Alnus glutinosa
Common alder
Alnus glutinosa, commonly known as the European alder, is a versatile wetland tree prized for its medicinal properties. Historically used to treat skin inflammations, digestive issues, and respiratory ailments, its bark and leaves contain tannins and bioactive compounds that offer significant therapeutic potential in traditional and modern herbal medicine.
- Scientific name: Alnus glutinosa
- Family: Betulaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fagales, falling into the family Betulaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Alnus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fagales | WCVP |
| Family | Betulaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Alnus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Alnus glutinosa, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Bosnia, it is referred to as Crna joha, while in Poland, it is called olsza czarna. The Basque language identifies it as Haltz beltz, and in the Udmurt language, it is known as Сьӧд лулпу. Additionally, in the Vec language, it is known as Onaro moro.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| vec | Onaro moro | Wikidata |
| pl | olsza czarna | Wikidata |
| eu | Haltz beltz | Wikidata |
| udm | Сьӧд лулпу | Wikidata |
| bs | Crna joha | Wikidata |
| be | Вольха чорная | Wikidata |
| hu | mézgás éger | Wikidata |
| lv | Melnalksnis | Wikidata |
| gl | Abeneiro | Wikidata |
| et | sanglepp | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, its presence is well-documented in the country of Denmark. It can also be found growing naturally throughout Finland. The species is common in the landscapes of both Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its range extends further north into the 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, Alnus glutinosa, commonly known as the European alder, contains various components that are utilized in traditional medicine. The bark is highly valued for its astringent properties and is frequently applied topically to aid in wound healing by reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair. In addition to the bark, the female catkins serve as a distinct morphological feature that can be harvested for specific herbal preparations. Furthermore, the aerial parts of the tree, which encompass the leaves, twigs, and branches, are often collected to create decoctions used in various therapeutic applications.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wound healing | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| female catkins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Alnus glutinosa has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include tannins, anthraquinones, betulinic acid, catechin, citrulline.
- Total chemicals
- 20
- Scientific sources
- 21
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthraquinones | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| citrulline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epicatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glutamine synthetase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| naringin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Alnus glutinosa has 7 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Cathartic, Emetic.
- Total activities
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Astringent | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cathartic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Emetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Febrifuge | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tonic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Alnus glutinosa has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include wound healing, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| wound healing | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neurodegenerative diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |