Aralia racemosa is a perennial herb in the Araliaceae family native to eastern and central North America. Commonly known as spikenard or American spikenard, its root has been medicinally used by Native Americans to treat inflammatory symptoms. Topically, the roots were used as a wash for burns, and the poultice of roots was used to treat swellings, wounds, cuts, boils, strained muscles, and fractured bone. Internally, the infusion of roots was taken for rheumatism, coughs, colds, and sore throats.

Phytochemical studies confirmed the presence of tannins, volatile oils, flavonoids, saponins, triterpenes, and glycosides in spikenard root, and compounds including oleanolic acid, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, kaurenoic acid, continentalic acid, and ursolic acid were identified. The root extract shows anti-oxidant activity by scavenging free radicals, and anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. In addition, the aqueous and ethanol extracts of spikenard root showed anti-microbial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli when tested by the cup plate method.