Roxb.Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat: Throughout India.
English: Globe-Thistle, Camel's Thistle.Ayurvedic: Utkantaka, Uttundaka, Brahmadandi.Folk: Uunta-Kateraa.Action: Alterative, diuretic, nerve tonic (used in hoarse cough, dyspepsia, scrofula, hysteria.)
Aerial parts of the plant contain alkaloids, echinopsine, echinopsidine and echinozolinone. Taraxasterol acetate, isolated from the plant, is a potent anti-inflammatory constituent; the ethanolic extract of the whole plant is more effective when administered parenterally than orally. Api- genin and its derivatives, echinacin and echinaticin show antifungal activity.
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