CIRSIUM ARVENSE (L.) SCOP.: A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE AND PROSPECTS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL STANDARDIZATION

Received: 18 August 2026

Accepted: 13 October 2026

Published online: 30 October 2026

UDC: 615.322:547.9:582.998.1

DOI: 10.53511/pharmkaz.2026.5.13

Article type: Review Article

 

CIRSIUM ARVENSE (L.) SCOP.: A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE AND PROSPECTS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL STANDARDIZATION

 

Elmira Serikbayeva¹, Kairat Zhakipbekov¹, Ardak Bakytzhanova¹, Pavel Mucaji², Murat Ashirov¹, Nurgali Rakhymbayev¹

¹Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan

²Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

 

Introduction. Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. is a member of the Asteraceae family that has traditionally been used as a medicinal and edible plant. Scientific interest in this species is associated with its diverse phytochemical composition and potential biological activities.

Objective. To critically appraise the level of evidence supporting the published phytochemical and pharmacological data on Cirsium arvense, identify the methodological limitations of the available studies, and propose key parameters required for the pharmaceutical standardization of its plant material and extracts.

Materials and methods. A narrative review of publications indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar was conducted. The search covered publications available up to May 2026 and used the keywords «Cirsium arvense», «phytochemistry», «traditional use», «antioxidant activity», «antimicrobial activity», and «pharmacological activity», alone and in combination. Original research articles, reviews, books, and official sources directly related to the plant were included.

Results. Most of the available evidence was derived from in vitro studies using non-standardized extracts. Although antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were investigated more frequently, substantial heterogeneity in plant parts, extraction procedures, solvents, doses, and experimental models limits direct comparison of the findings. No human clinical studies were identified among the publications included in this review. Data on botanical authentication, quantitative marker compounds, extract composition, impurities, stability, and batch-to-batch consistency remain insufficient. Based on these gaps, a proposed matrix of parameters for the standardization of C. arvense plant material and extracts was developed.

Discussion. The literature review demonstrated that, despite the promising phytochemical composition and biological activity of Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., the available evidence remains methodologically heterogeneous. Differences in plant parts, extraction procedures, and evaluation models limit the comparability of the reported findings, while the absence of clinical studies prevents a comprehensive assessment of its efficacy and safety. Therefore, future research should focus on the pharmaceutical standardization of the plant material, identification of chemical markers, and the implementation of standardized preclinical studies.

Conclusion. The available evidence is insufficient to support the clinical use of C. arvense or its consideration as a ready source of a herbal medicinal product. Future studies should focus on botanical authentication, selection of chemical markers, quantitative standardization, batch-to-batch consistency, safety assessment, and standardized preclinical models.

Keywords: Cirsium arvense; level of evidence; critical appraisal; pharmaceutical standardization; quality control; herbal raw material; preclinical studies.

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