Verbesina crocata
StarVerbesina crocata
Synonyms: Bidens crocata, Spilanthes crocata, Platypteris crocata
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In western Mexico, Verbesina crocata (capitaneja) is a long-used folk medicinal plant. The aerial parts, principally the leaves and flowers, are boiled in water and applied externally as washes and poultices to treat wounds, burns, and skin infections, and are also taken for digestive complaints and inflammation, a tradition reaching back to pre-Hispanic times (Sandoval-Ramirez et al., 2020). A pharmacognostic study in a murine incisional-wound model found that V. crocata accelerated wound closure and promoted the remodelling phase comparably to a reference treatment, supporting its vulnerary reputation (Sandoval-Ramirez et al., 2020). A separate rodent study reported diuretic activity for an aqueous preparation of the plant (Alarcon-Aguilar et al., 2018).
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Botanical Description
Verbesina crocata, known in Mexico as capitaneja or 'arnica', is an erect perennial herb or subshrub of the daisy family (Asteraceae) endemic to western Mexico. It produces stout, often winged stems and large, opposite, coarsely toothed leaves that are rough to the touch. The plant bears showy heads of bright orange to golden-yellow flowers, each head combining outer ray florets with a central disc of tubular florets, arranged in branched terminal clusters. The fruit is a flattened achene, often winged and tipped with awns that aid dispersal, typical of the genus (the crownbeards). The foliage contains sitosterol glycosides, catechin derivatives, flavonoids such as quercetin, and other constituents. It grows on slopes, roadsides, and disturbed ground in tropical deciduous forest, where it has long been gathered for domestic remedies.
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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