Physical characteristics

This indigenous herb is a small plant with creeping branches spreading from a woody, perennial rootstock.  The leaves are variable in shape, often oblong but sometimes very narrow, greyish-green in colour and covered with short, dense, white hair.  Flower heads are pale mauve and inconspicuous, with a neat halo of numerous spreading bracts.  These are long, thin and somewhat spiny; superficially resembling those of true karmedik (see Cnicus).  Another species, D. anomala is also used medicinally.  It differs in the bright green upper surfaces of the leaves and the larger flower heads.  The leaves and twigs are mainly used, but roots are often included.

Composition

Several lactones were isolated from aerial parts of D. capensis of which 15-acetoxy-14-hydroxycostunolide was the main ingredient, together with small amounts of an acetate of brachylaenolide and various minor compounds.  These lactones have not yet been associated with any biological activity.

Medicinal uses

As the Afrikaans vernacular suggests, the plant is widely used to treat fever, but also for an upset stomach and numerous other ailments including influenza, high blood pressure, diarrhoea and even cancer.  D. anomala is used for similar conditions.  In addition to the use of aboveground parts, the roots of D. anomala are ground and snuffed as a treatment for colds or a decoction of it in gin has been used to treat haemorphoids and fever.  Anecdotes exist for several other species of dicoma.

For an upset stomach and fever an infusion of the leaves is used – precise details are not available.

As a treatment for fever, the infusion is said to induce perspiration but the pharmacology of the medicine appears to be unknown.

Other uses

There is no scientific evidence to substantiate the reported beneficial effect of this traditional medicine

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