Leptopus chinensis
Andrachne colchica
Leptopus chinensis, commonly known as Chinese Leptopus, is a versatile medicinal herb deeply rooted in traditional Eastern practices. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, this plant is frequently utilized to treat inflammation, promote healing, and support digestive health, offering a natural remedy backed by centuries of botanical wisdom.
- Scientific name: Leptopus chinensis
- Family: Phyllanthaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
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 Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Phyllanthaceae and falls under the genus Leptopus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Phyllanthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Leptopus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Leptopus chinensis, is referred to by various regional and linguistic names across different cultures. In Russian, it is called Лептопус китайский, while in Chinese, it is known as 雀儿舌头. Moving to Northern Europe, it is identified in Swedish as Andrakne, and in Bulgaria, it is called китайски лептопус. Furthermore, in the Ossetian language, the plant is referred to as Æхсымæрзæ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ru | Лептопус китайский | Wikidata |
| zh | 雀儿舌头 | Wikidata |
| sv | Andrakne | Wikidata |
| bg | китайски лептопус | Wikidata |
| os | Æхсымæрзæ | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 雀儿舌头 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 雀兒舌頭 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 雀儿舌头 | Wikidata |
| ru | Arachne colchica | Wikidata |
| ru | Арахна колхидская | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across Eurasia. In the Caucasus region, its presence is noted in both the North Caucasus and the Transcaucasus areas. Moving into Western Asia, the species can be found growing within the borders of Iran. Its range extends significantly into China, where it inhabits the South-Central provinces. Additionally, the plant is documented as being present on the island of Hainan.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Caucasus | North Caucasus | WCVP |
| Caucasus | Transcaucasus | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Iran | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Leptopus chinensis, is utilized in traditional medicine primarily through the use of its whole plants. When the entire organism is harvested, it encompasses all its botanical structures, including the stems, leaves, and flowers, which collectively contribute to its therapeutic profile. Using the whole plant ensures that the full spectrum of its bioactive compounds is available for medicinal preparation, whether it is being dried, decocted, or processed into other traditional remedies.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| whole plants | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Leptopus chinensis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3beta-O-trans-coumaroylbetulinic acid, betulinic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 3beta-O-trans-coumaroylbetulinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |