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Two species of Chrysanthellum or chrisantellum and their subspecies are used in traditional medicine in Central America, South America and Africa : CHRYSANTHELLUM AMERICANUM, CHRYSANTHELLUM INDICUM SOUS ESPECE AFRO-AMERICANUM, ASTERACEAE
They are now also recommended in Western herbal medicine.

In the French pharmacopoeia:

In this definition of pharmacopoeia the two names « americanum » and « indicum » are confused while botanists (who currently describe 13 species) differentiate Chrysanthellum americanum from Chrysanthellum indicum.

They are small annuals, with yellow flowers naturally present from Argentina to Peru and which have been introduced apparently in the greater part of tropical Africa where they grow well in semi- altitude .

They are full-sun plants, usually annual (rainy season) and can be satisfied with a rather dry stony ground.

According to the pharmacopoeia, « Chrysanthellum indicum DC. ssp. afroamericanum BL Turner is a herbaceous plant of 10 cm to
30 cm, slender stems, round in section, with leaves, alternate, usually pennatilobed.
The general outline of the limb is triangular, 3 cm to 5 cm long and of equivalent width.
The lobes are mucronate at the top and each has a midrib. The petiole varies from
2 cm to more than 4 cm. The inflorescences are bright yellow heads, axillary and terminal,
3 mm to 5 mm in diameter at flowering and up to 8 mm to 10 mm at maturity. Flowers
tubular, numerous, possess 5 equal lobes; ligulate flowers are 8 to 12.
There are 5 stamens equal, inserted on the tube of the corolla. The fruit is an achene. >>

In Africa they have many local names.
In South America: crisantello, manzanilla (americana or tierra or oro or del pais)

In modern herbal medicine, the leaves and flowering stems are mainly used.

AFRICAN CHRYSANTHELLUM
CHRYSANTHELLUM AMERICANUM INDICUM AFRICA SOUTH AMERICA HEPATIC PROTECTION HEPATITIS HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA BILIARY INSUFFICIENCY VENOUS AND LYMPHATIC CIRCULATION CAPILLARY FRAGILITY ACNE ROSACEA

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES

AERIAL PARTS OF CHRYSANTHELLUM INDICUM SP AFRO AMERICANUM

Chrysantellum has not been tested by pharmaceutical companies because it is cheap and does not contain any substance with high commercial potential, and yet it is an interesting plant.
It contains :

• many flavonoids, some not very widespread and pharmacologically active,
• saponosides (which foam with water), some specific to chrysanthellum (chrysanthellines).

These natural substances are:

• anti-inflammatories,
• vascular protectors especially on the small blood vessels (capillaries),
• choleretic (increase the production of bile in the liver),
• Hepatic protector: better efficiency in the elimination of toxic substances by the liver, and facilitating the regeneration of liver cells (hepatocytes) after toxic or viral hepatitis.

Good liver function (detoxification, digestion, elimination of bile salts) is essential to maintain good health.

Chrysanthellum contains also medicinal tannins (prevention of complications of type 2 diabetes) and very few alkaloids

USES

The main indications of Chrysanthellum are:

• Chronic disorders of hepatic origin: following toxic hepatitis (alcohol, chemicals) or viral hepatitis, following an acute episode of malaria with haemolysis (jaundice),
• insufficiency of biliary secretion: poor digestion of lipids (fats), blood hypercholesterolemia, chronic constipation,
• disturbances of blood microcirculation and veno-lymphatic insufficiency: frequent bruising, petechiae, purpura, edema of the lower limbs, varicose veins, hemorrhoids.

There are other indications that are less well documented :

• lithiasis (stones), biliary and urinary,
• in application on rosacea acne.

Chrysanthellum indicum-americanum is found in the wild in Africa, in pharmacy, herbalism shop or as food supplements in Europe.

EXAMPLES OF DOSAGE

• INFUSION, example: proportion, a teaspoon of dry plant crushed per cup of hot water, infuse, filter. 2 to 3 cups a day,
• dry plant POWDER (capsules), for example: about 1 g of plant powder per day,
• ALCOHOLIC TINCTURE, example: 50 drops of alcoholic tincture (1/10) 2 to 3 times a day,
• STANDARDIZED EXTRACTS (flavonoids and saponosides): comply with laboratory indications (capsules or tablets do not always have the same amount of active ingredients).

PRECAUTIONS

Despite the absence of known toxic compounds in Chrysanthellum species, they are contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women (mainly because of saponosides) and in young children (for which there are few indications for this plant).

ABSTRACT

CHRYSANTHELLUM from AMERICA and AFRICA
The « Chrysanthellum » of South America and tropical Africa are small « wild » plants that protect the cells of the liver, promote the secretion of bile and bile salts, and strengthen the lining of small blood vessels and lymphatics.
They are cheap medicinal plants to treat poor digestion of fats, hepatitis, blood lipid disorders (cholesterol, triglycerides), varicose veins or the tendency to bruise.

Copyright 2023 : Dr Jean-Michel Hurtel

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