Cynanchum wilfordii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vincetoxicum wilfordii
• Seutera wilfordii
• Cynoctonum wilfordii

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianales, falling into the family Apocynaceae. Ultimately, its scientific identity is defined by the genus Cynanchum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of East Asia. In the Russian Far East, its presence is specifically noted within the Primorye territory. Moving into China, the species can be found extensively throughout the Manchuria region. It also occupies significant portions of China South-Central and China North-Central. Furthermore, the plant's range extends into the diverse landscapes of China Southeast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cynanchum wilfordii is characterized by its preference for specific montane environments, where it typically thrives in mountains and stony places. This species occupies a distinct altitudinal niche, with its elevational range spanning from a minimum of 800 m AMSL to a maximum of 1300 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1050 m AMSL, suggesting a specialization for mid-to-high altitude terrains where rocky substrates and mountain climates provide its primary growing conditions.

Elevational range max:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1050 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Habitat :

mountains, stony places

Life history

The life history of Cynanchum wilfordii is characterized by its status as a perennial herb, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a climbing or creeping perennial, the plant establishes a robust root system that serves as a primary storage organ for nutrients, facilitating its long-term survival and ability to regrow annually. Throughout its life cycle, it undergoes seasonal stages of vegetative growth, where it utilizes its twining stems to climb surrounding vegetation, followed by a reproductive phase involving the flowering and seeding processes. This perennial nature ensures that the plant can withstand environmental fluctuations, maintaining a continuous presence in its natural habitat through repeated cycles of development.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cynanchum wilfordii is characterized by its growth form as a herbaceous plant, specifically functioning as a perennial climbing herb. In terms of its structural composition, the plant exhibits a non-woody nature, possessing flexible, twining stems that allow it to ascend through surrounding vegetation. These stems are slender and lack significant lignification, consistent with its non-woody classification.

Growth form :

herb

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cynanchum wilfordii is characterized by distinct morphological dimensions of its foliage, which serve as key indicators of its vegetative development and surface area for photosynthetic activity. The leaves exhibit a specific range of size, with a mean leaf length of 5.5 cm and a minimum length of 5 cm, reaching a maximum capacity of 6 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width displays significant variability, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 4 cm, with a calculated mean width of 3 cm. These dimensional parameters reflect the plant's structural adaptations for light interception and gas exchange, essential for its metabolic processes and the synthesis of its bioactive compounds.

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cynanchum wilfordii is characterized by a specific flowering period and distinct fruit morphology. The plant's flowering cycle is concentrated in the month of July, with both the flowering start and flowering end occurring during this time. Following pollination, the plant produces elongated fruits that exhibit very little variation in dimension. The fruits typically maintain a consistent length of approximately 12 cm, with both the minimum, mean, and maximum recorded lengths staying at this value. Similarly, the fruit width is uniform, measuring approximately 1 cm, which is reflected across its minimum, mean, and maximum width measurements.

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

12 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cynanchum wilfordii has 2 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem.

Root

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Journal of natural products
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
5. International journal of molecular medicine

Stem

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Cynanchum wilfordii has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cynandione A, CWE, CYNAURICUOSIDE A, Cynandione B, Gagaminine.

cynandione A

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. International journal of molecular medicine
5. Journal of neuroscience research

CWE

1. Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)

CYNAURICUOSIDE A

1. Journal of natural products

Cynandione B

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Gagaminine

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Gallic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

P-HYDROXYACETOPHENONE

1. International journal of molecular medicine

Steroidal alkaloid

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Wilfoside C1N

1. Journal of natural products

Wilfoside K1N

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Cynanchum wilfordii has 2 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of neuroscience research

Medicinal Uses

Cynanchum wilfordii has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include apoptosis, atherosclerosis, inflammation, multidrug-resistance, neurodegenerative disorders.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations