Cornus officinalis
Cornus officinalis, commonly known as Cornelian cherry, is a versatile medicinal shrub valued in traditional East Asian medicine. Renowned for its nutrient-rich drupes, it is frequently utilized to tonify the kidneys, nourish the liver, and stabilize essence. This potent botanical serves as a cornerstone for promoting vitality and longevity.
- Scientific name: Cornus officinalis
- Family: Cornaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Cornales, falling into the family Cornaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cornus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Cornales | WCVP |
| Family | Cornaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cornus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Cornus officinalis, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Chinese, it is called 山茱萸, while in Czech, it is referred to as dřín lékařský. German speakers call it Asiatische Kornelkirsche, and in East Asian contexts, it is known as 산수유 in Korean and サンシュユ in Japanese.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 山茱萸 | Wikidata |
| cs | dřín lékařský | Wikidata |
| de | Asiatische Kornelkirsche | Wikidata |
| ko | 산수유 | Wikidata |
| ja | サンシュユ | Wikidata |
| fa | زغالاخته آفیسینالیس | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 山茱萸 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 山茱萸 | Wikidata |
| arz | كورنوس اوفيسيناليس | Wikidata |
| ko | 산수유나무 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad distribution across various regions of Eastern Asia. In China, its presence is noted in both the North-Central and Southeast territories. Furthermore, the species can be found naturally throughout the Japanese archipelago. It is also widely distributed across the Korean Peninsula. Together, these locations define its primary geographical range within the continent.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Cornus officinalis, is highly valued in traditional medicine for its various therapeutic components. The most significant part used is the fruit, which is often harvested when ripe to ensure maximum potency. Specifically, the dried pulp of these fruits is frequently prepared as a medicinal decoction or syrup to treat various ailments. Each individual leaf and the overall structure of the fruit contribute to the botanical profile of the species, but it is the processed fruits that serve as the primary source for pharmacological applications.- Total parts
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 14
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| fruits | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried pulp | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fructus Corni | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Corni Fructus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cornus officinalis has 62 reported phytochemicals identified across 89 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include loganin, morroniside, cornuside, flavonoids, ursolic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 62
- Scientific sources
- 89
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| loganin | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| morroniside | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| cornuside | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| ursolic acid | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Loganin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| iridoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoterchebin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oleanolic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cornus officinalis has 9 reported activities identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Neuroprotective, Anticancer, Antiinflammatory.
- Total activities
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cardioprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gastroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cornus officinalis has 39 reported medicinal uses identified across 54 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diabetic nephropathy, inflammation, oxidative stress, Alzheimer's disease, acute lung injury.
- Total uses
- 39
- Scientific sources
- 54
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| diabetic nephropathy | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acute lung injury | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| osteoporosis | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| spinal cord injury | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| weight gain | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |