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Cnicus benedictus is a plant that belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae family. They are commonly known as the blessed thistle, holy thistle or spotted thistle.
Cnicus is a Greek term that means to puncture, and the term benedictus is due to its medicine virtues. They cured the bubonic plagues who where spread all around Europe in the middle Ages.
We can find it in dry and sunny grounds.
It is presented in Asia and Europe. Occasionally, we could also find it in the US, in Chile and Argentina too.
It is an annual plant with a xeromorphic root.
It has a caulescent stem, of 40 to 60 cm high, more or less, very ramified, erect and pubescent.
Leafs are pinnatipartites, of a light greenish colour, and pubescent.
Their insertion to the stem of the upper leafs are sessile, whiles the lower have a petiole.
Alternate leafs, coracias and the lobe’s apex has spines.
Cnicus benedictus flowers at June, and they are tubular, hermaphrodites, zygomorphic, pentamerous and gamopetalous.
Red spines surround the small tubulars yellow flowers.
Their inflorescence is in solitary capitulum, multi-flowered, surrounded by bracts. Capitulum helps the entomophilous pollination.
This plant has an achene and crowned by a pappus in order to help the seed dispersion.
The androecium has 5 stamens, and the gynoecium has an inferior ovary with only one ovule.
The drug is extracted of the stems, leafs and flowers.
It contains cnicina, which is bitter, mucilage, tannins, flavonoids, and minerals.
The cnicina has antibacterial properties, against gram-negative bacteria (Brucella, E. Coli).
It is used in case of loss of hunger, flatulence, dyspepsia, constipation and difficult digestion. It is a good hypoglycemic for diabetes cases.
Cnicus benedictus in order to eliminate toxins, and in homeopathic medicine it is used for hepatitis, ictericia, and arthritis treatments.
In excessive doses, it may cause an irritation of the digestive mucosa and vomits.