FolkKB

English holly

Ilex aquifolium

Ilex aquifolium is a species of holly used within various traditional medicinal practices. Historically, it has been applied as a diuretic, emollient, purgative, and sudorific, with uses reported for fever, gout, jaundice, malaria, swelling, edema, and warts. Scientific evidence regarding its therapeutic efficacy remains limited; while some studies suggest its flavonoids may potentially act as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, this requires further experimental validation. Other research has focused on DNA extraction protocols and bacterial isolation rather than clinical outcomes. No major safety issues or notable drug interactions have been recorded in the available data.

At a glance
Traditionally for
diuretic · emetic
Traditions
Western phytotherapy · traditional
Best evidence
D
Cautions
—

Informational only. Traditional use does not mean proven effectiveness. Evidence and safety vary — check the cited sources.

Traditional use

  • diuretic Western phytotherapy T3 DRDUKE
  • emetic traditional T3 DRDUKE
  • emollient traditional T3 DRDUKE
  • fever traditional T3 DRDUKE
  • purgative traditional T3 DRDUKE
  • dropsy (edema) traditional T3 DRDUKE
  • gout traditional T3 DRDUKE
  • jaundice traditional T3 DRDUKE
  • malaria traditional T3 DRDUKE
  • sudorific traditional T3 DRDUKE
  • swelling traditional T3 DRDUKE
  • warts traditional T3 DRDUKE

What the science says

  • The study suggests Ilex aquifolium flavonoids, particularly rutin and kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoglucoside, may have potential as α-glucosidase inhibitors, but requires experimental validation. D PMID
  • The study found that an optimized Percoll™-based protocol could extract high-quality and high molecular weight DNA from Ilex aquifolium, among other species. D PMID
  • Ilex aquifolium showed similar acclimation capacity to temperature changes as other species, without conferring a significant carbon budget advantage. D PMID
  • A novel carbon monoxide-oxidizing bacterial species, Foliimonas ilicis, was isolated from Ilex aquifolium leaves. D PMID

Frequently asked questions

What is English holly?

English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a plant documented in FolkKB's traditional-medicine reference, drawn from sourced literature and cross-checked against the evidence.

What is English holly traditionally used for?

Traditional sources record English holly for: diuretic, emetic, emollient, fever, purgative, dropsy (edema). This reflects traditional use, not a proven medical treatment.

Which traditions use English holly?

English holly appears in these traditions in our sources: Western phytotherapy, traditional.

What does the scientific evidence say about English holly?

4 sourced findings are recorded for English holly; the strongest carries evidence grade D. For example: The study suggests Ilex aquifolium flavonoids, particularly rutin and kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoglucoside, may have potential as α-glucosidase inhibitors, but requires experimental validation.

How strong is the evidence for English holly?

The strongest finding for English holly carries evidence grade D — preliminary or traditional. Grades run A (strongest) to D (preliminary or traditional).

Is English holly safe? What are the side effects?

No major safety issues are recorded for English holly in our sources, but the data may be incomplete. Consult a qualified professional before use.

Does English holly interact with medications?

No drug interactions are recorded for English holly in our sources. This does not rule them out — check with a pharmacist.

What are the common names of English holly?

English holly is also known as: Падуб остролистный, houx.

Is English holly a proven treatment?

No. FolkKB is informational only. Traditional use and early findings are not proof of efficacy or safety — consult a qualified professional and never self-treat.

Sources

  1. T3 Dr. Duke's Ethnobotanical Database public domain (USDA ARS — attribute Dr. Duke's)
  2. T2 Foliimonas ilicis gen. nov., sp. nov., a carbon monoxide-oxidizing bacterium belonging to a novel genus of the family Phyllobacteriaceae isolated from leaves of Ilex aquifolium. literature abstract metadata
  3. T2 Thermal acclimation fails to confer a carbon budget advantage to invasive species over natives. literature abstract metadata
  4. T2 Efficient high-quality and high molecular weight plant DNA extraction protocol using Percoll™. literature abstract metadata
  5. T2 Molecular docking, DFT analysis, pharmacokinetic profiling and MD simulation of Ilex aquifolium L. flavonoids as potential α-glucosidase predicted inhibitors for diabetes. literature abstract metadata

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