Gleditsia japonica
Gleditsia japonica, commonly known as the Japanese honey locust, is a deciduous tree valued for its unique botanical characteristics. Beyond its ornamental appeal, this species holds significant traditional importance. In various medicinal practices, its components are explored for their potential therapeutic properties, offering intriguing insights into natural healing traditions.
- Scientific name: Gleditsia japonica
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered in Fabales and falls under the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Gleditsia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Gleditsia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Gleditsia japonica, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is called 山皂荚 (zh-hans), 山皂莢 (zh-hant), or 山皂莢 (zh-hk). In German, it is known as Japanische Gleditischie, while in Japanese, the plant is called サイカチ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 山皂荚 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 山皂莢 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 山皂莢 | Wikidata |
| de | Japanische Gleditschie | Wikidata |
| ja | サイカチ | Wikidata |
| ko | 주엽나무 | Wikidata |
| zh | 山皂角 | Wikidata |
| ar | غلاديشية يابانية | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 山皂角 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 山皂角 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several key regions within China. Its presence is recorded in the South-Central areas, where it adapts to various local climates. Furthermore, it can be found extending northward into the Inner Mongolia region. The species also inhabits the Manchuria area, demonstrating its ability to thrive in different environments. Finally, its geographical range includes the China North-Central and China Southeast regions.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Inner Mongolia | WCVP |
| China | Manchuria | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as Gleditsia japonica, utilizes its distinctive fruits as a key component of its botanical structure. These fruits typically develop as large, dark, and thickened pods that serve as the primary vessel for seed dispersal. In the context of traditional medicinal studies, these pods are often the specific part examined for their unique chemical properties and potential therapeutic applications.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Gleditsia japonica has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include echinocystic acid, 3,16-Di-O-acetylechinocystic acid, Gleditsia saponin C, betulin, betulinic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| echinocystic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,16-Di-O-acetylechinocystic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gleditsia saponin C | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ginsenosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Gleditsia japonica has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include HIV.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| HIV | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |