Alnus incana
Grey alder
Alnus incana, commonly known as the grey alder, is a resilient deciduous shrub or tree found in temperate regions. Renowned for its ability to thrive in damp soils, it plays a vital role in nitrogen fixation. Historically, its bark and wood have been utilized for diverse medicinal and practical applications.
- Scientific name: Alnus incana
- Family: Betulaceae
- 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 Fagales and family Betulaceae, it is classified under 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 incana, is referred to by various names depending on the region and language. In Poland, it is called Olsza szara, while in Udmurt, it is known as Пурысь лулпу. In Belarusian, the species is called Вольха шэрая, and in French, it is commonly known as Aulne blanc. Finally, in Hungarian, this medicinal plant is identified as hamvas égér.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Olsza szara | Wikidata |
| udm | Пурысь лулпу | Wikidata |
| be | Вольха шэрая | Wikidata |
| fr | Aulne blanc | Wikidata |
| hu | hamvas éger | Wikidata |
| lv | Baltalksnis | Wikidata |
| et | hall lepp | Wikidata |
| de | Grau-Erle | Wikidata |
| koi | Руд ловпу | Wikidata |
| hsb | Hórska wólša | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and throughout Finland. The species is also present in the Faroe Islands, known locally as Føroyar. Furthermore, its range extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. These locations highlight its preference for the northern European climate.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | 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 |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as the grey alder, utilizes its bark as a primary component for various medicinal applications. The bark contains significant concentrations of bioactive compounds, including tannins and various phenolic constituents, which contribute to its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. In traditional herbal practices, the bark is often harvested and processed to create decoctions or extracts intended to treat gastrointestinal issues or skin irritations.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Alnus incana has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include betulin, betulinic acid, betulone, flavonoids, linoleic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| betulin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linoleic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linolenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lupenone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| palmitic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phytol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Alnus incana has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiapoptotic, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiapoptotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Alnus incana has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Cervical cancer, HeLa cells, obesity, sickle-cell anemia, thalassemia.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cervical cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HeLa cells | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sickle-cell anemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| thalassemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tuberculosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |