Levisticum officinale
Lovage
Levisticum officinale, commonly known as lovage, is a perennial herb valued for its intense, celery-like aroma. Beyond its culinary uses, this medicinal plant has a rich history in traditional herbalism. It is primarily utilized to support digestive health, act as a diuretic, and provide soothing relief for various ailments.
- Scientific name: Levisticum officinale
- Family: Apiaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Apiales, falling into the family Apiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Levisticum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Apiales | WCVP |
| Family | Apiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Levisticum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Levisticum officinale, is recognized by a variety of common names across different languages and cultures. In Chinese, it is referred to as 欧当归 (ōudāngguī), while in Polish, it is called lubczyk ogrodowy. The Hebrew name for this herb is לאושטיאן, and in French, it is known as Livèche. Additionally, in Hungarian, it is identified as orvosi lestyán.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 欧当归 | Wikidata |
| pl | lubczyk ogrodowy | Wikidata |
| he | לאושטיאן | Wikidata |
| fr | Livèche | Wikidata |
| hu | orvosi lestyán | Wikidata |
| lv | Ārstniecības lupstājs | Wikidata |
| de | Liebstöckel | Wikidata |
| ja | ラベージ | Wikidata |
| nl | Lavas | Wikidata |
| ar | كاشم رومي | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Levisticum officinale, is widely distributed across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, the species is well-established within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Its presence even extends to the more northern reaches of Iceland. Together, these locations highlight the specific climatic preferences of this medicinal herb.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Levisticum officinale, commonly known as lovage, is a versatile medicinal herb where various components offer therapeutic benefits. The thick, aromatic roots are frequently utilized in traditional medicine for their digestive and diuretic properties. The large, serrated green leaves are not only edible but also contain bioactive compounds used to support kidney function. Additionally, the plant produces small, ribbed fruits that can be harvested for their concentrated potency. Most notably, the essential oil extracted from the plant is highly valued for its intense aroma and its ability to serve as a powerful antimicrobial and carminative agent in herbal preparations.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| essential oil | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Levisticum officinale has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include apterin, coumarins, falcarindiol, flavonoids, isopimpinellin.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| apterin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumarins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| falcarindiol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isopimpinellin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linoleic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neocnidilide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oleic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pimpinellin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| xanthotoxin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Levisticum officinale has 9 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Analgesic, Anticholinesterase.
- Total activities
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 13
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticholinesterase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Spasmolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Levisticum officinale has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include neuroinflammation, urinary tract infections, Gram-negative bacteria, cystitis, diuretic.
- Total uses
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| neuroinflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| urinary tract infections | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-negative bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cystitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperalgesia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kidney stones | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| prostatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |