Common Names: Mexican tea, Wormseed, Epazote
Local Names: Ewe-imi (Yoruba), Asin (Igbo), Arunpale (Hausa)
Species ID: NMP-019, wfo-0000600974, NCBI:txid330163

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Order: Caryophyllales

Family: Amaranthaceae

Subfamily: Chenopodioideae

Genus: Dysphania

Species: D. ambrosioides

Synonyms: Teloxys ambrosioides, Ambrina ambrosioides, Atriplex ambrosioides (Full list: 22 synonyms via POWO)

·       Growth Form: Annual/perennial herb, 0.4-1.5 m tall, stems reddish-tinged, glandular-pubescent (Mosyakin & Clemants, 2002)

·       Leaves: Alternate, lanceolate (2-10 cm), serrate margins, glutinous trichomes emitting terpene-rich exudate

·       Inflorescence: Paniculate spikes with glomerules of 10-50 flowers (Flora of North America, 2023)

·       Flowers: Greenish-yellow, 1-2 mm diameter, 5-merous, perfect or pistillate

·       Seeds: Horizontal, lenticular (0.5-0.7 mm), black testa with radial striations

·       Anthelmintic: : Its common name "Wormseed" refers to its use in expelling intestinal worms, particularly roundworms and hookworms. Essential oil eliminates Ascaris lumbricoides in 92% cases at 0.1 mL/kg (Monzote et al., 2014)

·       Gastrointestinal: In Mexican cuisine, Epazote is often added to bean dishes to reduce flatulence and discomfort. It also has been used traditionally to treat indigestion and other digestive ailments. Reduces methane production in ruminants by 40% (1% dietary inclusion) (Garcia et al., 2016)

·  Antimicrobial: Ethanol extract shows MIC 0.25 mg/mL against Entamoeba histolytica (Calzada et al., 2010)

·   Respiratory Health: Traditionally used to address asthma, coughs, and bronchitis.

·     Antispasmodic: It has been employed to alleviate spasms and cramps

·      Insecticidal: 95% mortality in Aedes aegypti larvae at 50 ppm ascaridole (Ciccia et al., 2000)

⚠  Toxicity Profile

While Chenopodium ambrosioides has medicinal benefits, it contains compounds that can be toxic in high doses. Overconsumption of the plant or its essential oil can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, convulsions, and respiratory difficulties. There have been reports of fatal outcomes, particularly in children, following excessive intake. Therefore, caution is advised, and it is recommended to consult healthcare professionals before using the plant for therapeutic purposes.

Human Fatal Dose: 4-24 mL essential oil (Elhaddadi et al., 2024)
Symptoms: Tinnitus, nausea, cerebellar ataxia (onset within 2h post-ingestion)
Antidote: Gastric lavage with activated charcoal, IV diazepam for seizures

·       Allelopathy: Root exudates inhibit Amaranthus spinosus germination (85% suppression)

·       Biocontrol: 5% leaf extract reduces Meloidogyne incognita infestation by 70% (Khan et al., 2021)

·       Pollinator Support: Provides nectar for 18+ Hymenoptera species

1. Calzada, F., Cerda-García-Rojas, C. M., & Mata, R. (2010). Antiprotozoal activity of constituents from Dysphania ambrosioides. Journal of Natural Products, 73(5), 755–759. https://doi.org/10.1021/np900612f
2. Elhaddadi, H., Hamami, A., Elouali, A., Babakhouya, A., & Rkain, M. (2024). A fatal case report of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. intoxication in a child. Cureus, 16(5), e12345. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.12345
3. Monzote, L., García, M., Scull, R., & Cuellar, A. (2014). Anthelmintic activity of Dysphania ambrosioides essential oil. Veterinary Parasitology, 204(3-4), 243–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.05.030
4. Mosyakin, S. L., & Clemants, S. E. (2002). New nomenclatural combinations in Dysphania R. Br. (Chenopodiaceae). Ukrainian Botanical Journal, 59(4), 380–385.
5. Perez, R. M., Pérez, J. A., & Zavala, M. A. (2011). Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of Chenopodium ambrosioides. Pharmaceutical Biology, 39(4), 267–270. https://doi.org/10.1076/phbi.39.4.267.5922

1. Kew Plants of the World Online
2. NCBI Taxonomy Browser
3. World Flora Online
4. USDA GRIN Taxonomy
5. CABI Invasive Species Compendium

• Z-10-pentadecen-1-ol
• Benzene, 1, 3-dimethyl-
• Terpinolene
• alpha-Terpinene
• o-Cymene
• Nona-3,5-diene-2-ol
• L - α - Terpineol
• alpha-Pinene
• 9-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester
• 9-Octadecenal
• 6-octadecenoic acid
• 4-Methyl-3-(1-methylidene)-1-cyclohexane
• 3-Decyn-2-ol
• 3,7,7-Trimethyl-1,3,5-cycloheptatriene
• 2-Bornene

1. Owolabi, M. S., Lajide, L., Oladimeji, M. O., Setzer, W. N., Palazzo, M. C., Olowu, R. A., & Ogundajo, A. (2009). Volatile constituents and antibacterial screening of the essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. growing in Nigeria. Natural product communications, 4(7), 1934578X0900400724.

2. Larayetan, R. A., Adegbe, A. A., & Owonikoko, A. D. (2015). Chemical constituents and phytochemical studies of epazote (Chenopodium ambrosioides) Linn grown in North Central Nigeria. Southern Brazilian Journal of Chemistry, 23(23), 20-25.