Arisaema tortuosum
Whipcord cobra lily
Arisaema tortuosum, commonly known as the twisted cobbler's fig, is a striking perennial herb native to the Himalayan regions. Characterized by its unique, contorted spadix and mottled leaves, this medicinal plant is valued in traditional systems for its bioactive compounds, often used to treat various ailments through careful application.
- Scientific name: Arisaema tortuosum
- Family: Araceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Arisaema tortuosum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Alismatales. Finally, it is a member of the family Araceae and the genus Arisaema.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Alismatales | WCVP |
| Family | Araceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Arisaema | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Arisaema tortuosum, is referred to by various names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Chinese, it is known as 曲序南星 in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), and in the Hong Kong dialect (zh-hk). In Russian, the species is called Аризема извилистая (ru), while in Nepali, it is commonly known as सर्पको मकै (ne).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 曲序南星 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 曲序南星 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 曲序南星 | Wikidata |
| ru | Аризема извилистая | Wikidata |
| ne | सर्पको मकै | Wikidata |
| zh | 曲序南星 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 曲序南星 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 曲序南星 | Wikidata |
| pnb | دور | Wikidata |
| pa | ਦੋਰ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it is primarily found in the South-Central areas as well as in Tibet. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it inhabits the state of Assam. Furthermore, the species is widely distributed throughout the East Himalaya region. Ultimately, the plant is commonly recorded across various parts of India.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Arisaema tortuosum, is characterized by its distinct morphological features, most notably its underground tuber and its striking foliage. The tuber serves as the primary storage organ, containing concentrated nutrients and the plant's medicinal compounds, which are often harvested for traditional uses. Above the ground, the plant produces large, lush leaves that are essential for photosynthesis and contribute to its overall structural presence in its natural habitat.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| tuber | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Arisaema tortuosum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, luteolin, apigenin, lectin, quercetin.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| luteolin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| apigenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lectin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Arisaema tortuosum has 6 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Antiproliferative.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Arisaema tortuosum has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Aspergillus niger, Bacillus cereus, HSV-1, HSV-2, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2.
- Total uses
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Aspergillus niger | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus cereus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HSV-1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HSV-2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atherosclerosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |