Celastrus paniculata

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Oriental bittersweet
• celastrus
• Black oil tree
• Intellect tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Catha paniculata
• Scutia paniculata
• Ceanothus paniculatus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and order Celastrales, it is categorized under the family Celastraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification falls within the genus Celastrus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several specific regions of Asia. In China, it can be found throughout the South-Central provinces as well as the Southeast regions. Its presence is also noted on the island of Hainan within the Chinese territory. Moving towards Eastern Asia, the species is documented to grow in Taiwan. Finally, its distribution extends to the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the state of Assam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Celastrus paniculatus is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments, primarily thriving within dry forests, dense secondary shrublands, and ruderal vegetation. This species occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, demonstrating significant resilience across varying topographic levels. It is typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 150 m AMSL to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL, with a mean elevational occurrence of approximately 1100 m AMSL. This wide distribution allows it to colonize both stable forest ecosystems and disturbed habitats where secondary growth is prevalent.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

150 m AMSL

Habitat :

dry forest, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Celastrus paniculatus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. Furthermore, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage to support its long-term survival and metabolic processes within its ecosystem.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Celastrus paniculatus is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning as a shrub that can reach a maximum plant height of approximately 10 m. It exhibits a liana climbing habit, acting as an obligatory climber to navigate its environment. As a terrestrial species, it does not inhabit aquatic or semiaquatic zones, nor does it function as an epiphyte. The plant is an independent organism, meaning it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, and its structural development is defined by its woody nature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

other

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Celastrus paniculatus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for moderate environments where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle. The leaf morphology plays a critical role in its resource acquisition and gas exchange, featuring an ovate leaf form with crenulate margins and an absence of defensive structures such as thorns or spines. Morphometric analysis of the foliage reveals a leaf length that ranges from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, with a mean length of 7.5 cm, while the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 5 cm. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 102.3785311 cm²/g, a physiological metric that reflects the relationship between leaf area and dry mass, providing insight into its leaf thickness and light-use efficiency.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf margin :

crenulate

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

102.3785311 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Celastrus paniculatus is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its reproductive structures, beginning with its inflorescence, which typically measures between 0.05 m and 0.1 m in length. Following pollination, the plant develops fruits that maintain a consistent size, with both the length and width averaging approximately 1 cm; specifically, the fruit dimensions range from a minimum to a maximum of 1 cm in both length and width. These fruits are characterized by a dry texture. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit a uniform volume, consistently measuring 71 mm³ (with both the minimum and maximum values reaching this same measurement), ensuring a standardized seed size for the species' dispersal.

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.1 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Seed volume max:

71 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Celastrus paniculatus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, flower.

Seed

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
4. Pharmacognosy research
5. Annals of neurosciences

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Celastrus paniculatus has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Carpesterol benzoate, Cubenol, Globulol, ISOPHYTOL, Linalool.

Carpesterol benzoate

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cubenol

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Globulol

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

ISOPHYTOL

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Linalool

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Lupeol

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Malkangunin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Malkanguniol

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Maymyrsine

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Nerol acetate

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Activities

Celastrus paniculatus has 10 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Analgesic, Hypolipidemic, Antibacterial.

Antioxidant

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Neuroprotective

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Analgesic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypolipidemic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Antibacterial

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Antipsychotic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Anxiolytic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cardiovascular

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Memory-Enhancer

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Conditions

Celastrus paniculatus has 32 reported investigations on conditions identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cognitive dysfunction, schizophrenia, analgesic, cognitive dysfunctions, epilepsy.

Cognitive dysfunction

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Molecular biology reports
3. TheScientificWorldJournal

Schizophrenia

1. Journal of receptor and signal transduction research
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Analgesic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cognitive dysfunctions

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
2. Molecular biology reports

Epilepsy

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Memory

1. Annals of neurosciences
2. TheScientificWorldJournal

Alzheimer's disease

1. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets

Candida albicans

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Dental caries

1. Journal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran)

Gram-negative bacteria

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Celastrus paniculatus has 18 reported preparations identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include seed oil, Aqueous extract, CP seed extract, Celastrus oil, Ethanolic extract of seed of Celastrus paniculatus.

Seed oil

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
2. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior
3. Cureus

Aqueous extract

1. Molecular biology reports

Cp seed extract

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Celastrus oil

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanolic extract of seed of celastrus paniculatus

1. Annals of neurosciences

Ethanol extract of cp seeds

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Ethanolic extract

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Its extract

1. Frontiers in nutrition

Maceration

1. Frontiers in nutrition