Costmary
StarTanacetum balsamita
Synonyms: Leucanthemum balsamita, Chrysanthemum apetalum, Chrysanthemum balsamita f. tanacetoides, Pyrethrum majus, Tanacetum simplicifolium, Pyrethrum balsamita, Pyrethrum tanacetum, Matricaria apetala, Pyrethrum balsamita var. tanacetoides, Balsamita vulgaris, Chamaemelum balsamita, Chrysanthemum balsamita, Matricaria balsamita, Tanacetum balsamitum, Balsamita balsamita, Balsamita suaveolens, Balsamita major var. tanacetoides, Chrysanthemum majus, Balsamita major, Tanacetum ovatifolium
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Tanacetum balsamita, known as costmary, alecost, or "Bible leaf," is an aromatic rhizomatous perennial herb of the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean and long cultivated across Europe, where it has frequently escaped from old gardens. From a creeping rootstock it produces erect, branching stems reaching about 0.6–1.2 m tall. The leaves are alternate, elliptic to oblong, finely toothed, soft, and grey-green, with a strong, sweet, balsamic-minty scent when bruised; the basal leaves are long-stalked while the stem leaves are smaller and clasping. In late summer the plant bears flat-topped clusters of small flower heads; in the common cultivated form these are button-like and yellow, lacking conspicuous white ray florets, though wild forms may show short white rays. The fruits are small, ribbed cypselae. Costmary was a staple of medieval and monastic herb gardens, valued for its fragrance and used to flavour ale, scent linen, and as a culinary and medicinal herb.
Active Constituents
(R)-(-)-Carvone
Monoterpene ketoneConcentration: ~51-80% of leaf essential oil (carvone chemotype)
The dominant constituent of the common carvone chemotype and the basis of costmary's spearmint-like scent. Carvone shows antispasmodic (Ca2+-channel-blocking myorelaxant), antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant and carminative activity, supporting the herb's traditional digestive use.
β-Thujone / α-thujone
Monoterpene ketoneConcentration: Dominant only in thujone chemotypes
In camphor-thujone chemotypes thujone can predominate. Thujone is a GABA-A antagonist and neurotoxic/convulsant at high doses, so thujone-rich costmary chemotypes warrant caution and are unsuitable for high-dose or prolonged internal use.
Camphor
Monoterpene ketoneConcentration: Major in camphor chemotypes
One of the four recognised chemotype markers (carvone, camphor, camphor-thujone, camphor-α-thujone); contributes antimicrobial and counter-irritant character.
1,8-Cineole
Oxygenated monoterpeneConcentration: Minor-moderate
Common oxygenated monoterpene of the oil with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity.
Chlorogenic acid and dicaffeoylquinic acids
Acylquinic (phenolic) acidsConcentration: Predominant phenolics of the extract
Among more than 100 metabolites profiled, caffeoylquinic and dicaffeoylquinic acids predominate and drive strong DPPH/ABTS antioxidant activity of the extracts, particularly in flower-heads.
Flavonoid glycosides
FlavonoidsConcentration: Numerous (dozens of glycosides/methoxylated derivatives)
A large family of flavonoid glycosides and methoxylated flavonoids contributes to antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitory (acetylcholinesterase, α-glucosidase) activity reported for costmary extracts.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Antiepileptic / GABAergic and CNS drugs
Costmary thujone-chemotype oils contain the GABA-A antagonist thujone, which could theoretically lower seizure threshold or oppose GABAergic sedatives/antiepileptics. Carvone-chemotype material contains little thujone. No human interaction data exist; the caution is chemotype-dependent and theoretical.
Clinical note: Prefer low-thujone (carvone) chemotype; avoid concentrated oil in epilepsy and pregnancy.
Preparation Methods
Leaf infusion (herbal tea)
Parts: leaves
Dried leaves are infused in hot water as a digestive, carminative and mildly antispasmodic tea traditionally taken for indigestion and intestinal cramping. Low-thujone (carvone) chemotype material is preferred; avoid concentrated or prolonged use in pregnancy and epilepsy.
Culinary / flavouring ('alecost', 'Bible leaf')
Parts: leaves
The balsam-scented leaves were historically used sparingly to flavour ales and beers (hence 'alecost') and salads, and single leaves were kept as scented bookmarks in Bibles ('Bible leaf').
Topical salve / poultice
Parts: leaves
Bruised leaves and leaf ointments were applied externally to stings, minor burns and irritated skin for their astringent and antimicrobial action.
Clinical Studies
An In-Depth Study of Metabolite Profile and Biological Potential of Tanacetum balsamita L. (Costmary)
UHPLC-HRMS profiling detected over 100 secondary metabolites (24 acylquinic acids, 43 flavonoids, 15 phenolic acid glycosides; 91 reported for the first time). Flower-head extracts gave the strongest DPPH/ABTS antioxidant activity, leaves the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and roots the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition.
In vitro effects of essential oils of Tanacetum balsamita and carvone on the contractility of bovine ileum smooth muscles
Costmary essential oil and its major component carvone concentration-dependently inhibited spontaneous and spasmogen-induced contractions of isolated bovine ileum, acting as myorelaxants via blockade of Ca2+ channels, supporting the herb's traditional antispasmodic use for intestinal spasm.
Historical Texts
Medieval and Tudor monastic and household herbals (Europe)
Medieval-16th/17th centuryCulpeper, The English Physitian / Complete Herbal
17th centuryReferences
- Gevrenova R, et al.. An In-Depth Study of Metabolite Profile and Biological Potential of Tanacetum balsamita L. (Costmary) . Plants (Basel) (2022) [DOI]
- Ahmadnejad-Asl-Gavgani M, Maham M, Dalir-Naghadeh B. In vitro effects of essential oils of Tanacetum balsamita and carvone on the contractility of bovine ileum smooth muscles . Veterinary Research Forum (2022) [DOI]
- Baczek K, et al.. Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Tanacetum balsamita Essential Oils Obtained from Different Plant Organs . Plants (Basel) (2022) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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