Cocklebur - Dangers and Uses

Dangers and Uses

The Common Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) is a native of North America where in the past the (now extinct) Carolina Parakeet fed on the seeds. It has become an invasive species worldwide. It invades agricultural lands and can be poisonous to livestock, including horses, cattle, and sheep. Some domestic animals will avoid consuming the plant if other forage is present, but less discriminating animals, such as pigs, will consume the plants and then sicken and die. The seedlings and seeds are the most toxic parts of the plants. Symptoms usually occur within a few hours, producing unsteadiness and weakness, depression, nausea and vomiting, twisting of the neck muscles, rapid and weak pulse, difficulty breathing, and eventually death.

The plant also has been used for making yellow dye, hence the name of the genus (Greek xanthos = 'yellow'). The many species of this plant, which can be found in many areas, may actually be varieties of two or three species. The seed oil is edible to humans.

Asian species of Xanthium are Xanthium strumarium, also known as Cang Er Zi(苍耳子) in Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to some studies, an active ingredient in Xanthium exhibits significant selective modulation of superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils induced by N-formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (namely fMLP, acts as a strong chemoattractant), with an IC₅₀ value of 1.72 mcg/mL. Xanthium is also known for its ability to clear nasal and sinus congestion.

This plant is a beneficial weed, repelling army worms and other pests from nearby domesticated plants.