Chinese Bergenia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese Bergenia
• Chinese Elephant's Ears
• Rock begonia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Saxifraga ligulata var. densiflora
• Saxifraga ligulata var. minor
• Saxifraga pacumbis
• Bergenia himalaica
• Bergenia ligulata
• Bergenia ciliata f. ligulata
• Bergenia ciliata var. leichtlinii
• Bergenia ligulata var. leichtlinii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Bergenia pacumbis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Saxifragales and the family Saxifragaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Bergenia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of Asia. In Western Asia, its presence can be identified within the borders of Afghanistan. Moving towards the east, it is found throughout South-Central China and the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Within the Indian Subcontinent, the species is specifically located in the state of Assam. Additionally, it thrives throughout the rugged terrain of the East Himalaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bergenia pacumbis is characterized by its adaptation to high-altitude montane environments, typically thriving within specific altitudinal gradients of mountain ecosystems. It occupies an elevational range that centers around a mean elevation of 2100 m AMSL, where it finds suitable microclimates defined by cooler temperatures and high moisture availability. This plant is frequently found in afro-alpine or sub-alpine zones, often colonizing moist soils, rocky crevices, or forest margins where organic matter is abundant. Its distribution is closely tied to the humidity and light patterns characteristic of these high-elevation habitats, allowing it to persist in niches that support diverse high-altitude flora.

Elevational range mean:

2100 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Bergenia pacumbis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, typically appearing as a forb or herbaceous plant. It functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, neither exhibiting aquatic, semiaquatic, nor epiphytic lifestyles. Structurally, the plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber, maintaining a stable, upright, or spreading herbaceous habit without the need for external support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bergenia pacumbis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, leaf.

Rhizome

1. Journal of food science and technology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BioMed research international
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Journal of oleo science

Leaf

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Bergenia pacumbis has 42 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include bergenin, Gallic acid, AFZELECHIN, CATECHIN, Flavonoids.

bergenin

1. Planta medica
2. PloS one
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
5. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Gallic acid

1. Journal of AOAC International
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

AFZELECHIN

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

CATECHIN

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Paashaanolactone

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

SYRINGIC ACID

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Saponins

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Tannins

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

arbutin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Activities

Bergenia pacumbis has 21 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Diuretic, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmacognosy magazine
4. Natural product research
5. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Diuretic

1. Journal of food science and technology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Journal of food science and technology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of food science and technology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Antipyretic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmacognosy magazine
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Journal of food science and technology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiviral

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmacognosy magazine

Hepatoprotective

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Adaptogenic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Bergenia pacumbis has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antidiabetic, antioxidant, antipyretic, digestion, diuretic.

Antidiabetic

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antipyretic

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Digestion

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Diuretic

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Free radicals

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Kidney stone

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Neurological disorders

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Preparations

Bergenia pacumbis has 13 reported preparations identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanol water extract from rhizomes, Methanolic and methanolic-aqueous extracts, Plant in vitro cultures, Saxifraga ligulata containing formulations, aqueous extracts.

Methanol water extract from rhizomes

1. Die Pharmazie

Methanolic and methanolic-aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Plant in vitro cultures

1. Planta medica

Saxifraga ligulata containing formulations

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Aqueous extracts

1. Urological research

Commercial formulations

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Ethyl acetate extracts

1. Natural product research

Extracts

1. Indian journal of microbiology

Leaf extracts

1. Natural product research

Methanol extracts

1. Natural product research