Ageratum fastigiatum
StarAgeratum fastigiatum
Synonyms: Alomia fastigiata, Alomia polyphylla, Piqueria polyphylla, Caelestina linearifolia, Piqueria fastigiata, Isocarpha fastigiata
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Brazilian folk medicine, Ageratum fastigiatum (matapasto) is used as a wound-healing (cicatrizing) and antimicrobial remedy, and the leaves are taken to treat inflammation and infections and to relieve pain (Del-Vechio et al., 2007). Pharmacological studies of the species and its essential oil have documented antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities, including reduced expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha in stimulated leukocytes, supporting these traditional indications.
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Botanical Description
Ageratum fastigiatum, known in Brazil as matapasto, is a subshrub of the daisy family (Asteraceae) reaching about 1.5 m tall, native to the cerrado savanna and rocky fields of central and south-eastern Brazil, including Bahia, Goias, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo. Its erect, brownish branches are hairy and glandular and emit an aroma when bruised. The leaves are alternate or clustered, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate and roughly 3-9 cm long. Small lilac to bluish flowers are crowded into compact flower-heads (capitula) borne in flat-topped clusters; unlike many of its relatives the heads lack a conspicuous pappus, so the tiny achenes are not plumed. A plant of open, sunny, often disturbed and stony ground, it flowers and fruits through the warm season.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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