Akebia quinata

Five-leaf akebia

Akebiia quinata, commonly known as Akebia or Chocolate Vine, is a versatile deciduous woody vine native to East Asia. Renowned in traditional medicine, its various parts are utilized for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This resilient plant offers significant therapeutic potential in treating respiratory ailments and supporting overall wellness.

  • Scientific name: Akebia quinata
  • Family: Lardizabalaceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ranunculales, it is classified under the family Lardizabalaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Akebiia.

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

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Akebiia quinata, is referred to by various names across different languages and regions. In Chinese, it is known as 五叶木通 (zh-hans), 五葉木通 (zh-hant), and 五葉木通 (zh-hk). In Poland, the species is called Akebia pięciolistkową (pl), while in Russia, it is commonly identified as Акeбия пятерная (ru).
Language Common Name Source
zh-hans 五叶木通 Wikidata
zh-hant 五葉木通 Wikidata
zh-hk 五葉木通 Wikidata
pl Akebia pięciolistkowa Wikidata
ru Акебия пятерная Wikidata
fi rinneakebia Wikidata
de Fingerblättrige Akebie Wikidata
ja アケビ Wikidata
bg шоколадова лоза Wikidata
lt Penkialapė akebija Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across several regions of Asia and Europe. In Eastern Asia, it can be found growing naturally within the country of Japan. Its presence in China is widespread, covering the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. Additionally, the species extends its reach into Middle Europe, specifically within Austria. This broad distribution highlights the adaptability of the species across varied continental climates.

Region Area Source
Middle Europe Austria WCVP
China China South-Central WCVP
China China North-Central WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
Eastern Asia Japan WCVP
Eastern Asia Korea WCVP
New Zealand New Zealand North WCVP
New Zealand New Zealand South WCVP
Northeastern U.S.A. Connecticut WCVP
Northeastern U.S.A. Indiana WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Akebiia quinata, is a woody vine characterized by its climbing stems that support its sprawling growth habit. The most distinctive feature of the species is its large, elongated fruits, which are botanically unique due to their structure. Scientific investigations often focus on the pericarps of Akebiia quinata fruits to isolate bioactive compounds, frequently employing an n-BuOH extract to concentrate specific phytochemicals for medicinal study. Through the analysis of the stem and the fruit layers, researchers continue to uncover the diverse therapeutic potential held within various parts of this medicinal species.
Total parts
5
Scientific sources
5
Plant Part Sources Confidence
stems 1 ★☆☆☆☆
stem 1 ★☆☆☆☆
pericarps of Akebia quinata fruits 1 ★☆☆☆☆
n-BuOH extract 1 ★☆☆☆☆
fruits 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Akebia quinata has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 33 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include hederagenin, collinsonidin, kalopanaxsaponin A, oleanolic acid, saponin.

Total chemicals
27
Scientific sources
33

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
hederagenin 3 ★★☆☆☆
collinsonidin 2 ★☆☆☆☆
kalopanaxsaponin A 2 ★☆☆☆☆
oleanolic acid 2 ★☆☆☆☆
saponin 2 ★☆☆☆☆
1-(3',4'-dihydroxycinnamoyl) cyclopentane-2,3-diol 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Akebia saponin C 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Quercetin-3-O-xyloside 1 ★☆☆☆☆
akebonic acid 1 ★☆☆☆☆
akequintoside F 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Akebia quinata has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Cancer, tumor.

Total uses
2
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Confidence
Cancer 1 ★☆☆☆☆
tumor 1 ★☆☆☆☆