Dendrobium
Dendrobium, commonly known as stone orchids, is a diverse genus of epiphytic plants celebrated in traditional medicine, particularly in Asia. Renowned for its restorative properties, various species are used to nourish the body, reduce inflammation, and support respiratory health, making them a vital component of herbal healing practices.
- Scientific name: Dendrobium
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Asparagales and the family Orchidaceae. Specifically, it is identified 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, is categorized under various regional names depending on the linguistic context. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 石斛属 (zh-hans) or 石斛属 (zh-cn), while in Traditional Chinese contexts, it is commonly called 石斛蘭屬 (zh-hant) or 石斛蘭屬 (zh-hk). Additionally, in Singapore, the name used is 石斛兰属 (zh-sg).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 石斛属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 石斛蘭屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 石斛蘭屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 石斛属 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 石斛兰属 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 石斛屬 | Wikidata |
| udm | Дендробиум | Wikidata |
| mdf | Дендробиум | Wikidata |
| ja | セッコク属 | Wikidata |
| mrj | Дендробиум | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, its presence is noted specifically in the Seychelles. Within China, it can be found throughout the South-Central areas. The species also inhabits the tropical landscapes of Hainan. Finally, its range extends to the North-Central and Southeast regions of China.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Seychelles | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Dendrobium, utilizes various components for medicinal purposes, primarily focusing on its specialized growth structures. The medicinal properties are often concentrated in the roots, which are thick and fleshy, and the stems that support the plant's epiphytic lifestyle. Specifically, the upper part of the stem may be harvested, though much of the therapeutic value is found within the middle and lower parts of stems. By utilizing the entire architecture from the grounding roots to the segmented stem, practitioners can extract the essential compounds necessary for traditional healing.- Total parts
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 15
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stems | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| stem | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| upper part of the stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| middle and lower parts of stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf sheathes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fresh stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Dendrobium has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 37 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include dendrobine, flavonoids, phenols, lignans, phenanthrenes.
- Total chemicals
- 28
- Scientific sources
- 37
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| dendrobine | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| lignans | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenanthrenes | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| steroids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bibenzyl | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dendrobine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthocyanins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| carotenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Dendrobium has 20 reported activities identified across 30 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Anticancer, Analgesic, Antiaging.
- Total activities
- 20
- Scientific sources
- 30
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiaging | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiangiogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiherpetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Dendrobium has 34 reported medicinal uses identified across 41 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, antidiabetic, immunity, stomach, type 2 diabetes.
- Total uses
- 34
- Scientific sources
- 41
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| inflammation | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| immunity | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stomach | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| type 2 diabetes | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| adipogenesis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| angiogenesis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bacterial infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |