Oriental bittersweet

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Asian bittersweet
• Japanese bittersweet
• oriental bittersweet
• Staff Vine
• Staff-vine
• Asiatic bittersweet
• Oriental staff vine
• climbing spindleberry
• round leaf bittersweet
• round-leaved bittersweet

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Celastrus articulatus var. orbiculatus
• Ilex leucantha
• Celastrus articulatus var. papillosus
• Celastrus strigillosus
• Celastrus articulatus
• Celastrus articulatus var. humilis
• Celastrus crispulus
• Catha articulata
• Celastrus orbiculatus f. major
• Celastrus orbiculatus var. aureoarillatus
• Celastrus tatarinowii
• Celastrus orbiculatus var. punctatus
• Celastrus lancifolius
• Celastrus orbiculatus var. strigillosus
• Celastrus insularis
• Celastrus jeholensis
• Celastrus orbiculatus var. papillosus
• Celastrus orbiculatus f. papillosus
• Celastrus versicolor
• Celastrus orbiculatus f. aureoarillatus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Celastrales. Finally, its taxonomic lineage places it in the family Celastraceae, within the genus Celastrus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within the borders of Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found throughout Germany, Poland, and the region of Czechia-Slovakia. The distribution extends further south into Southeastern Europe, specifically within Romania. Consequently, its geographical reach spans from the northern reaches of the continent to the southeastern territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Celastrus orbiculatus is characterized by its preference for forest habitats, where it integrates into the complex structure of the woodland ecosystem. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving across varying terrain with an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 450 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 2200 m AMSL. Throughout its natural range, it maintains an average elevational range of approximately 1325 m AMSL, allowing it to occupy diverse ecological niches within forested environments.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1325 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

450 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Celastrus orbiculatus is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a trait that supports its robust and climbing growth habit. This plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage seasonally as part of its biological cycle. Its structural development and survival strategies are defined by its phanerophyte life form, which allows it to establish significant biomass and persist through various environmental conditions over multiple years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Celastrus orbiculatus is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning primarily as a shrub or a climbing vine. As an obligatory climber, it adopts a liana-like habit to ascend its surroundings. The plant typically reaches a mean height of 9.1 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 12 m. It is a terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, and maintains an independent existence without acting as a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

9.1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Celastrus orbiculatus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its vegetative structure is defined by elliptic leaf forms that exhibit crenulate margins, lacking both thorns and spines. The dimensions of these leaves vary significantly according to developmental stages and environmental conditions, with a minimum length of 5 cm and a mean length of 9 cm, reaching a maximum of 13 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 9 cm, supporting the overall photosynthetic surface area necessary for the plant's energetic requirements.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

13 cm

Leaf length mean:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf margin :

crenulate

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Celastrus orbiculatus involves both sexual and asexual mechanisms, with the sexual process being characterized by a dioecious reproductive system. The plant typically enters its flowering stage in June, with both the start and end of the flowering period centered around this month. The inflorescence is relatively compact, measuring between 0.01 m and 0.03 m in length. Following pollination, the plant produces dry fruits that typically have a mean length of 0.9 cm (ranging from 0.8 cm to 1 cm) and a mean width of 0.8 cm (ranging from 0.8 cm to 1 cm). The seeds produced are small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.008983 g, a minimum mass of 0.00705 g, and a maximum mass of 0.0141 g. The seed volume remains consistent at approximately 10 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are spread by animals, facilitating the plant's spread within its environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.9 cm

Fruit length min:

0.8 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.8 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.03 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.01 m

Reproduction asexual :

present

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

0.0141 g

Seed mass mean:

0.008983 g

Seed mass min:

0.00705 g

Seed volume max:

10 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Celastrus orbiculatus has 4 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, root, seed, stem.

Fruit

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Seed

1. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Journal of natural medicines

Chemicals

Celastrus orbiculatus has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (-)-Epiafzelechin, celastrol, (-)-Epicatechin, Nortriptonoterpene, acetoacetate.

(-)-Epiafzelechin

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of natural products

celastrol

1. Biochemical pharmacology
2. Journal of natural products

(-)-Epicatechin

1. Journal of natural products

Nortriptonoterpene

1. Journal of natural medicines

acetoacetate

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

celaphanol A

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Celastrus orbiculatus has 9 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitumor, Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antinociceptive, Antioxidant.

Antitumor

1. Oncology letters
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Oncology letters
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Journal of natural products

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of natural products

Antiproliferative

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Apoptotic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypnotic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sedative

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Celastrus orbiculatus has 17 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include gastric cancer, analgesic, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer, colon cancer.

Gastric cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Oncology letters
3. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Oncology letters

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Breast cancer

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Colon cancer

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Glioblastoma

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Hepatic cancer

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. Anticancer research

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Lung cancer

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Preparations

Celastrus orbiculatus has 7 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EtOAc extract, Ethyl acetate extract, acetoacetate, ethyl acetate extract, extract.

Etoac extract

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Journal of natural products

Ethyl acetate extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Acetoacetate

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Ethyl acetate extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extract

1. Oncology letters

Fruits of celastrus orbiculatus

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Methanolic extract of celastrus orbiculatus (mco)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology