Chinese giant-hyssop

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese giant-hyssop
• Korean giant-hyssop
• Korean-mint
• wrinkled giant-hyssop
• Chinese patchouli
• Indian mint
• Korean Mint
• blue licorice
• purple giant hyssop
• wrinkled giant hyssop

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lophanthus formosanus
• Elsholtzia monostachys
• Cedronella japonica
• Lophanthus rugosus var. hypoleucus
• Agastache formosana
• Agastache rugosa var. hypoleuca
• Lophanthus rugosus
• Agastache rugosa f. hypoleuca
• Agastache rugosa f. alba
• Agastache rugosa f. albiflora

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified in the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Agastache.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within the borders of Great Britain and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, it is also found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, its range extends through Germany and into the territories of Austria. Finally, the distribution continues through the combined regions of Czechia and Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Agastache rugosa is defined by its preference for diverse high-altitude landscapes, ranging from lush forests and open meadows to dense shrubberies and rugged, stony places. This species thrives within a specific altitudinal niche, occupying an elevational range situated between 2600 m and 2800 m AMSL. Its ability to colonize varied terrains, including both vegetated habitats and rocky substrates, reflects its adaptability to the distinct microclimates found in these mountainous environments.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2600 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, meadows, mountains, shrubberies, stony places

Life history

The life history of Agastache rugosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Morphologically, it is classified as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or other organic debris during unfavorable conditions. This growth strategy ensures that the plant can re-emerge reliably each year, utilizing its established root systems to support its developmental cycle.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Agastache rugosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte, remaining firmly rooted in the soil. The plant is strictly self-supporting, lacking any climbing, vine, or liana-like structures, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. Its physical structure is defined by this herbaceous, non-woody habit, which supports its upright development without the need for external support or woody reinforcement.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Agastache rugosa is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering cycle and the production of highly uniform, minute seeds. The plant enters its flowering phase in July and continues through August, providing a concentrated period for pollination. Following the flowering period, the plant produces seeds that exhibit extreme consistency in size; the seed mass is measured at a constant 0.00037 g, with the mean, maximum, and minimum values all being identical. This uniformity in seed mass suggests a highly standardized reproductive output for each seed produced during the late summer season.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Seed mass mean:

0.00037 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Agastache rugosa has 4 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, flower, leaf, stem.

Root

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Archives of pharmacal research
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Flower

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Leaf

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Stem

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Chemicals

Agastache rugosa has 84 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include acacetin, rosmarinic acid, Pulegone, Estragole, Agastachoside.

acacetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

rosmarinic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
5. PloS one

Pulegone

1. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Planta medica
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Horticulture research
5. Pesticide biochemistry and physiology

Estragole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in plant science
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Agastachoside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

D-Limonene

1. Dr. Duke
2. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)

Daucosterol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Flavonoid

1. Physiologia plantarum
2. Planta

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

Activities

Agastache rugosa has 275 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antiviral, ABeta-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

ABeta-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Adenylate-Cyclase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Agastache rugosa has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include COVID-19, adjuvant arthritis, antioxidant, antiviral, coronavirus.

Covid-19

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Adjuvant arthritis

1. Frontiers in plant science

Antioxidant

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Antiviral

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Coronavirus

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Gastritis

1. Planta medica

Gastrointestinal diseases

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Agastache rugosa has 14 reported preparations identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Agastache honey, Essential Oil, Kwakhyang, SA soaking treatments, aqueous methanolic extract of the roots.

Agastache honey

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Essential oil

1. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)

Kwakhyang

1. Food science and biotechnology

Sa soaking treatments

1. PloS one

Aqueous methanolic extract of the roots

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Essential oil

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Ethanol heat reflux extractions

1. Zhongguo xue xi chong bing fang zhi za zhi = Chinese journal of schistosomiasis control

Flower-oil

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Hairy root cultures

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Herbs

1. Frontiers in plant science