Menyanthes trifoliata.   Bogbean, Buckbean, Marsh trefoil   Family: Menyanthaceae          
PART USED: Leaves, Herb- Gathered after flowering.
TASTE: Bitter
ACTIONS
GROUP: The Musculo-Skeletal System- Antirheumatics
1. Bitter tonic.[1,2,3] Deobstruent.[3]
2. Diuretic.[1,2]
3. Laxative in large doses.[3]
INDICATIONS
1. Rheumatic conditions.[1,2,3] Rheumatoid arthritis.[1,2]
2. Amenorrhea
3. Anorexia. Dyspepsia.
4. Nervous disorders generally.
5. Skin disorders generally.
6. Glandular swellings.
7. Malaria.
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Muscular rheumatism assocatied with general asthenia.[1]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Diarrhea, dysentery or colitis.[1]
COMBINATIONS
- Rheumatic conditions, use with Apium or Black Cohosh.
PREPARATIONS   3X /day
Dried leaves 1-2 g,[1] or by infusion[1] 1:20.
Fluid extract  1:1 in 25% alcohol 1-2 ml.[1] 0.5-1.5ml.[3]
Fluid Extract  1:2 in 60%.[4]
Tincture  1:5 in 45% alcohol  1-3 ml.[1]
Local-  Compress.[2]

ORIGIN: Britain and Europe, in aquatic areas.
DESCRIPTION: An aquatic or creeping perennial, with trefoil leaves and spikes of pink and white flowrs, each with a five lobed petal-tube and fringed with long white hairs. Flowers- Early Summer.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Iridoid glycosides; foliamenthin, dihydrofoliamenthin, menthiafolin and loganin.[1,2]
Pyridine alkaloids, including gentianine.[3]
Coumarins, such as scopoletin.[3] Phenolic acids; mainly caffeic, with protocatechuic, ferulic, sinapic, vanillic and others.[4]
Vitamin C, tannins.[5] Flavonoids including rutin, sterols and volatile oil.[6]
Bitter glycosides.[1,2]
Flavonoids. Saponin. Tannins. Betulinic acid. Glycosides.
References
Research
Caffeic and ferulic acids have known choleretic action and it has been suggested that they may act as synergists to the iridoids.[1]
References
1. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations  R.C. Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.

Immunomodulating polysaccharide fractions of Menyanthes trifoliata L.
Kuduk-Jaworska J, Szpunar J, Gasiorowski K, Brokos B.
Abstract
Looking for new plant sources of immunomodulating agents polysaccharide-rich fractions (PS) from Menyanthes trifoliata L. (Menyanthaceae) have been isolated. The herb of Menyanthes trifoliata L. was sequentially extracted with water, 0.1 M NaOH, 8% CH3COOH, and 1 M NaOH. After dialysis and resolution on Biogel P-10 four homogenic (B-4, B-5, C-4, D-5) and two nonhomogenic (A-3 and D-4) PS were isolated. About 0.5% of PS over 3500 Da were found in the dry plant material. They were characterized through chemical analysis, NMR and vibrational spectroscopy. Speciation analysis of chosen metal/metaloid elements was performed and an exceptionally high concentration of Se was found in PS of a pure water extract (A-3). The biological tests on the immunomodulating influence with human blood-derived lymphocytes and granulocytes revealed that two fractions, B-4 and B-5, were strong stimulators of immune cells, whereas fractions D-5 and A-3 were found as potent suppressive and anti-inflammatory agents. The applied isolation procedures led to the separation of active compounds into stimulatory and inhibitory fractions.
PMID: 15813366 Z Naturforsch C. 2004 Jul-Aug;59(7-8):485-93. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov