AMARANTHACEAE

(Amaranth or Cock's comb family)

• Medicinal / Folk-medicinal aspects:  •
• Adverse effects: Certain members of this family are spiny and therefore capable of causing mechanical injury. Others may induce contact sensitivity. Phototoxicity following ingestion has also been reported. Little is known about the nature of the allergens or the phototoxic principles. •
• Veterinary aspects: Photosensitisation in cattle, sheep, and horses has been reported following ingestion of certain species. •

This is a large family of over 2000 species of mostly low-growing plants in 179 genera.^a Many are halophytes found in, and tolerant of salted earth in sea shores. Others are xerophytic, resembling cacti, being important constituents of desert floras. Many are troublesome weeds. Some are cultivated for their attractive flowers (Mabberley 2017). The family now includes the former goosefoot or saltbush family, Chenopodiaceae.

A number are of major economic importance as food plants. These include Atriplex L. spp., Beta vulgaris L. (beetroot, sugar beet, mangold wurzel, Swiss chard), Chenopodium L. spp., and Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach). The burning bush or summer cypress, Kochia scoparia var. trichophylla (Schmeiss) Osborn [= Bassia scoparia (L.) Voss] is commonly grown in gardens as an ornamental bedding plant (Hunt 1968/70).

Dysphania anthelmintica (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants [formerly named Chenopodium ambrosioides var. anthelminticum (L.) Gray is cultivated for its anthelmintic volatile oil known as American wormseed oil, chenopodium oil, or Baltimore oil. A Sumerian recipe for soap (circa 2500 B.C.) utilised Salicornia fruticosa L. as the source of alkali (Rowley 1960).

^a https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30000566-2; accessed August 2025

Achyranthes L.

According to Willis (1973), this tropical and sub-tropical genus may consist of only 3–5 very variable species which have hitherto been considered to be up to 100 distinct species. Plants of the World Online now accepts 14 species.^a

Standley (1937) noted that the sharp bracts penetrate the flesh easily, as do the hooked bristles on the flowers.

^a https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:327359-2#children; accessed February 2025

Achyranthes aspera L.

[syns Achyranthes indica (L.) Mill., Achyranthes robusta C.H.Wright, Centrostachys aspera (L.) Standley, Centrostachys indica (L.) Standl.]

Burweed, Devil's Horsewhip, Mozotillo, Prickly Chaff-Flower

Standley (1937) and Standley & Steyermark (1946), who referred to Achyranthes aspera L. and Achyranthes indica (L.) Mill. as two distinct species, noted that the sharp tips of the sepals penetrate the skin easily if the plant is handled carelessly. The two taxa are now treated as distinct varieties,^a namely Achyranthes aspera L. var. aspera and Achyranthes aspera var. indica L.

Ainslie (1937) noted that in Nigerian traditional medicine, the ground root or flower-spike from fresh plant material is applied to bites and stings. He noted also that the root is a styptic. According to Rao (1981), the roots of this species are powdered, mixed with crushed snails, and applied by the Khasi and Garo tribes of Meghalaya, India to cure leprosy. A decoction of the roots has also been used with some success in the oral treatment of leprosy (Wade 1977). Giday et al. (2003) recorded that the juice from the freshly collected and crushed leaves of this climber are used in the traditional medicine of the Zay people in Ethiopia as an externally-applied remedy for skin wounds.

^a https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:2468-2#children; accessed February 2025

Achyranthes bidentata Blume

[syns Achyranthes fauriei H.Lév. & Vaniot, Centrostachys bidentata (Blume) Standl.]

Pig's Knee, Ruderal Chaff Flower

Achyranthes fauriei possesses sharp spines at the bases of the utricles (Kariyone 1971) and is thus a possible source of mechanical injury.

Alternanthera pungens Kunth

[syns Achyranthes repens L., Alternanthera echinata Sm., Alternanthera repens (L.) Link]

Burweed, Khaki Weed, Paper Thorn

Gardner & Bennetts (1956) include Alternanthera echinata in a list of plants known or suspected of causing dermatitis.

The khaki weed, Alternanthera repens, has been suspected of causing dermatitis in cattle (Webb 1948a).

Amaranthus L.

The pollen of some species, particularly Amaranthus retroflexus L., the pigweed, which is a common weed of cultivated ground in the USA, can cause pollinosis (Wodehouse 1971).

The common name pigweed is also applied to species of Chenopodium L. (fam. Chenopodiaceae) which co-occur as weeds with Amaranthus retroflexus, and also flower at about the same time (King 1966). Thus a report (Anneberg 1938) of keratitis attributable to entry into farmers' eyes of the pollen of "pigweed-red root" may have referred to the pollen of species in either or both genera.

Amaranthus blitoides S.Watson

Mat Amaranth, Prostrate Amaranth, Prostate Pigweed, Spreading Pigweed

This species produced positive patch test reactions in one of 50 patients who had "weed dermatitis" (Shelmire 1939a).

Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.

[syns Amaranthus bernhardii Moq., Amaranthus frumentaceus Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb., Amaranthus leucocarpus S.Watson]

Amaranth, Golden Amaranth, Love-Lies-bleeding, Prince's Feather, Prince-of-Wales Feather, Red Cockscomb, Trauer-Fuchsschwanz

According to Wren (1975) and Stuart (1979), a decoction of this plant may be used as an application in ulcerated conditions of the throat and mouth, and used as a wash for ulcers and sores.

Amaranthus retroflexus L.

Careless Weed, Redroot Amaranth, Redroot Pigweed, Rough Pigweed

This species produced positive patch test reactions in one of 50 patients who had "weed dermatitis" (Shelmire 1939a).

Amaranthus spinosus L.

[syns Amaranthus caracasanus Kunth, Galliaria spinosa (L.) Nieuwl.]

Prickly Calalue, Spiny Amaranth, Thorny Pigweed

The plant bears stiff, sharp spines in the leaf axils (Standley 1937b). The plant sometimes produces mechanical injuries (Pammel 1911).

Amaranthus tricolor L.

[syns Amaranthus gangeticus L., Amaranthus mangostanus L., Amaranthus tristis L.]

Chinese Amaranth, Chinese Spinach

Ingestion of Amaranthus mangostanus as a famine food has been reported to cause atriplicism, a syndrome presenting as a severe photodermatitis that may be accompanied by systemic symptoms (Cairns et al. 1968).

Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J.D.Sauer

[syns Acnida tamariscina auct., Amaranthus tamariscinus auct., Acnida tuberculata Moq.]

Roughfruit Amaranth, Western Water Hemp

The statement that contact sensitivity to Acnida tamariscina may occur in farmers (Waldbott 1953) appears to lack confirmation (Shelmire 1939a).

Amaranthus viridis L.

[syns Amaranthus gracilis Desf. ex Poir.]

Green Amaranth, Slender Amaranth, Tropical Green Amaranth, Waterleaf, Grüner Amarant

Patch tests carried out using the leaves of this species crushed in a small quantity of normal saline elicited positive reactions in 4 of 40 contact dermatitis patients tested in New Delhi, India (Singh et al. 1978).

Quisumbing (1951) reports the use of this species as a sternutatory.

Atriplex hortensis L.

[syn. Atriplex microtheca Moq.]

French Spinach, Garden Orache, Mountain Spinach, Arroche Rouge des Jardins, Garten-Melde

Tyszlukiewicz & Żelazowski (1964) described three female patients in whom oedema, pain, and reddening of the skin appeared after orach consumption.

Atriplex littoralis L.

[syns Atriplex marina L., Atriplex serrata Huds.]

Grass-Leaved Orache, Narrow-Leaved Atriplex, Shore Orache, Arroche Littorale, Strand-Melde

Ingestion of Atriplex serrata as a famine food has been reported to cause atriplicism, a syndrome presenting as a severe photodermatitis that may be accompanied by systemic symptoms (Cairns et al. 1968). Women who ate the plant under famine conditions in Manchuria, northern China (where the plant is known locally as noong jang-ai) developed oedema that evolved into a severe pruritic bullous eruption of the face, arms, and hands. Men where said to be rarely affected (Martin 1925, Maxwell 1929). The condition was first reported by Matignon (1897, 1898, 1900) who described the same adverse effects following ingestion of Atriplex littoralis.

The identity of the plant to which Maxwell (1929) referred is open to question because the Flora of China does not list either Atriplex littoralis or Atriplex serrata as occurring in China but does note that Atriplex hortensis L. [see above], when still young, is used as a vegetable in northern China (Chu et al. 2003).

Bassia scoparia (L.) Voss

[syns Chenopodium scoparia L., Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.]

Belvedere, Burning Bush, Common Kochia, Fireweed, Summer Cypress, Bassie à Balais, Belvédère, Besen-Radmelde, Dichtblütige Besen-Radmelde, Sommerzypresse

The pollen of this species can cause pollinosis (Wodehouse 1971).

Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. was responsible for photosensitisation in cattle, sheep, and horses during drought years in the Argentine in 1942 and 1943 (Kingsbury 1964).

Beta vulgaris L.

[syn. Beta maritima L.]

Beetroot, Mangelwurzel, Mangold Wurzel, Sugar Beet, Bette Commune, Bette-Épinard, Betterave Sucrière, Mangold, Runkelrübe

In traditional Chinese medicine, the seeds are used to treat favus in children, and to treat bleeding piles (Stuart 1911).

Dermatitis in the sugar beet industry affected two thirds of workers employed in the crystallising department. Sugar appeared to be responsible for the dermatitis and secondary infection was common (Prosser White 1934).

A food handler who had contact dermatitis showed positive patch test reactions to beet and to spinach (Spinacia L.). Control tests were not recorded (Morris 1954). A positive patch test reaction to beet pulp was observed in a dock worker who had allergic contact dermatitis from cattle fodder products including maize and barley (fam. Gramineae) and brans (Malten 1970).

Beet pollen may cause pollinosis (Wodehouse 1971).

Nater & Grosfeld (1979) reported contact dermatitis from the herbicide Betanal^® (containing phenmedipham) which is used on sugar beet.

Celosia argentea L.

[syns Amaranthus purpureus Dodoens ex Nieuwl., Celosia argentea var. cristata (L.) Kuntze, Celosia cristata L.]

Plumed Cockscomb, Feathery Amaranth, Silver Cock's Comb, Red Fox, Woolflower

In traditional Chinese medicine, the stalk and leaves of this plant, known as qing xiang (青葙), bruised and applied as a poultice, are used in infected sores, wounds and skin eruptions. The juice of the seed, qing xiang zi (青葙子) or Semen Celosiae, forced into the nostril is considered to be a cure for epistaxis (Stuart 1911).

Centrostachys aquatica (R.Br.) Wall. ex Moq.

[syns Achyranthes aquatica R.Br., Celosia spinescens Russell ex Wall.]

The genus is monotypic (Mabberley 2017). Oakes & Butcher (1962) include "Centrostachys spp." in a list of plants of the U.S. Virgin Islands capable of causing mechanical injury. However, Centrostachys aquatica is not known to occur in the Caribbean, so the plants to which Oakes & Butcher were referring might have been species of Achyranthes L., the genus to which many Centrostachys species have been moved.

Kumar & Narain (2010) noted that in North Central India, the leaves of Centrostachys aquatica are used [in an unspecified way] as a treatment for insect bites.

Chenopodium L.

Between 100 and 150 species are found in temperate regions (Willis 1973), a number of which have been used for food by man (Usher 1974).

A pellagra-like syndrome has occurred in starving persons who ate unspecified species of Chenopodium (Grzybowski 1948, Sebastynski 1960, Yu 1957, Lukács 1958). Poisoning in animals from ingestion of the plants and human poisoning from ingestion of chenopodium oil (see Chenopodium ambrosioides var. anthelminticum) does not appear to produce photosensitivity (Kingsbury 1964).

Contact with the plants has been reported to cause dermatitis (Becker & O'Brien 1959) and to evoke photodermatitis (Lubieniecki 1961).

The pollen of some species, especially Chenopodium album, can cause pollinosis (Wodehouse 1971).

Chenopodium album L.

[syn. Chenopodium strictum Roth]

Fat Hen, Lamb's Quarters, White Goosefoot, Weisser Gänsefuß

The plant is cultivated in India for fodder and as a pot-herb, and is a ubiquitous weed. Cases of photosensitisation have been seen following its ingestion as a green vegetable (Behl & Captain 1979). It is said to be useful in the treatment of vitiligo (Behl 1973).

In traditional Chinese medicine, the expressed juice of the plant is applied to freckles and sunburn. It is also thought to have insecticidal properties (Stuart 1911).

This species produced a positive patch test reaction in one of 50 patients investigated for "weed dermatitis" (Shelmire 1939a).

Cornulaca monacantha Delile

[syns Cornulaca amblyacantha Bunge, Cornulaca monacantha var. diacantha Maire]

This species, which grows in the northern African and Middle Eastern deserts, forms compact, round bushes bearing small yellow thorns (Swift 1975).

Deeringia amaranthoides (Lam.) Merr.

[syns Achyranthes amaranthoides Lam., Cladostachys frutescens D.Don]

The powdered root of this species may cause violent sneezing (Burkill 1935).

Dissocarpus paradoxus (R.Br.) F.Muell. ex Ulbr.

[syns Bassia paradoxa (R.Br.) F.Muell., Chenolea paradoxa (R.Br.) F.Muell., Sclerolaena paradoxa R.Br.]

Bur Saltbush, Curious Saltbush, Hard-Head Bassia

Referring to Bassia paradoxa, Cleland (1925) noted that the sharp spined fruits of salt bushes give much trouble to man and beast.

Dysphania anthelmintica (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants

[syns Chenopodium ambrosioides var. anthelminticum (L.) A.Gray, Chenopodium anthelminticum L.]

Wormseed, American Wormseed, Hedge Mustard, Jerusalem Parsley, West Indian Goosefoot

Aplin (1976) noted that the volatile oil has been reported to cause an irritating itch in a person who handled the plant.

Chenopodium oil, otherwise known as American wormseed oil or Baltimore oil, is extracted from the flowers and fruits of the plant by steam distillation. It consists chiefly of ascaridole and para-cymene. As well as being used as an anthelmintic (for which purpose it is effective but possesses toxic side effects), it has value as a fragrance raw material.

Undiluted chenopodium oil was found to be irritating when applied to the skin of mice, swine, and rabbits, but was non-irritant when diluted to 4% in petrolatum and applied for 48 hours in a closed patch test on human skin. No phototoxic effects on the skin of mice and swine could be demonstrated with the undiluted oil; attempts to induce contact sensitivity to 4% chenopodium oil in petrolatum in 25 human volunteers were unsuccessful (Opdyke 1976, Forbes et al. 1977). The oil is also reportedly irritant to the cornea (Duke-Elder & MacFaul 1972b).

Dysphania atriplicifolia (Spreng.) G.Kadereit, Sukhor. & Uotila

[syns Cycloloma atriplicifolium (Spreng.) Coult., Kochia atriplicifolia (Spreng.) Roth, Salsola atriplicifolia Spreng.]

Winged Pigweed, Meldenblättriger Drüsengänsefuß

An extract of this species produced negative patch test reactions in all of 50 patients being investigated for "weed dermatitis" (Shelmire 1939a).

Dysphania botrys (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants

[syns Chenopodium botrys L., Botrydium botrys (L.) Small Teloxys botrys (L.) W.A.Weber]

Feather Geranium, Jerusalem Oak Goosefoot, Chénopode Botryde, Chénopode en Grappe, Herbe à Printemps, Bertholdskraut, Klebriger Drüsengänsefuß, Klebriger Gänsefuß

This species produced negative patch test reactions in all of 50 patients investigated for "weed dermatitis" (Shelmire 1939a).

Froelichia floridana (Nutt.) Moq.

[syn. Oplotheca floridana Nutt.]

Cottontails, Cottonweed, Field Snakecotton, Florida Snake-Cotton, Plains Snakecotton, Prairie Froelichia

This species is listed by Shelmire (1940) as an infrequent sensitiser, but no clinical details are given.

Grayia spinosa (Hook.) Moq.

[syns Atriplex spinosa Collotzi ex C.L.Hitchc., Chenopodium spinosum Hook.]

Applebush, Spiny Hopsage

The spines on this shrub, which is found in western North America, may cause minor injury.^a,b

^a https://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/shrubs-and-trees/applebush; accessed September 2025
^b https://floranorthamerica.org/Grayia_spinosa; accessed September 2025

Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) A.Meeuse & A.Smit

[syns Ceratoides lanata (Pursh) J.T.Howell, Diotis lanata Pursh, Eurotia lanata (Pursh) Moq., Krascheninnikovia ceratoides subsp. lanata (Pursh) Heklau]

White Sage, Winterfat, Winter Sage, Ansérine Laineuse

Eurotia lanata is used by native American tribes of Nevada for headlice and as a hair tonic to promote growth (Train et al. 1957).

Neobassia proceriflora (F.Muell.) A.J.Scott

[syn. Threlkeldia proceriflora F.Muell.]

Desert Glasswort, False Copperbur, Sodabush

Ingestion of Threlkeldia proceriflora F.Muell., an Australian species, is reported to cause photosensitisation in animals (Hurst 1942).

Pandiaka metallorum P.A.Duvign. & Van Bockstal

This southern African species is known to hyperaccumulate copper and cobalt when growing in soils rich in these elements. Levels of up to 6000 µg/g (ppm) of copper and 570 ppm of cobalt have been recorded from dried plant material originating from Zaire (Malaisse et al. 1979). The contact sensitising capacity of cobalt and its salts is well documented (Malten et al. 1976, Cronin 1980). Copper is only a rare sensitiser (Karlberg 1983).

Salsola kali L.

[syns Kali soda Moench, Kali turgidum (Dumort.) Gutermann]

Common Saltwort, Prickly Saltwort, Russian Thistle, Kalikraut, Kali-Salzkraut

The leaf tip is armed with a sharp spine which may prove physically damaging to the field worker, who may even fail to find gloves thick enough to keep the spines out of his fingers. The spines may break off under the skin (Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk 1962).

Salsola tragus L.

[syns Kali tragus (L.) Scop., Salsola kali var. tragus (L.) Moq., Salsola pestifer A.Nelson]

Prickly Russian Thistle, Prickly Saltwort, Roly Poly, Russian Cactus, Russian Thistle, Tumbleweed, Winged-Fruit Russian Thistle, Soude Roulante, Bocks-Salzkraut, Kali-Salzkraut, Küsten-Salzkraut, Ukraine-Salzkraut

Since about 1900, this plant has become an agricultural weed in North America. The spines of the plant cause irritation to men and horses (Pammel 1911, Schwartz et al. 1957). In New Mexico, USA, a disorder known a tumbleweed dermatitis can occur following skin contact with this plant; direct mechanical injury from the spines appears to be the cause. An extract of the plant produced negative patch test reactions in all of 50 patients being investigated for "weed dermatitis" (Shelmire 1939a). Powell & Smith (1978) carried out patch, scratch, and photopatch tests with Russian thistle and an extract. These tests showed that in non-sensitive persons, dermatitis was caused only by mechanical irritation from plant floral bracts. In sensitive individuals, the bracts pierced the skin and stimulated an urticarial reaction.

Migaki et al. (1969) noted that in areas of southwestern USA, spines from Salsola pestifer are sometimes found embedded in the tongues of range cattle. Spines in tongues can predispose to bacterial infection.

Spinacia oleracea L.

Spinach, Épinard, Echter Spinat

Dermatitis caused by handling spinach was recorded by Brown (1922). According to Shelmire (1940), spinach can cause dermatitis in housewives. Schwartz et al. (1957) recorded that in the canning industry, workers employed in packing spinach are subject to a dermatitis resembling that produced by Toxicodendron Mill. (fam. Anacardiaceae).

A food handler was contact sensitive to spinach and to beet (Beta L.). A packer of spinach had oedema due to cold (Morris 1954). A vegetable dealer had dermatitis from contact with spinach, and asthma from ingestion of spinach and also green peas (Pisum L., fam. Leguminosae).

Patch tests with spinach reported by Zohn (1937) and by Singh et al. (1978) produced negative results. However, Sinha et al. (1977) observed a positive patch test reaction in 1 of 53 patients who had hand dermatitis suspected to be caused by vegetables.

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