Medicago sativa
Lucerne
Medicago sativa, commonly known as alfalfa, is a versatile perennial legume renowned for its exceptional nutritional profile. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it serves as a powerhouse in both animal forage and human supplementation. This resilient plant supports digestive health and provides essential nutrients for holistic wellness.
- Scientific name: Medicago sativa
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within 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, known scientifically as Medicago sativa, is widely recognized by its common names across various Chinese linguistic regions. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 紫花苜蓿 (zh-hans, zh-cn, zh-sg), while in Traditional Chinese, it is known as 紫花苜蓿 (zh-hant, zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 紫花苜蓿 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 紫花苜蓿 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 紫花苜蓿 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 紫花苜蓿 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 紫花苜蓿 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 紫苜蓿 | Wikidata |
| pl | lucerna siewna | Wikidata |
| ta | குதிரை மசால் | Wikidata |
| af | Lusern | Wikidata |
| hu | takarmánylucerna | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as alfalfa, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark. Additionally, its distribution extends to the territories of Finland and Norway. The species is also documented throughout Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range includes the island of Ireland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | 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 |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as alfalfa, possesses various components that are utilized for medicinal and nutritional purposes. The aerial parts of the plant, which include the stems and leaves, are frequently harvested for their high nutrient content and therapeutic potential. When processed, the alfalfa leaf juice serves as a concentrated source of vitamins and minerals, often used in health supplements. Furthermore, the root system plays a vital role in the plant's biology through the presence of nodules, which facilitate nitrogen fixation and support the overall vitality of the nodules and the entire organism.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| nodules | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alfalfa leaf juice | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Medicago sativa has 70 reported phytochemicals identified across 80 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include formononetin, saponins, condensed tannins, coumestrol, ferulic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 70
- Scientific sources
- 80
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| formononetin | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| condensed tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumestrol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ferulic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoliquiritigenin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lignin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-) -medicarpin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2'-deoxyadenosine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Medicago sativa has 6 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antibiotic, Antihistaminic, Cardiovascular.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibiotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihistaminic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cardiovascular | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Free-Radical Scavenging | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Medicago sativa has 22 reported medicinal uses identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Acinetobacter baumannii, Bacillus subtilis, DNA fragmentation, Escherichia coli, antidiabetic.
- Total uses
- 22
- Scientific sources
- 22
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Acinetobacter baumannii | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus subtilis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| DNA fragmentation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| biofilm | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gram-negative bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gram-positive bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |