Hypericum laricifolium
Hypericum laricifolium, commonly known as the larch-leaved St. John's wort, is a resilient medicinal herb belonging to the Hypericaceae family. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, this plant is frequently utilized in traditional medicine to treat skin inflammations and various ailments, offering a natural approach to holistic wellness and healing.
- Scientific name: Hypericum laricifolium
- Family: Hypericaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified within the order Malpighiales and the family Hypericaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Hypericum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Hypericaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Hypericum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Hypericum laricifolium, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In English, it is frequently called larch-leaved St. John's wort, a name that highlights its distinctive foliage. In German, it is known as Lerchenspiergen, and in French, it is referred to as millepertuis à feuilles de mélèze.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the tropical regions of the Americas. In Northern South America, it can be found growing within the borders of Venezuela. Its presence extends into Western South America, where it is documented in Colombia. Furthermore, the species is naturally distributed throughout Ecuador. Finally, its geographical range reaches into the western territories of Peru.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern South America | Venezuela | WCVP |
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Ecuador | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Hypericum laricifolium, is primarily utilized in traditional medicine through its aerial parts, which encompass the entire portion of the plant grown above the ground. These aerial parts include the stems, leaves, and flowers, all of which contain the bioactive compounds necessary for its therapeutic properties. When harvesting for medicinal purposes, the collection of these above-ground structures ensures that the essential phytochemicals distributed throughout the foliage and blossoms are captured for processing.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Hypericum laricifolium has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include caffeic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, quercetin, 3,4-dimethoxy benzoic acid, 3-epi-betulinic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 22
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| caffeic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| p-hydroxybenzoic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,4-dimethoxy benzoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-epi-betulinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-sitosterol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| docosanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ferulic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Hypericum laricifolium has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, bacterial infections, dental caries.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Streptococcus mutans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Streptococcus salivarius | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Streptococcus sanguinis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bacterial infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dental caries | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |