Eriosema chinense
Eriosema chinense, commonly known as the velvet bean, is a medicinal legume prized for its diverse therapeutic properties. Traditionally used in folk medicine, this plant contains bioactive compounds believed to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Exploring its phytochemical profile offers promising insights into its potential role in modern pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Eriosema chinense
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, it is further classified under the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Eriosema.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Eriosema | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Eriosema chinense, is known by various regional names depending on the language and location. In Chinese, it is frequently referred to as 鸡头薯 (jītóushǔ) or 地果草 (dìguǒcǎo), while in Taiwan, it is commonly called 豬仔笠 (zhūzǎilì). Furthermore, in Thailand, the species is identified by the name แห้วประดู่.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 鸡头薯 | Wikidata |
| th | แห้วประดู่ | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 豬仔笠 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 鸡头薯 | Wikidata |
| zh | 地果草 | Wikidata |
| zh | 绵三七 | Wikidata |
| zh | 猪仔笠 | Wikidata |
| zh | 岗菊 | Wikidata |
| zh | 毛瓣花 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several distinct regions of East Asia. In mainland China, its presence is widely documented throughout the South-Central and Southeast territories. It can also be found in the high-altitude regions of Tibet, demonstrating a remarkable adaptability to varying climates. Furthermore, the species is naturally distributed across the tropical island of Hainan. Finally, its geographical reach extends to the island of Taiwan, rounding out its eastern distribution.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Eriosema chinense, is a species where the medicinal properties are often concentrated within its specific anatomical structures. Among its various components, the roots serve as a vital part of the plant's biological makeup, functioning to anchor the specimen while absorbing essential nutrients from the soil. In many traditional applications involving such botanical species, the roots are specifically harvested and processed to extract the bioactive compounds necessary for therapeutic use.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Eriosema chinense has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include eriosematin E.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| eriosematin E | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Eriosema chinense has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |