Medicago polymorpha
Burr medick
Medicago polymorpha, commonly known as polymorphous medic, is a versatile medicinal herb belonging to the Fabaceae family. Renowned for its diverse pharmacological properties, this plant is utilized in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. Its unique chemical profile offers significant potential for developing modern therapeutic treatments and natural remedies.
- Scientific name: Medicago polymorpha
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further organized into the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Medicago.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Medicago | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Medicago polymorpha, is known by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Japan, it is referred to as ウマゴヤシ (ja), while in Vietnam, it is commonly called Linh lăng lá khía răng cưa (vi). Hebrew speakers identify it as אספסת מצויה (he), and in the Pumbano language, it is known as میݨا (pnb). Additionally, in Hserba, the plant is called Kosmata šlinčina (hsb).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ja | ウマゴヤシ | Wikidata |
| vi | Linh lăng lá khía răng cưa | Wikidata |
| he | אספסת מצויה | Wikidata |
| pnb | میݨا | Wikidata |
| hsb | Kosmata šlinčina | Wikidata |
| sv | Tagglusern | Wikidata |
| ar | فصة متعددة الأشكال | Wikidata |
| zh | 南苜蓿 | Wikidata |
| nl | ruige rupsklaver | Wikidata |
| cy | Maglys eddïog | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range extends through both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within the borders of Austria. Its distribution also encompasses Belgium, further establishing its presence in the central part of the continent. Finally, the plant is documented to occur within the Czechia-Slovakia region.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Medicaego polymorpha, is a small herbaceous legume whose therapeutic potential is often associated with its various developmental stages. While the mature plant consists of delicate stems and trifoliate leaves, the young sprouts are particularly notable for their tender texture and concentrated nutrient content. In traditional herbal practices, these emerging sprouts are sometimes utilized due to their high vitality and accessibility during the early stages of the plant's growth cycle.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| sprouts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Medicago polymorpha has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, medicago-saponin P1, medicago-saponin P2, polyphenols.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| medicago-saponin P1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| medicago-saponin P2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Medicago polymorpha has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |