About Ageratum conyzoides L.
Ageratum conyzoides L., commonly known by the common names billygoat-weed, chick weed, goatweed, whiteweed, and mentrasto, is native to Tropical America, particularly Brazil. It has become an invasive weed in many other regions worldwide. This herb grows to a height between 0.5 and 1 meter, produces ovate leaves 2 to 6 centimeters long, and bears flowers that range in color from white to mauve. In Vietnamese, this plant is called cứt lợn, which translates to "pig feces", a name that references its habit of growing in dirty areas. Ingestion of Ageratum conyzoides can lead to the development of liver lesions and liver tumors. A mass poisoning event occurred in Ethiopia after grain became contaminated with this plant. Ageratum conyzoides contains the pyrrolizidine alkaloids lycopsamine and echinatine. As a medicinal plant, Ageratum conyzoides is widely used in many traditional cultures to treat dysentery and diarrhea. It is also used as an insecticide and a nematicide.
