Achyranthes bidentata Blume (English common name: Ox Knee, Chinese: Niu Xi) is a species of Achyranthes that grows in India, Nepal, China, and Japan. It is a Chinese herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory activities. In Nepal its root juice is used for toothache. Its seeds have been used as a substitute for cereal grains in famine years.The plant is used externally in the treatment of leech bites in Mizoram, India and a decoction as a diuretic.
Achyranthes bidentata polypeptides (ABPP), the important constituents separated from the aqueous extract of Achyranthes bidentata. A new phytosterone named achyranthesterone A (1), along with the three known compounds stachysterone D (2), beta-ecdysone (3) and polypodine B (4) have been isolated from the roots of Achyranthes bidentata Bl. The structure of the new compound was determined as 2beta,3beta,14alpha,20S,21,22R,25-heptahydroxycholest-7-en-6-one on the basis of physico-chemical properties and spectral methods.