Editing Eryngium (section)

===Medicine and food===

Many species of ''Eryngium'' have been used as medicine and food. ''[[Eryngium campestre]]'' is used as a [[folk medicine]] in [[Turkey]]. In Iran, ''Eryngium'' (Boghnagh فارسی- بوقناق) is used as [[herbal tea]] to lower blood sugar. ''[[Eryngium creticum]]'' is a herbal remedy for [[scorpion]] stings in [[Jordan]]. ''[[Eryngium elegans]]'' is used in [[Argentina]] and ''[[Eryngium foetidum]]'' in Latin America and South-East Asia. [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American peoples]] used many species for varied purposes. Cultures worldwide have used ''Eryngium'' extracts as [[anti-inflammatory]] agents. ''Eryngium'' yields an [[essential oil]] and contains many kinds of [[terpenoid]]s, [[saponin]]s, [[flavonoid]]s, [[coumarin]]s, and [[steroid]]s.<ref name=wang>Wang, P., et al. (2012). [http://benthamscience.com/open/topharmcj/articles/V003/99TOPHARMCJ.pdf Phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities of ''Eryngium'' L. (Apiaceae).] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102095030/http://benthamscience.com/open/topharmcj/articles/V003/99TOPHARMCJ.pdf |date=2013-11-02 }} ''Pharmaceutical Crops'' 3 99-120.</ref>

The roots, particularly those of [[Eryngium maritimum|''Eryngium maritimum'']], have been used as vegetables or [[sweetmeats]]. Young shoots and leaves are sometimes used as vegetables like [[asparagus]]. ''[[Eryngium foetidum]]'' is used as a [[culinary herb]] in tropical parts of the Americas and Asia. It tastes similar to [[coriander]] or cilantro, and is sometimes mistaken for it. It may be called spiny coriander or culantro, or by its Vietnamese name of ngo gai.<ref name="culantro">Ramcharan, C. (1999) [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-506.html Culantro: A much utilized, little understood herb.] p. 506–509. In: Janick, J. (ed.). ''Perspectives on New Crops and New Uses''. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA.</ref>