Japanese goldthread

Coptis japonica · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Extensive (384 studies) · ★★★★★

Japanese goldthread, scientifically known as Coptis japonica, is a perennial herb renowned in traditional East Asian medicine. Characterized by its striking yellow rhizomes, it contains potent alkaloids like berberine. This medicinal plant is widely studied for its powerful antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, offering significant therapeutic potential.

Family
Ranunculaceae
Native range
Asia-Temperate
Parts used
Rhizome · Root
Common names
Japanese Goldthread
Scientific synonyms
Not available

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Coptis japonica

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the family Ranunculaceae and is placed within the genus Coptis.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Ranunculales
Family Ranunculaceae
Genus Coptis

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to the specific region of Eastern Asia. Within this vast territory, its presence is documented in the islands of Japan. The species occupies unique ecological niches found throughout this particular archipelago. Because of this limited range, its natural habitat is geographically concentrated. Consequently, its wild distribution is primarily defined by its connection to the Japanese landscape.

Region Area
Eastern Asia Japan

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Coptis japonica is characterized by its growth form as a perennial herb, which allows it to thrive in moist, shaded forest environments. In terms of its structural composition, the plant is strictly non-woody, lacking any woody stems or permanent woody tissue. Its physical structure typically features a rhizomatous root system from which various vegetative parts emerge, supporting a soft, herbaceous body that lacks the lignified characteristics found in shrubs or trees.

Growth form :
herb
Woodiness :
non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Coptis japonica 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 rhizome, root.

Plant parts reported in Coptis japonica
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Rhizome 6 supporting sources ★★★☆☆
Root 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Rhizome

  1. Journal of natural medicines
  2. Planta medica
  3. Archives of pharmacal research
  4. Journal of natural products
  5. Journal of ethnopharmacology
View 1 additional sources
  1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Root

  1. Journal of economic entomology
  2. Planta medica

Chemicals

Coptis japonica has 40 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include berberine, Coptisine, Magnoflorine, Palmatine, S-adenosyl-L-methionine.

Chemicals reported in Coptis japonica
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
berberine 8 supporting sources ★★★★☆
Coptisine 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Magnoflorine 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Palmatine 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
S-adenosyl-L-methionine 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Coclaurine 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Norreticuline 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
(R)-Norcoclaurine 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
(R,S)-Norlaudanosoline 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
(S)-Norcoclaurine 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

berberine

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Plant & cell physiology
  3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
  4. Frontiers in pharmacology
  5. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
View 3 additional sources
  1. Chemico-biological interactions
  2. Journal of economic entomology
  3. Planta medica

Coptisine

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
  3. Journal of economic entomology

Magnoflorine

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
  3. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Palmatine

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Journal of economic entomology
  3. Planta medica

S-adenosyl-L-methionine

  1. Plant & cell physiology
  2. Phytochemistry
  3. European journal of biochemistry

Coclaurine

  1. Phytochemistry
  2. The Journal of biological chemistry

Norreticuline

  1. Phytochemistry
  2. The Journal of biological chemistry

(R)-Norcoclaurine

  1. European journal of biochemistry

(R,S)-Norlaudanosoline

  1. European journal of biochemistry

(S)-Norcoclaurine

  1. European journal of biochemistry

Activities

Coptis japonica has 303 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiinflammatory, Antiallergic, Laxative, (+)-Inotropic, ACE-Inhibitor.

Activities reported in Coptis japonica
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antiinflammatory 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Antiallergic 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Laxative 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
(+)-Inotropic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
ACE-Inhibitor 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Abortifacient 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Adrenocorticotrophic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Adrenolytic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Allelopathic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Amebicide 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antiinflammatory

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Archives of pharmacal research
  3. Journal of natural products

Antiallergic

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Archives of pharmacal research

Laxative

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Scientific reports

(+)-Inotropic

  1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

  1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

  1. Dr. Duke

Adrenocorticotrophic

  1. Dr. Duke

Adrenolytic

  1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

  1. Dr. Duke

Amebicide

  1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Coptis japonica has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Oxidative stress, adipogenesis, cachexia, contact hypersensitivity, gastroenteritis.

Conditions investigated for Coptis japonica
Condition Supporting sources Consensus
Oxidative stress 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Adipogenesis 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cachexia 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Contact hypersensitivity 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Gastroenteritis 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Hypercholesterolemia 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Hypertension 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Muscle atrophy 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Sarcopenia 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Oxidative stress

  1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Adipogenesis

  1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cachexia

  1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Contact hypersensitivity

  1. Journal of natural medicines

Gastroenteritis

  1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Hypercholesterolemia

  1. Chemico-biological interactions

Hypertension

  1. Chemico-biological interactions

Muscle atrophy

  1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Sarcopenia

  1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Preparations

Coptis japonica has 8 reported preparations identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include rhizomes, butanol (BuOH) fraction, components, crude drug, cultured Coptis japonica cells.

Preparations reported for Coptis japonica
Preparation Supporting sources Consensus
Rhizomes 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Butanol (buoh) fraction 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Components 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Crude drug 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cultured coptis japonica cells 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Dried rhizome 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Myogenic extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Roots 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Rhizomes

  1. Planta medica
  2. Journal of natural products

Butanol (buoh) fraction

  1. Planta medica

Components

  1. Planta medica

Crude drug

  1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Cultured coptis japonica cells

  1. European journal of biochemistry

Dried rhizome

  1. Journal of natural medicines

Myogenic extract

  1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Roots

  1. Journal of economic entomology