PARTE UTILIZADA=Used part: Toda la planta. 

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Emenagogo, anticonceptivo. 

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: The chem. constituents of leaves, inflorescences, stems, and roots of prostrate globe amaranth (G. celosioides) were examd. Saponins, steroids, amino acids, and nonreducing sugars were present in all plant parts. Phenols and flavonoids were found in leaves, inflorescences, and stems. Betacyanins occurred only in stems, reducing sugars in the inflorescences, and ketoses in the roots and stems. Root exts. exhibited weak antibacterial activity. Exts. of all plant parts were active on the autonomic nervous system of rats. Sympathetic and parasympathetic symptoms were obsd.

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: E. de Brasil y N. y centro de Argentina. 

DIVERSIDAD GENÉTICA Y MEJORAMIENTO DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants and improvement of medicinal herbs:

This paper describes air pollution tolerance among roadside plants exposed to varying degrees of traffic pollution. Parameters such as chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, pH of the leaf extract and relative water content were used to obtain air pollution tolerance index (APTI). The observed significant reduction in total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and relative water content showed inverse relationship with traffic density. Similarly, the pH followed an exponential decrease with increase in traffic pollution and drifted towards the acidic range. Due to higher reduction in APTI over control counterparts, Vernonia cinerea, Lagascea mollis, Tridax procumbens, Vinca rosea, Euphorbia hirta, Amaranthus spinosus and Ageratum conyzoides are considered as sensitive species to automobile emission. Conversely Pongamia pinnato, Polyalthia longifolia, Bauhinia purpurea, Portulaca oleracea and Gomphrena celosioides are regarded as relatively resistant species. The utility of APTI bio analysis is discussed. 

ÚLTIMOS AVANCES EN LA QUÍMICA Y ACTIVIDADES BACTERIOLÓGICAS EN LAS PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants, last advances on chemistry and bacteria activities on the medicinal herbs

1) The antimicrobial activity of ethanolic ext. and pure compds. of Gomphrena celosioides was screened by the Kirby-Bauer method.  Quant. detn. of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzoic acid in stems, leaves, flowers and roots was established by TLC densitometry.  The compd. exhibited significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi.

1) TOURSARKISSIAN, Martín. Plantas medicinales de Argentina : sus nombres botánicos, vulgares, usos y distribución geográfica. Buenos Aires : Hemisferio Sur, 1980, p.3.

2) BOTHA, S.; GERRITSMA-VAU DER VIJVER, L. M. Pharmacochemical study of Gomphrena celosioides (Amaranthaceae). Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie. 1986, vol.5, nº1, p.40-45.
 
3) RAMAKRISHMAIAH, H.; SOMASHEKAR, R.K. Higher plants as biomonitors of automobile pollution. Ecology, Environment and Conservation. 2003, vol.9, nº3, p.337-343.
 
4) XAVIER DE MOURA, R. M.  Antimicrobial screening and quantitative determination of benzoic acid derivative of Gomphrena celosioides by TLC densitometry. Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 2004, vol.52, nº11, p.1342-1344.