Wise Mind Herbs

The information on this page has been prepared with reference to published scientific literature, not by a medically qualified expert. It is not medical advice. Any decision to use a supplement or herb-based product is your responsibility. Consult a suitably qualified medical professional, especially if you have underlying conditions. Remember, nothing is for everyone, and not everything sold is what it claims to be. Some things work for some people, some of the time.

Lime Tree - Tilia cordata

The term "lime tree" or "linden" primarily refers to trees of the genus Tilia, which are deciduous trees native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. These should not be confused with Citrus aurantifolia (Key lime) or Citrus latifolia (Persian lime), which are different species entirely. Within the Tilia genus, the most commonly studied species for medicinal purposes include Tilia cordata (small-leaved linden), Tilia platyphyllos (large-leaved linden), and Tilia americana (American basswood).

Common Names

• Linden
• Lime Tree (European usage, not to be confused with citrus lime)
• Basswood (especially Tilia americana)
• Tilleul (French)
• Lindenblüten (German)
• Tilo (Spanish)

Botanical Names

• Tilia cordata Mill. (small-leaved linden)
• Tilia platyphyllos Scop. (large-leaved linden)
• Tilia americana L. (American basswood)
• Tilia × europaea L. (common lime, hybrid of T. cordata and T. platyphyllos)

Note: These should not be confused with Citrus species (true limes) or Stryphnodendron adstringens (known as "barbatimão" but sometimes mistakenly called linden in some regions).

Active Compounds

The medicinal properties of linden are attributed to various bioactive compounds found primarily in the flowers, including:

• Flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin glycosides)
• Phenolic acids (including caffeic, p-coumaric, and chlorogenic acids)
• Essential oils (containing farnesol, geraniol, eugenol)
• Mucilage polysaccharides
• Tannins
• Tocopherols (vitamin E compounds)

Evidence-Based Health Benefits

Scientific research supports several therapeutic applications of linden, though many traditional uses remain inadequately investigated through rigorous clinical trials. The strongest evidence exists for the following:

• Anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects - Moderate evidence from animal models and limited human trials
• Sedative properties - Moderate evidence from preclinical studies
• Antioxidant activity - Strong evidence from in vitro studies
• Anti-inflammatory effects - Moderate evidence from in vitro and animal studies
• Diaphoretic (promoting sweating) - Limited clinical evidence but traditionally well-documented

Conditions with Some Scientific Support for Alleviation

• Anxiety and nervous tension - Several studies show mild anxiolytic effects
• Insomnia - Limited evidence suggests improvement in sleep quality
• Upper respiratory tract infections - Moderate evidence for symptom relief due to anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects
• Mild hypertension - Limited evidence from preliminary studies showing modest blood pressure reduction
• Digestive disorders (dyspepsia, mild gastritis) - Limited evidence but traditional use supported by anti-inflammatory properties

It is important to note that while linden is used in traditional medicine for numerous other conditions, including migraines, arthritis, and cardiovascular disorders, the scientific evidence for these applications remains preliminary or insufficient.

Recommended Dosages

Clinical standardization of linden preparations is limited. The following dosages are based on traditional use and the limited available clinical data:

• Dried flowers: 2-4 g as an infusion (tea), 2-3 times daily
• Liquid extract (1:1 in 25% alcohol): 2-4 mL, three times daily
• Tincture (1:5 in 45% alcohol): 1-2 mL, three times daily

Standardized extracts are uncommon, but when available, preparations standardized to flavonoid content (typically 1-3% calculated as quercetin or rutin equivalents) are preferred for research purposes.

High-Dose Studies and Knowledge Gaps

There is a significant knowledge gap regarding high-dose administration of linden. Few studies have systematically investigated dosages above the traditionally recommended ranges. The limited research available suggests:

• No clear additional benefits at doses significantly above those recommended
• Potential increased risk of side effects at very high doses (>10g dried herb equivalent daily)
• Lack of dose-response relationship studies in humans

This represents a significant research gap that warrants further investigation through properly designed clinical trials with dose-escalation protocols.

Side Effects and Contraindications

Linden is generally considered safe when consumed in traditional therapeutic dosages, but reported adverse effects include:

• Cardiac effects - Case reports of cardiac damage with excessive long-term use
• Mild sedation - May enhance effects of sedative medications
• Contact dermatitis - Rare allergic reactions have been reported
• Potential drug interactions with anticoagulants, sedatives, and antihypertensives

Contraindicated in pregnancy due to insufficient safety data and theoretical emmenagogue effects. Also contraindicated in individuals with known hypersensitivity to plants in the Tiliaceae family.

Most linden products remain in the supplement or traditional herbal medicine categories without pharmaceutical registration, reflecting the limited clinical trial data available.

Research Limitations and Future Directions

The current research landscape for linden presents several limitations:

• Lack of large-scale, well-designed clinical trials
• Limited standardization of test materials across studies
• Insufficient investigation of specific mechanisms of action
• Inadequate pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies

Future research should focus on standardized extracts, dose-response relationships, and specific molecular targets to better establish the therapeutic potential of linden preparations.

References

Aguirre-Hernández, E., González-Trujano, M. E., Martínez, A. L., Moreno, J., Kite, G., Terrazas, T., & Soto-Hernández, M. (2010). HPLC/MS analysis and anxiolytic-like effect of quercetin and kaempferol flavonoids from Tilia americana var. mexicana. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 127(1), 91-97.

Balmus, I. M., & Ciobica, A. (2017). Main plant extracts’ active properties effective on scopolamine-induced memory loss. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias®, 32(7), 418-428.

Faizi, M., Khazaee, R., Mojab, F., & Jahani, R. (2022). Psychopharmacological assessment of antidepressant-like, anxiolytic, and sedative-hypnotic effects of Tilia platyphyllos Scop. extract using experimental animal models: Antidepressant-like, anxiolytic, and sedative-hypnotic properties of Tilia platyphyllos. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18(2), 116-127.

Fawzy, G., Younes, K., Waked, E., & Mahmoud, H. (2018). Anti-inflammatory, Antinociceptive and Nephroprotective activities of Tilia cordata and Isolation of Bioactive Compounds. J. Mat. Environ. Sci, 9, 1908-1914.

Hake, A., Symma, N., Esch, S., Hensel, A., & Düfer, M. (2022). Alkaloids from lime flower (Tiliae flos) exert spasmodic activity on murine airway smooth muscle involving acetylcholinesterase. Planta Medica, 88(08), 639-649.

Karioti, A., Chiarabini, L., Alachkar, A., Chehna, M. F., Vincieri, F. F., & Bilia, A. R. (2014). HPLC–DAD and HPLC–ESI-MS analyses of Tiliae flos and its preparations. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 100, 205-214.

Yayalacı, Y., Celik, I., & Batı, B. (2014). Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of linden (Tilia platyphyllos L.) infusion against ethanol-induced oxidative stress in rats. The Journal of Membrane Biology, 247, 181-188.

Zhou, Y. J., Ren, Q., & Shen, Y. B. (2025). Comprehensive review of Tilia L.: phytochemical profiles, edible value, therapeutic potentials, and ecological significance. Food & Medicine Homology, 2(2).