giant ferrel
Ferula communis · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (25 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Giant fennel, scientifically known as Ferula communis, is a robust, perennial herb native to the Mediterranean region. Renowned for its towering stalks and umbrella-like yellow flowers, this plant holds significant ethnobotanical value. It is frequently utilized in traditional medicine for its diverse bioactive compounds and therapeutic properties.
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Root · Stem
- Common names
- Giant Fennel · Common Giant-Fennel · 1 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names
Common Names
- Giant Fennel
- common giant-fennel
- giant-fennel
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Ferula nodiflora
- Ferula anatriches
- Peucedanum ferula
- Ferula abyssinica
- Bubon rigidior
- Ferula brevifolia
- Ferula communis var. anatriches
- Cañajelda
- Ferula montis-elgonis
- Ferula ferulago
- Ferula lobeliana
- Caña
- Cañaheja
- Caña del muermo
- Cañabeja
- Caña
- Caña del muermo
- Cañabeja
German:
- Riesenfenchel
- Gemeines Steckenkraut
- Gemeines Rutenkraut
- Gewöhnliches Steckenkraut
- Riesenfenchel
French:
- Férule commune
- Ferule commune
- Férule Commune
- Grande Férule
- Férule commune
- Grande Férule
- Ferule commune
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Ferula communisTaxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Apiales and the family Apiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Ferula.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Apiales | WCVP |
| Family | Apiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ferula | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific range of occurrence across several distinct European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence is noted within Great Britain. Moving toward Southwestern Europe, it can be found inhabiting the Baleares islands. The species is also documented throughout the territory of France. Furthermore, its distribution extends to the Mediterranean islands of Corse and Sardegna.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Albania | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Greece | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Kriti | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Ferula communis, is a medicinal species where various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The roots are particularly significant, often being harvested for their concentrated bioactive compounds used in traditional remedies. Additionally, the young stems are valued for their specific chemical profiles, contributing to the overall medicinal utility of the plant.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| root | Ethiopian medical journal (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stem | Therapie (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Ferula communis has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ferulenol, 4 Hydroxycoumarins, Cadinanetriol, Caryophyllene oxide, Chamazulene.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Ferulenol | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 4 Hydroxycoumarins | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cadinanetriol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Caryophyllene oxide | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chamazulene | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| E-omega-benzoyloxyferulenol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ferprenin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Saponins | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Ferulenol
- Research communications in chemical pathology and pharmacology
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- Journal of natural products
4 Hydroxycoumarins
- Therapie
Cadinanetriol
- Journal of natural products
Caryophyllene oxide
- Phytochemistry
Chamazulene
- Phytochemistry
E-omega-benzoyloxyferulenol
- Journal of natural products
Ferprenin
- Research communications in chemical pathology and pharmacology
Flavonoid
- Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
Flavonoids
- Journal of experimental pharmacology
Saponins
- Journal of experimental pharmacology
Activities
Ferula communis has 2 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticoagulant.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticoagulant | Archives of toxicology. Supplement. = Archiv fur Toxikologie. Supplement (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ferula communis has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Leishmania donovani, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Leishmania donovani | Journal of experimental pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mycobacterium intracellulare | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae | Ethiopian medical journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| 80% methanol crude extracts prepared from the roots | Ethiopian medical journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Eighty percent ethanol solubilized fractions | Ethiopian medical journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous solubilized fractions | Ethiopian medical journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| crude extracts | Journal of experimental pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dry stems | Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hydro alcoholic solvent fractionates | Ethiopian medical journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |