According to the RNC Pharma® database “Audit of Retail Sales of Medicinal Products in Russia (total sell-out)”, in Q1–Q3 2025, a total of 208.1 million packs of herbal medicines were sold in the Russian retail market (including online channels), amounting to RUB 44.8 billion (in retail prices including VAT). Compared to the same period in 2024, the value of sales increased by 8.3%, while sales volume fell by 7%.

This marks the third consecutive year of declining physical demand for herbal products, even as monetary sales continue to rise. In 2024, consumers purchased 306.9 million packs worth RUB 57.6 billion, reflecting +9.6% in value but –4.7% in volume. A similar pattern was observed in 2023, when unit sales decreased by 6% versus 2022, while value sales grew by 1.2%.

The decline in volume demand is primarily due to falling interest in herbal antidepressants and sedatives. Most herbal antidepressants previously contained St. John’s wort extract, but due to the substance’s numerous contraindications, such products were withdrawn from over-the-counter sales and have recently been discontinued in Russia. Within the herbal sedatives group, sales volumes of motherwort tincture fell by 16%, and peony tincture by 13%.

In contrast, the strongest growth in value sales among herbal products was recorded for antidiarrheal and anthelmintic medicines — spending on these categories increased sixfold and by 78%, respectively. The most dynamic brand in the antidiarrheal segment was Entoban (Herbion), whose sales grew sevenfold year-on-year.

As of Q1–Q3 2025, the Russian pharmacy retail market featured 355 herbal medicine brands from 132 manufacturers. Nearly half of total market value was generated by just three therapeutic groups — diuretics, expectorants, and sedatives.

The leading brand in value terms remains Canephron (Bionorica, Germany), indicated for urological diseases. The product accounted for 12.8% of market value and 3% of unit sales in the category. The second position is held by Doctor MOM (Johnson & Johnson), a line that includes lozenges, ointment, and cough syrup, contributing 3.8% in value and over 2.5% in volume. Novo-Passit (Teva) ranks third with a 3.6% share. All three leading brands showed significant value growth, but only Novo-Passit achieved an increase in unit sales (+5.3%).

Three brands in the top 10 recorded declines in value sales during the reporting period. Prostamol (Menarini), used for prostate adenoma, saw a 6% decline in ruble sales but a 7.3% increase in volume, suggesting a price adjustment strategy. Chamomile Flowers (Krasnogorskleksredstva and others) and Mukaltin (Obnovlenie and others) also showed reductions in value. These products are likely facing pressure from substitute goods — chamomile is widely available in herbal teas and food products, while Mukaltin struggles to compete with branded expectorants supported by active marketing campaigns.

Top-10 herbal medicine brands by retail sales value in Russia, including online channels, Q1–Q3 2025