loquat

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Loquat
• Japanese-medlar
• Chinese medlar
• Japanese Plum
• Japanese medlar

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eriobotrya japonica f. variegata
• Crataegus bibas
• Photinia japonica
• Rhaphiolepis bibas
• Pyrus bibas
• Mespilus japonica

Regional and Traditional Names

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.

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.

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.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Carbohydrate polymers
3. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP
4. Heliyon
5. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Flower

1. Journal of labelled compounds & radiopharmaceuticals
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Journal of medicinally active plants
4. Hua xi yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of West China University of Medical Sciences = Huaxi yike daxue xuebao
5. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Seed

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
2. Journal of medicinally active plants
3. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Fruit

1. 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.

Ursolic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany)

Corosolic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of bioscience and bioengineering
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. International journal of molecular sciences

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Hua xi yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of West China University of Medical Sciences = Huaxi yike daxue xuebao

Euscaphic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Die Pharmazie

Maslinic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. International journal of molecular sciences

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Archives of pharmacal research
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
2. Horticulture research
3. Archives of pharmacal research

Tormentic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of bioscience and bioengineering
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

3-O-trans-caffeoyltormentic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. 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.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany)
3. Journal of medicinally active plants
4. Environmental toxicology
5. Archives of pharmacal research

Antitussive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Estrogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Die Pharmazie
3. Food science & nutrition

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current diabetes reviews

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Expectorant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Die Pharmazie

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Medicinal Uses

Eriobotrya japonica has 55 reported medicinal uses identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diabetes mellitus, inflammation, asthma, pain, type 2 diabetes.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations