prickly chaff flower
Achyranthes aspera · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Extensive (199 studies) · ★★★★☆
Prickly chaff flower, scientifically known as Achyranthus asperus, is a versatile medicinal herb widely used in traditional Ayurvedic and folk medicine. Renowned for its potent bioactive compounds, this plant offers significant therapeutic benefits, particularly for treating skin ailments, digestive issues, and inflammatory conditions through its diverse pharmacological properties.
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Leaf · Root
- Common names
- Chaff-Flower · Devil’S Horsewhip · 9 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Stachyarpagophora Aspera · Centrostachys Aspera
Names
Common Names
- Chaff-flower
- Devil’s Horsewhip
- Man Better Man
- Worry Vine
- burweed
- chaffbur
- devil's horsewhip
- prickly chaff-flower
- Crocus stuff
- Crokars staff
- Prickly Chaff Flower
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Achyranthes asperaSynonyms
- Stachyarpagophora aspera
- Centrostachys aspera
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Caryophyllales and the family Amaranthaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Achyranthes.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Caryophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Amaranthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Achyranthes | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the Mediterranean and beyond. In Middle Europe, its presence can be noted within the country of Austria. Moving toward the Mediterranean coasts, it is found in Southwestern Europe in both Spain and Sardegna. The species also inhabits Southeastern Europe, specifically within the territory of Sicilia. Finally, its range extends into Northern Africa, where it grows in Tunisia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Sicilia | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Tunisia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Achyranthes aspera, is a versatile medicinal herb where various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. Often, the whole plant is employed in traditional remedies to treat a wide range of ailments, though specific parts are sometimes singled out for targeted treatments. The leaves, both in their collective form and as an individual leaf, are frequently used in topical applications or decoctions. Additionally, the stem and the whole plants can be processed to extract bioactive compounds, ensuring that no part of this hardy species goes to waste in herbal medicine.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| root | Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower | Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Achyranthes aspera has 48 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins, OLEANOLIC ACID, (25S)-inokosterone-20,22-acetonide, -Spinasterol.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Saponins | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| OLEANOLIC ACID | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (25S)-inokosterone-20,22-acetonide | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| -Spinasterol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 20-HYDROXYECDYSONE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 36,47-dihydroxyhenpentacontan-4-one | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACHYRANTHINE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Achyranthoside B | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bidentatoside II | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Flavonoids
- Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
- Frontiers in veterinary science
- Ancient science of life
Saponins
- Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
- Frontiers in veterinary science
- Ancient science of life
OLEANOLIC ACID
- Dr. Duke
- Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
(25S)-inokosterone-20,22-acetonide
- Journal of pharmaceutical analysis
-Spinasterol
- Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
20-HYDROXYECDYSONE
- Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
36,47-dihydroxyhenpentacontan-4-one
- Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
ACHYRANTHINE
- Dr. Duke
Achyranthoside B
- Journal of pharmaceutical analysis
Bidentatoside II
- Journal of pharmaceutical analysis
Activities
Achyranthes aspera has 91 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Diuretic, Abortifacient, Acetylcholinergic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acetylcholinergic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analeptic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiHIV | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiPGE2 | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiTGF-beta | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Achyranthes aspera has 27 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, cancer, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | Redox report : communications in free radical research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus subtilis | Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | ISRN dentistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-negative bacteria | Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-positive bacteria | Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae | Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Oral cancer | Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Proteus vulgaris | Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| ethanolic extracts | Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 80% ethanolic extract | Ancient science of life (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| A. aspera water-soluble extract (AAW) | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Crude extract | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Different solvent extracts of leaves | Journal de mycologie medicale (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts | Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Methanol and Aqueous Extracts | Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Methanolic extract | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extracts | Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extracts of Achyranthes aspera | Ancient science of life (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |