Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC.

Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC. belonging to the Asteraceae family, is a herb native to South America, heliophytic and ruderal, and grows wild in grasslands, wastelands and secondary forests. Naturally, its propagation structure constitutes the achenes, but propagation by apical cuttings is also feasible. The crude drug (Achyroclines flos) consists of its dried flowers, with golden yellow coloring and that presents aromatic and pleasant odor and slightly bitter taste, due to the presence of substances such as essential oils and flavonoids. Its flowers should be collected when fully developed, usually during autumn. In the Brazilian folk medicine, its tea is used as digestive, eupeptic, emmenagogue, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antidiarrheal. It is popular in treating disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and its anti-inflammatory action has been confirmed in pharmacological studies. Tests performed with isolated flavonoids (quercetin, quercetin 3-methyl ether and luteolin) of this species demonstrate that these compounds may be at least partially responsible for these activities.