loquat
Eriobotrya japonica · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (852 studies) · ★★★★★
Loquat, scientifically known as Eriobotrya japonica, is a versatile evergreen tree prized for its medicinal and nutritional properties. Native to East Asia, its fleshy fruits and antioxidant-rich leaves are used traditionally to soothe coughs, reduce inflammation, and support respiratory health, making it a cornerstone of holistic herbal remedies.
Names and Synonyms
Common Names
- Loquat
- Japanese-medlar
- Chinese medlar
- Japanese Plum
- Japanese medlar
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Eriobotrya japonicaSynonyms
- Eriobotrya japonica f. variegata
- Crataegus bibas
- Photinia japonica
- Rhaphiolepis bibas
- Pyrus bibas
- Mespilus japonica
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Crataegus bibas
- Mespilus japonica
- Photinia japonica
- nispero del Japón
- níspero japonés
- nispero del Japon
- nisperero japonés
- nisperero japones
- loquat
- níspero del Japon
- nispero japones
- nispolero
- níspero
- níspero del Japón
- Níspero chino
- Níspero japonés
German:
- Japanische Wollmispel
- Nespuli
- Nispero
- Japanische Mispel
- Loquat
- japanische Mispel
- japanische Wollmispel
French:
- néflier du Japon
- bibassier
- loquat
- bibacier
- neflier du Japon
- bibassier
- néflier du Japon
- Bibacier
- Neflier du Japon
Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Eriobotrya japonica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Eriobotrya.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Rosales |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Genus | Eriobotrya |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Distribution
This plant, known scientifically as Eriobotrya japonica, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of Southwestern Europe. It can be found growing within the Balearic Islands, which are part of the Baleares archipelago. Its presence is also noted in the French territories and along the coastlines of Portugal. Additionally, this species inhabits the island of Corse. Finally, the plant is documented to grow in the Mediterranean region of Sardegna.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse |
| Southwestern Europe | France |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy |
| Southeastern Europe | Kriti |
| Southeastern Europe | Sicilia |
| Macaronesia | Azores |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Botanical Identification
Reproduction
The reproduction of Eriobotrya japonica is characterized by the production of fruits that possess a distinct texture, categorized as both dry and fleshy in nature. Within these fruits, the seeds play a central role in the plant's life cycle, exhibiting highly consistent physical dimensions. Specifically, the seed volume is remarkably uniform, with a recorded minimum, maximum, and mean volume all measured at exactly 1400 mm³. This stability in seed size suggests a standardized reproductive output, where the fleshy fruit serves as the primary vessel for protecting and eventually dispersing these precisely sized seeds.
- Fruit dryness :
- fleshy
- Seed volume max:
- 1400 mm³
Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)
Plant Parts
Eriobotrya japonica has 4 reported plant parts identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, seed, fruit.
| Plant part | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf | 9 supporting sources | ★★★★☆ |
| Flower | 5 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Seed | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Fruit | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Leaf
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Carbohydrate polymers
- Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP
- Heliyon
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
View 4 additional sources
- BMC biotechnology
- Archives of pharmacal research
- Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
- Journal of natural products
Flower
- Journal of labelled compounds & radiopharmaceuticals
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
- Journal of medicinally active plants
- Hua xi yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of West China University of Medical Sciences = Huaxi yike daxue xuebao
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
Seed
- Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
- Journal of medicinally active plants
- Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
Fruit
- Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
Chemicals
Eriobotrya japonica has 113 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ursolic acid, Corosolic acid, OLEANOLIC ACID, Euscaphic acid, Maslinic acid.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Ursolic acid | 9 supporting sources | ★★★★☆ |
| Corosolic acid | 6 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| OLEANOLIC ACID | 5 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Euscaphic acid | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Maslinic acid | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| CHLOROGENIC ACID | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Tormentic acid | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 3-O-trans-caffeoyltormentic acid | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BETA-SITOSTEROL | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Ursolic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
- Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany)
View 4 additional sources
- International journal of molecular sciences
- Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
- Archives of pharmacal research
- Hua xi yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of West China University of Medical Sciences = Huaxi yike daxue xuebao
Corosolic acid
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Journal of bioscience and bioengineering
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
- International journal of molecular sciences
View 1 additional sources
- Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
OLEANOLIC ACID
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
- Hua xi yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of West China University of Medical Sciences = Huaxi yike daxue xuebao
Euscaphic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
- International journal of molecular sciences
- Die Pharmazie
Maslinic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
- International journal of molecular sciences
CHLOROGENIC ACID
- Archives of pharmacal research
- Phytochemical analysis : PCA
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Flavonoids
- Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
- Horticulture research
- Archives of pharmacal research
Tormentic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of bioscience and bioengineering
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3-O-trans-caffeoyltormentic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of natural products
BETA-SITOSTEROL
- Dr. Duke
- Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
Activities
Eriobotrya japonica has 572 reported activities identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antitussive, Estrogenic, Hypoglycemic, Antidiabetic.
| Activity | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 6 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antitussive | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Estrogenic | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperlipidemic | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Expectorant | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Antioxidant
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany)
- Journal of medicinally active plants
- Environmental toxicology
- Archives of pharmacal research
View 1 additional sources
- Food science & nutrition
Antitussive
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
Estrogenic
- Dr. Duke
- Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
Hypoglycemic
- Dr. Duke
- Die Pharmazie
- Food science & nutrition
Antidiabetic
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of the science of food and agriculture
Antihyperlipidemic
- Dr. Duke
- Current diabetes reviews
Antipyretic
- Dr. Duke
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
Diuretic
- Dr. Duke
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
Expectorant
- Dr. Duke
- Die Pharmazie
Hepatoprotective
- Dr. Duke
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
Conditions
Eriobotrya japonica has 55 reported investigations on conditions identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diabetes mellitus, inflammation, asthma, pain, type 2 diabetes.
| Condition | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes mellitus | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Inflammation | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Asthma | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pain | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Type 2 diabetes | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| A549 cells | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diabetes mellitus | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepg2 cells | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Diabetes mellitus
- Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany)
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Archivos de investigacion medica
Inflammation
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
- International journal of molecular sciences
Asthma
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Current diabetes reviews
Pain
- Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
- International journal of molecular sciences
Type 2 diabetes
- Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
A549 cells
- Carbohydrate polymers
Candida albicans
- Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
Diabetes mellitus
- Heliyon
Escherichia coli
- Journal of medicinally active plants
Hepg2 cells
- Carbohydrate polymers
Preparations
Eriobotrya japonica has 25 reported preparations identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 70% EtOH and the MeOH extracts, 70% ethanol extract of Eriobotrya japonica seeds, CHCl3 extract, EJLE, Eriobotrya japonica seed extract.
| Preparation | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| 70% etoh and the meoh extracts | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 70% ethanol extract of eriobotrya japonica seeds | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chcl3 extract | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ejle | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Eriobotrya japonica seed extract | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flower of eriobotrya japonica | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hexane extract | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leave extracts | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Meoh extraction | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Crude alcoholic extract | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
70% etoh and the meoh extracts
- Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
70% ethanol extract of eriobotrya japonica seeds
- Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
Chcl3 extract
- Journal of natural products
Ejle
- Environmental toxicology
Eriobotrya japonica seed extract
- Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
Flower of eriobotrya japonica
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
Hexane extract
- Heliyon
Leave extracts
- Fitoterapia
Meoh extraction
- Planta medica
Crude alcoholic extract
- Journal of ethnopharmacology