Alsophila spinulosa
Alsophila spinulosa, commonly known as the prickly spinosa, is a resilient medicinal plant valued for its unique therapeutic properties. Native to specific arid regions, this species is traditionally utilized in herbal remedies to address various ailments, offering significant potential for modern pharmacological research and natural wellness applications worldwide.
- Scientific name: Alsophila spinulosa
- Family: Cyatheaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Polypodiinae and the order Cyatheales. Finally, it is a member of the family Cyatheaceae, falling under the genus Alsophila.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Polypodiinae | WCVP |
| Order | Cyatheales | WCVP |
| Family | Cyatheaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Alsophila | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Alsophila spinulosa, is known by various names across different languages and regions. In Hindi, it is referred to as अलसोफिला स्पिनुलोससा, while in Chinese, it carries several designations including 刺桫锣 and 龙骨风. In both Simplified Chinese (zh-cn) and Traditional Chinese (zh-tw), the plant is commonly known as 桫椤.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| hi | अलसोफिला स्पिनुलोसा | Wikidata |
| zh | 刺桫锣 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 桫椤 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 桫椤 | Wikidata |
| zh | 龙骨风 | Wikidata |
| zh | 飞天螭螃 | Wikidata |
| zh | 飞天蠄蟧 | Wikidata |
| zh | 桫椤（大贯众） | Wikidata |
| zh | 桫椤 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of East Asia. Within China, it can be found spanning from the South-Central provinces to the southeastern coastal areas. Its presence also extends to the tropical island of Hainan and the high-altitude terrains of Tibet. Beyond the Chinese mainland, the species is geographically established in Japan. Collectively, these locations define its specific ecological range within the Eastern Asian landscape.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Kazan-retto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Ogasawara-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Achillea spinulosa, possesses several distinct morphological features that are utilized in various medicinal applications. The structure begins with the sturdy stems that support the plant's growth, while the underground roots serve as a vital anchor and nutrient reservoir. Extending from the main body are the petioles, which connect the foliage to the central stalks. The leaves are a prominent feature, often characterized by their specific shape and texture, which are essential for the plant's photosynthetic processes. In many traditional preparations, dried stems are harvested and processed to be used in herbal remedies, making the entire botanical profile important to its medicinal use.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| petioles | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Alsophila spinulosa has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Diploptene, arabinose, astragalin, beta-sitosterol, caffeic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Diploptene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arabinose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| astragalin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-sitosterol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caffeic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| galactose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| galacturonic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mannose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Alsophila spinulosa 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
Alsophila spinulosa has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include gout, hepatitis, rheumatism, tumor.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| gout | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |