Dendrobium nobile

Noble dendrobium

Dendrobium nobile, commonly known as the noble dendrobium, is a prized orchid valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its stems are harvested to create "Shi Hu," a potent herb used to nourish the yin, clear heat, and relieve coughs. This resilient plant bridges aesthetic beauty with profound therapeutic potential.

  • Scientific name: Dendrobium nobile
  • Family: Orchidaceae
  • Native range: Asia-Temperate

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Asparagales and placed in the Orchidaceae family. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Dendrobium.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Asparagales WCVP
Family Orchidaceae WCVP
Genus Dendrobium WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Dendrobium nobile, is recognized by various common names across different languages and cultures. In Russian, it is referred to as Дендробиум благородный, while in Vietnamese, it is called Phi điệp kép. In Japanese, the name used is デンドロビウム・ノビル, and in Polish, it is known as Dendrobium szlachetne. Furthermore, in Chinese, it is commonly called 石斛.
Language Common Name Source
ru Дендробиум благородный Wikidata
vi Phi điệp kép Wikidata
ja デンドロビウム・ノビル Wikidata
pl Dendrobium szlachetne Wikidata
zh 石斛 Wikidata
fa ارکیده دندروبیوم Wikidata
bn মহা ডেনড্রোবিয়াম Wikidata
bg благороден дендробиум Wikidata
lzh 石斛 Wikidata
cs stromobytec vznešený Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found spanning from the South-Central provinces to the Southeast coast. Its range also extends to the tropical island of Hainan and the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Moving beyond China, the species is also native to the Indian Subcontinent. Specifically, it thrives within the lush landscapes of Assam.

Region Area Source
China China South-Central WCVP
China Hainan WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
China Tibet WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Assam WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh WCVP
Indian Subcontinent East Himalaya WCVP
Indian Subcontinent India WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Nepal WCVP
Indo-China Laos WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Dendrobium nobile, is a highly valued medicinal orchid characterized by its unique morphological structures. The primary medicinal component is the stem, which functions as a specialized storage stem known as a pseudobulb, allowing the plant to retain moisture and nutrients. These elongated, succulent stems serve as the main reservoir for bioactive compounds used in traditional therapies. During its blooming period, the plant produces a beautiful flower that emerges from the nodes of the growth. Within the intricate anatomy of its reproductive organs, specialized structures such as nectar tubes can be found, which facilitate pollination. Together, these diverse plant parts contribute to the overall biological complexity and therapeutic potential of the species.
Total parts
17
Scientific sources
22
Plant Part Sources Confidence
stems 4 ★★☆☆☆
stem 2 ★☆☆☆☆
flower 2 ★☆☆☆☆
tubes 1 ★☆☆☆☆
storage stem 1 ★☆☆☆☆
roots 1 ★☆☆☆☆
root 1 ★☆☆☆☆
leaves 1 ★☆☆☆☆
leaf 1 ★☆☆☆☆
herb 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Dendrobium nobile has 81 reported phytochemicals identified across 111 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include dendrobine, flavonoids, terpenoids, Dendrobine, abscisic acid.

Total chemicals
81
Scientific sources
111

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
dendrobine 15 ★★★★★
flavonoids 8 ★★★★☆
terpenoids 3 ★★☆☆☆
Dendrobine 2 ★☆☆☆☆
abscisic acid 2 ★☆☆☆☆
glucose 2 ★☆☆☆☆
phenanthrenes 2 ★☆☆☆☆
phenols 2 ★☆☆☆☆
polysaccharide 2 ★☆☆☆☆
starch 2 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Dendrobium nobile has 14 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antifibrotic.

Total activities
14
Scientific sources
17

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antioxidant 4 ★★☆☆☆
Analgesic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antidiabetic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antifibrotic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antipyretic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antitumor 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antiviral 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Cardiovascular 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Cytotoxic 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Dendrobium nobile has 20 reported medicinal uses identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, Dry eye disease, analgesic, antidiabetic, antipyretic.

Total uses
20
Scientific sources
22

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Confidence
antioxidant 3 ★★☆☆☆
Dry eye disease 1 ★☆☆☆☆
analgesic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
antidiabetic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
antipyretic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
antiviral 1 ★☆☆☆☆
apoptosis 1 ★☆☆☆☆
cancer 1 ★☆☆☆☆
cognitive impairment 1 ★☆☆☆☆
fibrosis 1 ★☆☆☆☆