Forsythia suspensa
Forsythia suspensa, commonly known as Goldenrain tree, is a versatile medicinal plant highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine. Renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, its dried flowers and stems are frequently used to treat fevers, coughs, and skin infections, offering significant therapeutic benefits in holistic healing practices.
- Scientific name: Forsythia suspensa
- Family: Oleaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Oleaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Forsythia and the species Forsythia suspensa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Oleaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Forsythia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Forsythia suspensa, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In German, it is called Hänge-Forsythie, while in Czech, it is known as zlatice převislá. Its Polish name is forsycja zwisła, and in Chinese, it is commonly called 连翘 (liánqiào). Additionally, in Cantonese, it is affectionately referred to as 一串金 (jat1 cyun3 gam1).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Hänge-Forsythie | Wikidata |
| cs | zlatice převislá | Wikidata |
| pl | forsycja zwisła | Wikidata |
| zh | 连翘 | Wikidata |
| yue | 一串金 | Wikidata |
| th | เหลี่ยงเคี้ยว | Wikidata |
| vi | Liên kiều | Wikidata |
| sk | zlatovka previsnutá | Wikidata |
| ja | レンギョウ | Wikidata |
| be | Фарзіцыя паніклая | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within Germany and the Czechia-Slovakia region. Additionally, the plant extends its reach into Southwestern Europe, specifically within Spain. Collectively, these locations highlight a broad range of habitats spanning from the north to the south of the continent.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Bulgaria | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Romania | WCVP |
| Eastern Europe | Baltic States | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Inner Mongolia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Forsythia suspensa, utilizes various components for its medicinal properties, primarily focusing on the woody structures and reproductive organs. The stems, often referred to as Lianqiao in traditional medicine, are the most commonly harvested part used for their therapeutic effects. As the plant matures, it produces small, oblong fruits that contain the essential seeds necessary for reproduction. Once the fruit develops, it eventually dehisces to release these seeds, completing the plant's life cycle. While the leaves are a prominent part of the plant's foliage, they are less frequently used in clinical applications compared to the stems and the dried fruit.- Total parts
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 28
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruits | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| leaves | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| stems | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tender buds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| shucks | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fructification | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Forsythia suspensa has 82 reported phytochemicals identified across 114 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include phillyrin, forsythiaside, lignans, phillygenin, forsythoside A.
- Total chemicals
- 82
- Scientific sources
- 114
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| phillyrin | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| forsythiaside | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| lignans | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| phillygenin | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| forsythoside A | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| arctigenin | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| forsythin | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Forsythin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phillyrin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Forsythia suspensa has 12 reported activities identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Antidiabetic, Antiemetic.
- Total activities
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiemetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperlipidemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Choleretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Forsythia suspensa has 41 reported medicinal uses identified across 53 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, apoptosis, colitis, gonorrhea, oxidative stress.
- Total uses
- 41
- Scientific sources
- 53
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| inflammation | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| apoptosis | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colitis | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gonorrhea | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pyrexia | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| COVID-19 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Lactobacillus plantarum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |