Herpetospermum pedunculosum
Herpetospermum pedunculosum, commonly known as the creeping herb or climbing plant, is a unique medicinal species valued in traditional practices. Characterized by its climbing habit and distinct foliage, it offers significant ethnobotanical interest. Exploring its bioactive properties reveals potential therapeutic applications, making it a vital subject for pharmacological study.
- Scientific name: Herpetospermum pedunculosum
- Family: Cucurbitaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Herpetospermum pedunculosum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is further classified under the order Cucurbitales and the family Cucurbitaceae. Its taxonomic hierarchy concludes within the genus Herpetospermum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Cucurbitales | WCVP |
| Family | Cucurbitaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Herpetospermum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, scientifically known as Herpetospermum pedunculosum, is referred to by several common names depending on the linguistic context. In Chinese, it is known as 波棱瓜 (zh), 波棱瓜子 (zh), and is specifically identified as 波棱瓜 (zh-cn), 波棱瓜 (zh-tw), or 波棱瓜 (zh-hans).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 波棱瓜 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 波棱瓜 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 波棱瓜 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 波棱瓜 | Wikidata |
| zh | 波棱瓜子 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across parts of East and South Asia. In China, it can be found growing within the South-Central regions as well as in Tibet. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is specifically documented in Assam. Furthermore, the species inhabits the rugged landscapes of the East Himalaya. Finally, its range includes the mountainous terrain of Nepal.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Herpetospermum pedunculosum, exhibits a complex structure where the medicinal properties are often tied to its reproductive development. The growth begins through the strengthening of its climbing stems, which provide the necessary support for the plant to reach sunlight. As the plant matures, it produces seeds that are protected by a specialized seed coat, which serves as a crucial barrier for the embryo inside. Once the development cycle is complete, the emergence of ripe seeds signals the peak of the plant's reproductive stage. For various traditional applications, the collection of mature dried seeds is essential, as they contain the concentrated components required for medicinal use.- Total parts
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 12
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed coat | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ripe seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mature dried seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried ripe seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Wall's seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Herpetospermum pedunculosum has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include lignans, dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol, herpetotriol, (+)-pinoresinol, Dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol.
- Total chemicals
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 21
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| lignans | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| herpetotriol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-pinoresinol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hedyotol-B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Herpetrione | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coniferyl alcohol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumarins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cucurbitacin B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Herpetospermum pedunculosum has 3 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatoprotective | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Herpetospermum pedunculosum has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include liver diseases, antioxidant, breast carcinoma, cholestasis, ferroptosis.
- Total uses
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 13
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| liver diseases | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast carcinoma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cholestasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ferroptosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatobiliary diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatocellular carcinoma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| indigestion | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| jaundice | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |