Parthenium hysterophorus Linn.

Family:

Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat:

Tropical and subtropical countries of the world.

English:

Congress Grass.

Folk:

Pichhi, Machhipatri.

Action:

Anti-amoebic, antidysenteric, febrifuge, analgesic, emmenagogue.

The grass was introduced into India during 1950 s (it first appeared in Pune).

The grass exhibits in vitro anti-amoebic activity against axenic and polygenic cultures of Entamoeba histolytica, comparable to the standard drug for amoebiasis, Metronidazole.

Parthenin and some of its derivatives exhibited significant antimalarial activity against a multi drug-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum.

The main toxic constituent of the grass responsible for causing dermatitis and other forms of allergy are parthenin and coronopilin. Parthenin in present up to 8% in the capitulum and 5% in the leaves.