bristly starburr

Acanthospermum hispidum

Source: Wikimedia

Source: Wikimedia

NAME: Acanthospermum hispidum

FAMILY: Compositae

COMMON NAMES: Starburr, bristly starburr, goathead, slingshot weed

LOCAL NAMES: Dangunro-gogoro , kaashinyaawo

USEFUL PART(s): Leaves, whole plant

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

  • Venezuela

  • Brazil

  • Ghana

  • Benin

  • Colombia

  • Peru

  • Nigeria

  • Uganda

WHY IS IT GREEN? 

 Acanthospermum hispidum medicinal uses include:       

  • Yellow Fever

  • Tuberculosis

  • Stomach disorder

  • Cough

  • Purgative

  • Rheumatism

  • Migraine

OTHER IMPACT

  • Toxic to livestock

  • Thorny fruits of this weed can cause injury to man and animals.

Source: Wikimedia

Source: Wikimedia

FURTHER READINGS

Araújo , L. B. D. C., Silva, S. L., Galvão, M. A. M., Ferreira, M. R. A., Araújo, E. L., Randau, K. P., & Soares, L. A. L. (2013). Total phytosterol content in drug materials and extracts from roots of Acanthospermum hispidum by UV-VIS spectrophotometry. Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy, 23(5), 736–742. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-695X2013000500004

Chakraborty, A. K., Gaikwad, A. V., & Singh, K. B. (2012). Phytopharmacological review on Acanthospermum Hispidum. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2(1), 144–148.

De Araújo, E. L., Randau, K. P., Sena-Filho, J. G., Mendonça Pimentel, R. M., & Xavier, H. S. (2008). Acanthospermum hispidum DC (Asteraceae): Perspectives for a phytotherapeutic product. Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-695X2008000500024

Fleischer, T. C., Ameade, E. P. K., & Sawer, I. K. (2003). Antimicrobial activity of the leaves and flowering tops of Acanthospermum hispidum. Fitoterapia, 74(1–2), 130–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(02)00290-3

Ganfon, H., Bero, J., Tchinda, A. T., Gbaguidi, F., Gbenou, J., Moudachirou, M., … Quetin-Leclercq, J. (2012). Antiparasitic activities of two sesquiterpenic lactones isolated from Acanthospermum hispidum D.C. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 141(1), 411–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.03.002

Koukouikila-Koussounda, F., Abena, A. A., Nzoungani, A., Mombouli, J. V., Ouamba, J. M., Kun, J., & Ntoumi, F. (2013). In vitro evaluation of antiplasmodial activity of extracts of Acanthospermum hispidum DC (Asteraceae) and Ficus thonningii Blume (Moraceae), two plants used in traditional medicine in the Republic of Congo. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines : AJTCAM / African Networks on Ethnomedicines, 10(2), 270–276.

Panizzi, A. R., & Rossi, C. E. (1991). The role of Acanthospermum hispidum in the phenology of Euschistus heros and of Nezara viridula. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 59(1), 67–74. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1570-7458.1991.tb01487.x