Alisma

Alisma, commonly known as water plantain, is a versatile perennial herb found in wetland habitats. Valued in traditional medicine, its rhizomes possess diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying properties. Used to treat urinary ailments and edema, this aquatic plant remains a significant botanical resource for both herbal remedies and ecological studies.

  • Scientific name: Alisma
  • Family: Alismataceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Alismatales. Finally, it falls under the family Alismataceae and is identified by the genus Alisma.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Alismatales WCVP
Family Alismataceae WCVP
Genus Alisma WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Alisma, is categorized under various common names depending on the linguistic region. In simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 泽泻属 (zh-hans) and 泽泻属 (zh-cn), while in the same form it is identified in Singapore as 泽泻属 (zh-sg). In traditional Chinese characters, the name is written as 澤瀉屬 (zh-han t), which is also the designation used in Hong Kong (zh-hk).
Language Common Name Source
zh-hans 泽泻属 Wikidata
zh-hant 澤瀉屬 Wikidata
zh-hk 澤瀉屬 Wikidata
zh-cn 泽泻属 Wikidata
zh-sg 泽泻属 Wikidata
zh-tw 澤瀉屬 Wikidata
eo Alismo Wikidata
pl żabieniec Wikidata
be Шальнік Wikidata
ru Частуха Wikidata

Distribution

This plant, known as Alisma, exhibits a specific range across several regions of Northern Europe. Its presence can be documented within the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Furthermore, it is found growing throughout the natural landscapes of Finland. The distribution also extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, this medicinal species is also located within the northern territories of Norway.

Region Area Source
Northern Europe Denmark WCVP
Northern Europe Finland WCVP
Northern Europe Great Britain WCVP
Northern Europe Ireland WCVP
Northern Europe Norway WCVP
Northern Europe Sweden WCVP
Middle Europe Austria WCVP
Middle Europe Belgium WCVP
Middle Europe Czechia-Slovakia WCVP
Middle Europe Germany WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, commonly known as Alisma orientale, is valued in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties derived specifically from its underground structures. The primary medicinal component is the rhizome, which serves as the storage organ for the plant's active compounds. In pharmaceutical applications, these are typically processed into dried rhizomes to ensure stability and potency for decoctions or powders. In formal botanical and medicinal nomenclature, this specific preparation is referred to as Rhizoma alismatis, representing the standardized part used to treat various ailments related to water metabolism.
Total parts
3
Scientific sources
3
Plant Part Sources Confidence
rhizome 1 ★☆☆☆☆
dried rhizomes 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Rhizoma alismatis 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Alisma has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include alisol A, alisol B, alisol B 23-acetate, alisol-A, alisol-B.

Total chemicals
7
Scientific sources
7

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
alisol A 1 ★☆☆☆☆
alisol B 1 ★☆☆☆☆
alisol B 23-acetate 1 ★☆☆☆☆
alisol-A 1 ★☆☆☆☆
alisol-B 1 ★☆☆☆☆
triterpenes 1 ★☆☆☆☆
triterpenoids 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Alisma has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Total activities
1
Scientific sources
1

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antioxidant 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Alisma has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, cancer.

Total uses
2
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Confidence
antioxidant 1 ★☆☆☆☆
cancer 1 ★☆☆☆☆