Cyclamen
Cyclamen, commonly known as sowbread, is a versatile genus of flowering plants prized for their striking, upturned blooms. Beyond its ornamental beauty, various species hold historical significance in traditional medicine. Used to treat respiratory ailments and skin conditions, these plants offer a fascinating blend of aesthetics and therapeutic potential.
- Scientific name: Cyclamen
- Family: Primulaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ericales, it is classified under the family Primulaceae and the genus Cyclamen.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ericales | WCVP |
| Family | Primulaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cyclamen | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, belonging to the genus Cyclamen, is known by various names across different Chinese linguistic contexts. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 仙客来属, which is the standard designation used in mainland China (zh-cn) and Singapore (zh-sg). In Traditional Chinese, the name is written as 仙客來屬, a form commonly used in Taiwan (zh-hans) and Hong Kong (zh-hk). Regardless of the specific script or regional variation, these names all identify this ornamental and medicinal genus.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 仙客来属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 仙客來屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 仙客來屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 仙客来属 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 仙客来属 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 仙客來屬 | Wikidata |
| pl | cyklamen | Wikidata |
| eu | Ziklamen | Wikidata |
| he | רקפת | Wikidata |
| hu | ciklámen | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is also present in Belgium. Its range extends further east to include the areas of Austria and the Czechia-Slovakia region. Together, these locations define the primary habitats for this medicinal flora.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant is characterized by its unique underground storage organs, which are known as tubers. These fleshy tubers serve as the primary reservoir for nutrients and water, allowing the plant to survive through periods of dormancy. Because the medicinal properties are often concentrated within the tuber, careful harvesting of this specific part is essential for traditional applications.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| tubers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tubers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tuber | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cyclamen has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, sterols.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sterols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cyclamen has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cyclamen has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, infertility.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infertility | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |