[Prunella vulgaris L.--a rediscovered medicinal plant]

In the past, the self-heal (Prunella vulgaris L.) was primarily used as a remedy alleviating pains in the throat, fevers and accelerating wound healing. A high content of rosmarinic acid, immunomodulation effects of the polysaccharide prunelline and antiviral activity of some constituents make the plant interesting from the viewpoint of therapeutical applications. The paper summarizes the contemporary phytochemical knowledge about the self-heal and the results of pharmacological studies of the extracts and pure substances from this plant.