Siberian cocklebur (Xanthium spinosum)

Xanthium spinosum

Kingdom: Plantae

Family: Asteraceae

Siberian cocklebur is a spring weed that grows in parts of Asia, Europe, and North America. The plant invades farmlands and can be poisonous to domestic animals and humans.

Cockleburs are coarse, herbaceous annual plants growing to 50–120 cm (20–47 in) tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, with deeply toothed margins. Some species, notably Xanthium spinosum, are also very thorny with long, slender spines at the leaf bases

The common cocklebur is a native of North America. It invades agricultural lands and can be poisonous to animals, including horses, cattle, and sheep. Some domestic animals will avoid consuming the plant if other forage is present, but less discriminating animals, such as pigs, will consume the plants and then sicken and die. The seedlings and seeds are the most toxic parts of the plants.

Symptoms usually occur within a few hours, producing unsteadiness and weakness, depression, nausea and vomiting, twisting of the neck muscles, rapid and weak pulse, difficulty breathing, and eventually death.

Uses:

People take Siberian cocklebur by mouth for chronic bronchitis, common cold, constipation, sinus infection, stuffy nose, itching, hives, a condition affecting the joints called rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, headache, tuberculosis, and kidney disease.

How does it work?

Siberian cocklebur contains many different chemicals. Atractyloside and carboxyatractyloside, which are found in the seed, can be poisonous.

In addition to the potential toxic effects of Siberian cocklebur, it might also have anti-arthritis, antibacterial, cancer-protecting, antidiabetes, anti-inflammatory, liver-protecting, and immune system-boosting effects.

But more evidence is needed to rate Siberian cocklebur for these uses.

The plant also has been used for making yellow dye.

I got these pictures, when I visited my colleague at Vettom, Edavannapara in Malappuram. While I walking beneath the Chaliyar river, I noticed a plant having thorny fruits as a bunch growing there. Initially I ignore about the plant. After searching in Google, I realised that, this is a medicinal plant used in China in bronchial diseases.