{{Taxobox | name = Maral root | image = Rhaponticum carthamoides.jpg | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Magnoliopsida | ordo = Rosales | familia = Asteraceae | genus = Rhaponticum | species = R. carthamoides | binomial = Rhaponticum carthamoides | binomial_authority = (Willd.) Iljin |synonyms =

• Cnicus carthamoides Willd. (basionym)
• Leuzea carthamoides (Willd.) DC.
• Stemmacantha carthamoides (Willd.) Dittrich

Rhaponticum is high in 20-E or 20-hydroxyecdysone, one of the most common molting hormones in insects, crabs, and some worms and 20E can disrupt their molting and reproduction. So if an infectious disease involves an invertebrate vector that molts, there is a good chance it can disrupt the life cycle of that vector. Additionally, 20E is a bioactive adaptogen in humans. So, it would help strengthen the patient as well.

References