Achyranthes

Achyranthes
A. splendens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Amaranthaceae
Subfamily:	Amaranthoideae
Genus:	Achyranthes L.
Species
See text

Achyranthes is a genus of medicinal and ornamental plants in the Amaranthaceae family.

Species include:

• Achyranthes arborescens
• Achyranthes aspera (= A. argentea) (sanskrit : apamarg (अपामार्ग))
• Achyranthes atollensis
• Achyranthes bidentata
• Achyranthes canescens
• Achyranthes faureri
• Achyranthes indica
• Achyranthes japonica
• Achyranthes longifolia
• Achyranthes margaretarum
• Achyranthes mutica
• Achyranthes splendens
• Achyranthes talbotii

The herb is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine practice. Achyranthes (Cyathula) has properties that inhibits collagen-induced arthritis and acute edema. Most significantly, two novel triterpene glycosides isolated from achyranthes have been shown to be 1,000 times more potent than Sialyl Lewis X (SleX), an important blood group antigen that inhibits excess recruitment of neutrophils to injured tissues. This property has made it useful for treating arthritis; when too many white blood cells are recruited to an injured joint the neutrophils attack and destroy healthy tissues, leading to conditions such as septic shock and rheumatoid arthritis.

External links

• Flora of North America: Achyranthes