Actaea cimicifuga

Actaea cimicifuga, commonly known as Goldenseal, is a perennial herb native to North America. Renowned for its bright yellow rhizomes, it has been used extensively in traditional medicine. Today, it is highly valued for its antimicrobial properties and its ability to support immune health and reduce inflammation.

  • Scientific name: Actaea cimicifuga
  • Family: Ranunculaceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Ranunculales and the family Ranunculaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation falls under the genus Actaea.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Ranunculales WCVP
Family Ranunculaceae WCVP
Genus Actaea WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Actaea cimiciugaf, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Russian, it is called Клопогон вонючий, while in the Lingala language, it is known as Wantsekroed. In Chinese, the plant is identified by the name 升麻, which is used across several linguistic variations including 升麻 (zh), 升麻 (zh-hans), and 升麻 (zh-cn).
Language Common Name Source
ru Клопогон вонючий Wikidata
li Wantsekroed Wikidata
zh 升麻 Wikidata
zh-hans 升麻 Wikidata
zh-cn 升麻 Wikidata
zh-tw 升麻 Wikidata
ru Cimicifuga foetida Wikidata
ru Воронец клопогоновый Wikidata

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across specific regions of Middle Europe and vast stretches of Siberia. In Middle Europe, its presence is documented within the borders of Germany. Moving eastward into the Siberian wilderness, the species can be found in the Altai region. It also inhabits the territories of Buryatia and Chita within the Siberian landscape. Finally, its geographical range extends to the Irkutsk region, completing its widespread distribution across these areas.

Region Area Source
Middle Europe Germany WCVP
Siberia Altay WCVP
Siberia Buryatiya WCVP
Siberia Chita WCVP
Siberia Irkutsk WCVP
Siberia Krasnoyarsk WCVP
Siberia Tuva WCVP
Siberia West Siberia WCVP
Siberia Yakutiya WCVP
Central Asia Kazakhstan WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Actaea cimiciuga, utilizes various structures for its growth and medicinal properties. The primary therapeutic components are often found within the underground rhizoemes, which store essential compounds. While the roots extend deep into the soil to anchor the specimen, it is the fleshy rhizoime structure that is most frequently harvested for herbal applications. Additionally, the aerial part of the plant, consisting of the stems and leaves, contributes to its overall biological profile, though much of its traditional value is concentrated in the Rhizoime network.
Total parts
6
Scientific sources
11
Plant Part Sources Confidence
rhizomes 4 ★★☆☆☆
roots 2 ★☆☆☆☆
aerial part 2 ★☆☆☆☆
rhizome 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Rhizome 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Rhizoma 1 ★☆☆☆☆