common sunflower
Helianthus annuus · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (1134 studies) · ★★★★★
Common sunflower, scientifically known as Helianthus annuus, is a versatile annual herb revered for its multifaceted medicinal properties. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this plant offers significant therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. Its seeds and oils are widely utilized in traditional remedies to support overall wellness.
Names
Common Names
- common sunflower
- annual sunflower
- common sunflower
- garden sunflower
- Sunflower
- Mirasol
- Ornamental Sunflower
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- girasol
- mirasol
- Girasol
- Acahual
German:
- Sonnenblume
- Sonnenblume
- Gewöhnliche Sonnenblume
- Einjaehrige Sonnenblume
French:
- tournesol
- grand soleil
- grand soleil
- hélianthe annuel
- soleil
- tournesol
- Helianthe annuel
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Helianthus annuusSynonyms
- Helianthus annuus var. aridus
- Helianthus lindheimerianus
- Helianthus annuus mut. inornatus
- Helianthus grandiflorus
- Helianthus annuus var. apicalis
- Helianthus annuus var. basalis
- Helianthus pumilus
- Helianthus annuus var. chrysanthemoides
- Helianthus annuus var. convolutus
- Helianthus annuus var. coronatus
- Helianthus annuus var. dilutus
- Helianthus annuus f. fallax
- Helianthus annuus var. flavobasis
- Helianthus annuus subsp. jaegeri
- Helianthus annuus var. indicus
- Helianthus erythrocarpus
- Helianthus annuus var. latibasis
- Helianthus annuus subsp. texanus
- Helianthus annuus var. niger
- Helianthus annuus var. texanus
- Helianthus annuus var. pallescens
- Helianthus lenticularis
- Helianthus annuus var. passiflora
- Helianthus annuus lenticularis
- Helianthus annuus var. primulinus
- Helianthus annuus f. lenticularis
- Helianthus annuus var. pumilus
- Helianthus annuus subsp. lenticularis
- Helianthus annuus var. reversus
- Helianthus annuus var. lenticularis
- Helianthus annuus var. revolutus
- Helianthus annuus var. ruberrimus
- Helianthus aridus
- Helianthus annuus var. selene
- Helianthus indicus
- Helianthus annuus var. semivinosus
- Helianthus annuus f. silvester
- Helianthus annuus var. tortuosus
- Helianthus annuus var. trizonatus
- Helianthus annuus var. vinosissimus
- Helianthus annuus var. vinosus
- Helianthus aridus var. citrinus
- Helianthus lenticularis var. angustus
- Helianthus lenticularis var. aridus
- Helianthus lenticularis var. primulinus
- Helianthus annuus var. macrocarpus
- Helianthus annuus var. californicus
- Helianthus annuus californicus
- Helianthus ultiflorus
- Helianthus macrocarpus
- Helianthus jaegeri
- Helianthus ovatus
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is further categorized into the family Asteraceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Helianthus, which includes the species Helianthus annuus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Helianthus | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant, known scientifically as Helianthus annuus, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark. Furthermore, its distribution extends northward into the territory of Finland. The species is also documented in the island nations of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical reach includes the coastal and inland areas of Norway.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | 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 | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the sunflower, offers various components that are studied for their biological properties. The leaves serve as the primary site for photosynthesis, while the young leaves are often noted for their tender texture during early growth stages. A single leaf can become quite large and expansive as the plant matures. The reproductive center is characterized by the flower disc, which contains numerous tiny individual florets arranged in a dense pattern. Ultimately, the most well-known part is the seed, which is harvested for its high oil content and nutritional value.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Frontiers in chemistry (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flower | Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Helianthus annuus has 270 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include lysine, Ciliaric acid, Echinocystic acid, Grandifloric acid, IRON.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| lysine | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Ciliaric acid | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Echinocystic acid | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Grandifloric acid | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| IRON | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MANGANESE | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Niveusin C | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linoleic acid | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methionine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oleic acid | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
lysine
- Dr. Duke
- The Journal of nutrition
- Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
Ciliaric acid
- Dr. Duke
- Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
Echinocystic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Die Pharmazie
Grandifloric acid
- Dr. Duke
- Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
IRON
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of environmental science and health. Part. B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes
MANGANESE
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of environmental science and health. Part. B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes
Niveusin C
- Dr. Duke
- Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. Section C, Biosciences
linoleic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Food science & nutrition
methionine
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
oleic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Food science & nutrition
Activities
Helianthus annuus has 804 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Cytotoxic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antimalarial | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Chronotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Inotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 11B-HSD-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-HETE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Helianthus annuus has 18 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, Gout, abiotic stress, antioxidant, chymotrypsin.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| malaria | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Gout | Current rheumatology reviews (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| abiotic stress | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | Chemistry & biodiversity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chymotrypsin | Roczniki Akademii Medycznej w Bialymstoku (1995) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cold stress | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dyslipidemia | Journal of food biochemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fatty liver | Journal of food biochemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperuricemia | Archives of microbiology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Essential oils | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower disc | Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| smoke | Frontiers in chemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |