red gromwell

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• purple gromwell
• red gromwell
• red-root gromwell
• redroot lithospermum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lithospermum officinale subsp. erythrorhizon
• Lithospermum murasaki
• Lithospermum officinale var. erythrorhizon
• Lithospermum officinale var. japonicum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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 in the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Lithospermum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions in Northern and Eastern Asia. In the vast expanse of Siberia, it can be found specifically in the areas of Chita and Yakutiya. Moving toward the Russian Far East, the species is also established in the Amur and Primorye regions. Its range extends significantly further south into the territory of China, particularly within the China South-Central region. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive across diverse continental landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lithospermum erythrorhizon is defined by its preference for rugged, high-altitude environments, specifically within mountainous regions. It thrives in the complex microhabitats provided by shrubberies and various stony places, where the soil structure often consists of rocky debris or scree. These habitats offer the specific drainage and niche conditions necessary for its growth, allowing it to colonize areas where vegetation may be sparse or interspersed with mineral-rich substrates. By occupying these disturbed or rocky terrains, the plant integrates into the specialized ecological communities found in montane ecosystems.

Habitat :

mountains, shrubberies, stony places

Life history

The life history of Lithospermum erythrorhizon is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a perennial species, it does not complete its life cycle in a single year like annuals or two years like biennials; instead, it establishes a robust root system that supports continuous growth and survival through successive years. This longevity is often facilitated by its specialized, thickened reddish roots, which serve as significant energy storage organs. Throughout its life cycle, the plant undergoes seasonal cycles of vegetative growth and reproductive phases, enabling it to endure varying environmental conditions and maintain a stable presence within its natural habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lithospermum erythrorhizon is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. The plant exhibits a relatively low stature, with a height that ranges from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lithospermum erythrorhizon is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative structure is defined by specific foliar dimensions, where the leaves exhibit significant morphological variability. The leaf length typically ranges from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, with a mean length of approximately 5.5 cm. Complementing these longitudinal measurements, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.7 cm and a maximum of 1.7 cm, reflecting the plant's adaptive structural capacity for light interception and gas exchange within its physiological framework.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

1.7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.7 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lithospermum erythrorhizon is characterized by a specific flowering window and the development of small, uniform fruit. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes within the same month, although the timing can be variable. During the reproductive phase, the plant produces inflorescences that are relatively short, measuring between a minimum of 0.02 m and a maximum of 0.06 m in length. Following pollination, the plant develops fruits that exhibit a highly consistent size; the fruit length is measured at a mean of 0.35 cm, with both the minimum and maximum recorded lengths also being 0.35 cm.

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

0.35 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.06 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has 2 reported plant parts identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem.

Root

1. Planta medica
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)
5. BMC plant biology

Stem

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include shikonin, Acetylshikonin, Alkannin, Dihydroechinofuran, Lithospermic acid B.

shikonin

1. BMC plant biology
2. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
3. Planta medica
4. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
5. Plant & cell physiology

Acetylshikonin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Biochemical pharmacology
3. Archives of pharmacal research
4. Fitoterapia
5. Cancer research

Alkannin

1. Plant physiology
2. Horticulture research

Dihydroechinofuran

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
2. Planta

Lithospermic acid B

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Biomedical sciences and applications

Propionylshikonin

1. Fitoterapia
2. Archives of pharmacal research

beta-Hydroxyisovalerylshikonin

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

p-Hydroxybenzoic acid

1. Plant & cell physiology
2. Plant physiology

(22E)-Ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one

1. Planta medica

3-geranyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid

1. Planta

Activities

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has 7 reported activities identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiviral, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antiinflammatory, Antimicrobial.

Antiviral

1. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas
2. Horticulture research

Analgesic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antibacterial

1. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas

Antiinflammatory

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antimicrobial

1. Planta medica

Antioxidant

1. Planta medica

Antithrombotic

1. Planta medica

Conditions

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, inflammation, antiviral, infections, infectious diseases.

Cancer

1. International journal of molecular medicine
2. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
3. European journal of pharmacology
4. Microbial pathogenesis

Inflammation

1. Microbial pathogenesis
2. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology

Antiviral

1. Horticulture research

Infections

1. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology

Infectious diseases

1. International journal of molecular medicine

Lymphoproliferative disorders

1. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Rheumatism

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Tumor cell lines

1. Cancer genomics & proteomics

Viral infections

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Preparations

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has 15 reported preparations identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dried root, roots, Acetylshikonin, Cell suspension cultures, LE callus.

Dried root

1. Planta medica
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Roots

1. Archives of pharmacal research
2. Planta medica

Acetylshikonin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Cell suspension cultures

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Le callus

1. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology

Shikonin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cell cultures

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Crude extract

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Dried roots

1. Frontiers in plant science

Ethanol extract of lithospermum erythrorhizon

1. Microbial pathogenesis