Ephedra equisetina
Ephedra equisetiina, commonly known as Equisetina Ephedra, is a significant medicinal plant native to arid regions. Renowned for its alkaloid content, particularly ephedrine, it has been utilized traditionally to treat respiratory ailments and stimulate metabolism. Modern pharmacology continues to study its bioactive compounds for their potent physiological effects.
- Scientific name: Ephedra equisetina
- Family: Ephedraceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Ephedra equisetiina, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Gnetidae, falling within the order Ephedrales. Finally, it is a member of the family Ephedraceae and the genus Ephedra.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Gnetidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ephedrales | WCVP |
| Family | Ephedraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ephedra | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Ephedra equisetina, is known by various common names depending on the language and region. In Russian, it is referred to as Хвойный хвощевый, while in Azerbaijani, it is called Qatırquyruğuyabənzər acılıqotu. In Poland, the species is known as przęśl skrzypowata, and in China, it is identified as 木贼麻黄. Additionally, in Kazakhstan, it is known by the name Қырықбуынды қылша.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ru | Хвойник хвощевый | Wikidata |
| az | Qatırquyruğuyabənzər acılıqotu | Wikidata |
| pl | przęśl skrzypowata | Wikidata |
| zh | 木贼麻黄 | Wikidata |
| kk | Қырықбуынды қылша | Wikidata |
| bg | Хвощова ефедра | Wikidata |
| mn | Морин зээргэнэ | Wikidata |
| ja | モクゾクマオウ | Wikidata |
| uk | ефедра хвощова | Wikidata |
| cs | chvojník přesličkovitý | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions of Northern Asia. In Siberia, its presence is documented in the Altay and Krasnoyarsk regions. It can also be found throughout the vast landscapes of West Siberia and the mountainous areas of Tuva. Moving toward the eastern reaches, the species extends into the Russian Far East. Specifically, it inhabits the unique ecosystems located within the Primorye territory.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Siberia | Altay | WCVP |
| Siberia | Krasnoyarsk | WCVP |
| Siberia | Tuva | WCVP |
| Siberia | West Siberia | WCVP |
| Russian Far East | Primorye | WCVP |
| Central Asia | Kirgizstan | WCVP |
| Central Asia | Turkmenistan | WCVP |
| Central Asia | Tadzhikistan | WCVP |
| Central Asia | Uzbekistan | WCVP |
| Caucasus | North Caucasus | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Ephedra equisetina, is categorized as a perennial medicinal herb that grows in arid environments. As an herbaceous species, it lacks a woody stem, instead developing slender, jointed, and green photosynthetic branches that function similarly to leaves. The entire herb is often utilized in traditional medicine, as its various parts contain active alkaloids that are harvested for their physiological effects.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| herb | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Ephedra equisetina has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include catechin, catechins, epicatechin.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catechins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epicatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |