Lithospermum officinale
Lithospermum officinale, commonly known as gromwell, is a perennial herb prized in traditional herbalism. Characterized by its striking blue berries and small flowers, this plant contains allantoin, a compound renowned for its skin-healing properties. It has historically been used to treat inflammation, wounds, and various dermatological conditions effectively.
- Scientific name: Lithospermum officinale
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Boraginales, belonging to the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Lithospermum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Boraginales | WCVP |
| Family | Boraginaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Lithospermum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Lithospermum officinale, is recognized by various regional names across different languages. In Hungary, it is called kőmagvú gyöngyköles, while in Azerbaijan, it is referred to as Dərman səfərotu. It is known as mill del sol in Catalan, Echter Steinsame in German, and Nawrot lekarski in Polish.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| hu | kőmagvú gyöngyköles | Wikidata |
| az | Dərman səfərotu | Wikidata |
| ca | mill del sol | Wikidata |
| de | Echter Steinsame | Wikidata |
| pl | Nawrot lekarski | Wikidata |
| sv | Stenfrö | Wikidata |
| zh | 小花紫草 | Wikidata |
| cs | kamejka lékařská | Wikidata |
| ru | Воробейник лекарственный | Wikidata |
| cy | Maenhad | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the northern regions of the European continent. It can be found growing in the various landscapes of Northern Europe, including the territories of Denmark and Finland. Its presence extends further west to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Additionally, the species is documented to inhabit the unique environments of Iceland. Together, these locations define its primary geographical range within the northern reaches of the continent.
| 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, commonly known as gromwell, possesses distinct anatomical features used in traditional medicine. The most significant part is the root, which is thick, woody, and contains the characteristic red pigments often utilized for their medicinal properties. Supporting the structure is a sturdy, often somewhat hairy stem that rises from the ground to hold the plant upright. Sprouting from the stem are the leaf structures, which are typically simple, lanceolate in shape, and arranged alternately along the length of the plant.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| root | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Lithospermum officinale has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, Rosmarinic acid, RsA, ellagic acid, glucosides.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Rosmarinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| RsA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ellagic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| luteolin -7 beta-glucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| naphthoquinones | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rosmarinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| shikonin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Lithospermum officinale has 2 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Lithospermum officinale has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, hyperthyroidism, neuroinflammation, tumor, wound healing.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperthyroidism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neuroinflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wound healing | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |