Cuscuta chinensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pentake chinense
• Grammica chinensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Cuscuta chinensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Solanales. It is further categorized into the family Convolvulaceae and the genus Cuscuta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Cuscuta chinensis, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found within the borders of Ghana. Moving toward the northeastern part of the continent, the species is present in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Its range also extends to the island of Socotra, which is located in Northeast Tropical Africa. Finally, the plant is distributed throughout the areas of Sudan and South Sudan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cuscuta chinensis is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of altitudes and disturbed environments. It is typically found within an elevational range extending from a minimum of 700 m AMSL to a maximum of 3000 m AMSL. Regarding its preferred habitat, the species frequently colonizes anthropogenic landscapes, specifically establishing itself within crop fields and various ruderal sites.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

700 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, ruderal sites

Life history

The life history of Cuscuta chinensis is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a specialized parasitic organism, its life form is classified as a therophyte, a designation reflecting its strategy of surviving unfavorable conditions through seeds that remain dormant until optimal environmental triggers are met. This therophytic nature ensures that the plant can rapidly exploit host resources during its brief vegetative period before transitioning to reproduction. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains a therophyte life form, relying on its rapid growth and parasitic attachment to sustain its life cycle before senescence.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cuscuta chinensis is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous structure that functions as a forb. It is classified as an obligatory parasite, lacking significant photosynthetic capacity and instead relying entirely on its host for nutrients. As a climber, it is not self-supporting but rather acts as an obligatory vine that entangles with other vegetation. Although its habitat can encompass aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments, it is fundamentally described as a terrestrial organism in its ecological interaction. Furthermore, it exhibits a terrestrial epiphyte profile, meaning it grows upon other plants rather than being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte, utilizing its parasitic nature to anchor itself to terrestrial hosts.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

obligatory

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cuscuta chinensis is characterized by a unique metabolic and morphological profile adapted to its parasitic lifestyle. Regarding its carbon fixation mechanisms, the plant's photosynthetic pathway is classified under the C3, C4, or CAM spectrum, though as a holoparasite, its functional reliance on independent photosynthesis is extremely limited. Morphologically, the plant exhibits an ovate leaf form, which is a distinctive structural trait of its reduced foliage. Furthermore, the vegetative anatomy is smooth and lacks defensive structures, as it possesses no leaf thorns and no leaf spines.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cuscuta chinensis is characterized by its sexual reproductive capacity, as the plant features bisexual flowers that contain both male and female reproductive organs. This species exhibits a highly flexible flowering phenology, with the flowering period potentially spanning the entire year. Specifically, the flowering cycle can begin as early as January and continue through to December, though the exact timing remains variable depending on environmental conditions and the availability of host plants.

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cuscuta chinensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Phytochemistry
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Chemicals

Cuscuta chinensis has 44 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Hyperoside, kaempferol, quercetin, ARA.

Flavonoids

1. iScience
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Preventive nutrition and food science

Hyperoside

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

kaempferol

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

quercetin

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

ARA

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
2. Acta pharmacologica Sinica

CLW

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. The British journal of nutrition

GAL

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
2. Acta pharmacologica Sinica

Isorhamnetin

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

Rha

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
2. Acta pharmacologica Sinica

quercetin 3-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1->2)-beta-D-galactoside

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

Activities

Cuscuta chinensis has 12 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antiosteoporotic, Neuroprotective, Anthelmintic.

Antioxidant

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Anticancer

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
2. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Antiosteoporotic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Neuroprotective

1. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology
2. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Anthelmintic

1. Parasitology research

Antidiabetic

1. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Antinociceptive

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Antiobesity

1. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Antitumor

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Antiulcer

1. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Medicinal Uses

Cuscuta chinensis has 26 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cerebrovascular disorders, hypertension, osteoporosis, Dry eye disease, HeLa cells.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations