Common Names: Pasture Weed, Prostrate Pastureweed, Prostrate Chaff-Flower
Local Names: Nigeria: Shawere Pepe (Yoruba), Tanaje, K’arangiya Kusu (Hausa) | India: Civappu Nayuruvi (Tamil), Cherukataladi (Malayalam) | Ghana: Ninsala (Dagbani)

Species ID: NMP-033 | wfo-0000631218|NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 221766

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Order: Caryophyllales

Family: Amaranthaceae

Genus: Cyathula

Species: C. prostrata

Binomial Name: Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume

Synonyms: Achyranthes prostrata L., Desmochaeta prostrata (L.) DC., Pupalia prostrata (L.) Mart.

Cyathula prostrata is an annual or short-lived perennial herb with prostrate, ascending, or erect stems, growing 20–60 cm tall, often rooting at nodes. Key features include:

·       Stems: Slender, branched, 1–2 mm thick, hairy, green to reddish

·       Leaves: Lanceolate to elliptic, 2–8 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, rough-textured, opposite, petiolate (0.5–2 cm)

·       Flowers: Small, greenish-white, 2–3 mm long, in dense axillary or terminal spikes (1–3 cm), flowering year-round in tropics

·       Fruit: Utricles, 1–2 mm, enclosed in persistent perianth, seeds ovoid, brown

Its prostrate habit aids in soil coverage (Townsend, 1985).

Cyathula prostrata is pantropical, spanning Africa (Senegal to Ethiopia, south to South Africa), Asia (India to Indonesia), Australia, and parts of the Americas. It thrives in:

·       Regions: Grasslands, open woodlands, roadsides, disturbed sites

·       Climate: Tropical/subtropical, 20–35°C, rainfall 500–2,000 mm

·       Soil: Sandy, loamy, clay; tolerates poor fertility

·       Elevation: Sea level to 1,800 m

It prefers full sun and is a pioneer species in degraded areas (Burkill, 1985).

Cyathula prostrata is widely used in traditional medicine, with studies validating its applications:

·       Diuretic: Leaf infusions in Nigeria increase urine output; diuretic effects.

·       Anti-inflammatory: Root decoctions in Ghana reduce swelling; ethanol extracts inhibit edema in mice (45% at 300 mg/kg) (Anaga et al., 2004).

·       Gastrointestinal Disorders: Whole plant in India treats dysentery.

·       Wound Healing: Leaf paste in Uganda promotes healing; extracts enhance collagen in rats.

·       Antimicrobial: Aerial parts in Nigeria has anti-microbial properties (Ogu et al., 1970).

·       Analgesic: Stems in Kenya for pain; extracts reduce writhing in mice (60% at 200 mg/kg) (Matu & Van Staden, 2003).

Medicinal properties are linked to bioactive compounds:

·       Flavonoids: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory (Falodun et al., 2006)

·       Alkaloids: Analgesic, diuretic effects

·       Saponins: Antimicrobial, wound healing

·       Tannins: Astringent, gastrointestinal aid

·       Terpenoids: Anti-inflammatory (Anaga et al., 2004)

⚠  Toxicity Profile: No significant toxicity reported; LD₅₀ > 5,000 mg/kg in rats (safe at therapeutic doses). Excessive use may cause mild GI irritation due to saponins. Avoid in pregnancy due to limited data (Oyedapo & Amosun, 2014).

·       Edibility: Young shoots/leaves cooked as a vegetable in Nigeria, India

·       Soap: Leaf ash in Ghana for saponin-based soap (Burkill, 1985)

·       Invasive Potential: Outcompetes natives in Australia, Pacific Islands

·       Fodder: Grazed by livestock in dry seasons

• Anaga, A. O., Njoku, C. J., & Okafor, P. N. (2004). Anti-inflammatory activity of Cyathula prostrata in mice. Phytotherapy Research, 18(8), 670–672.

• Burkill, H. M. (1985). The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 148–149). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

• Matu, E. N., & Van Staden, J. (2003). Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of some plants used in Kenyan traditional medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 87(1), 35–41. 

• Ogu, G. I., Tanimowo, W. O., Nwachukwu, P. U., & Igere, B. E. (1970). Antimicrobial and phytochemical evaluation of the leaf, stem bark and root extracts of Cyathula prostrata (L) Blume against some human pathogens. Journal of Complementary Medicine Research, 1(1), 35-35.

• Townsend, C. C. (1985). Flora of Tropical East Africa: Amaranthaceae. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

• Wikipedia - Cyathula prostrata

• JSTOR Plants - Cyathula prostrata

• Useful Tropical Plants - Cyathula prostrata

• NParks Flora & Fauna - Cyathula prostrata

• Wiktrop Portal - Cyathula prostrata

• World Flora Online - Cyathula prostrata

• Plants of the World Online - Cyathula prostrata

• n-Hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester
• 7,9-di-ter-butyl-1-oxospiro-(4,5)-deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione

Oladimeji, O. H., & Usifoh, C. O. (2015). Anti-inflammatory Activity of Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume. African Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 4(1).