They are distributed from central Asia, Mongolia and north-eastern China to the Mediterranean basin, temperate regions of Eurasia, reaching to Indian subcontinent and tropical Africa.

Various extracts, essential oils, and isolated compounds from members of this genus are shown to exhibit different biological effects mainly anti-microbial, anti-proliferative, and anti-inflammatory.

However, there are a number of species in this genus that are claimed to have traditional medicinal uses but their biological effect not yet been evaluated.

The other common traditional uses is to treat ailments related to respiratory tract including cough and sore throat.

Members of the genus have been used as an aphrodisiac, facilitation of expulsion of retained placenta and delivery, as an abortifacient, treatment of uterus tumor and leucorrhoea.