Botanical Overview
Cow’s tongue (Pseudelephantopus spicatus (juss.) gleason) is a species in the Asteraceae family. The daisy family (Asteraceae) is one of the largest plant families, characterized by composite flower heads (capitula) that contain many small florets surrounded by bracts. Plants range from tiny alpine herbs to large tropical trees. The family includes many medicinally important species with bitter compounds and essential oils. Phytochemical data for this species are limited at present.
Family Context
The Asteraceae family is extremely large and diverse. Notable medicinal members include:
- Yarrow — 63 documented uses
- Gobo — 63 documented uses
- Mugwort — 55 documented uses
- Sunflower — 52 documented uses
Active Compounds
Phytochemical research has identified 1 compound in this species: saponins.
The identified compounds include the following categories:
- Saponin: soap-like compounds with immune-modulating activity
Research Status
Although this species has documented phytochemical constituents, its ethnobotanical and clinical documentation remains incomplete. The limited documentation available for this species represents an opportunity for ethnobotanical research.