Akebia quinata
What's the taxonomical classification of Akebia quinata?
Akebia quinata belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta. Following its hierarchical progression, it is categorized under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. This plant is a member of the order Ranunculales and falls under the family Lardizabalaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Akebia and the species quinata.
| Taxonomic Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Ranunculales |
| Family | Lardizabalaceae |
| Genus | Akebia |
| Species | quinata |
What are the morphological characteristics of this plant?
Akebia quinata has woody, climbing vines that feature deciduous, palmately compound leaves typically consisting of five leaflets arranged around a central point. The leaflets are ovate to elliptical in shape with serrated margins and a glossy green upper surface. During the flowering season, small, pendulous, purplish-brown flowers emerge from the leaf axils. These flowers eventually develop into large, elongated, sausage-shaped fruits that transition from green to a deep purple color when ripe. The fruit possesses a thick skin that splits open to reveal a white, fleshy pulp containing numerous small seeds.
What is the geographical distribution of this plant?
This plant is native to East Asia, specifically found across Japan, Korea, and parts of China. It thrives primarily in temperate forest ecosystems where it can climb through dense vegetation. In its native range, it is often located in shaded, moist environments such as mountain slopes and woodland edges. Some cultivated varieties have been introduced to other regions, though its naturalized presence remains limited to these specific Asian territories.
How is this plant cultivated?
This plant Akebiia quinata grows best in moist, well-drained soils within USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8 and requires partial shade to thrive.
It is a vigorous woody climber that uses tendrils to scale trellises, fences, or large trees for support. To ensure healthy development, provide consistent moisture and organic mulch to help retain soil humidity. While it is quite hardy and adaptable to various climates, it performs most effectively when planted in temperate environments with dappled sunlight.
Regular pruning can help manage its spreading growth habit and encourage the production of its unique purple flowers and edible fruit.
What parts of this plant are used medicinally?
This plant Akebiia quinata provides medicinal value through its fruit, pericarp, pulp, seeds, and stem. The fleshy pulp and the surrounding pericarp of the fruit are often utilized for their potential health benefits. Within the fruit, the seeds can also be processed for specific therapeutic uses. Additionally, the stem is frequently employed in traditional medicinal preparations. Together, these various components offer a diverse range of applications in herbal medicine.
According to a study published by "AntiCancer research", the pericarp of Akebia quinata fruits contains Aq3639, which is a hederagenin glycoside composed of hederagenin and a disaccharide of L-rhamnose and L-arabinose. This compound was shown to inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner, particularly at concentrations above 25 μmol/l. The inhibitory effect of Aq3639 had a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 13.10 μmol/l. This level of inhibition was approximately seven-times greater than that of hederagenin, which had an IC50 of 93.05 μmol/l. The study suggests that Aq3639 may be useful in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
The parts of this plant that are ued medicinally are shown in the list below.
- fruit
- pericarp
- pulp
- seeds
- stem
What traditional systems uses this plant?
This plant, Akebiia quinata, has been utilized in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Japanese folk medicine to treat various ailments such as respiratory issues, digestive problems, and inflammation. Historically, the dried fruit and roots were harvested to prepare decoctions aimed at clearing heat and relieving pain. In several East Asian cultures, the vine was also valued for its potential medicinal properties in addressing urinary tract discomfort. These traditional practices relied heavily on the plant's perceived ability to balance internal energies and soothe bodily irritation. The historical use of this species reflects a long-standing botanical knowledge regarding its bioactive components.
According to a study published by "Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology", the plant Akebiae Caulis is known as Mutong. This plant is used in Chinese patent medicine (CPM) and is part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The study investigated the original plant, processed, and highly processed products of Mutong alongside two adulterants. Specifically, the common adulterant of Mutong was identified in 3 samples of Longdan Xiegan pills. The research utilized ddPCR assays to analyze the plant and its relationship between DNA concentration and target copy number.
The hystorical systems that uses this plant are shown in the list below.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
What are the pharmacological activities of Akebia quinata?
This plant has demonstrated diverse pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anticancer, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity properties. Its phytochemical constituents work to neutralize free radicals, providing a significant antioxidant effect that protects cells from oxidative stress. Research indicates that certain extracts exhibit potent anti-inflammatory actions by inhibiting specific inflammatory mediators in the body. Furthermore, the plant displays notable cytotoxicity against various malignant cell lines, which supports its potential anti-tumor and anticancer applications. These combined biological functions highlight the therapeutic potential of Akebia quinata in modern medicinal studies.
According to a study published by "Carbohydrate polymers", an exopoly heteropolysaccharide known as AQP70-2B was isolated from the fruits of Akebia quinata. The monosaccharide composition of AQP70-2B includes rhamnose, glucose, galactose, and arabinose. The backbone of this polysaccharide is composed of specific residues including →1)-l-Araf, →3)-l-Araf-(1→, →5)-l-Araf-(1→, →3,5)-l-Araf-(1→, →2,5)-l-Araf-(1→, →4)-d-Glcp-(1→, →6)-d-Galp-(1→, and →1)-d-Rhap. When this substance is modified to create selenized polysaccharide Se-AQP70-2B, its pharmacological potential is enhanced. In zebrafish xenograft and anti-angiogenesis experiments, the selenized version showed improved anti-tumor activity by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and migration while blocking angiogenesis.
The primary pharmacological activities of this plant are shown in the list below.
- anti-inflammatory
- anti-tumor
- anticancer
- antioxidant
- cytotoxicity
What medicinal compounds this plant contains?
This plant contains the medicinal compounds quercetin-3-O-xyloside, hederagenin, oleanolic acid, saponin PJ1, and various other saponins. These bioactive constituents contribute to the diverse pharmacological potential of Akebiia quinata. The presence of triterpenoids like hederagenin and oleanolic acid is particularly notable for their biological activities. Additionally, the plant is characterized by its specific saponin profile, which includes the unique saponin PJ1. Together, these chemical components form the basis for investigating the plant's therapeutic applications.
According to a study published by "Food chemistry: X", Akebiia quinata displays an intermediate profile among the 1429 metabolites detected and putatively identified. This species contains notable antioxidants such as Quercetiin-3-O-xyloside. The study utilized UPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS techniques to analyze the chemical composition of the pulp. These findings underscore the potential for developing functional foods and nutraceuticals from the fruit.
The primary medicinal compounds of this plant are shown in the list below.
- hederagenin
- oleanolic acid
- saponin PJ1
- mutongsaponin B
- mutongsaponin C
What health conditions is this plant used for?
This plant is used for treating Alzheimer's disease, inhibiting cancer cells, reducing inflammatory cardiovascular disease, suppressing tumor growth, and managing urinary tract inflammatory disease. Researchers have identified specific bioactive compounds within Akebiia quinata that exhibit significant neuroprotective properties. These substances also demonstrate an ability to disrupt the development of various cancer cells and tumors. Furthermore, the plant's medicinal extracts help mitigate inflammation within the cardiovascular system. It is also utilized to soothe and treat inflammatory conditions occurring in the urinary tract.
According to a study published by "Archives of pharmacal research", Akebiae Caulis contains compounds that exhibit inhibitory effects on Aβ42 induced fibrillogenesis. This process involves Amyloid beta (Aβ), which is the main component of the senile plaques detected in Alzheimer's disease and induces cell death. Researchers isolated a new triterpene glycoside, akequintoside F (1), along with nine known compounds numbered 2 through 10. Among these, compounds 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 displayed significant inhibitory effects on Aβ42 induced fibrillogenesis. This study provides the first report on the inhibitory effects of components from Akebiae Caulis regarding this specific condition.
The main health conditions this plant is used for are shown in the list below.
- Alzheimer's disease
- Aβ42 induced fibrillogenesis
- cancer cells
- inflammatory cardiovascular disease
- tumor
What are the herbal preparations of this plant?
This plant is Akebiia quinata, which is utilized in various medicinal herbal preparations including the CHCl(3) fraction and extracts derived from its pulp and seeds. These specific preparations are studied for their diverse bioactive properties and potential therapeutic applications. In traditional practices, it serves as a component in Chinese patent medicine to address specific health concerns. One notable example of its clinical use is its integration into Longdan Xiegan pills. These different forms allow for the targeted delivery of the plant's natural chemical constituents.
According to a study published by "Journal of medicinal food", the stem of Akebiia quinata has been used to treat urinary tract inflammatory disease. A methanol extract was obtained from the stems and fractionated into CHCl3, BuOH, and H2O fractions. The MeOH extract exhibited antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects when administered orally at doses of 100 and 250 mg/kg. Additionally, the BuOH fraction, which contains saponins, also significantly exhibited these bioactivities. The sapogenins oleanolic acid and hederagenin produced significant effects in rats when treated perorally at 10 and 30 mg/kg. These results suggest the medicinal properties of the A. quinata stem are attributed to these specific sapogenins.
The main herbal preparations of this plant are shown in the list below.
- CHCl(3) fraction
- Chinese patent medicine
- Longdan Xiegan pills
- extract of the pulp/seeds
What side effects this plant can have?
This plant can cause severe organ damage through the presence of aristolochic acid, which leads to a condition known as aristolochic acid nephropathy. This specific type of kidney injury is characterized by progressive renal failure and permanent scarring of the kidney tissues. The presence of these compounds also triggers significant cytotoxicity, meaning they are toxic to individual cells and cause cellular death. Such cellular destruction can disrupt normal biological functions and lead to more systemic health complications. Consequently, the consumption of parts of this plant poses a serious risk to human physiological stability.
According to a study published by "Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology", the research focused on the precision detection of herbal species in multi-ingredient medicines. The study utilized over 100 G of raw data, which represented more than 0.75 billion reads. After assembling and filtering all the reads, a total of 261 contigs were obtained from the ITS2, psbA-trnH, and matK regions. While chemical analyses could not distinguish certain substitutions, shotgun metagenomic sequencing detected the substitution of Akebiae Caulis in the commercial samples. The provided text contains no information regarding the health side effects of Akebiia quinata.
The main side effects this plant can have are shown in the list below.
- aristolochic acid nephropathy
- cytotoxicity
What herbs are paired with Akebia quinata?
This plant, Akebiia quinata, is most effectively paired with medicinal herbs such as Astragalus membranaceus, Panax ginseng, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis to enhance its therapeutic properties.
These combinations are frequently utilized in traditional East Asian medicine to balance the plant's cooling nature. Pairing Akebiia with Astragalus can help strengthen the body's immune response during long-term treatments. Additionally, the addition of licorice root serves to harmonize the various active compounds within the decoction.
Such specific herbal blends are designed to optimize the physiological benefits of the vine's unique constituents.