Plant Synonyms

Ageratum latifolium Car., A., cordifolium Roxb, A. album Stend A odaratum Vilm. A. hirsutum Lam., A obtusifolium Lam.

Plant Local Names

Burkina Faso: Diola – chou koflan, Fultulde- kikalapure; Kiasalapure
Cote d’ivoire: Baula-kondre, Dan- dussuo, Gagu–maingue
Gambia: Fula pulaar-chikara –pre, Manding mandinka – hatayajambo
Ghana: Akyem –madwowakuro, Asante – guakuro, Fante – efumomoe
Guinea: Bissau: crioulo – balquima, Fula – laboel, Mandinka – boro
Guinea: Fula Pulaar – kumba- dongul
Liberia: Bassa – omalu-Ana, mano
Nigeria: Yoruba – Imi esu, Edo – ebeghi, Igbo – Ngwa
Senegal: Diola – ekerkeda, Manding bambara – Nun Gu, Wolof – gobu
Sierra Leone: Kono – yandigbene yani, Krio – wet-Ed-lif, Susu dyalonke- khambu-Na.

Plant Habitat

A comyzoides grows widely in northern Ghana and from Mali to Cameroon. It is commonly found in moist places or during rainy season in deserted Village and weedy areas including roadsides

Plant Material of Interest

Root
Whole plant

Plant Used Parts

Plant Uses

A conyzoides is used in various parts of Africa Asia and South America for treating a wide variety of diseases including mental illness, headache, colic, skin ulcers, cuts and wounds, burns and dysponoea. It is used as a purgative, febrifuge, antienteralgic and antipyretic. In Nigeria the decoction of the plant is taken internally to treat diarroea and intestinal plain it is incorporated into tradional soaps prepared is incorporated into traditional soaps prepared from the ashes of plants such as cocoa (theobroma cacao) and from palm kamel shafts ( Elaeis guinensis). In Kenya it is used as an antiasthmatic, antispasmodic and haemostatic, whilst in Brazillian folk medicine teas of A conyziodes ae taken as anti-inflammatory, analgestic, anti-diarrhoeic, in Vietnam it is used for gynaecologic complaints. Other folkloric uses include anti-itch, antitussive, vermifuge, antiheumatic and anticaries. The plant is most commonly used as a disinfectant and haemostic for wounds (Haensel et al. 1994). The application of the leaf sap on the hands of card players is believed to improve their luck (Durodola, 1977).

Plant Therapeutic Action

Analgesic, emetic, antibacterial, anticoagulant antihelmintic, anti- inflammatory, antimalarial, antioxidant, antirheumatic, depurative, fsbrifuge, haemostatic, insecticidal, purgative, radio-protective, stimulant and vulnerary (Ganesh et al, 2003; Okunade, 2002; Sampson et al., 2000; Durodula, 1977; GHP, 1992; Almagbout et al., 1985).

Plant Precaution for Use

Should be used with care in children and pregnant women.

Plant Adverse Effect

Although other animal studies have shown the plant to be safe, Trigo et al., (1988) found several alkalcids, including lcopsamine and 1, 2-desifropirrolizidinic and which may induce hepatotoxicity.

Plant Contraindication

Diabetes

Plant Dosage Forms

Decoction Juice from bruised fresh leaves: per litre of water; take 3-4 teacups day
Tincture: 1:5 30% fresh alcohol, take 2-5 ml twice daily
Capsule: 1-2 g twice daily

Plant Dosage

Plant Storage

Store in a cool dry place in sealed containers away from light.

Plant Chromatographic Fingerprint

Analytical TLC on solica gel G60 F254, 0.25mm layer in petroleum ether (40-60 ? [2:8], detection in daylight, after spraying with anisaldehyde (0.5ml) mixed with 10ml glacial acetic acid, 85 ml menthanol and 5ml concentrated sulphuric acid and heated to 100-110 ? for 5-10 min. presence of three characteristic spot with R,s 0.89 (pink), o. 81 (grey), 0.74 (brown), 0.42 (pink), 0.35 (pink), 0.25 (pink), 0.22 (ash), 0.19 (viotlet) and 0.09 (purple).

Plant Constituents

Volatile oil (eugenol); chromenes; triterpenoids including sterols; flavonoids and phenolic compounds (conyzorigun, 5-methoxynobiletin, quercetin, kaempferol glycosides); alkaloids; benzofurans and tennins (Okunade, 2002; GHP, 1992; Gill, 1978).

Plant Pictures

Ageratum conyzoides tree leave with flower

Ageratum conyzoides tree with blue flower

Ageratum conyzoides tree

Plant References

Abena, A.A., Kintsangoula-Mbaya, G.S., Diantsma J., Bioka, D. (1993). Analgesic effects of a raw extract of Agaratum conyzoides in the rat. Encephale. 19(4):329-32.
Achola, K.J., Munege, R.W. (1997). Ativity of Ageratum conyzoides on isolated Rat phrenic Nerve-Diaphramgm and Blood pressure on Aneaesthetised Rats. Pharmaceutical Biology 35(1):31-37.
Almagbout, A.Z, farrog, A.A., Tyagi, B.R. (1985). Antimicrobial activity of certain Sudanese plants used in folkloric medicine: Screening for antibacterial activity. Part II. Fitoterapia, 56:103-109.
Bioka, D., Banyikwa, F.F., Choudhuri, M.A. (1993). Analgesic effects of a crude extract of Ageratum conyzoides in the rat. Acta Horticulturae, 332:171-176.
Dokosi, O.B (1998). Herbs of Ghana. Ghana University Press: Ghana; 276-279.
Durodola, J.J. (1977). Antibacterial property of crude extract from herbal wound healing remedy-Ageratum conyzoides, L. planta Medical 32 (4): 388-390.
Ganesh, C.J., Annie, S., Shaival, K.R., Prasad, M.B. (2003). Evaluation of the radioprotective effect of Ageratum conyzoides Linn. Extract in mice exposed to different doses of gamma radiation. Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology 55(8):1151.
Ghana herbal pharmacopoeia (1992). The Advent Press: Accra, Ghana.
Gill, S. (1978). Flavoured compounds of the Ageratum conyzoides L. herb. Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica 35(2): 241-243.
Haensel, R. Keller, K. Rimpler, H., Schneider, G. (1994). Hagers Handbuch der pharm, raxis S. Auflage Srinnger Heiddelberg, New York Band 4:135-37.
Marques, N., Costalat, L.T., Femandes, S.R.M., Napoli, M.D.M., Semara, A.M. (1998). Revista Brasileira de Rhematolgie 28:109.
Moody, J.O., Adeniyi, B.A (2004). Do Aloe vera and Ageratum conyzoides enhance the antimicrobial activity of traditional medicinal soft soaps Journal of ethnopharmacology 92 (1) 57-60.
Mahana. N.R., Aboow D.K., Addae- Mensah, I., Ahiyi, M.R.A Ekper, J.A., et al., (2000). Traditional medicine and pharmacopoeia. Contribution to the revision of Ethnobotanical and floristics Studies of Ghana. Organisation of African Unity/Scitific, technical and research committee.