Centipeda cunninghamii

Old man weed
A potted Old Man Weed
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Centipeda
Species: C. cunninghamii
Binomial name
Centipeda cunninghamii
(DC.) A.Braun & Asch.

Centipeda cunninghamii is commonly known as Old man weed, being the literal translation of its Koori name Gukwonderuk. It is a plant known to indigenous Australians for its medicinal properties, and grows along the Murray river, or generally anywhere there is water, especially low lying or swampy areas. It can be identified by its unique shaped leaf, and its pungent scent, which is pine like and minty. The names Common Sneezeweed and Scent Weed, which were given by European settlers, are increasingly falling out of use.

Etymology

Centipeda: From the Greek word for one hundred feet[1]

cunninghamii: Named after Allan Cunningham (1791 – 1839) was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels to Australia (New South Wales) and New Zealand to collect plants. Author of Florae Insularum Novae Zelandiae Precursor, 1837-40 (Introduction to the flora of New Zealand).[1]

Characteristics

Centipeda cunninghamii is an erect or ascending, endemic Australian perennial herb of the Daisy family (Asteraceae), glabrous or rarely woolly, about 20 cm (8 inches) high; stems much-branched.[2]

Leaves: Oblong to more less spathulate, they are about 15 mm (1/2 inch) long and 3–4 mm (1/10 inch) wide; margins shallowly toothed or subentire; narrowed to base but petiole indistinct.[2]

Inflorescence: Tiny green globular flowers, that can also be Green,Red / Pink.[1] Heads sessile, usually solitary, ± globose to biconvex, 4–8 mm (1/5 inch) in diameter; involucral bracts ± obovate, 2–3 mm long, apex obtuse, minutely toothed. Female florets usually 6–8-seriate. Bisexual florets 10–30.[2]

Fruit: Achenes clavate, about 2 mm long, apex rounded and glabrous above ribs.[2]

Ecology

Flowering: mostly spring–autumn.[2] September - February[1]

Fruiting: October - June[1]

Distribution and occurrence: Usually grows in damp areas subject to flooding, on a range of soil types. All subdivisions except NC; all mainland States, New Zealand.[2] New South Wales subdivisions: CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, NWP, SWP, NFWP, SFWP[2] Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A. N.T.[2][3] Centipeda cunninghamii has also been encountered in Europe, most likely as a result of inadvertent introduction.[4]

Habitat: Coastal to montane (up to 600 m a.s.l.). Especially common in muddy/sility ground left by receding waters along lake, pond, stream and river margins. Also in muddy hollows within rough pasture, paddocks, tussock grassland, in damp depressions within dune swales and sometimes in similar sites within urban areas.[1]

Propagation Technique: Easily grown from fresh seed and cuttings. Inclined to become invasive.[1]

Traditional Uses

The traditional belief holds that Centipeda cunninghamii is good for treating "just about anything." Traditional methods of use most commonly involve binding leaves of the plant directly to the forehead or other parts of the body, so that body heat may release the plants oils which are then absorbed into the skin.[5] It may also be taken orally, sometimes mixing it with emu fat or boiling/soaking it in water to create a tea. In cases of oral ingestion, traditional medicinal authorities have cautioned to carefully regulate the dosage as the plant may be toxic if taken in large amounts.

C. cunninghamiihas a long history of traditional use as a medicinal plant for treating wounds, infections and inflammation. Whilst its essential oil composition, principally chrysanthenyl and sabinyl acetates, has been known for some time, there was little scientific information regarding its phytochemistry and biological activity. Investigations on aqueous ethanolic extracts confirmed its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant (ORAC) activity. Detailed investigations suggest the extract acts against a range of inflammatory markers including COX-1, COX-2, NO and TNF-α, but not through the lipoxygenase pathway. Seventeen compounds were isolated and subsequent bioassays indicated that the anti-inflammatory activity was linked to flavonoids, whilst the antioxidant activity was attributed to both flavonoids and a group of novel heptenedioic acid cinnamoyl esters. The latter compounds are ring-opened quinic acid derivatives and appear to be unique to this species. Optimization of growing, post-harvest and extraction conditions based on quality markers have been developed for future production and product development.[6]

Chemistry and biological activities

A comprehensive investigation of the Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry chemical profile of Centipeda cunninghamii essential oil was published in 2009 by Karren D. Beattie from the Southern Cross University.[7] A total of 6 novel, and 26 known compounds were isolated throughout the course of that work.[7]

All of the compounds were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity, as determined by the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 in 3T3 fibroblast cells. All novel compounds possessed significant anti-inflammatory activity, have diverse modes of anti-inflammatory action, and were more potent than the positive control, aspirin. Antioxidant activity, as determined by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) was also assessed. The antioxidant capacity of Centipeda cunninghamii extract compounds was found to be comparable to epicatechin, a major antioxidant constituent of green tea.[7]

The biological activities exhibited by extracts of C. cunninghamii are consistent with the ethnobotanical applications of the plant.[7] Commercial applications utilizing the antimicrobial,[8] anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties have been developed in the last decade. Cosmetic and therapeutical products use different patented extracts such as Phyoxolin, Plantolin, Phytoplenolin and others.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 de Lange, P.J. (May 5, 2005). "Flora Details - Centipeda cunninghamii". New Zealand plant Conservation Network - Centipeda cunninghamii. New Zealand plant Conservation Network. Retrieved Apr 27, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Brown, E.A. (1992). "Centipeda cunninghamii (DC.) A.Braun & Asch.". PlantNet Centipeda cunninghamii (DC.) A.Braun & Asch. NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  3. ↑ "The Atlas of Living Australia - Centipeda cunninghamii - Records". Centipeda cunninghamii (DC.) A.Braun & Asch. National Research Infrastructure for Australia. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  4. ↑ Nylinder, Stephan (Apr 2, 2013). "Species tree phylogeny and character evolution in the genus Centipeda (Asteraceae): Evidence from DNA sequences from coding and non-coding loci from the plastid and nuclear genomes". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.03.020. Retrieved Apr 27, 2015.
  5. ↑ De Angelis, David (2005). "Aboriginal Use Plants of the Greater Melbourne Area" (PDF). La Trobe University Environment Collective. Retrieved Apr 27, 2015.
  6. ↑ Beattie, KD; Waterman, P.G.; Leach, David N. (September 2011). "Centipeda cunninghamii, an australian traditional medicinal plant". Planta Medica. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1282676. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Beattie, Karren D. (2009). "Phytochemical studies and bioactivity of Centipeda and Eremophila species". PhD Thesis, Southern Cross University. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  8. ↑ Hill, Larissa (1997). The antimicrobial properties of selected traditional Aboriginal medicinal plants : Centipeda cunninghamii. University of Ballarat. School of Science.

Further reading