Asarum himalaicum
Asarum himalaicum, commonly known as Himalayan Wild Ginger, is a precious medicinal herb native to the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas. Renowned for its aromatic rhizomes, it is traditionally utilized in Ayurvedic medicine to treat respiratory ailments, digestive issues, and inflammation, offering significant therapeutic potential in modern pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Asarum himalaicum
- Family: Aristolochiaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Piperales, it is classified under the family Aristolochiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Asarum, and its specific species, Asarum himalaycum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Piperales | WCVP |
| Family | Aristolochiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Asarum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Asarum himalaicum, is recognized by several different common names depending on the linguistic context and regional usage. In Chinese, it is frequently referred to by the names 单叶细辛 (zh), 单叶细辛 (zh-hans), and 单叶细辛 (zh-cn). Additionally, it is commonly known as 土细辛 (zh) and simply as 细辛 (zh) in various traditional medicinal contexts.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 单叶细辛 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 单叶细辛 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 单叶细辛 | Wikidata |
| zh | 土细辛 | Wikidata |
| zh | 细辛 | Wikidata |
| zh | 水细辛 | Wikidata |
| zh | 土癞蜘蛛香 | Wikidata |
| zh | 毛细辛 | Wikidata |
| zh | 西南细辛 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several key mountainous regions in Asia. In China, it can be found inhabiting both the South-Central and North-Central territories. Its presence is also well-documented within the high-altitude landscapes of Tibet. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, the species is native to the East Himalaya region. Finally, its geographical range extends significantly into the country of Nepal.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
Chemicals
Asarum himalaicum has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include aristolochic acid I, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, 7-methoxyaristololactam IV, aristolic acid II.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aristolochic acid I | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-hydroxybenzoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-hydroxycinnamic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 7-methoxyaristololactam IV | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aristolic acid II | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aristolochic acid IV | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aristolochic acid Ia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aristololactam I | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-sitosterol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| debilic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |