Chicken grass: an effective cough remedy right next to you

Chicken grass (Cynodon dactylon) is also known as tube grass or grass only. This is a plant close to humans, especially farmers. The tree is often used to make fodder for livestock, as a game of cockfighting for children in rural areas. More specifically, they are also used as medicine to treat whooping cough, dry cough or in combination with some other drugs to treat rheumatic pain.

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• 1. Scientific name
• 2. Plant description
• 3. Distribution and collection of Chicken Grass
• 4. Chemical composition of Chicken Grass
• 5. Calculation of taste, business rules
• 6. Pharmacological effects

1. Scientific name

Chicken grass  , also known as tube grass, has only the scientific name Cynodon dactylon,  belonging to the Rice family (Poaceace).

2. Plant description

This is a long-lived grass, crawling together into a dense grass. Rhizomes crawling at the base, erect at the top, hard, with 8 to 40 stalks, sometimes up to 90 cm high. Leaves are flat, narrow pointed, 3-4 cm long, yellow-green, hairy, slightly rough edges. The inflorescence consists of 3-7 florets that are finger-shaped, single, slender, blue or purple. The rhomboid is usually flattened with no free grooves in the petiole. Chicken grass often has a parasitic leafworm called Spodoptera frugiperda . Due to the action of this worm, the leaf sheaths are rolled up in many layers, causing the tip of the blade to form a nodule the size of a chicken.

This is a long-lived grass, crawling together into a dense grass

3. Distribution and collection of Chicken Grass

Chicken grass occurs throughout the tropical, subtropical and coastal temperate regions of the world. In Vietnam, they often grow along riverbanks, fields, dykes, and roadsides in rural areas. This is a heat-loving plant and tolerates waterlogging and trampling well. The plant is suitable for many types of soil: sandy soil, sandy soil, clay soil even very acidic soil, alkaline soil, saline soil. However, it cannot grow in a shady place 

Harvest chicken grass all year round. When picking, dig up the whole plant, cut the rhizomes separately, then wash the sandy soil and dry / dry it gradually. The rhizome is the part of the plant that is commonly harvested and used. However, some places use the whole tree for different purposes.

Chicken grass is present in all tropical, subtropical and coastal temperate regions of the world

4. Chemical composition of Chicken Grass

Medicinal herbs containing phenolic phytotoxins. ferulic, syringic, paracoumaric, vanillic, para hydroxyl benzoic and orthohydroxy phenyl acetic acids. Flavonoids and glycosides were found in the aqueous extract of Chicken Grass. Alkaloids, glycosides and flavonoids are present in the ethanol extract of the plant. Leaves contain glycerin, 12-Octadecadienoyl chloride, hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester, ethyl -d-glucopyranoside, linoleic acid... In addition, the plant also contains vitamin C, β-carotene, fat, palmitic acid.

5. Calculation of taste, business rules

According to traditional medicine, chicken grass has a sweet, slightly bitter taste. Refer to the Can and Kidney Sutras.

6. Pharmacological effects

6.1. According to Modern Medicine of Chicken Grass

6.1.1. Protect the liver

Scientists have studied the hepatoprotective effects of chicken grass against toxins. The results of the study showed that the ethanol extract from the plant had a protective effect on liver cells against toxic damage caused by CCl4 in mice. The liver enzymes, bilirubin, and cholesterol were also significantly reduced in mice given ethanol extract from the plant.

6.1.2. Chicken grass helps lower blood sugar

Researchers demonstrated their hypoglycemic potential when they gave diabetic rats 500 mg/kg of an ethanol extract from the plant. The results showed it was to reduce the blood glucose level by 43.42% in the test rats. Thus, the ethanolic extract of the plant has great potential to lower blood glucose levels in diabetic subjects. 

6.1.3. Nephrolithiasis

The alcoholic extract of chicken grass has been shown to reduce calcium oxalate deposition in kidney tissue - a cause of kidney stones.

6.1.4. Prevent cancer

The researchers found that treatment with a methanol extract of the plant was able to increase the expression of antioxidant enzymes and reduce the number of dysplastic cells in the intestines in albino mice. The anti-cancer activity manifests through anti-proliferative and anti-oxidative processes. This investigation demonstrated the antitumor potential of the plant's methanol extract.

6.1.5. Diuretic effect of chicken grass

The scientists observed urine output when rats were given the extract at a dose of 0.5 g/kg. The result is a significant increase in urine output and electrolyte excretion during the first few hours. No mice died with this dose. However, at a dose of 4.5g/kg, 50% of the mice died. From that, we can see that at a dose of 0.5 g/kg the extract has a good diuretic effect and has no toxicity.

6.1.6. Antioxidant activity

Extracts of the plant  play an important role in preventing oxidative stress. It was found that the activities of glutathione-S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase gradually decreased. They concluded anticholinesterase and antioxidative antioxidants could be obtained from Chicken Grass.

6.1.7. Against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in shrimp

The antiviral activity of chicken grass extract was studied in black tiger shrimp ( Penaeus monodon) with white spot syndrome (WSSV) by in vivo  assay  . The researchers concluded that chicken grass was highly effective in preventing WSSV infection without causing mortality to shrimp. 

6.2 According to Traditional Medicine

According to traditional medicine, chicken grass has diuretic , cooling, detoxifying, and expectorant effects. Commonly used chicken grass in the treatment of urinary disorders, urinary tract stones, gallstones, snake bites, rheumatism, bone pain, whooping cough, dry cough. 

>> See more: Tiger tongue: A remedy for sore throats, hoarseness

6.3. Some achievements related to Chicken Grass

An herbal preparation containing extracts of chicken grass ( Cynodon dactylon) and frankincense ( Boswellia serrate) was found to be effective in the treatment of asthma, skin diseases and mild allergies.

Scientists have prepared a mixture of chicken grass fine powder used in the treatment of dry cough and asthma. It did not show any bronchoconstrictive or irritating effects on the nasal mucosa. At the same time it is more effective than antiallergic agents used in solution form.

Scientists have prepared and used variants of group 1 allergens of the Poaceae family , including Chicken Grass. IgE responses in the model were significantly reduced through sustained response to T lymphocytes. The variants have been shown to be useful for immunotherapy.

Scientists have invented a new protein that inhibits the action of anthrax toxin. Protein isolated from pollen grains of Chicken Grass. It showed inhibition of anthrax toxin activity.

>> See more: Jade bamboo: A useful medicine for dry cough

Chicken grass is a close plant and has many benefits in many diseases. Various pharmacological activities of chicken grass have been explored by researchers. Its medicinal uses are also mentioned in traditional medical knowledge. However, when using it, it is necessary to consult a specialist for optimal effectiveness and safety.

Doctor Nguyen Vu Thien Duyen