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.

More than 151 secondary metabolites have been reported in this genus which thiophenic compounds held the biggest share.

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.

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.