Background

• Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) is a species of sedge (Cyperaceae family) native to Africa, southern and central Europe, and southern Asia. Sedges are a family of grass-like flowering plants. Purple nutsedge is considered an invasive weed in North America and is a common lawn weed. The therapeutic components of purple nutsedge are located in the tubers (a type of underground stem), which resemble nuts in appearance (hence the name nutsedge).
• Purple nutsedge has been used extensively in Asian therapies, especially Indian (Ayurvedic), Chinese, and Japanese (Kampo) traditions, to treat a wide variety of ailments, including bacterial infections, inflammation, and pain. In traditional medical systems in the Middle East, both fresh and dried forms of purple nutsedge have been used in a paste to heal skin wounds, ulcers, and sores.
• Modern research on purple nutsedge has investigated its possible antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and weight control effects. At this time, there is a lack of high-quality human trials supporting the efficacy of purple nutsedge for any indication.

References

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