desert-broomrape

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• desert-broomrape

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cistanche deserticola var. flabellata

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Orobanchaceae. Finally, it is placed in the genus Cistanche, specifically known as Cistanche deserticola.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Cistanche deserticola, is primarily found within specific arid regions of East and Central Asia. In China, its distribution spans across the vast landscapes of Inner Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It is also documented throughout the North-Central part of China, thriving in suitable desert ecosystems. Beyond Chinese borders, the species extends its range into the country of Mongolia. Consequently, its geographical presence is concentrated within these distinct northern and northwestern territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Cistanche deserticola is characterized by its life as a non-woody herb that lacks chlorophyll, a result of its specialized biological role. As an obligatory parasite, the plant does not possess the typical structures for independent photosynthesis and instead derives all necessary nutrients from its host roots. In terms of its habitat and growth habit, it is strictly terrestrial, lacking any aquatic or epiphytic qualities. Its structure is defined by a fleshy, succulent form typical of many parasitic herbs, which allows it to emerge from the soil as a specialized organism adapted to arid environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

obligatory

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cistanche deserticola is characterized by sexual processes that exhibit a complex reproductive strategy. This species demonstrates diverse sexual configurations, as it can be found to be dioecious, monoecious, or bisexual. This range of sexual traits allows the plant to utilize various pollination and fertilization mechanisms, facilitating genetic exchange within its desert habitat through both individual-based and population-based mating systems.

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cistanche deserticola has 3 reported plant parts identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, flower, seed.

Stem

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. PloS one
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of Asian natural products research
5. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Flower

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Seed

1. Guang pu xue yu guang pu fen xi = Guang pu
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Chemicals

Cistanche deserticola has 59 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Echinacoside, Acteoside, Cistanoside A, 2'-Acetylacteoside, Isoacteoside.

Echinacoside

1. PloS one
2. Nutrients
3. Scientific reports
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Acteoside

1. PloS one
2. Scientific reports
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Chinese medicine
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cistanoside A

1. PloS one
2. Nutrients
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. European journal of pharmacology

2'-Acetylacteoside

1. Scientific reports
2. Food chemistry
3. Plant molecular biology
4. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
5. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Isoacteoside

1. PloS one
2. European journal of pharmacology
3. Food chemistry
4. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
5. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Iridoids

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Chinese medicine
3. Journal of chromatography. A
4. Nutrients

FLURIDONE

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
3. Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology

Tubuloside A

1. European journal of pharmacology
2. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. International immunopharmacology

Verbascoside

1. Nutrients
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

betaine

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Journal of chromatography. A

Activities

Cistanche deserticola has 7 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Antifatigue, Antitumor, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Nutrients
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Neuroprotective

1. Nutrients
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antifatigue

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antitumor

1. Nutrients

Hepatoprotective

1. Nutrients

Hypoglycemic

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Nephroprotective

1. Frontiers in plant science

Conditions

Cistanche deserticola has 20 reported investigations on conditions identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, oxidative stress, antioxidant.

Inflammation

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology
2. RSC advances
3. Nutrients

Alzheimer's disease

1. Nutrients
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Osteoporosis

1. Nutrients
2. RSC advances

Oxidative stress

1. Annals of vascular surgery
2. Nutrients

Antioxidant

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Atherosclerosis

1. RSC advances

Bone formation

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Cancer

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Erythema

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Fatigue

1. Nutrients

Preparations

Cistanche deserticola has 22 reported preparations identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Cistanches Herba, dried fleshy stem, CD extract, Cd extract, PRE.

Cistanches herba

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B

Dried fleshy stem

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

Cd extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Cd extract

1. International immunopharmacology

Pre

1. PloS one

Phg-rich extract

1. PloS one

Phenylethanoid glycoside-rich extract

1. Annals of vascular surgery

Phenylethanoid glycosides

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Tcm herbal extracts

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Acetone-h2o (9:1) extract

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin