Fraxinus excelsior
Ash
Fraxinus excelsior, commonly known as the European ash, is a majestic deciduous tree valued in traditional herbalism. While primarily recognized for its timber, its bark and leaves have historically been utilized in folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties, offering a natural approach to managing various ailments.
- Scientific name: Fraxinus excelsior
- Family: Oleaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales. Finally, it resides in the family Oleaceae under the genus Fraxinus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Oleaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Fraxinus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Fraxinus excelsior, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Italian, it is called Fràsene, while in Chinese, it is identified as 欧洲白蜡树 across multiple written standards, including 欧洲白蜡树 (zh-hans), 歐洲白蠟樹 (zh-hant), 歐洲白蠟樹 (zh-hk), and 欧洲白蜡树 (zh-cn).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| vec | Fràsene | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 欧洲白蜡树 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 歐洲白蠟樹 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 歐洲白蠟樹 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 欧洲白蜡树 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 欧洲白蜡树 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 歐洲白蠟樹 | Wikidata |
| eu | Lizar arrunt | Wikidata |
| pl | jesion wyniosły | Wikidata |
| gd | Uinnseann | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Fraxinus excelsior, maintains a significant presence throughout various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing across the landscape of Denmark, where it is a common sight in many habitats. Its distribution also extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving further north, the species is well-established within the territories of both Norway and Sweden. Consequently, these five nations represent key areas within its primary geographical range.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as European ash, possesses various components that have been historically utilized in traditional medicine, though its therapeutic profile is quite specific. While the bark and leaves are often the focus of botanical studies regarding its chemical composition, the seeds also represent a distinct part of the plant's reproductive cycle. These seeds, contained within winged samaras, are produced annually and serve as the primary means of dispersal, playing a vital role in the natural propagation of the species in its native habitats.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Fraxinus excelsior has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1'''-O-beta-D-glucosylformoside, GI3, GI5, aesculetin, aesculin.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1'''-O-beta-D-glucosylformoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| GI3 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| GI5 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aesculetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aesculin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumarin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nuzhenide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oleoside 11-methyl ester | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oleoside dimethyl ester | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| salidroside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Fraxinus excelsior has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antipyretic, Antirheumatic.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antirheumatic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Fraxinus excelsior has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, pain, analgesic, antidiabetic, antipyretic.
- Total uses
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| inflammation | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| pain | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antipyretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| edema | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| osteoarthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative damage | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |