Botany:
Hangod is a coarse, rambling or erect, distantly branched annual herb, 0.5 to 2 meters high. Leaves are oblong-ovate to elliptic or obovate, 6 to 15 centimeters long, pointed at both ends, more or less hairy, though often nearly smooth. Spikes are rigid, elongated and 10 to 15 centimeters long. Flowers are green and about 5 millimeters in length. Sepals 4 or 5, filaments connate at the base, the stamens and staminodes square toothed or fimbricate, pale purplish. Buds point upwards but when the flowers open, they spread out from the sides. Seeds are oblong, brown, 2 to 3 millimeters long. Fruits utricles are oblong or ovoid, indehiscent.

Distribution
- Weed found throughout the Philippines at low and medium altitudes, in open, waste places.
- Pantropic weed, probably introduced into the Philippines.

Parts utilized
Entire plant.
Collect from May to October.
Rinse, macerate, sun-dry.

Constituents
• Does not contain any alkaloid.
• Contains triterpenoid and saponins.
• Fruit contains a large percentage of alkaline ash containing potash.
• Seeds contain saponins A and B, glycosides of oleanolic acid.

Properties
• According to Ayurveda, bitter, pungent, heating laxative, stomachic, carminative.
• Considered slightly cooling, antipyretic-diuretic.
• Aids lymphatic circulation, strengthens musculatured, improves blood circulation.
• Seeds and leaves considered emetic.

Uses
Edibility / Culinary
Leaves and seeds are edible.
Leaf used as potherb.
Seeds rich in protein.
Folkloric
• In the Philippines, decoction of roots and leaves used as diuretic.
• Sap said to be useful in dissipating corneal opacities.
• Used for cold with fever, heat stoke with headache, malaria, dysentery.
• Used for urinary tract lithiasis, chronic nephritis, edema, and rheumatic arthralgia (joint pain).
• Ash, with honey, used to relieve coughs.
• In India roots macerated in water, are applied to relieve the pain of scorpion stings.
• Juice of leaves used for dysentery.
• Infusion of root used as mild astringent for bowel complaints.
• Seeds and leaves used as emetic.
• In Ayurveda, used for treatming vomiting, bronchitis, heart problems, hemorrhoids itching, abdominal pains, ascites, etc.
• In India, used as abortifacient. Also, used as stomachich and laxative.
• Used in piles, inflammation of the internal organs and enlarged cervical glands.
• Juice is applied to relieve toothache.
• Decoction of leaves used in treatment of diarrhea and dysentery.
• Poultice of leaves used for rabies, hysteria, insect and snake bites.
Others
• Ash from burnt plant, mixed with mustard oil and pinch of salt, and used as powder for cleaning teeth.
• Dried twigs or fresh piece of root used as toothbrush.
• Ash is a rich source of potash. Used for washing clothes.

Studies
• OB-Gyn Uses: ETHNOMEDICINAL USES OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA L. (AMARANTHACEAE) IN MANAGEMENT OF GYNAECOLOGICAL DISORDERS IN WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH (INDIA): The study records the ethno-medicinal use of A. aspera in rural areas in India: abortion, inducing labor pains, expeling dead fetus, expelling placental remains, stopping excessive bleeding, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, etc.
• Antifertility / Abortifacient: Methanolic leaves extract of AA showed significant abortifacient activity and increased, pituitary and uterine weights in ovariectimized rats. Its anti-fertility activity presents a potential option for population explosion.
• Nephroprotective: Study evaluating the nephroprotective role of the methanolic extract of A aspera against lead acetate-induced nephrotoxicity in rats showed complete amelioration of the lead-induced renal damage.
• Antiinflammatory: Effect of alcohol extract of Achyranthes aspera Linn. on acute and subacute inflammation: Alcohol extract of Achyranthes aspera showed inhibition of carrageenin-induced rat paw edema,
• Post-coital antifertility activity of Achyranthes aspera Linn. root: Study suggests the ethanol extract possess both anti-implantation and abortifacient activity. It also exhibited estrogenic activity,
• Larvicidal activity: All extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects against A aegypti and C quinquefasciatus. It investigates the potential of crude extracts of medicinal herbs as a measure to control the vector of dengue and lymphatic filariasis.
• Immunomodulatory Activity: Extract of AA was found to enhance the induction of ovalbumin-specific humoral antibody response in mice on intraperitoneal extract injection along with OVA. Results confirm the immunostimulatory properties of A aspera.
• Anti-Inflammatory activity: Study results demonstrate promising anti-inflammatory activity against both acute and chornic inflammation. Also, inhibition of prostaglandins and bradykinins may play a role.
• Wound Healing / Antioxidant: Study showed the ethanol and aqueous extracts of Achyranthes aspera showed wound healing activity in the wound models used and also exhibited good antioxidant effect by the prevention of free radicals. Results justify the inclusion of the plant in the management of cuts and wound healing.
• Antimicrobial / Anti-Inflammatory: Study showed inhibition of S aureus, B subtilis, E coli and Aspergillus terreus.
• Antiviral / Anti-carcinogenic: Study showed significant inhibitory effects on the Epstein-Barr virus antigen induced by a tumor-promoter in Raji cells. In the in vivo two stage mouse skin carcinogenesis test, the methanolic extract exhibited a pronounced anticarcinogenic effect.

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Chirchita or Onga (Achyranthes aspera var. perphyristachya Hook. F.) / Pankaj Oudhia
(2)
ETHNOMEDICINAL USES OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA L. (AMARANTHACEAE) IN MANAGEMENT OF GYNAECOLOGICAL DISORDERS IN WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH (INDIA)
(3)
Achyranthes aspera - L. / Devil's Horsewhip / Plants For A Future
(4)
Effect of achyranthes aspera L. on fetal abortion, uterine and pituitary weights, serum lipids and hormones / Workineh Shibeshi et al / Afr Health Sci. 2006 June; 6(2): 108–112.
(5)
Post-coital antifertility activity of Achyranthes aspera Linn. root / VASUDEVA Neeru et al / Journal of ethnopharmacology • 2006, vol. 107, no2, pp. 179-181
(6)
Larvicidal activity of saponin from Achyranthes aspera against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus / Bagavan, A et al / arasitology Research, Volume 103, Number 1, June 2008 , pp. 223-229(7) / DOI: 10.1007/s00436-008-0962-z
(7)
Immunomodulatory Activity of Achyranthes aspera on the Elicitation of Antigen-Specific Murine Antibody Response / Rao Y. Vasudeva et al / Pharmaceutical Biology, Volume 40, Issue 3 May 2002 , pages 175 - 178 / DOI: 10.1076/phbi.40.3.175.5831
(8)
Effect of alcohol extract of Achyranthes aspera Linn. on acute and subacute inflammation / T. Vetrichelvan et al / Phytotherapy Research, Volume 17 Issue 1, Pages 77 - 79 / DOI 10.1002/ptr.1070
(9)
Anti-inflammatory activity of roots of Achyranthes aspera / S Vijaya Kumar et al / Summary
Pharmaceutical Biology, October 2009, Vol. 47, No. 10, Pages 973-97
(10)
Achyranthes aspera elevates thyroid hormone levels and decreases hepatic lipid peroxidation in male rats / P.Tahiliani / Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 71, Issue 3, Pages 527-532
(11)
Experimental Studies of Achyranthes aspera Preventing Nephrotoxicity Induced by Lead in Albino Rats /
Thangavel Jayakumar et al / Journal of Health Science, 55(5), 701-708 (2009)
(12)
Wound Healing and Antioxidant Activity of Achyranthes aspera / S Edwin et al / Summary
Pharmaceutical Biology, 2008, Vol. 46, No. 12, Pages 824-828
(13)
Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae) /