Coptis chinensis
Coptis chinensis, commonly known as Goldthread, is a perennial herb highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine. Renowned for its high berberine content, it possesses potent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. This medicinal plant is frequently utilized to treat digestive ailments, infections, and metabolic disorders through various therapeutic applications.
- Scientific name: Coptis chinensis
- Family: Ranunculaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
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 under the order Ranunculales and the family Ranunculaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Coptis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ranunculales | WCVP |
| Family | Ranunculaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Coptis | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Coptis chinensis, is recognized by several different common names depending on the region and language. In simplified Chinese (zh-hans), it is called 黄连, while in traditional Chinese (zh-hant) and the Cantonese-speaking region of Hong Kong (zh-hk), it is referred to as 黃連. In mainland China (zh), the name is also written as 黄连, and in Vietnam (vi), it is known as Hoàng liên Trung Quốc.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 黄连 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 黃連 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 黃連 | Wikidata |
| vi | Hoàng liên Trung Quốc | Wikidata |
| zh | 黄连 | Wikidata |
| cdo | Uòng-lièng | Wikidata |
| yue | 黃連 | Wikidata |
| th | อึ่งน้อย | Wikidata |
| ar | قبطيس صيني | Wikidata |
| lzh | 黃連 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily found across various regions of China. Its distribution includes extensive areas within China South-Central and China North-Central. Additionally, it can be located throughout the China Southeast region. Beyond the borders of China, its presence extends into the Indo-China peninsula. Specifically, it is documented to grow within the country of Vietnam.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Coptis chinensis, is a perennial herb where the most medicinally significant parts are the underground structures. The medicinal value is primarily concentrated in the rhizome, specifically the thick, yellowish-colored rhizomes that are harvested and dried for use in traditional remedies. While the root system provides structural support, it is the tuberous nature of the rhizome that contains the highest concentration of alkaloids. Above the ground, the plant features distinct green leaves, which are typically divided into multiple leaflets; each individual leaf is characterized by its shape and arrangement, though they are less commonly used for medicinal purposes than the underground parts.- Total parts
- 21
- Scientific sources
- 33
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| rhizome | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| root | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| rhizomes | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| underground tissues | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| total alkaloid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root tissues | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Coptis chinensis has 66 reported phytochemicals identified across 179 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include coptisine, palmatine, Berberine, berberine, epiberberine.
- Total chemicals
- 66
- Scientific sources
- 179
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| coptisine | 21 | ★★★★★ |
| palmatine | 20 | ★★★★★ |
| Berberine | 19 | ★★★★★ |
| berberine | 16 | ★★★★★ |
| epiberberine | 13 | ★★★★★ |
| jatrorrhizine | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| columbamine | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Berberine hydrochloride | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Coptisine | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| jatrorrhizin | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
Activities
Coptis chinensis has 10 reported activities identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antifungal, Antimicrobial.
- Total activities
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiprotozoal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bitter | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypolipidemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Coptis chinensis has 64 reported medicinal uses identified across 82 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, obesity, breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, gastritis.
- Total uses
- 64
- Scientific sources
- 82
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| obesity | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| gastritis | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric ulcer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric ulcers | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |