also be a use for plantains in the abatement of enteric [[methane]] from [[ruminants]],<ref>Ramírez-Restrepo, C. and T. Barry (2005). "Alternative temperate forages containing secondary compounds for improving sustainable productivity in grazing ruminants", Animal Feed Science and Technology, 120(3-4), 179–201.</ref> as the natural compounds present (e.g. condensed [[tannins]]; ~14&nbsp;g/kg DM), affect the acetate-propionate ratio in the [[rumen]], which is a primary mechanism by which [[methanogenesis]] is restricted.<ref>Lourenço, M., G. Van Ranst, B. Vlaeminck, S. De Smet, and V. Fievez (2008). "Influence of different dietary forages on the fatty acid composition of rumen digesta as well as ruminant meat and milk", Animal Feed Science and Technology, 145(1-4), 418–437.</ref> Currently this is not a viable option in any significant scale due to agronomic difficulties.