General info
- Fimbristylis is a genus of sedges, the plants of which known commonly as a fimbry or fimbristyle.  It contains 200 to 300 species worldwide. Typical sedges have stiff, ridged stems and cone-shaped panicles of spikelets. Some are considered weeds. They are found in wet environments, and are most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions. (10)
- Fimbristylis miliacea is a species of fimbry that probably originated in coastal tropical Asia but has spread to most continents as an introduced species. (1)
- Etymology: The name Fimbristylis miliacea derives from the combination of terms used by Martin Vahl, who applied the name to a plant previously described by Carl Linnaeus as Scirpus miliaceus. The genus name Fimbristylis combines the Latin words fimbria (fringe) and stilus (style), referring to the fringed style characeristic of the genus. The specific epithet miliacea derives from Latin millium, meaning millet, referring to the small, grain-like appearance of the plant's spikelets.

Botany
• Agor is a tufted, slender, glabrous, rather flaccid annual sedge, 40 to 60 centimeters in height. Leaves are basal, distichous, up to 40 centimeters long. Umbels are decompound, rather lax and diffuse, 6 to 10 centimeters long. The spikelets are small, globose, 2 to 2.5 millimeters long, pale or brown, mostly slenderly pedicelled, some sessile. Nuts are obovoid, straw-colored or ivory, 0.3 to 0.5 millimeter long.

• Fimbristylis miliacea is an annual sedge which grows in clumps of erect stems up to about half a meter in height surrounded by fans of narrow flat leaves. The top of each stem is occupied by an array of spikelets, each borne on a long peduncle. The spikelet is spherical to ovate and reddish brown in color. The spikelets flower and then develop tiny fruits, which are brown achenes about a millimeter long. (1)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Ubiquitous paddy weed throughout the Philippines in open, wet places.
- Also native to Afghanistan, Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, China South-Central, China Southeast, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, East Himalaya, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Hainan, India, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Kenya, Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malawi, Maluku, Mauritania, Mauritius, Nepal, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Northern Territory, Ogasawara-shoto, Oman, Pakistan, Queensland, Réunion, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Togo, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Australia, Zambia. (4)
- It is sometimes problematic in rice paddies.

Constituents
- Phytochemical screening of methanol extract yielded flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. Total phenolic, flavonoids, tannins, ß0carotene, lycopene, chlorophyll-a, and chlorophyll-ß were 154.13 mg GAE/g, 83.14 mg QE/g, 125.45 mg QE/g, 215.72 mg GAE/g, 151 µg/g, 0.66 µg/g and 4.25 mg/g, respectively. (see study below) (7)
- Study of methanol extract of aerial parts revealed saponins ++, terpenoid +, flavonoid +. tannin +, and phenolic +. (see study below) (12)

Properties
- Agor is one of the most harmful weeds in rice fields. It is very competitive with rice, becoming widespread in new areas of rice production. Roots spread vigorously, growing between rice roots and seriously competing with nutrients.
- Seeds dispersed by water, wind, and human activity, germinating near droppings.
- Considered febrifuge, aphrodisiac, antidiarrheal.
- Studies have suggested antioxidant, antidiarrheal, antipyretic, antinociceptive, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, mosquito larvicidal, antifungal properties.

Parts used
Leaves, roots.

Uses
Folkloric
- In the Philippines, poultice of leaves used for treatment of fever.
- Tribe in central India use the roots for dysentery.
- Crushed rhizome used as aphrodisiac. Leaves used as poultice for fevers. (5)
- In Odisha, India, poultice of leaves used for relief of pain.
Others
- Fodder: Not a food source for humans, but sometimes eaten by cattle and other livestock. The seeds pass through the digestive tract mostly undigested, germinating near droppings.
- Manure: Used as green manure.
- Phytoremediation: Known to absorb heavy metals. Can be used for removal of zinc in waste water treatment. (6)

Studies
• Antioxidant / Antidiarrheal: Study evaluated a methanol extract for phytoconstituents, antioxidant and anti-diarrheal activities. Antioxidant activity by DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays showed IC50s of 138.83 and 353.82 µg/ml resoectively.EC50 of thiobarbituric acid assay, FRAP, and reducing power assay were 2159.5, 31.59, and 129.56 µg/ml respectively. Total antioxidant capacity was 155.35 mg/g AAE. There was significant reduction (p<0.001) (1) in fecal movement, the effect stronger than standard loperamide. The extract at 400 mg/kbw dose inhibited diarrhea by 80.85% compared to loperamide at 58.16% inhibition. (see constituents above) (7)
• Antipyretic / Antinociceptive / Leaves: Study evaluated the antipyretic and antinociceptive effects of methanol extract of leaves of F. miliaceae in mice model, At extract dose of 400 mg/kg, there was significant reduction in body temperature using Baker's yeast induced hyperthermia test. The extract showed significant reduction in writhes at all concentrations using acetic acid induced writhing test, formalin induced hind paw licking test and hot plate test. Study confirmed the traditional use of F. miliaceae in the treatment of fever and possible antinociceptive effects. (8)
• Hypoglycemic / Leaves: Study evaluated the hypoglycemic effect of methanol extract of leaf of F. miliacea in a mice model. The extract at 400 mg/kg showed 36.92% reduction in fasting blood glucose compared to glibenclamide at 46.69%. (9)
• Hepatoprotective / Antioxidant: In vivo studies evaluated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of methanolic extract of F. miliacea in a CCl4 toxicant mice model The ME increased SOD, CAT, GSH, and decreased MDA levels in liver, kidney and brain. Concentrations of liver marker enzymes (AST. ALT, ALP, bilirubin) in serum were reduced and restored to normal after extract administration.  Liver histopathology showed recovery of hepatocellular injury. HPLC revealed ten polyphenolic compounds with high concentrations of caffeic acid and kaempferol. (11)
• Antifungal / Antioxidant / Aerial Parts: Antioxidant study of methanol extract of aerial parts showed significant activity with IC50 250.67 µg/ml, increasing in a dose-dependent manner. Antifungal activity of crude ME 10 mg/mL against Colletotrichum spp showed 42.67% inhibition of radial growth with MIC of 1.25 mg/mL and MFC of 2.5 mg/mL. (see constituents above) (12)
• Silver Nanoparticles / Larvicidal Against Invasive Mosquito Vector / Leaves: Study reports of the biofabrication of silver nanoparticles using Fimbristylis miliacea aqueous leaf extract (ALE) as reducing and stabilizing agent. The Fm-AgNPs were more toxic than ALE against invasive mosquito vector as recorded from UV-vis spectrum, FTIR, TEM, and XRD analysis. Results propose AgNPs from Fm-ALE have high sources of materials that can be improved for protecting and killing the invasive mosquito vector, Ae. albopictus populations. (13)
• Acute and Subchronic Toxicity / Leaves: Study evaluated the potential toxicity of methanolic extract of F. miliacea leaves in acute and subchronic oral administration in Swiss albino mice. In acute toxicity testing using OECD guideline 425 with single doses of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg produced no mortality, abnormal behavior, or adverse effect. In subchronic testing using OECD guideline 407 and  doses of 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg daily for 28 days, the FM produced no mortality or adverse effects in regards general behavior, body weight, sleep routine, and food intake. In acute and subchronic testing, AST and glucose were significantly altered, total cholesterol and triglycerides in male mice in acute study, and triglycerides in female mice in subchronic testing. The liver showed cellular necrosis at 2000 mg/kbw and minor necrosis at 1000 mg/kbw. No observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was around 1000 mg/kbw. Study suggests treatment with FM extract reveal no significant toxicity. (14)

Availability
Wild-crafted.
Seeds in the cybermarket.

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