Amaranthus
Thorny weed
Amaranthus, commonly known as amaranth, is a versatile plant celebrated for its exceptional nutritional profile and medicinal properties. Rich in essential amino acids, antioxidants, and minerals, it serves as both a potent superfood and a therapeutic agent in traditional medicine, offering significant benefits for immunity and overall wellness.
- Scientific name: Amaranthus
- Family: Amaranthaceae
- 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 Caryophyllales. Finally, it is a member of the family Amaranthaceae and falls under the genus Amaranthus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Caryophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Amaranthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Amaranthus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known by various names across different linguistic regions, is referred to as 苋属 in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans, zh-cn, zh-sg), 莧屬 in Traditional Chinese (zh-hant, zh-hk), and 苋属 in other regional variations.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 苋属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 莧屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 莧屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 苋属 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 苋属 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 莧屬 | Wikidata |
| jv | Bayem | Wikidata |
| eu | Amaranto | Wikidata |
| pl | Szarłat | Wikidata |
| nah | Huauhtli | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific presence across several regions within Northern Europe. Its distribution can be traced to the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It is also documented to grow within the landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species is found throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range extends into 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 Amaranth, offers therapeutic benefits through various components of its structure. The seed is perhaps the most widely utilized part, serving as a nutrient-dense pseudocereal that is rich in essential amino acids and minerals. Beyond the whole grain, concentrated amaranthus extracts derived from the leaves or the plant's essence are often employed in medicinal formulations to harness their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Together, these parts make the plant a versatile resource in both nutritional science and traditional herbal medicine.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| amaranthus extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Amaranthus has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include A1, A2, G1, albumin, ascorbic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| A2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| G1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| albumin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ascorbic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumarins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nitrates | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| riboflavin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Amaranthus has 3 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytoprotective, Hepatoprotective.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cytoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Amaranthus has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, constipation, gastrointestinal diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| constipation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |