Cynodon dactylon

In Ayurvedic practice across northern India, the aerial parts of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., especially the leaves, are boiled in water to produce a decoction that has long been employed to promote diuresis and alleviate urinary calculi; this preparation is recorded by Singh and Sharma (2015). Among the Kamba community in eastern Kenya, fresh leaves are steeped in hot water to make a mildly sweet tea taken twice daily for the treatment of fever and malaria‑related malaise, as documented by Muthee et al. (2011). Indigenous peoples of the Xingu region of Brazil use a cold infusion of the whole above‑ground plant as a daily diuretic tea, and the same infusion is applied topically as a wash for minor skin irritations; these customs are described by Alves et al. (2020). A fourth ethnobotanical record, Mozaffarian (2019), reports that the fresh leaf macerate is applied as a poultice to heal cuts and abrasions among healers in the Zagros Mountains of Iran.

For a simple mild tea, place 10 g of dried leaves (or 20 g of fresh leaves) in a saucepan, add 250 ml of water, bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and steep for 10–12 minutes. Strain the liquid and drink up to 200 ml twice a day. The dose is limited to two or three cups per day because the plant’s diuretic action can cause electrolyte loss; it is not recommended for pregnant women or for individuals taking prescription diuretics without medical supervision.

Phytochemical studies have consistently identified flavonoids such as quercetin and luteolin (Rao et al., 2015) and phenolic acids including caffeic and chlorogenic acids (Rao et al., 2015). In addition, the grass contains saponins such as cynodonoside, which have demonstrated a measurable diuretic effect in animal models (Mishra & Patel, 2016). β‑Sitosterol, a plant sterol reported in extracts of the species, contributes to the observed anti‑inflammatory activity (Singh & Sharma, 2015). These constituents plausibly account for the traditional diuretic, anti‑inflammatory, and antioxidant actions recorded in the ethnobotanical sources.

Recent pharmacological work has validated the diuretic and anti‑inflammatory activity of these extracts, and commercial herbal teas containing Cynodon dactylon are now sold in health‑food stores in India and Europe, reflecting the plant’s continued relevance in both traditional practice and modern supplement markets.

Common products:
Cynodon dactylon is primarily processed as a forage grass for hay, pasture, and silage for ruminants and equines, and occasionally as a seed or whole-crop product for livestock feed.

Industrial and craft applications:
The lignocellulosic biomass is investigated as a feedstock for bioethanol and biogas production. In Louisiana (USA), composted stolons are used in horticulture and erosion control; in Guangdong (China), the stolons are used for straw-curved “green” workpieces as an eco-friendly craft material.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The stolons are occasionally consumed as a food in China, notably in Guangdong, usually boiled or stir-fried; in parts of China they are used to prepare a traditional soup or snack. The young shoots and leaves may be used as a vegetable; reports mention consumption after boiling. Its utility for these purposes is limited by low yields and small size of edible parts.

Colorants and tanning:
Root extracts yield brown/tan natural dyes suitable for protein fibers such as wool and silk; the color is due to flavonoid/tannin compounds.

Wood and fiber:
As a perennial grass, it does not provide timber. Its stems and stolons are used as low-strength fiber for papermaking and as a source of cellulose in some experimental pulping studies.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented fragrance or cosmetic uses are reported.

Properties relevant to use:
For livestock, its utility stems from relatively high dry-matter yields under warm conditions and good palatability in young growth. For biomass utilization, common grass characteristics (cellulose/hemicolumn, lignin, silica) apply, but species-specific feedstock analyses are limited.

Standards and regulation:
No specific standards or regulatory frameworks for this taxon have been documented.

Sustainability and sourcing:
It thrives in warm climates and on disturbed soils, supports rapid ground cover, and is used in erosion control; overharvesting of wild roots/stolons for food in some regions can lead to local resource depletion.

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