Eflora Logo
Home Page Index About
Trees Shrubs Aquatic Plants Ferns & Allies Mosses Liverworts & Hornworts Grass Family Sedge Family Rush Family
Carrot Family Aster Family Borage Family Mustard Family Pink Family Heath Family Pea Family Mint Family Lily Family Orchids & Irises Plantago Family Rose Family Buttercup Family Other Herbaceous Plants
Agarics Boletes Chanterelles & Trumpets Bracket Fungi Puffballs, Earthstars & Stinkhorns Coral and Clubs Morels, Truffles, & Cups Jelly Fungi Toothed Fungi Poisonous Other Fungi
Lichens Brown Algae Green Algae Red Algae Cyanobacteria Slime Molds
Food Uses Other Uses
References Phytochemicals

Eflora.info is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Loading...

Ambrosia chamissonis - Silver Burweed

Your browser does not support the audio element.
  • Family: Asteraceae - Aster/Sunflower Family [E-flora]
  • Other Names: Cutleaf beach-bur [HNW]

Allergen Potential

Synonyms

  • Ambrosia chamissonis var. bipinnatisecta (Less.) J.T. Howell.[E-flora]
  • Franseria chamissonis Less.[E-flora]
  • Franseria chamissonis subsp. bipinnatisecta (Less.) Wiggins & Stockw.[E-flora]
  • Franseria chamissonis var. bipinnatisecta Less.[E-flora]

General Herb.[E-flora] Sprawling clumps [WildPNW] "whole plant silky or the stems woolly" [HNW] Somewhat succulent. 20-100 cm tall. [PCBC2004]
Lifecycle Perennial[IFBC-E-flora]
Flowers Rayless and greenish.[WildPNW] Male (sterile) heads nearly unstalked or short-stalked. Female (fruiting) heads egg-shaped, 1-flowered.[IFBC-E-flora] involucral bracts that have several rows of prickles. [PCBC 2004]
Fruits "Achenes enclosed within the involucral bracts; pappus lacking."[IFBC-E-flora] "...the whole forming 6-11 mm long burs with 2-4 series of somewhat flattened prickles".[PCBC 2004]
Leaves Finely whitish- or silvery-haired. [IFBC-E-flora] 2-7 cm long. [PCBC 2004] Mostly alternate.[PWOBC] "Coarsely toothed or the lower dissected, or the leaves once or twice dissected in var. bipinnatisecta" [HNW]
Stem "Decumbent stems much branched".[WildPNW] Forming mats.[PWOBC] More or less prostrate. [HNW] "Stems leafy, spreading-hairy, stout, branched just below the surface."[IFBC-E-flora]
Root Long, creeping rhizomes.[IFBC-E-flora]
Habitat "Moist to mesic coastal sandy or gravelly upper beaches and shorelines in the lowland zone". [IFBC-E-flora] Coastal beaches.[HNW] "limited to backshores of sandy beaches, sandy edges of salt marshes, and other maritime situations."[PWOBC]
Range "Common in coastal BC; S to CA." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status Native [E-flora]
Similar Species "Ambrosia chamissonis var. chamissonis is more common in Calif. and Oreg. than farther N. Where it and var. bipinnatisecta occur together, they intergrade freely and some specimens are intermediate." [PWOBC]

Hazards

  • Ambrosia Spp. one of the major weed pollens.[TNS]
    • This species could be an allergen and cause of hayfever, much as other species in the genus.[Personal Note] "Cross-sensitivity between pollen allergens of other members of the Compositae family, Parthenium hysterophorus (American feverfew) and Ambrosia species (ragweed), has been reported (60)."[WHO SMPV.2]

Food

  • Seeds: No mention has been seen for this species but multiple species in the genus have edible seeds and/or seed oil.[Personal Observation]

Medicinal Uses

  • Ambrosia Spp.
    • Leaf
      • tea for fever. [Banks POTC]
      • infusion is rubbed on hives. [Banks POTC]
      • For infected toes, apply the juice from wilted leaves. [Banks POTC]
  • Plant
    • Strengthener; used as medicine for strength. (67:323) [NAEth Moerman]
    • Although few uses have been listed for this species, Ambrosia species share some chemistry. See below. [Personal Note]

Pharmacology

  • Antifungal: The aerial parts were active against 4/10 species of fungi.[mccutcheon,1994]
  • Antibiotic: A. chamissonis showed moderate antibiotic activity against 3 of the 12 species tested for. "The extracts with the greatest activity against the methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain were: Alnus rubra bark, Ambrosia chamissonis aerial parts, Lomatium dissectum roots, Nuphar polysepalum rhizomes..." [mccutcheon1992]

Antibiotic: "Ambrosia chamissonis (Less.) Greene var. chamissonis; "The extracts with the greatest activity against the methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain were: Alnus rubra bark, Ambrosia chamissonis aerial parts, Lomatium dissectum roots, Nuphar polysepalum rhizomes and Rhus glabra branches." (mccutcheon1992)

No acetylcholinesterase inhibiting activity detected: "With the aim of valorizing invasive plants by measur- ing acetylcholinesterase inhibiting activity, five species collected in Switzerland, Reynoutria sachalinensis, Poly- gonum cuspidatum, Heracleum mantegazzianum, Buddleja davidii, and Ambrosia artemisiifolia, were successively ex- tracted with CH2Cl2 and MeOH and screened in the TLC bioautographic assay. The methanol extract from the leaves of B. davidii proved to be the only one that showed activity." (fan2008)

Phytochemistry

Ambrosia chamissonis is a chemically complex species characterized by two primary classes of secondary metabolites: sesquiterpene lactones and sulfur-containing polyynes (thiarubrines). Notably, the species exhibits the widest array of thiarubrines identified in the Asteraceae family to date. These compounds are sequestered in specialized canals throughout the plant and serve as potent phototoxins, protected from light degradation by anthocyanins. Despite the plant's high morphological variability (heteromorphism), researchers have found that leaf shape is often a poor predictor of chemical profile, particularly in northern populations. Instead, chemical "chemotypes" are better defined by geography, with significant shifts in dominant lactones (such as chamissellin, costunolide, and chamissonin) occurring between Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, and naturalized populations in Chile.

View Original Citations
  • Ambrosia chamissonis is similar to most other species of ragweeds in that it synthesizes a number of sesquiterpene lactones-in this case, a series of structurally related gennacranolides.[Seiger PSM]
  • Sesquiterpene lactones and Parthenolide; Ambrosia Sp. [MHC]
  • "Thiarubrines A, B, D, and E were extracted from Ambrosia chamissonis (Less.),17"[Stafford RAP 27]"Ambrosia chamissonis is similar to most other species of ragweeds in that it synthesizes a number of sesquiterpene lactones-in this case, a series of structurally related gennacranolides. This species also is extremely variable in terms of morphology as well. Ambrosia chamissonis occurs on the Pacific coast of both North America and South America (Chile) where it was apparently introduced about 100 years ago. Five morphological groups have been recognized. North of San Francisco, there is little correlation of chemistry and morphology, whereas south of that point, there is a greater relationship. ...Both the chemistry and morphology [of Chilean populations] are quite similar to those populations near San Francisco...". [Seiger PSM]
  • Sesquiterpene lactones with antineoplastic and cytotoxic activity; Chamissonin diacetate [Bajaj MAPS 2]

"Ambrosia chamissonis (Less.) Greene has been found, in earlier studies, to be a rich source of the sesquiterpene lactone chamissonin (I)." (geissman1973)

"Novel thiarubine analogues 21–25 were reported from Ambrosia chamissonis.49 The alkynes inhibited the growth of Candida albicans in the ng ml 1 range, but while claimed, no specific potency towards mycobacteria was reported." (copp2003)

"...anthocyanins were shown to be directly involved in the protection of a light-sensitive phototoxin in Ambrosia chamissonis (Less.) Greene (Page & Towers, 2002)." (stintzing2004)

"A. chamissonis is well adapted to the Mediterranean climate and is endemic to this climatic zone in North America, occurring along the coast from Vancouver, British Columbia down into Baja California. After first being reported in Chile 3.4 in 1892 on the island of Isla de la Mocha near Valdivia, Chile, it spread north and now occupies several hundred miles of the coastal region of Chile which constitutes the Mediterranean zone in South America". (nakatani1973)

"The populations of Ambrosia chamissonis in Chile are remarkably uniform in both leaf morphology and sesquiterpene lactone chemistry. All of the Chilean plants examined are bipinnatisecta leaf-form and the major germacranolide is chamissellin. These results can be compared with the chemical patterns for the bipinnatisecta leaf-form populations of A. chamissonis in North America. In southern California, where almost all populations are of the bipinnatisecta leaf-form, costunolide dominates as the major constituent. In contrast, for 95 populations collected 175 miles north of Los Angeles on into Canada, Payne eta/. 5 observed that 53.6% were dominated by bipinnatisecta leaf-form and of these, 34% were characterized by costunolide, 50% by chamissellin, 4% by chamissonin, and 12% by chamissarin (see Table 2, Ref. 5). Moreover, comparison of the detailed data (Table 1, Ref. 5) for the North American 'bipinnatisecta-chamisellin' populations and our own results for a few North American populations (see Fig. 2) with our data for the Chilean 'bipinnatisecta-chamissellin' populations suggests that the latter were probably not derived from a source in southern California but rather from genetic stock in the San Francisco area or sites still further north." (nakatani1973)

"In most collections of the plant from the coastal strip of Southern California chamissonin was a prominent constituent, and was the only lactone isolated. Recent detailed studies of a large number of collections of A. chamissonis, ranging from the coastal areas of San Diego County, California to British Columbia, have disclosed that in some populations chamissonin was the principal constituent, in some it was absent, and in others it was accompanied by a number of lactones of higher Rf. 1" (geissman1973)

"In some populations of A. chamissonis, most of them devoid of chamissonin, the principal constituent was a high Rt compound which proved to be costunolide (11) which was identified by its physical and spectral properties, and by direct comparison with an authentic specimen." (geissman1973)

"The red dithiacyclohexadiene polyynes, which we have called thiarubrines, are restricted to certain tribes in the Asteraceae [l], Of the species examined, which include Aspilia mossambicensis, Chaenactis douglasii (Hook.) H. & A., Rudbeckia hirta L. and Ambrosia chamissonis (Less.) Greene, it is the last which exhibits the widest array of these natural products [2] (Fig. 1). The roots of this species contain not only thiarubrines la and 2a, but also the epoxide (3a), dial (4a), chlorohydrins @a, 6a) and alcohol (7a) [3]. Compound la is the most abundant, representing about 75% of the total thiarubrines, follow- ed by 2a, 4a and then 3a in the samples examined to date [3]. The corresponding thiophenes are usually present in the crude extracts as well. Many species in the Asteraceae, however, furnished only thiophenes, e.g. Echinops which contains compounds derived from the isomer 2b" (ellis1993)

"Ambrosia chamissonis is a heteromorphic species dis- playing a great variability in leaf morphology which has led to problems with the classification of this species [S]. Samples were collected from Centennial Beach (CB), Tsawwasen, British Columbia and the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia (QCI). The leaf morphologies from both localities were similar, although the roots exhibited distinct chemical profiles. In our collection, five plants from the QCI exhibited a different leaf morpho- logy. Roots from one of these plants were found to have a very similar chemical profile to those of the (CB) samples. This supports the observations of Payne et al. (1973) who examined the relationship between the isolated sesquiter- pene lactones and leaf morphology of Ambrosia chamis- sonis, but found no correlation." (ellis1993)

"Reversed phase HPLC analysis of the root extracts from A. chamissonis from Centennial Beach gave slightly different results than those previously reported possibly because of different collecting times. Different chemical profiles were observed for spring and autumn collections and also in roots with well-developed periderm (W) as compared with those where bark was absent (S) (Fig. 2). The succulent roots had consistently showed chemical profiles comparable to those already published. Gen- erally la was produced in much higher concentrations than the other heterocycles. This was very different from the Queen Charlotte Island population which produced concentrations of 4a similar to that of la. The relative abundances of the major thiarubrines are presented in Fig. 2. The yield of the thiarubrines of the QCI collection was greater (1.80 mg g-1 dry wt) than the CB collection (1.23 mg g-1 dry wt). Compound 4a, a hydroxylated disulphide, has potential as an antibiotic; it is more stable in a wide array of solvents and is more amenable to chemical derivatization. Analytical reversed-phase HPLC analyses revealed that 8a (30.3 min) has an intermediate polarity between 7a (35.4 min) and its cor- responding thiophene (25.2 min), whereas the thiophene 8b (23.0 min) has a slightly lower polarity than the thiopbene 7b (25.2 min). Compound 8a .... Its UV-Vis spectrum is very similar to the other thiarubrines, whereas the absorption spectrum of the corresponding thiophene is distinctive. The UV-Vis spectrum of the thiophene 8b resembled that of 4b and 5b. The presence of an additional UV maximum suggested that it possesses an alcohol functionality. The conversion of thiarubrines to thiophenes is carried out by irradiation of the red extract, which turns yellow when exposed to light. Upon purification by HPLC the thio- phene Sb was obtained as a wlourless solution." (ellis1993)

"This report brings to date the presence of eight thiaru- brines in Ambrosia chamissonis roots. Stems and leaves contain the same array of thiarubrines and thiophenes, the latter being present in higher amounts. In all parts of the plants as well as in root tissue cultures these chemicals are sequestered in canals. It is not known whether they are synthesized in these canals or even whether their interconversions occur here. A likely biosynthetic path- way for 4e8a from la goes through intermediate 3a." (ellis1993)

Ambrosia chamissonis (Less.) Greene (tribe Heliantheae) is a common weed in coastal areas ranging from southern California to British Columbia, Canada. In previous work several sesquiterpene lactones have been identified from the upper parts of this species [l]. In a continuing study of the phytochemistry of the Asteraceae, we report the isolation and characterization of novel sulphur-con- taining polyynes, together with known compounds from root extracts. In addition to 3-(l-propynyl)-6-(5-hexen-3- yn-1-ynyl)-1,2-dithiacyclohexa-3,5-diene (1) and 3-(pent- 3-yn-l-ynyl)-6-(3-buten-l-ynyl)-1,2-dithiacyclohexa-3,5- diene (2), and their thiophenes (5 and 6) previously identified in Chaenacfis douglasii (Hook.) H. & A., Rud- beckia hirta L., Ambrosia eliator L. as well as other species in the Asteraceae [24], two new cyclic disulphides, 3-(1- propynyl)-6-(5,6-epoxyhex-3-yn-l-ynyl)-1,2-dithiacyclo- hexa-3,5-diene (3), 3-( 1-propynyl)-6-(5,6-dihydroxyhex-3- yn-1-ynyl)-1,2-dithiacyclohexa-3,5-diene (4) and their corresponding thiophenes, 2-( 1-propynyl)-5-(5,6-epoxy- hex-3-yn-1-ynyl)-thiophene (7) and 2-(1-propynyl)-5- (5,6-dihydroxyhex-3-yn-1-ynyl)-thiophene (8), have been isolated and identified. (balza1989)

"Subsequent research on the structure of novel minor constituents from the root extract of A. chamissonis var. chamissonis collected in Marin County, San Francisco, California, has furnished 3-(1-propynyl)-6-(5-chloro-6- hydroxyhex-3-yn-l-ynyl)-1,2-dithiacyclohexa-3,5-diene (5), 3-(1-propynyl)-6-(6-chloro-5-hydroxyhex-3-yn-l- ynyl)-1,2-dithiacyclohexa-3,5-diene (6) and their thio- phenes, 2-(1-propynyl)-5-(5-chloro-6-hydroxyhex-3-yn-l- ynyl)-thiophene (13) and 2-(1-propynyl)-5-(6-chloro-5- hydroxyhex-3-yn-1-ynyl)-thiophene (14) in addition to the sulphur-containing polyynes 1-Q and 9-12." (balza1990)

Ambrosia - Ragweed, Bur-sage, Burrobrush

"Habit: Annual to small tree; monoecious. Leaf: simple, opposite or alternate, generally petioled, entire to 1--4-pinnately lobed or divided, distal-most often reduced, bract-like. Inflorescence: staminate heads and pistillate heads together in distal leaf axils or in terminal, spike-like clusters, or staminate heads in spike- or raceme-like clusters distal to pistillate heads; staminate involucre +- cup-shaped, phyllaries in 1 series, +- fused, receptacle flat or rounded, paleate; pistillate phyllaries 0 or few, in 1 series, free, +- thin, receptacle paleate, palea bases fused, becoming a hard bur with each pistillate flower in a separate chamber, tips (occasionally not evident in flower heads) becoming hard knobs, spines, or scarious wings. Staminate Flower: 3--many; corolla translucent to yellow or red-purple; filaments fused, anthers free; style unbranched, ovary vestigial, pappus 0. Pistillate Flower: 1--5; corolla 0; style branches elongated. Fruit: inside bur with beak(s) surrounding style(s); pappus 0.
Species In Genus: 45--50 species: native to America, especially southwestern United States, northern Mexico.
Etymology: (Greek: early name for aromatic plants; mythic food of the gods) Note: Wind-blown pollen often allergenic.
Unabridged Note: Spines of bur derived from paleas, not phyllaries." [Jepson]

Identification

1. Involucres with 2-4 series of short, sharp spines; leaves mostly alternate................Ambrosia chamissonis
1. Involucres with a single series of short spines or tubercles above the middle; leaves, or at least the lower ones, opposite.

2. Plants annual from fibrous roots; leaves mostly stalked, mostly twice pinnatifid; involucres with short spines..................Ambrosia artemisiifolia
2. Plants perennial from creeping roots; leaves short-stalked or nearly unstalked, only once-pinnatifid; involucres with tubercles...................... A. psilostachys
Dry roadsides and waste areas in the lowland and montane zones; rare in S BC east of the Coast-Cascades Mountains; introduced from SW U.S. -- 2 records near Vancouver, on the mainland.[IFBC-E-flora]

Local Species

  • Ambrosia artemisiifolia - Annual Ragweed [E-flora]
  • Ambrosia chamissonis - Silver Burweed [E-flora][PCBC][TSFTK]

Ambrosia artemisiifolia - Ragweed;

Starr 031108-3169 Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
(Wikimedia)1
Ambrosia artemisiifolia young plant 001
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
(Wikimedia)2
Ambrosia artemisiifolia sl3
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
(Wikimedia)3

Image References

  • 1, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
  • 2, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, SB Johnny, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
  • 3, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Naturalized in New Zealand. [New Zealand]

Synonyms:

    • Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior [E-flora]2
  • Status: Exotic [E-flora]2
  • General: "Annual from fibrous roots; stems slender, stiff-hairy, branched, at least above, 10-100 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]2
  • Leaves: "Alternate above, opposite below, triangular to rounded in outline, 3-10 cm long with narrowly margined stalks 1-5 cm long, the blades once to twice pinnately cut with toothed or incised divisions, stiff-hairy, uppermost leaves becoming linear and entire." [IFBC-E-flora]2
  • Flowers: "Male (sterile) heads numerous in terminal, often panicled racemes about 2-3 mm in diameter; female (fruiting) heads clustered in upper leaf axils or at the base of male racemes; fruiting involucre short-beaked, 3-5 mm, long-hairy and glandular, bearing 1-7, abruptly sharp-pointed, short, conic spines at the apex." [IFBC-E-flora]2
  • Fruits: "Achenes egg-shaped, 3-3.8 mm long, hairy, glandular, with short, conic tubercles around apex of body; pappus lacking." [IFBC-E-flora]2
  • Habitat/Range: "Dry roadsides and waste areas in the steppe and montane zones; rare in S BC; introduced from SW U.S." [IFBC-E-flora]2

Caution; Allergen.[PFAF] A. artemisiaefolia; The pollen of this plant is suspected of causing hay-fever.[MPP1]

Medicinal Uses

  • used to treat tumors (Hartwell) [Duke2]
  • Leaves: The leaves "have been used in domestic practice as an astringent, styptic, and hemostatic." [Sayre] The leaves are also emetic and febrifuge[222, 257].[PFAF] Used externally as dermatological aid and used externally "as a tea in the treatment of fevers, pneumonia, nausea, intestinal cramps, diarrhoea and mucous discharges[222, 257]."[PFAF]
  • Juice: "Juice from the wilted leaves is disinfectant and is applied to infected toes[257]. [PFAF]
  • Roots: A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of menstrual disorders and stroke[222]. [PFAF]
  • Pollen: The pollen is harvested commercially and manufactured into pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of allergies to the plant[222]." [PFAF]
  • Tops: The tops of this plant are used to make a wash to cure headache. [HuronSmith Winnebago]

Edible Oil; An oil is obtained from the seed. It has been suggested for edible purposes because it contains little linolenic acid[61, 183]. The seed contains up to 19% oil[61], it has slightly better drying properties than soya bean oil[183].[PFAF]

  • Essential Oil (Aerial Parts of A artemisiifolia) α-Pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, y-terpinene, p-cymene, terpineol-4, cis-artemesia ketone, trans-artemesia ketone, methylchavicol, borneol, camphor, bornyl acetate, artemisia alcohol, geraniol, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene". [LLCEOPS]
  • "The Cherokee used A. artemisiifolia in “Green Corn” medicine, rubbed leaves on insect stings and hives, put juice from leaves on infected toes, and took an infusion of leaves to lower fever (Hamel and Chiltoskey 1975). The Houma took a decoction of roots for menstrual troubles (Speck 1941)....the Lakota used the leaves for toilet paper (Kindscher 1987). In Mexico, the entire plant was used in an infusion to aid digestion, as a febrifuge, and to expel worms (Martínez 1969). In Cuba, it is used in aromatic baths against rheumatism, and in decoctions to treat fever (Roig 1945). Artemisia hispida is used essentially for the same problems as A. artemisiifolia, especially by Caribs (Honychurch 1987). Millspaugh (1892) considered ragweed useful in treating poison ivy rash, possibly because of its astringency. For that same reason it was applied to other problems of the mucous membranes, including leukorrhea, gonorrhea, diarrhea, dysentery, and enteritis." [Daniel F. Austin]

Phytochemicals

  • 1,2-DIHYDROPARTHENIN Plant: [DukePhyto-HHB]
  • 4-ACETOXY-3-OXOPSEUDOGUAIAN-6,12-OLIDE Plant: [DukePhyto-JSG]
  • 4-HYDROXY-3-OXOPSEUDOGUAIAN-6,12-OLIDE Plant: [DukePhyto-JSG]
  • AGMATIN Fruit: [DukePhyto-HHB]
  • AMBROSIC-ACID Plant: [DukePhyto-JSG]
  • ARTEMIDIFOLIN Plant: [DukePhyto-JSG]
  • ARTEMISIIFOLIN Plant: [DukePhyto-HHB]
  • CORONOPILIN Plant 1,600 ppm; [DukePhyto-HHB]
  • CUMANIN Plant: [DukePhyto-HHB]
  • DIHYDROCUMANIN Plant: [DukePhyto-HHB]
  • ISORHAMNETIN-GLUCOSIDE Pollen Or Spore: [DukePhyto-HHB]
  • PERUVIN Plant: [DukePhyto-HHB]
  • QUERCETIN-3'-GLUCOSIDE Plant: [DukePhyto-HHB]

Cultivation & Propagation

  • Hyperaccumulator: "...common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia),...shown to have superior Pb-accumulating properties (Berti and Cunningham 1993)."[SoilBio-19] "Although Pb hyperaccumulation is rare, several species, including Apocynum cannabinum (hemp dogbane; Apocynaceae), Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed; Asteraceae), Carduus nutans (nodding thistle; Asteraceae), ... appear to accumulate high levels of Pb in their leaf tissues (Lasat 2000) and could be used for phytoremediation in agricultural settings."[Phytorem1]
  • Soil Reclamation: Ambrosia artemisifolia demonstrated the capability to accumulate and translocate pesticides from roots to above ground tissues. Concentration of pesticide in above ground tissue exceeded concentration in root tissue, giving a translocation factor of greater than one.[OPPPS]
  • Ambrosia artemisifolia - Arbuscular mycorrhiza (wang2006)

Alleleopathy: "Putnam et al. (1983) demonstrated that several cover crops like rye, wheat, sorghum, and barley suppress weed species such as redroot pigweed, common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), and common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) up to 95% within 30 to 60 days when their residues (either frozen or desiccated with herbicides) are placed on the soil. This they attributed to various physical and chemical attributes like shading, re- duced temperature, release of phytotoxins, and the production of phytotoxic microbial products." (singh2003)

"Terpenes. Several monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes have been implicated in allelopathy. Many of the volatile essential oils of shrubs found in arid regions of the United States are monoterpenes. The sesqui- terpenes are mentioned more often as allelochemicals among plants of agricultural importance (17). Fischer and Quijano (18) isolated a mixture of highly active sesquiterpenes from common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. # AMBEL) that inhibited the germin- ation of crop seeds. Among these were bisabolene, bergamotene, a-guayene, a-bulnesene, and B-patchoulin (Figure 13)." (Putname,1988)

Uses of Other Related Sp

Ambrosia acanthicarpa; Flatspine Burr Ragweed

  • Abortifacient - "infusion of whole plant taken and used as a wash for "obstructed menstruation.""[Moerman NAE] "The Zuni claim that the tea taken sufficiently strong will produce abortion." Cases are very rare. [PrairieMed]
  • Toothache - "Ground root placed in tooth for toothache."[Moerman NAE]

Ambrosia ambrosioides - Ambrosia Leaf Burr Ragweed

  • Analgesic and Antihemorrhagic - Decoction of crushed roots taken by women for pains and menstrual hemorrhage. [Moerman NAE]
  • Cough Medicine - Poultice of warmed leaves applied to the chest to loosen a cough.[Moerman NAE]
  • Gynecological Aid - Decoction of crushed roots taken by women for pains and menstrual hemorrhage. [Moerman NAE]

Pit cooking: "Once the maguey hearts have been collected, they are baked in a pit oven near the still. The pit is about a meter deep, and is long and wide enough to accommodate 60-70 hearts. A large fire is made in the pit, and when a bed of hot coals forms, volcanic rocks, which hold heat well, are thrown in to cover the floor. If the rocks get too hot, pieces of nopal (Opuntia spp.) are placed on the rocks to cool them. When the rocks have turned a whitish hue, the maguey hearts are piled onto them in a dome-like heap. The heap is then covered with palm thatch, branches of chicura (Ambrosia ambrosioides), or something else that will keep dirt off of the cooking magueys, and tightly sealed with dirt so that no smoke or vapor escapes. The hearts are baked for 2 days or more before the oven is opened and the roasted hearts removed. In roasting, the muscilaginous pith of the agave stems is hydrolyzed, breaking down the carbohydrates into simple sugars." (Bahre)

Artemisia californica Less.

"Artemisia californica Less. Romerillo. Leaves tied over wounds or held against tooth to reduce pain; decoctions used to bathe patients with colds, coughs, rheumatism; decoction taken internally to treat asthma, accompanied by poultices on patient's back and chest. (6)" (Bocek)

Artemisia douglasiana Bess. in Hook.

"A. douglasiana Bess. in Hook. Estafiate; hiisen (M), xiisen (R). Branches burned to smoke bees from nests, or as torches during night fishing; decoction used to treat urinary problems, asthma, and externally for compresses on wounds or for pain from rheumatism. Heated leaves held over ear for earache." (Bocek)

Artemisia dranunculus L. Yerbanlz

"A. dranunculus L. Yerbanlz; katrkatriwx (R). Torches used as with A. douglasiana; root decoctions used for urinary problems and dysentery, and for infants' colic." (Bocek)

  • Ambrosia maritima- Ambrosia
    • "Ambrosia maritima, ... is a source of sesquiterpene lactones. It is used as a molluscicide for the treatment of sites infected with aquatic snails and intermediate hosts of tropical disease."[Ramawat NP]
    • In Saudia Arabia the entire plant was "crushed and then burned so that the smoke could be inhaled to relieve breathing difficulties".[UAPDS]
    • "...the antineoplastic pseudoguaianolide ambrosin, both isolated from the herb Ambrosia maritima (Asteraceae) and other Ambrosia species. " [Breitmaier Terpenes]
  • Ambrosia Cumanensis;
    • "The species occurs from Mexico to Peru. It is possibly indigenous to Central America."[Roth SAMP]
    • Healing Properties: "The plant is considered a malodorous weed which is used as an insecticide, a disinfectant, and to repel caterpillars. Brooms manufactured of the plant are used to combat fleas in the house." [Roth SAMP]
    • "The plant is useful against stomachache, gastritis, intestinal pain, against parasites (antihelmintic) and spasms, for flatulence, pain in general, rheumatism, arthritis, headache, nervous attacks, muscular pains, fever, vaginal diseases." [Roth SAMP]
    • Chemical Constituents"Among others, the plant contains coumarin, ambrosin and altamisin, essential oils, quercetin and alkaloids. In plant extracts, antibacterial and antiviral properties were found; the plant develops activities against Staphylococcus aureus and has insecticide properties. Toxicity was not observed.[Roth SAMP]
    • Parts Used: "The parts of the plant mainly used are the leaves, the buds, the entire plant and less commonly, the root." [Roth SAMP]
    • Used in Trinadad and Tobego as a "Herb tea for menorrhagia, postpartum depurants. Good for women if they are not looking after their health".[Rai EthPlants]
  • Ambrosia peruviana; - Altamisa
    • The leaf and flower of A. peruviana have been used for stomach ache.[UNIDO MPC2003]
  • Ambrosia psilostachya; - Cuman Ragweed
    • A. psilostachya; "Name apparently referring to “ black sap.” Occasionally used as a remedy for sore eyes. For this purpose the leaves were steeped in hot water and bandaged over the affected organ. "[Chamberlin Gosiute]
    • Leaves: "Heated leaves held on aching joints. (1).[BOCEK,1984] Bitter decoction taken to reduce fever. [3][Ethchumash]
    • A. psilostachya; Essential oil (0.6%) from plant. "Composition: Myrcene, trans-ocimene, limonene, β-phellandrene, α-terpinol, cineole, α-pinene, β-pinene, camphene, Δ3-carene, sabinol, borneol, bornyl acetate, camphor, humulene, δ-cadinene, β-caryophyllene, cubebene"[LLCEOPS]
  • Ambrosia tenuifolia; Altamisa [Argentina Name] Ragweed
    • Ambrosia tenuifolia is a South American plant indigenous to Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. [Bajaj MAP5]
    • "Its infusion is used in popular medicine as a stimulant and tonic for the stomach. It is effective against fever, is an appreciated vermifuge, and has been also used to regulate menstruation; in combination with poleo (Lippia turbinata) it has been employed to relieve gastrointestinal disturbances (colics). The kind of sesquiterpene Iactones isolated from this genus (Seaman 1982) have been demonstrated to be pharmacologically active (Rodriguez et al. 1976; Towerset al. 1977) and may be the reason for the effects produced by the infusion."[Bajaj MAPs]
    • "Major skeletal types isolated from A. tenuifolia, ...correspond to secoambrosanolides (psilostachyinolides), these being: Psilostachyin, psilostachyin B and C, altamisin, and altamisoic acid".[Bajaj MAPs]
  • Ambrosia trifida; Great Ragweed
    • Naturalized in New Zealand. [New Zealand]
    • Caution; Allergen.[PFAF-2] The pollen is strongly allergenic. [Turner&Kuhnlein]
    • This plant was cultivated by the pre-Columbian N. American Indians, seeds found in pre-historic sites are 4 - 5 times larger than those of the present-day wild plant, which seems to indicate selective breeding by the Indians[207]. [PFAF-2] Same medicinal uses as those listed under A. artemisiaefolia.[PFAF-2]
    • "When Gilmore (1931) talked with an Arikara man about A. trifida, he was told,"...If you crush the flower heads in your hand you will see that it makes a red stain…. Our people formerly employed the blossoms of this plant to make a red dye.” An Omaha also told him that “our people used to make beautiful red stain from its flowering tops.” That use is not recorded in Gilmore’s (1919) study of the Missouri River tribes, nor is it mentioned by Moerman (1998), although Vestal and Schultes (1939) alluded to it when they reported that the Kiowa revered this plants. Tull (1999) also noted the Omaha use, and that a green dye can be made from the leaves, and that fiber can be extracted from the stem"[Daniel F. Austin]
    • Leaves
      • Rubbed on insect strings and hives [Daniel F. Austin]
      • Juice from leaves put on infected toes [Daniel F. Austin]
      • Infususion taken to "...lower fever and treat pneumonia". [Daniel F. Austin]
      • Decoction taken to stp diarrhea with bleeding [Daniel F. Austin]
    • Roots
      • Chewed as a sedative [Daniel F. Austin]
    • Seeds: "Cultivated in prehistoric times for its edible seeds." [Turner&Kuhnlein]

Generic Uses

  • Ambrosia spp.; "Chew the root of the ragweed at night to drive away all fear."[EMH Cunningham]
  • Ambrosia Sp.; Antidote(Sumach), Diarrhea, Dyspepsia, Fever, Gonorrhea, Intestine, Vermifuge. [DukePhyto]
  • "Ambrosia peruviana WILLDENOW has similar properties to Ambrosia cumanensis and is used in a similar way. Leaves, stems, flowers and roots are used as medicinal drugs. The healing properties are similar." [Roth SAMP]
  • "Some species of the genus Artemisia are used as spices. Ambrosia is the cause of hay-fever and many species act as agricultural pests." [BEOC, Sousa](Ambrosia artemisiifolia and A. trifida) are stimulants, tonic and astringents.[MPP2]
  • "A. tenuifolia Spreng and A. elatior L. are known in Argentina by the names of Altamisa and Ajenjo del Campo. Both plants are used by the natives in medicinal beverages since several pharmacological effects have been attributed to them."[Bajaj MAP5]
Allelopathy
  • "Wang and Zhu (1996a, b) identified the allelopathic potentials, through water leaching, of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and A. trifida...Aqueous extracts of Artemisia ordosica strongly inhibited seedling growth of Amaranthus tricolor, Orychopragmus violaceus, Raphanus sativus and Triticum aestivum (Ma et al. 1999)."[Zeng ASA]
  • "Root and leaf aqueous leachates of Ambrosia cumanensis did indeed produce a strong inhibition on the growth of weed species." [Waller Alleochemicals]
  • "Rice (1964) reported inhibition of growth of Rhizobium strains by numerous plant species, with most inhibitory being ..., Ambrosia elatior,..." [Reigosa Alleleopathy]
  • "higher plants (such as Ambrosia plisostachya, ...Helianthus annuus) were found to be very inhibitory to the nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and also to inhibit nodulation and nitrogen fixation of several legumes (Rice, 1974, and relevant references therein included)."[Reigosa Alleleopathy]
  • "Putnam et al. (1983) demonstrated that several cover crops like rye, wheat, sorghum, and barley suppress weed species such as redroot pigweed, common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), and common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) up to 95% within 30 to 60 days when their residues (either frozen or desiccated with herbicides) are placed on the soil. "[Singh2003]

References

  • (Bahre) Bahre, Conrad J., and David E. Bradbury. "Manufacture of mescal in Sonora, Mexico." Economic Botany 34.4 (1980): 391-400.
  • (balza1989) Balza, Felipe, et al. "Dithiacyclohexadienes and thiophenes from Ambrosia chamissonis." Phytochemistry 28.12 (1989): 3523-3524.
  • (balza1990) Balza, Felipe, and GH Neil Towers. "Dithiacyclohexadiene chlorohydrins and related sulphur containing polyynes from Ambrosia chamissonis." Phytochemistry 29.9 (1990): 2901-2904.
  • BOCEK,1984 - Ethnobotany of Costanoan Indians, California, Based on Collections by John P. Harrington, BARBARAR. BOCEK, Economic Botany, 38(2), 1984, pp. 240-255
  • Chamberlin Gosiute - Memoirs of the American Anthropological Association, The ethno-botany of the Gosiute Indians of Utah, Volume 2, Part 5, Ralph V. Chamberlin, 1911
  • (copp2003) Copp, Brent R. "Antimycobacterial natural products." Natural Product Reports 20.6 (2003): 535-557.
  • (Duke2)http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/ethnobot.pl?Ambrosia%20artemisiifolia, Accessed Dec 23, 2014
  • DukePhyto - http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/ethnobot.pl?Ambrosia%20sp, Accessed Dec 23, 2014
    • Ambrosia artemisiifolia - http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=1292, Accessed Dec 23, 2014
      • [HHB]: List, P.H. and Horhammer, L., Hager's Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, Vols. 2-6, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1969-1979.
      • [JSG]: J.S. Glasby Dict.Pls Containing 2ndary Metabolite. 1991.
  • (ellis1993) Ellis, Shona, Felipe Balza, and GH Neil Towers. "A diathiacyclohexadiene polyyne alcohol from Ambrosia chamissonis." Phytochemistry 33.1 (1993): 224-226.
  • E-flora - http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Ambrosia%20chamissonis&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed July 10, 2015
    • [2] Ambrosia artemisiifolia, http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Ambrosia%20artemisiifolia&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed Feb 5, 2017
  • Ethchumash - Ethnobotany of Chumash Indians, California, Based on Collections by John P. Harrington, JAN TIMBROOK, Economic Botany, 44(2), 1990,pp. 236-253
  • (fan2008) Fan, Peihong, et al. "Acetylcholinesterase-inhibitory activity of linarin from Buddleja davidii, structure-activity relationships of related flavonoids, and chemical investigation of Buddleja nitida." Pharmaceutical biology 46.9 (2008): 596-601.
  • (geissman1973) Geissman, Theodore A., et al. "Sesquiterpene lactones of Ambrosia chamissonis." Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 1.1 (1973): 13-20.
  • HuronSmith Winnebago - Huron Smith's Ethnobotany of the Hocak (Winnebago), KELLY KINDSCHER AND DANA P. HURLBURT, Economic Botany 52(4)352-372. 1998
  • Jepson - David J. Keil 2016. Ambrosia, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=306, accessed on August 14, 2016.
  • mccutcheon1992 - Antibiotic screening of medicinal plants of the British Columbian native peoples, A. R. McCutcheon, S. M. Ellis, R.E.W. Hancock, and G.H.N. Towers, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 31 (1992) 213-223, Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd.
  • mccutcheon,1994 - Antifungal screening of medicinal plants of British Columbian native peoples, A.R. McCutcheon, S.M. Ellis, R.E.W. Hancock, G.H.N. Towers, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 44 (1994) 157-169
  • (nakatani1973) Nakatani, Nobuji, Charles Bohnstedt, and Tom J. Mabry. "The origin of Ambrosia chamissonis in Chile." Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 1.3 (1973): 129-132.
  • (OPPPS) Obsolete Pesticides and Phytoremediation of Polluted Soil in Kazakhstan, Asil Nurzhanova, Kabyl Zhambakin..... July 30, 2011
  • PFAF - Ambrosia artemesiifolia, Plants For A Future, http://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ambrosia+artemesiifolia, Accessed July 10, 2015
  • (Putname,1988) Putnam, Alan R. "Allelochemicals from plants as herbicides." Weed technology 2.4 (1988): 510-518.
  • (singh2003) Singh, H. P., Daizy R. Batish, and R. K. Kohli. "Allelopathic interactions and allelochemicals: new possibilities for sustainable weed management." Critical reviews in plant sciences 22.3-4 (2003): 239-311.
  • (stintzing2004) Stintzing, Florian C., and Reinhold Carle. "Functional properties of anthocyanins and betalains in plants, food, and in human nutrition." Trends in food science & technology 15.1 (2004): 19-38.
  • (wang2006) Wang, B. Q. I. U., and Y-L. Qiu. "Phylogenetic distribution and evolution of mycorrhizas in land plants." Mycorrhiza 16.5 (2006): 299-363.

Journals of Interest

  • Fumanal B, Plenchette C, Chauvel B, Bretagnolle F (2006) Which role can arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi play in the facilitation of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. invasion in France? Mycorrhiza 17:25–35. doi:10.1007/s00572-006-0078-1

Data Analytics

Source Material Depth

This graph represents the unique prevalence of "Ambrosia" within the Eflora local research library. Penetration indicates the percentage of total documents containing at least one of the search terms.

Unique Sources: Books
129 / 943 vols
Unique Sources: Journals
29 / 1459 articles
Total Page Hits (Pages containing search term(s))
574 cumulative