ABSTRACT
Sphaeranthus indicus L. (Asteraceae), commonly called Gorakhmundi, is an aromatic herb widely distributed in tropical Africa, Asia, and Australia. The plant grows as a common weed in damp rice fields. It is found to have various ethnomedicinal and aesthetic values. S. indicus is extensively used in the indigenous system of medicine to treat a wide range of illnesses, including fever, diabetes, jaundice, gastropathy, hepatopathy, dyspepsia, hernia, leprosy, and skin disorders. The whole plant is used in Ayurveda to cure epilepsy and mental problems. The insecticidal properties of S. indicus also make it helpful in the preservation of food grains. Regarding the ethnobotanical claims for S. indicus in treating numerous illnesses, researchers have made significant efforts to validate its efficacy using scientific pharmacological screenings. S. indicus extract and isolated secondary metabolites have been reported with various biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antitussive, wound healing, anxiolytic, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, larvicidal, antihyperlipidaemic, nephroprotective, and anticonvulsant activities. This chapter aims to bring together ethnobotanical and pharmacological information on S. indicus.
