Echium amoenum

Echium amoenum · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Sparse (95 studies) · ★★☆☆☆

Echium amoenum, scientifically known as Echium amoenum, is a rare and enchanting medicinal plant endemic to the Canary Islands. Renowned for its striking blue blossoms, this species is valued in traditional herbalism for its unique phytochemical properties, offering potential therapeutic benefits in treating various ailments through its bioactive compounds.

Family
Boraginaceae
Native range
Asia-Temperate
Parts used
Not available
Common names
Not available
Scientific synonyms
Echium Orientale

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Echium amoenum

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

German:

  • Kaukasischer Natternkopf

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Echium amoenum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. It is ultimately identified by its genus, Echium.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Boraginales
Family Boraginaceae
Genus Echium

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated within the mountainous regions of Eurasia. Its primary distribution includes the North Caucasus area, where it adapts to unique local climates. Additionally, the species can be found throughout the Transcaucasus region. Moving further south, its presence extends into the landscapes of Western Asia. Specifically, the plant is known to inhabit parts of Iran within this broader territory.

Region Area
Caucasus North Caucasus
Caucasus Transcaucasus
Western Asia Iran

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Echium amoenum is defined by its ability to thrive in diverse and often rugged environmental settings. It is primarily found colonizing stony places, where its root systems can navigate rocky substrates and find stability amidst sparse soil. In addition to these rocky terrains, the plant is frequently situated along rivers, benefiting from the moisture gradients and alluvial deposits found in riparian zones. Furthermore, its adaptability allows it to integrate into managed landscapes, such as gardens, where it can persist under varied cultivation conditions. This combination of habitats—ranging from the high-moisture environments of riverbanks to the well-drained, mineral-rich conditions of stony areas and human-altered garden settings—highlights the species' ecological versatility.

Habitat :
garden,rivers,stonyplaces

Life history

The life history of Echium amoenum is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, a developmental pattern where the plant typically spends its first year as a vegetative rosette and its second year focusing on reproductive efforts. During its initial stage, the plant establishes a robust root system and produces a cluster of basal leaves, gathering the necessary energy reserves to support future growth. In its second year, the plant undergoes a dramatic transition, bolting upward to produce a flowering stalk topped with characteristic inflorescences. Once the flowering and seed production processes are complete, the individual plant typically reaches the end of its life cycle.

Lifecycle :
biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Echium amoenum is characterized by its growth form as a herb, which maintains a non-woody structure throughout its development. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 0.8 m.

Growth form :
herb
Plant height max:
0.8 m
Plant height min:
0.5 m
Woodiness :
non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Echium amoenum is primarily characterized by its seasonal flowering cycle, which serves as the critical phase for its pollination and subsequent seed production. The reproductive period begins in May, marking the onset of its flowering stage, and continues steadily through the late spring and early summer months. This flowering window reaches its conclusion in July, defining a specific temporal window for its reproductive activity. During this period, the plant produces its floral structures to facilitate genetic exchange, with the timing of these biological processes being essential to the plant's lifecycle and successful propagation within its natural habitat.

Flowering time :
May
Flowering time :
Jul

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Echium amoenum has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, Flavonoids, polyphenols, rosmarinic acid, (e)-caffeic acid.

Chemicals reported in Echium amoenum
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Anthocyanins 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Flavonoids 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
polyphenols 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
rosmarinic acid 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
(e)-caffeic acid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Anthocyanidins 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Be 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Echimidine N-oxide 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Fatty acids 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
INTERMEDINE N-OXIDE 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Anthocyanins

  1. Journal of food science and technology
  2. Galen medical journal
  3. International journal of biological macromolecules

Flavonoids

  1. Journal of food science and technology
  2. Galen medical journal

polyphenols

  1. Journal of food science and technology
  2. Scientific reports

rosmarinic acid

  1. Galen medical journal
  2. International journal of molecular sciences

(e)-caffeic acid

  1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anthocyanidins

  1. Galen medical journal

Be

  1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Echimidine N-oxide

  1. BMC plant biology

Fatty acids

  1. Galen medical journal

INTERMEDINE N-OXIDE

  1. BMC plant biology

Activities

Echium amoenum has 15 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anxiolytic, Sedative, Antidepressant, Antibacterial.

Activities reported in Echium amoenum
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antioxidant 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Anxiolytic 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Sedative 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Antidepressant 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antibacterial 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antifebrile 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antimicrobial 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiviral 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Demulcent 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antioxidant

  1. Scientific reports
  2. Molecular biology reports
  3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Anxiolytic

  1. Galen medical journal
  2. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
  3. Molecular biology reports

Sedative

  1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
  2. Pharmaceutical biology
  3. Molecular biology reports

Antidepressant

  1. Galen medical journal
  2. Archives of medical science : AMS

Antibacterial

  1. Archives of medical science : AMS

Anticancer

  1. International journal of molecular sciences

Antifebrile

  1. Archives of medical science : AMS

Antimicrobial

  1. Scientific reports

Antiviral

  1. Archives of medical science : AMS

Demulcent

  1. Archives of medical science : AMS

Medicinal Uses

Echium amoenum has 30 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include depression, anxiety, infectious diseases, inflammation, obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Consensus
depression Galen medical journal (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆
anxiety Galen medical journal (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
infectious diseases Archives of medical science : AMS (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
inflammation Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
obsessive-compulsive disorder Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
sedative Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
sore throat Scientific reports (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
wound healing Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
(non)infectious diseases Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Alzheimer's disease Galen medical journal (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Preparations

Preparations Sources Consensus
Echium amoenum extract Current drug discovery technologies (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
EA cream Natural product research (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
aqueous extract Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
dried flowers Avicenna journal of phytomedicine (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
ethyl acetate extract International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
fermented Echium amoenum polyphenols Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
hydroalcoholic Echium amoenum extract Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
infusion of dried petals in hot water (90 centigrade) Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆