Source and Distribution of Chenopodium Oil:

Chenopodium oil is a volatile oil obtained by the steam distillation from the fresh flowering and fruiting plants of Chenopodium ambrosioides of the variety anthelminticum of the family Chenopodiaceae.

Volatile oil is not present in the roots. It is also known as American Wormseed oil, mexican tea, chenopodiol and chenoposan.

The plant is very common in Eastern and Central USA. It is extensively cultivated in Carribean islands, Europe, Maryland, Mexico and Canada. In India it is found in the states of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and in Karnataka.

Physical Properties of the Chenopodium Oil:

The oil is colourless to yellow coloured liquid with unpleasant odour and bitter and burning taste.

Chemical Constituents of Chenopodium Oil:

The chief component of the oil is ascaridole. Ascaridole is an unsaturated terpene peroxide, P-cymene, myrcene, 1-limonene and camphor.

Chenopodium Oil Uses :

• It is a valuable anthelmintic for round worms (Ascaris) especially
• It is used for expelling the worms like hook worms and dwarf tape worms. It is not active against large tape worms
• It is used against intestinal amoebae
• It is used in veterinary practice also
• But it is contraindicated in pregnancy, and in patients with kidney or liver disorders.

Substitutes of Chenopodium Oil :

Chenopodium oil is substituted with Chenopodium ambrosoides and Chenopodium album which are found in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal. This oil is stored in closed containers and in cool places away from the light.

Synonyms of Chenopodium Oil:

• Mexican Tea
• Bengali – Bathusag
• Hindi – Sugandhvastuk
• Malayalam – Katu
• Sanskrit – Sugandhvastuk

  Chenopodium, Medicinal Plants