Cnidium monnieri

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ligusticum monnieri
• Pinasgelon monnieri
• Selinum monnieri
• Cicuta monnieri

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Apiales, it is classified under the family Apiaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Cnidium and the species Cnidium monnieri.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions within the vast territory of Siberia. Specifically, it can be found growing in the Buryatiya region. Its presence also extends to the areas of Chita and Irkutsk. Furthermore, the species inhabits the Krasnoyarsk territory. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant includes the remote landscapes of Yakutiya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cnidium monnieri is characterized by its high adaptability to diverse and often moisture-rich environments. It is frequently found colonizing varied landscapes such as crop fields, meadows, and old fields, demonstrating a capacity to thrive in disturbed or managed agricultural settings. This species shows a strong affinity for hydric and semi-aquatic habitats, occurring commonly along the margins of lakes, rivers, and shores, as well as in wet depressions and roadside areas. Furthermore, its ecological range extends to challenging terrain, including saline places, which suggests a specialized tolerance to high soil salinity and fluctuating moisture levels.

Habitat :

crop fields, lakes, meadows: wet, old fields, rivers, roadsides, saline places, shores

Life history

The life history of Cnidium monnieri is characterized by a variable lifecycle that can manifest as an annual, biennial, or perennial organism depending on environmental conditions and ecological niche. Throughout its development, the plant progresses from seed germination to a reproductive phase where it produces inflorescences typical of the Apiaceae family. As a species with a flexible temporal strategy, it can complete its entire reproductive cycle within a single growing season or persist through multiple years, allowing it to adapt to fluctuating habitats. This variability in longevity facilitates its survival and colonization capabilities across different climatic zones.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cnidium monnieri is characterized by a growth form classified as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species, lacking any climbing or liana-like tendencies, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. It is a terrestrial plant that typically exhibits a height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.8 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.35 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.35 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cnidium monnieri is characterized by its specific metabolic processes and delicate leaf morphology. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a fundamental metabolic mechanism for carbon fixation. Its vegetative structure features highly fine, linear foliage, with leaf lengths typically averaging 0.65 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 1 cm. Complementing this, the leaf width is equally minute, maintaining a mean of 0.125 cm, with measurements fluctuating between a minimum of 0.1 cm and a maximum of 0.15 cm.

Leaf length max:

1 cm

Leaf length mean:

0.65 cm

Leaf length min:

0.3 cm

Leaf width max:

0.15 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.125 cm

Leaf width min:

0.1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cnidium monnieri is characterized by a specific flowering period that typically commences in June and concludes in July, though the timing can be variable. During this reproductive phase, the plant produces inflorescences that are relatively small, ranging in length from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.03 m. Following pollination, the development of the fruit occurs, with the fruit dimensions exhibiting specific morphological variations. The fruit length typically ranges from a minimum of 0.15 cm to a maximum of 0.3 cm, with an average length of 0.225 cm. Similarly, the fruit width varies from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 0.2 cm, maintaining a mean width of 0.15 cm.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.225 cm

Fruit length min:

0.15 cm

Fruit width max:

0.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.15 cm

Fruit width min:

0.1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.03 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cnidium monnieri 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 fruit, seed.

Fruit

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Acta pharmacologica Sinica
3. Organic letters
4. Microbial pathogenesis
5. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Seed

1. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society

Chemicals

Cnidium monnieri has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Osthole, Coumarins, IMPERATORIN, Bergapten, Osthol.

Osthole

1. International journal of molecular medicine
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
3. Toxicology letters
4. Planta medica
5. European journal of pharmacology

Coumarins

1. Journal of separation science
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

IMPERATORIN

1. Journal of chromatography. A
2. Planta medica
3. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP

Bergapten

1. Journal of chromatography. A
2. Journal of natural products

Osthol

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Medicinal chemistry research : an international journal for rapid communications on design and mechanisms of action of biologically active agents

XANTHOTOXIN

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of natural products

1-Hydroxytorilin

1. Planta medica

8-Hydroxybergapten

1. Journal of natural products

Bergaptol

1. Journal of natural products

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of medicinal food

Activities

Cnidium monnieri has 18 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Neuroprotective, Antimicrobial, Antifungal, Osteogenic.

Antibacterial

1. Journal of separation science
2. Poultry science
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine
4. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Neuroprotective

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
2. BioFactors (Oxford, England)
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Medicinal chemistry research : an international journal for rapid communications on design and mechanisms of action of biologically active agents
5. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antimicrobial

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
3. Medicinal chemistry research : an international journal for rapid communications on design and mechanisms of action of biologically active agents
4. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antifungal

1. Journal of separation science
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine
3. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society

Osteogenic

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Medicinal chemistry research : an international journal for rapid communications on design and mechanisms of action of biologically active agents
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Anticancer

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antidermatophytic

1. Journal of separation science
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Antihypertensive

1. European journal of pharmacology
2. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP

Antioxidant

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiparasitic

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Medicinal chemistry research : an international journal for rapid communications on design and mechanisms of action of biologically active agents

Medicinal Uses

Cnidium monnieri has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include frigidity, hypertension, inflammation, Escherichia coli infection, HSV-1.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations