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Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae)

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Handbook of 200 Medicinal Plants

Abstract

An herbaceous plant, found throughout India as a weed, in Baluchistan and East Africa. The plant is considered carminative, diuretic, gastric tonic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, blood purifier and antidote for snake and scorpion bites. Decoction of the whole plant is used in gastritis, gaseous distention, ascites, eczema, skin eruptions and boils, and the leaves juice sometimes applied to relieve toothache. Whole plant ash is used in gaseous distention, gastritis, cough, asthma and urinary bladder stones in traditional medicines; the ash with honey is also used to relieve cough. In China, the root, known as Niuxi, is considered blood-stimulant, stasis-deobstruent, emmenagogue, liver and kidney-tonifying, fortifying to muscles, tendons and bones, “heat-purgative”, anti-inflammatory, and detoxicant. The herb is mainly prescribed in amenorrhea due to hemostasis, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, injuries due to impact, fractures, contusions and strains, hematemesis, epistaxis, hematuria due to gonorrhea, gingivitis, laryngitis, and carbuncle. In Ethiopian folk medicine, it is one of the plants used for contraception, and the leaves are traditionally used for the treatment of wounds. In the Philippines, a decoction of leaves and roots is used as a diuretic, and the sap of the plant is useful in dissipating the corneal opacity. Seeds are used in folk medicine of Fiji as expectorant, while the Sri Lankans use seeds as astringent, diuretic, and for hydrophobia. It contains carbohydrates, proteins, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins and tannins. Antifertility activity of various parts has been reported by several investigators. Ethanol extract also reduced sperm count and serum testosterone levels, and a protein isolated from the roots exhibited irreversible spermicidal effect. Other pharmacological activities observed in animals include antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anxiolytic, antiepileptic, and hypocholesterolemic. Aqueous and ethanol extracts exhibit significant anti-inflammatory effect, which is comparable to diclofenac at higher dose of the aqueous extract. Supplementation of DDS treatment with A. aspera of subacute and mild leprosy patients hastened the rate of improvement and reduced chances of reaction.

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    Shahid Akbar

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Akbar, S. (2020). Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae). In: Handbook of 200 Medicinal Plants. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16807-0_8

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