Table 1 Traditional uses of the different parts of C. ambrosioides worldwide

Angola

Santa Maria, nkavua

Leaf

Abdominal pain, respiratory diseases, backache, rheumatic pain, fever, gynecological, childhood disease (growth disorders), malaria, and diarrhea

Raw, infusion/enema, oral, bathing, steam bathing, and dermal

[14]

Argentina

Caré

Leaf and stem

Intestinal parasites

Infusion/–

[15]

Huesaxa, lqo, Davioxon

Aerial part

Intestinal parasites

Infusion and decoction/oral

[16]

Paico

–

Gastrointestinal/liver diseases

–

[17]

Paico macho

Leaf

Digestive, stimulative, diaphoretic, and vermifuge

–

[18]

Bangladesh

–

–

Snake, insect, and animal bites

–

[19]

–

Leaf

Buruli ulcer

Decoction/–

[20]

Benin

Azongbidiwa, gbidiwa

Whole plant

Malaria, and fever

Decoction/oral

[21]

Bolivia

Caré

Leaf

Intestinal disorders and dysentery

Squeeze/embrocation

[22]

Paico

Leaves, branches, flower, and stem

Stomach pain, swollen stomach, cold, hyperacidity, and diarrhea

Infusion/–

[23]

Paico, paikko

Aerial part

Stomachic pain (abdominal pain), bile, and vesicular disorders

Decoction, infusion, and juice/oral

[24]

Paicu

Leaf

Diarrhea, cystitis, intestinal parasites, and infections

Infusion and juice /internal

[25]

Payco, payqu, p’aki p’aki

Aerial parts and root

Intestinal catarrh, dysmenorrhea, asthma, and gallstone colic

Infusion/internal and external applications

[26]

Payqu

Leaf

Rheumatism, fever and hepatitis

Infusion/poultice

[27]

Brazil

American wormseed

–

Post-extraction healing (teeth)

–

[28]

Erva-de-bicho/Erva-Santa-Maria

Leaf and stem

Hemorrhoids

Infusion and decoction/–

[29]

Erva-de-Santa Maria

Leaf

Wounds

Maceration/transdermic route

[30]

Erva-de-Santa Maria

Leaf and seed

Infectious diseases, gastrointestinal system diseases, and respiratory system diseases

Infusion, decoction/–

[31]

Erva de Santa maria

–

Anti-inflammatory, and increasing breathing

–

[32]

Erva-de-Santa-maria

Aerial part

Vermifuge and soothing

Decoction and juice/oral

[33]

Erva-de-santa-maria

Leaf

Vermifuge

Infusion/–

[34]

Erva-de-Santa- Maria, mentruz, mastruz

Leaf

Vermifuge, inflammation, and wounds

Juice/bandage

[35]

Erva-de-santa- maria, mastruz

Aerial parts, whole plant, and roots

General infection, cold, worms, depurative, tranquilizer, insomnia, flu, sinusitis, stomachache, gastritis, arm pain, inflammation, wound healing, bone fracture, sprain, injury, injury with blood clot (bleeding), and distress

Decoction, infusion, maceration, fresh, cataplasm, and juice/–

[36]

Erva-de- santa- maria, mastruz

Whole plant

Malaria

Infusion and maceration/oral

[37]

Mastruço

Whole plant

As vermifuge, stomachic, and expectorant

Juice/oral

[38]

Mastruço, mastruz

Leaf, stalks, branch, and root

Expectorant, cough, musculoskeletal injury, influenza, tuberculosis, and respiratory disease

Maceration, decoction, juice, and infusion/oral

[39]

Mastruz

Leaf

Fever, cough, coughing with secretions, and pneumonia

Infusion/–

[40]

Mastruz

Leaf

Worms, thud, pneumonia, lung, and stomachache

–/oral

[41]

Mastruz

Leaf

Inflammation, constipation, and flu

Infusion/–

[42]

Mastruz

Leaf

Malaise and worms

Infusion/–

[43]

Mastruz

Leaf, inflorescence (flowers), and twig

Leaf and twig

Amoeba, worms

Worms (Cattle, goat, chicken, pig, and sheep)^a

Raw, maceration and trituration/–

Trituration in water, maceration, and decoction/–

[44]

Mastruz

Leaf

Expectorant, for coughing, for worms

Infusion and juice/–

[45]

Mastruz

Leaf

Diarrhea and dysentery

-

[46]

Mastruz

Leaf

Worm, flu, cough, and stomach pain

Juice, syrup, and infusion/oral

[47]

Mastruz

Leaf

Anthelmintic in canine^a

Maceration/–

[48]

Mastruz

Leaf

Wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and diarrhea (veterinary use)^a

Juice and plaster/–

[49]

Mastruz

Leaf, seed, and root

Gastritis, factures, ulcer, worm, intestinal problems, stomach, gallbladder problems, hematoma, ulcer, expectorant, inflammation, and colics

Decoction, leave soaking, juice, poultice, maceration, and infusion/oral and topical application

[50]

Mastruz

Leaf or branch

Worms, gastritis, cancer, flu, congested chest, tonic, cough, congestion, tuberculosis, stomachache, women’s problems, fights ulcer, erysipelas, and any swollen

Mixture, syrup, infusion, cataplasm, and compress/–

[51]

Mastruz

Leaf

Worms, influenza, tuberculosis, and bronchitis

-

[52]

Mastruz

Leaf

Leishmanial ulcers

Decoction and powder/bathing

[53]

Mastruz

Leaf

Cough and vermifuge

Juice and syrup/–

[54]

Mentruz, erva- de-santa-maria

Aerial part

Muscle pain, lesions in bone, bronchitis, and worms

Decoction, syrup, raw, and infusion/massage, plaster, and oral

[55]

Mastruz/Santa Maria

Leaf

Worms and bruise

Maceration//topical application

[56]

(erva de) Santa Maria, mastruz, mentruz

Cough and tuberculosis

Tea, syrup, and juice/–

[57]

Santa-maria

-

Vermifuge

–

[58]

Cameroon

Elog minsom

Leaf

Intestinal worms

Infusion/oral

[59]

–

Leaf

Female infertility

–

[60]

–

Leaf stem

Hypertension

Decoction/oral

[61]

Colombia

Paico

Whole plant

Snake bites

Decoction/ointment and bathing

[62]

Yerba santa

Leaf

Intestinal parasites

Decoction or infusion/oral

[63]

Congo-Brazzaville

Akwa: awoulouwoussou

Soundi : loukaya louamoukouyou

Leaf

Convulsions

Decoction/oral

[64]

Lari: lukaya luakuyu

Akwa: awoulouwoussou

Leaf

Cough, fever, epilepsy, worms, and hemiplegia

Decoction/oral

[65]

Congo-Democratic Republic

Kepamakusu, mudia nioka, Kulamoka, Kivundja homa, Dikanga bakishi

Whole plant

Diabetes mellitus

Decoction/oral

[66]

Lufwa nyoki

Leaf

Gastrointestinal disorders in livestock^a

Maceration and crush/–

[67]

Mugunduzimu, kivunjahoma, namahuma

Leaf

Malaria

Decoction/oral

[68]

Nkasa kindongo

Leaf

Helminthiasis

Maceration/oral

[69, 70]

Nkasi kindongo

Bark

Diabetes mellitus

Maceration/–

Timor

Leaf

Low back pain, and roundworm

–/oral and tropical application

[71]

Zorbeih

–

Stomach discomfort and intestinal worms

Infusion/–

[72]

Cuba

Apazote

Leaf and whole plant

Dysentery

Decoction/oral

[73]

Apasote

The whole plant, aerial part, and leaf

Parasites, rheumatisms, and arthrosis

Maceration, decoction, and juice/oral and topical application

[74]

Ecuador

Paico

Branch

Culture-bound syndromes and digestive system

–/rubbing

[75]

Paico

Seed and leaf

Antiparasite, analgesic, lacerations, intestinal inflammation, and stomach pain

Juice/oral

[76]

Paico-Paycu

Leaf

Bleeding after childbirth

–

[77]

Egypt

Sorbeyh, minatteena

Aerial part

Analgesic, stimulant to decrease fever, emmenagogue, anti-helminthic, carminative, and antiseptic

Infusion/–

[78]

Ethiopia

Etse-farus

Root

Snake bite

Crushed/–

[79]

–

Whole plant

Internal parasite, abdominal pain, and abdominal swelling^a

Maceration/oral and nasal application

[80]

France (Guadeloupe)

Simenn kontra

Leaf

Intestinal parasites

Decoction/–

[81]

Ghana

–

Leaf and bark

Cancers (breast, brain, stomach, throat)

Decoction/oral

[82]

–

Leaf

Tuberculosis

–

[83]

Guatemala

Apazote

Leaf

Diabetes (type-2)

Infusion/oral

[84]

Pasujt, apazote, epazote

Aerial part, seed, and root

Empacho, diarrhea, stomachache, abdominal cramps, and parasitic worms

–

[85]

Honduras

Epazote

–

Parasites in all livestock^a

–

[86]

India

Chandan Bathua

Aerial part

Anthelmintic

Juice/oral

[87]

Galisoppu

Leaf

Skin swellings and dysmenorrhea

Paste and infusion/oral and external application

[88]

Khatua

Leaf

Gynecological disorders (pain during menstruation)

Maceration/–

[89]

Kirmani

Whole plant

Piles (hemorrhoids)

Paste/ointment

[90]

Pthoori

Root

Febrifugal affections

–

[91]

Sonkina gida

Whole plant

Anthelmintic and skin allergy

Juice and crushed/oral and external application

[92]

Waljuin

Leaf

Nervous tension and skin disease

Decoction, crushed, and paste/oral and topical application

[93]

Zewa dawda kual, ganhar

The whole plant and aerial part

Dandruff and intestinal worms

Oil and crushed/oral and topical application

[94]

Italy

–

Leaf, and flower (dried)

Worms (helminths)

Decoction/oral

[95]

Jamaica

Semicontract

Whole plant, leaf, and stem

Intestinal worms

Decoction, infusion, and juice/oral

[96]

Jordan

Goose foot

Leaf and root

Diuretic (edema) and bladder

Decoction/–

[97]

Mirwaha, Fus Elajooz

Leaf

Spasms

Infusion/–

[98]

Madagascar

Taimborontsiloza

Leaf

Intestinal parasites

Ingestion/internal application

[99]

Taimboritsiloza

Entire plant

Placental apposition, parasites, and nosebleeds

–

[100]

Mauritius

Bautrisse

Leaf

Intestinal worms (pediatric use)

Decoction/oral

[101]

Herbe botrice

Leaf

Cough, Scabies, worms, and kill lice

Infusion, decoction, crush, and juice/oral and bathing

[102]

México

Epazote

Leaf

Diarrhea, stomachache vermifuge, and vomiting

Infusion/oral

[103]

Epazote

Aerial part

Cough, and erysipelas

Infusion and maceration/oral and topical application

[104]

Epazote

Leaf and stem

Facilitate childbirth and menstrual cramps

–

[105]

Epazote, Epazotl

Leaf

Abdominal pain, cough, flu, stomachache, and vermifuge

Infusion/oral

[106]

Epazote, Tijson

Leaf

Vermifuge, arthritis, diarrhea, stomachache, to keep away from bad spirits

Infusion/oral

[107]

–

Twigs

Infectious bowel diseases

Maceration/–

[108]

–

Aerial part

Culture bound syndromes (folk diseases), gastrointestinal disorders, and hepatic complaints

–

[109]

Morocco

L’m’khinza

Aerial part

Fever and migraine

–

[110]

Mhinza

Leaf

Fever, headache, ovarian and menstrual pain

Raw and decoction/poultice and oral

[111]

Mkhinza

-

Fever

-

[112]

Mkhinza

Leaf

Diabetes mellitus

Maceration/oral

[113]

Mkhinza

Leaf

Diabetes mellitus

Infusion/–

[114]

Mkhinza

Whole plant

Diabetes mellitus

Decoction/–

[115]

Mkhinza

Leaf

General health, gastrointestinal, pediatric, endocrinological

Infusion/poultice, bathing, and oral ingestion

[116]

Mkhinza

Leaf, and flower

Diabetes mellitus and hypertension

Decoction and infusion/–

[117]

Mkhinza

Leaf, and flower

Diabetes mellitus

Infusion/–

[118]

Mkhinza

Leaf

Diabetes mellitus

Juice/–

[119]

Mkhinza

Leaf

Diabetes mellitus

Decoction and infusion/–

[120]

Mkhinza

Leaf and flower

Hypertension

Infusion and juice/–

[121]

Mkhinza

Leaf and flower

Hypertension and cardiac diseases

–

[122]

Mkhinza

Leaf and flower

Diabetes

–

[123]

Mkhinza

Leaf, and flower

Diabetes mellitus

–

[124]

M’khinza

Leaf and aerial part

Antipyretic, sunstroke, anti-emetic, stomachic, and mouthwash

Decoction/oral and local application

[125]

M’khinza

Leaf

Fever, headache, heart problems

[126]

Zarriâat, Mkhinza

Seed

Asthma, cold, labor pain, pains, and helminths, and as an abortifacient

Infusion and as cigarettes/oral and external application

[127]

-

Leaf

Pains (abdominal and head pain)

Juice and powder/oral and cataplasm

[128]

-

-

Fever, cough, vomiting, rheumatism, diarrhea, migraine, nervosity, respiratory and hepatic disorders, gynecological disorders, bladder diseases, influenza, hematoma, diabetes, hair loss, and gastrointestinal disorders

Decoction, powder, infusion, and mask/–

[129]

In Arabic

Leaf and stem

Head problems, fever, and pathologies of the digestive systems

Decoction, infusion, and maceration/oral and external application

[130]

Mozambique

Kanunka uncono

–

Intestinal ulcers and stomach-aches

–

[131]

Netherlands

Woronmenti, Tiki menti, Fukufuku menti

Whole plant

–

–

[132]

Nigeria

Arunpale, Akintola

Root

Sickle cell disease

–

[133]

Arunpale

Leaf

High blood pressure (Hypertension)

Decoction/oral

[134]

Ebigben-Suigben

Leaf and root

Rheumatism

As food/oral

[135]

Ewe arunpale

Leaf

Cancer (prostate and breast)

Concoction/oral

[136]

Pakistan

Baagi bethwa

Whole plant

Sexual impotence

Decoction/–

[137]

Baljawain

Seed

Abdominal problems and headache

–

[138]

Boi Sarmy

Leaf

Anthelmintic

Decoction/oral

[139]

Buthu

Whole plant

Various symptoms of malaria

Decoction/oral

[140]

Chandan bathwa

Whole plant

Anthelmintic and for piles

–

[141]

Chulai

Whole plant

Intestinal worms

Infusion/–

[142]

Chulai

-

Cough, pulmonary obstruction, amenorrhea, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, and expulsion of the dead fetus

Infusion/–

[143]

Gundi Booti

Leaf and stem

Pile and indigestion problems, especially diarrhea

Decoction/–

[144]

Skhabotay

Young shoot

Warts

Raw (dried)/oral

[145]

Surna

Root

Rheumatism

Decoction/–

[146]

Panama

–

Leaf

Stomachache and worms

Decoction and juice/–

[147]

Paico macho, cashua paico

Leaf, root

Liver problems, with “bilis” (gall bladder trouble), stomach pain, and diarrhea

Decoction/oral

[148]

Paico

Aerial part

Parasites, stomach pain, colic, gases, skin parasites, and wounds

Infusion, decoction, and as food/oral, topical application, and bathing

[149]

Paico

–

Stomach ache, abdominal pain with gas, colics, fever, to bathe bodies, and intestinal parasites, and diarrhea

[150]

Paico

Leaf and seed

Vermifuge for children

Squeezed and juice/oral

[151]

Paico

Leaf and stem

Endoparasites; and constipation

Infusion/oral

[152]

Perú

Chinche, huacatay, Payco

Leaf, stem, and flower

Digestive, antiparasitic, intestinal worms, colics, upset stomach, and diarrhea

Infusion/oral

[153]

Rwanda

Umwisheke

Stem with leaves

Voluntary depigmentation

Powder/topical application

[154]

South Africa

Imboya

Leaf

Skin disorders (skin itch, eczema, and pimples)

–/tropical application

[155]

Nsukumbili

Whole plant

Lymphatic filariasis

Infusion/oral

[156]

Unukani, Ikhambi

Whole plant

Diarrhea (especially for children)

Maceration, decoction, and infusion/anal and oral

[157]

Spain

Te´

Aerial part

Digestive, stomachic and laxative

Infusion/internal

[158]

Tanzania

Akaita malogo

Leaf

HIV/AIDS-related conditions (Herpes simplex, cryptococcal meningitis)

–

[159]

Injaga-yabekwabi, Nemu ya Masai

Leaf and shoot

Infections (vaginal ulcers and tapeworm)

Infusion and maceration/oral and external application

[160]

Orwita marago/Kaitamarogo

Leaf

For making soap and as a lucky charm

–/tropical application

[161]

Trinidad and Tobago

Worm grass

Plant tops

Anthelmintic for backyard chickens^a

–

[162]

Uganda

Katta dogo

Leaf

Charms/bewitchment, and intestinal worms

Decoction/oral

[163]

–

Leaf

Headache and epilepsy

Crushed/topical application and oral

[164]

–

Leaf, stem, fruit, whole plant, and seed pods

Fever in pregnancy women “amakiro,” abdominal pain, and cold sores

Infusion and powder/oral and topical application

[165]

Venezuela

Goosefoot

Leaf

Parasites

Decoction/oral

[166]

Vietnam

Sành, Rau muối, Dầu giun

Leaf

Acne and urticaria

Crushed/topical application

[167]