botanical record · discovered

Purple fleabane

Vernonia cinerea

Purple fleabane · Vernonie cendrée, Herbe le rhum, Herbe goni · little ironweed · mambombo ya nseke · mbiliso · ngologolwe · titonvute · tshibwibwa tshitoke · Ironweed · Vernonia

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Solomon I, India(Santal), Malaya, Moluccas, India, India(Gujarat)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Ache(Head), Amebiasis, Antidote, Cancer

Science studied: BETA-AMYRIN, BETA-AMYRIN-ACETATE, BEHENIC-ACID, FAT

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Asteraceae

Scientific name: Vernonia cinerea

Common names: Purple fleabane, Vernonie cendrée, Herbe le rhum, Herbe goni, little ironweed, mambombo ya nseke, mbiliso, ngologolwe, titonvute, tshibwibwa tshitoke, Ironweed, Vernonia

History

The source record documents this plant in Solomon I, Elsewhere, India(Santal), Malaya, Moluccas, India, India(Gujarat).

It records these historical or traditional applications:

Ache(Head)
Amebiasis
Antidote
Cancer
Cholera
Colic
Cough
Diaphoretic

show 26 more documented entries

Diarrhea
Eczema
Guineaworms
Herpes
Incontinence
Labor
Lactogogue
Malaria
Night-Blindness
Ringworm
Splenitis
Swelling(Veterinary)
Throat(Veterinary)
Tumor
Vermifuge
Alexipharmic
Fever
Pediculicide
Psoriasis
Ache(Stomach)
Dysentery
Dyspepsia(Veterinary)
Impotency
Leucoderma
Skin
Dysuria

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

Solomon I
Elsewhere
India(Santal)
Malaya
Moluccas
India
India(Gujarat)

Documented cultural uses

Ache(Head)
Amebiasis
Antidote
Cancer
Cholera
Colic
Cough
Diaphoretic
Diarrhea
Eczema
Guineaworms
Herpes

show 22 more documented entries

Incontinence
Labor
Lactogogue
Malaria
Night-Blindness
Ringworm
Splenitis
Swelling(Veterinary)
Throat(Veterinary)
Tumor
Vermifuge
Alexipharmic
Fever
Pediculicide
Psoriasis
Ache(Stomach)
Dysentery
Dyspepsia(Veterinary)
Impotency
Leucoderma
Skin
Dysuria

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

Ache(Head) · Solomon I · "
Amebiasis · Elsewhere · "
Antidote · Elsewhere · "
Cancer · Elsewhere · "
Cholera · India(Santal) · "
Colic · Malaya · "
Cough · Moluccas · "
Diaphoretic · Elsewhere · "
Diarrhea · Malaya · "
Eczema · Elsewhere · "
Guineaworms · Elsewhere · "
Ache(Head) · Malaya · "
Herpes · Elsewhere · "
Incontinence · Elsewhere · "
Labor · Moluccas · "
Lactogogue · India(Santal) · "
Malaria · Elsewhere · "
Night-Blindness · India(Santal) · "
Ringworm · Malaya · "
Ringworm · Elsewhere · "
Splenitis · India(Santal) · "
Swelling(Veterinary) · Elsewhere · "
Throat(Veterinary) · Elsewhere · "
Tumor · India · "

14 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

Evaluation of the effectiveness of Vernonia cinerea for the treatment of smoking cessation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. · 2025 source ↗
Compounds from the aerial parts of Vernonia cinerea with anti-inflammatory activity. · 2025 source ↗
First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Podosphaera xanthii on Vernonia cinerea in China · 2024 source ↗