Home > Herbs > Macleaya Cordata

plume-poppy

Macleaya cordata · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Extensive (266 studies) · ★★★★★

Plume-poppy, scientifically known as Macleaya cordata, is a striking perennial valued for its large, heart-shaped leaves and vibrant yellow blooms. Native to East Asia, this robust plant contains bioactive alkaloids, making it a subject of interest in traditional medicine for its potential anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial therapeutic properties.

Family
Papaveraceae
Native range
Europe
Parts used
Leaf · Root
Common names
Plume-Poppy · Tree-Celandine · 4 more
Scientific synonyms
Bocconia Cordata Var. Japonica · Macleaya Cordata Var. Thunbergii · 8 more

Names

Common Names

Regional and Traditional Names

German:

  • Federmohn
  • Weißer Federmohn
  • Weißer Federmohn

French:

  • macléaya à feuilles cordées
  • Macleaya a feuilles cordees

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Macleaya cordata

Synonyms

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Ranunculales, it is a member of the Papaveraceae family. Its specific taxonomic designation falls under the genus Macleaya, specifically the species Macleaya cordata.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Ranunculales WCVP
Family Papaveraceae WCVP
Genus Macleaya WCVP

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution that spans across several distinct regions of the world. In Middle Europe, it can be found within the territories of Germany as well as the Czechia-Slovakia region. Its presence extends into Southeastern Europe, specifically documented in Romania. Moving toward Eastern Europe, the species is also located in Ukraine. Finally, the plant's range reaches as far as China, specifically within the South-Central portion of the country.

Region Area Source
Middle Europe Czechia-Slovakia WCVP
Middle Europe Germany WCVP
Southeastern Europe Romania WCVP
Eastern Europe Ukraine WCVP
China China South-Central WCVP
China China North-Central WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
Eastern Asia Japan WCVP
Eastern Asia Korea WCVP
Eastern Asia Taiwan WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Macleaya cordata, is a robust perennial characterized by several distinct anatomical features used in botanical study. The structural foundation of the species begins with its extensive root system, which includes thick, tuberous wild-type roots that allow the plant to store nutrients and survive dormant periods. From these roots, the plant develops sturdy stems that provide the necessary support for its rapid upward growth. The stems are often quite large and can become woody as the plant matures, serving as the primary conduit for water and nutrients. Additionally, the leaf morphology is a defining trait, featuring large, heart-shaped blades that maximize surface area for photosynthesis, contributing to the plant's vigorous overall vitality.
Plant Part Sources Consensus
leaf Scientific reports (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆
root Scientific reports (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆
stem Scientific reports (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆
fruit Journal of separation science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Macleaya cordata has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include SANGUINARINE, chelerythrine, protopine, Allocryptopine, Bocconoline.

Chemicals reported in Macleaya cordata
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
SANGUINARINE 14 supporting sources ★★★★★
chelerythrine 7 supporting sources ★★★★☆
protopine 7 supporting sources ★★★★☆
Allocryptopine 6 supporting sources ★★★☆☆
Bocconoline 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
CHELIDONINE 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
6-(1-Hydroxyethyl)-5,6-dihydrochelerythrine 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Angoline 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
BOCCONINE 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Chelilutine 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

SANGUINARINE

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Frontiers in pharmacology
  3. Talanta
  4. Scientific reports
  5. World journal of microbiology & biotechnology
View 9 additional sources
  1. Fitoterapia
  2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
  3. Tsitologiia
  4. PloS one
  5. Journal of separation science
  6. Molecular plant
  7. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP
  8. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
  9. Microorganisms

chelerythrine

  1. Talanta
  2. Fitoterapia
  3. PloS one
  4. Journal of separation science
  5. The Journal of biological chemistry
View 2 additional sources
  1. Molecular plant
  2. Microorganisms

protopine

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Frontiers in veterinary science
  3. World journal of microbiology & biotechnology
  4. Fitoterapia
  5. PloS one
View 2 additional sources
  1. Journal of separation science
  2. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Allocryptopine

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Frontiers in veterinary science
  3. World journal of microbiology & biotechnology
  4. Fitoterapia
  5. PloS one
View 1 additional sources
  1. Journal of separation science

Bocconoline

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

CHELIDONINE

  1. Tsitologiia
  2. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

6-(1-Hydroxyethyl)-5,6-dihydrochelerythrine

  1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

Angoline

  1. The Journal of biological chemistry

BOCCONINE

  1. Dr. Duke

Chelilutine

  1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Macleaya cordata has 166 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antitumor, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antiinflammatory.

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Consensus
Antibacterial Dr. Duke (and other 5 sources) ★★★☆☆
Antitumor Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆
Analgesic Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Antiinflammatory Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Antioxidant Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
(+)-Inotropic Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
12-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Abortifacient Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Macleaya cordata has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, Cancer, MRSA, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Parkinson's disease.

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Consensus
inflammation PloS one (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Cancer Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
MRSA Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Parkinson's disease Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
analgesic Chinese medicine (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
antidepressants Tsitologiia (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
arthritis Frontiers in veterinary science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
autoimmunity Chinese medicine (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
bacterial infections Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Preparations

Preparations Sources Consensus
Extract BioMed research international (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
M. cordata extract Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Macleaya cordata protopine total alkaloids (MPTAs) Research in veterinary science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
capsules World journal of microbiology & biotechnology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
extract derived from the stem The Journal of biological chemistry (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
extracts Talanta (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
hairy root cultures Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
powder Poultry science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆