Borago officinalis
Borage
Borage officinalis, commonly known as borage, is a charismatic annual herb celebrated for its striking, star-shaped blue flowers. Renowned in traditional herbalism, it is prized for its ability to soothe inflammation and reduce stress. Its edible blossoms add a refreshing, cucumber-like flavor to salads, drinks, and various culinary creations.
- Scientific name: Borago officinalis
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is defined by the genus Borago.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Boraginales | WCVP |
| Family | Boraginaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Borago | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Borago officinalis, is recognized by various common names across different linguistic regions. In Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), Cantonese (zh-hk), Mainland Chinese (zh-cn), and Singaporean Mandarin (zh-sg), it is most commonly referred to as 琉璃苣.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 琉璃苣 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 琉璃苣 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 琉璃苣 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 琉璃苣 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 琉璃苣 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 琉璃苣 | Wikidata |
| pl | Ogórecznik lekarski | Wikidata |
| be | Агурочнік лекавы | Wikidata |
| fr | Bourrache officinale | Wikidata |
| hu | borágó | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several different regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence is well-documented in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found growing in the landscapes of Austria and Belgium. Additionally, its distribution extends further east into the territories of Czechia and Slovakia. Consequently, these various locations highlight the widespread geographical reach of Borago officinalis.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Borago officinalis, is highly valued for its diverse medicinal properties derived from various components. The aerial parts of the plant, which encompass the stems and flowers, are often used in herbal preparations, while the lush green leaves are frequently utilized for their soothing qualities. Most notably, the plant is a significant source of fatty acids found within the seeds. From these, borage seed oil is extracted, a highly prized substance known for its high concentration of gamma-linolenic acid. This specialized seed oil is widely used in skincare and nutritional supplements to support skin health and reduce inflammation.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 8
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seed oil | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| borage seed oil | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| borage oil | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Borago officinalis has 30 reported phytochemicals identified across 32 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, gamma-linolenic acid, NO, SA, Salicylic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 30
- Scientific sources
- 32
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gamma-linolenic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| NO | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Salicylic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant activity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cPTIO | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catalase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorophyll a | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorophyll b | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Borago officinalis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiinflammatory.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiinflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Borago officinalis has 15 reported medicinal uses identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, Depression, Helicobacter pylori, acute respiratory distress syndrome, anxiety.
- Total uses
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Depression | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Helicobacter pylori | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acute respiratory distress syndrome | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anxiety | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blood sugar | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| depression | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| drought | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |