EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Regarding the chemical composition, it contains many active constituents, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenol, phytosterols, saponins, sterols, silicic acid, tannin, triterpenoids, and volatile oils.

Detailed explanation-2: -Researchers believe that horsetail’s bone-remodeling effect is mostly due to its high silica content. In fact, up to 25% of its dry weight is silica. No other plant boasts as high of a concentration of this mineral ( 1, 5 ).

Detailed explanation-3: -Silica deposits were observed in all plant regions from the rhizome through to the stem, leaf and spores. Numerous structures were silicified including cell walls, cell plates, plasmodesmata, and guard cells and stomata at varying stages of differentiation.

Detailed explanation-4: -Because the stems are rough and durable (due to their high silica content) they were called “scouring rushes” because early pioneers used them to scrub pots and pans. Both scouring rush and horsetail prefer moist soil, but either will tolerate fairly dry soil after they become established.