Equisetum hyemale L. - Equisetaceae - scouring rush, rough horsetail, **Winter-Schachtelhalm**

Perennial herb, up to 90cm tall, native to the northern hemisphere. The dried herb, formerly used in traditional medicine as diuretic, is used today as a homeopathic remedy. 

A chloroform extract of E.hyemale var. affine produced a diuretic effect (drastically increased urine volume versus placebo) similar to that of hydrochlorothiazide in relation to the excretion of sodium, potassium and chloride. \\
[Diuretic activity of Mexican equisetum., Gutiérrez, R.F., Laguna, G.Y., Walkowski, A., Journal of ethnopharmacology, 14(2), 1985, 269-272] 

"Equisetum hyemale L. has been prescribed widely as a traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, conjunctivitis, pyelonephritis... E. hyemale suppressed nitric oxide, IL-6 production and iNOS expression dose-dependently without notable cytotoxic activity [in IFN-gamma and LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages]. These data suggest that 
E. hyemale might be useful in inflammatory diseases by inhibiting the free radicals and inflammatory mediators." \\
[Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Equisetum hyemale., Park, E.Y., Natural Product Sciences, 14(4), 2008, 239-243] [[http://www.xoc.uam.mx/files/4245/application/pdf/Antioxidant-and-Anti-inflammatory-Activities-of-Equisetum-hyemale.pdf]]

The total alkaloid extract of E.hyemale had a strong antibacterial effect on Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus and also an inhibiting effect on Aspergillus niger. \\
[Extraction and Antibacterial Activity of Total Alkaloids from Equisetum hiemale L. in Xiangxi., Chen, L. H., Zhang, J.S., Zhang, L., Wang, Y.C., Wang, J., Hunan Agricultural Sciences, 9, 2011, 30]

Various extracts of  E.hyemale showed high phenolic content and strong DPPH radical scavenging ability. The methanol extract exhibited the strongest metal-chelating activity and NO production inhibitory activity. "The expression of iNOS and COX-2 was obviously augmented in response to LPS. Taken together, scouring rush could be used as a suitable natural antioxidant and a source of anti-inflammatory agent." \\
[Antioxidant and nitric oxide production inhibitory activities of scouring rush (Equisetum hyemale L.)., Jiang, Y., Hu, W., Han, W., Yeo, J.H., Wang, M.H., Food Science and Biotechnology, 21(4), 2012, 1037-1044]

{{:equisetum_hyemale.jpg|}} \\
Lindman, C.A.M., Bilder ur Nordens Flora, vol.3 t.513 (1922-1926) \\
[[http://plantgenera.org/species.php?id_species=390710]]