Anacyclus pyrethrum
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Anacyclus_pyrethrum_-_Köhler–s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-011.jpg
|image_caption = Mount Atlas daisy
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|status = VU
|genus = Anacyclus
|species = pyrethrum
|synonyms = Anthemis pyrethrum L.
Anacyclus depressus Ball
Anacyclus freynii Willk.
Anacyclus officinarum Hayne
Sources: E+M,{{cite web
| url = http://ww2.bgbm.org/EuroPlusMed/PTaxonDetail.asp?NameId=117602&PTRefFk=7000000
| title = Details for: Anacyclus pyrethrum
| accessdate = 2008-06-16
|author1=Botanic Garden | author-link = Botanical Garden in Berlin
|author2=Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem
|name-list-style=amp| work = Euro+Med PlantBase
| publisher = Freie Universität Berlin
}} AFPD{{cite web
|url=http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb/bd/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=135636
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101090239/http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb/bd/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=135636
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=January 1, 2013
|title=Anthemis pyrethrum record n° 135636
|accessdate=2008-06-16
|work=African Plants Database
|publisher=South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica
}}
|}}
Anacyclus pyrethrum, the pellitory, Spanish chamomile, Mount Atlas daisy, bertram, or Akarkara, is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae.{{cite book
| editor-last = Brickell
| editor-first = Christopher
| title = The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants
| year = 2008
| publisher = Dorling Kindersley
| location = United Kingdom
| isbn = 9781405332965}} It is native to Mediterranean Europe and parts of North Africa, but also naturalised in other parts of Europe, India and Pakistan.{{GRIN}} This herbaceous perennial resembles chamomile species in habitat and appearance.
The plants known as pellitory-of-the-wall and spreading pellitory belong to a different family, the nettles (Urticaceae).
Names
Although one might assume from the specific epithet pyrethrum that this plant contains pyrethrins, it does not.{{Cite web|title=pyrethrum {{!}} Definition, Description, Insecticide, & Species|url=https://www.britannica.com/plant/pyrethrum|access-date=2021-01-12|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}} Both pyrethrum and "pellitory" derive ultimately from the ancient Greek for "fire" (πῦρ).{{cite book | title = Shorter Oxford English Dictionary | year = 2007 | edition = 6th | pages = 3804 | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = United Kingdom | isbn = 9780199206872}}
Vernacular names
Anacyclus pyrethrum is known by various regional names in India and is commonly used in traditional systems like Ayurveda and Unani medicine.
| class="wikitable"
! Language !! Vernacular Name !! Script | ||
| Hindi | Akarkara | अकरकरा |
| Sanskrit | Akarkarabh | अकरकरभ |
| Urdu | Aqarqarha | اقرقرحا |
| Tamil | Akkirakaram | அக்கிரகரம் |
| Telugu | Akarkara | అకర్కర |
| Kannada | Akarkara | ಅಕಾರ್ಕರ |
| Malayalam | Akarkaram | അകര്കാരം |
Cultivation
Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus (sometimes considered a separate species, Anacyclus depressus), called mat daisy or Mount Atlas daisy, is grown as a spring-blooming, low-water ornamental. It produces mats of grey-green, ferny foliage and single daisy-like white flowers. It is suitable for growing in an alpine or rock garden. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web
| url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/89205/i-Anacyclus-pyrethrum-i-var-i-depressus-i/Details
| title= RHS Plantfinder - Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus
| publisher=Royal Horticultural Society | accessdate=12 January 2018}}
File:Anacyclus pyrethrum depressus habitus1.jpg|Var. depressus
File:Anacyclus pyrethrum depressus open.jpg|same plant, flower detail
File:Anacyclus pyrethrum depressus closed.jpg|Var. depressus, flowers closed
Medicinal uses
Extracts of Anacyclus pyrethrum have anabolic activity in mice and also increase testosterone in the animal model.{{cite web|url=http://www.scipharm.at/download.asp?id%3D346 |title=Scientia Pharmaceutica |accessdate=2011-07-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003111346/http://www.scipharm.at/download.asp?id=346 |archivedate=2011-10-03 }}{{cite journal|last1=Sharma|first1=Vikas|last2=Boonen|first2=Jente|last3=Spiegeleer|first3=Bart De|last4=Dixit|first4=V. K.|title=Androgenic and Spermatogenic Activity of Alkylamide-Rich Ethanol Solution Extract of DC|journal=Phytotherapy Research|date=January 2013|volume=27|issue=1|pages=99–106|doi=10.1002/ptr.4697|pmid=22473789|s2cid=23573730 }}
Ayurveda (ancient Mesopotamian now Indian medical system) and Siddha (the real ancient medical system of India (Dravidian), have uses for this plant root and it has been used for centuries as a medicine.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} It is called Akkal-Kara in Hindi, Akkal Kadha in Marathi, Akkala-karra Malayalam, Akkarkkara (അകർക്കാര)(Telugu: అక్కలకఱ్ఱ){{cite web|url=https://andhrabharati.com/dictionary/index.php?w=%E0%B0%85%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%95%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%95%E0%B0%B1%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B1|title=Akkala-karra; అక్కలకర, అక్కలకఱ్ఱ, అక్కలగర : శంకరనారాయణ తెలుగు-ఇంగ్లీష్ నిఘంటువు 1953}} and Akkarakaaram (Tamil: அக்கரகாரம்). A kind of oil is prepared by a method known as pit extraction (Tamil: குழி எண்ணெய்).{{Medcn|date=February 2016}}
In The Perfumed Garden (from 15th century Tunisia), al-Nefzawi recommends pelleter taken externally as an ointment on the penis and scrotum or internally to enhance sexual pleasure and enhance erection (ch. 13, 15, 17).
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{UniProt Taxonomy
| name = Anacyclus pyrethrum
| id = 159698
| accessdate = 2008-06-16
}}
- {{cite web
| url = http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/pellit19.html
| title = Pellitory
| accessdate = 2008-06-16
| author = M. Grieve
| authorlink = Maud Grieve
| year = 1931
| work = A Modern Herbal
| publisher = © Copyright Protected 1995-2008 Botanical.com
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080709010532/http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/pellit19.html| archivedate= 9 July 2008 | url-status= live}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1855185}}
Category:Medicinal plants of Africa
Category:Medicinal plants of Asia