Allium ursinum
Ransoms
Allium ursinum, commonly known as wild garlic, is a perennial herb native to Europe. Renowned for its pungent aroma and edible leaves, it thrives in shady, moist woodlands. Beyond its culinary uses, this plant holds significant medicinal value, offering antimicrobial properties and supporting cardiovascular health through its nutrient-rich composition.
- Scientific name: Allium ursinum
- Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Allium ursinum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Asparagales. Finally, it is a member of the family Amaryllidaceae and the genus Allium.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asparagales | WCVP |
| Family | Amaryllidaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Allium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Allium ursinum, is referred to by several different common names depending on the language and region. In Luxembourgish, it is called Heckeknuewelek, while in Chinese, it is known as 熊葱 (zh-hans, zh-cn), 熊蔥 (zh-hant, zh-hk), or 熊蔥 (zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| lb | Heckeknuewelek | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 熊葱 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 熊蔥 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 熊蔥 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 熊葱 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 熊葱 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 熊蔥 | Wikidata |
| pl | czosnek niedźwiedzi | Wikidata |
| ang | Hramsa | Wikidata |
| hu | medvehagyma | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several regions in Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing throughout the country of Denmark. Its presence extends to the northern landscapes of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, the species is commonly documented across the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. These diverse locations highlight its established range within the northernmost parts of the continent.
| 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 wild garlic, is characterized by its lush, broad green leaves that emerge from the ground in early spring. These leaves are the primary part of the plant used for medicinal and culinary purposes, as they contain high concentrations of sulfur compounds and essential oils. When crushed or eaten, the leaves release a potent aroma reminiscent of garlic, making them a valuable resource for both flavoring food and supporting health through their antimicrobial properties.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Allium ursinum has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 23 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include allicin, 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin, As, Ca, Cd.
- Total chemicals
- 22
- Scientific sources
- 23
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| allicin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| As | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ca | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cd | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cr | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cu | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fe | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mg | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mn | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Allium ursinum has 4 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Allium ursinum has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include blood pressure, cancer, extrasystoles, gastric cancer, inflammation.
- Total uses
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| blood pressure | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extrasystoles | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| reperfusion | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tyrosinase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ventricular fibrillation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ventricular tachycardia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |