Melilotus officinalis
Field melilot
Melilotus officinalis, commonly known as sweet clover, is a versatile medicinal herb valued for its therapeutic properties. Rich in coumarin, it is traditionally used to support circulation, reduce inflammation, and aid digestive health. This resilient plant serves as a vital natural resource in both traditional herbalism and modern pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Melilotus officinalis
- 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 taxonomic identity is established within the genus Melilotus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Melilotus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, scientifically known as Melilotus officinalis, is recognized by various common names across different linguistic regions. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 黄香草木樨 (zh-hans and zh-cn), as well as 黄香草木樨 in the contexts of zh-hk and zh-sg. In Traditional Chinese, the name is written as 黃香草木樨 (zh-hant).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 黄香草木樨 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 黃香草木樨 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 黃香草木樨 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 黄香草木樨 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 黄香草木樨 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 黃香草木樨 | Wikidata |
| pl | Nostrzyk żółty | Wikidata |
| fr | Mélilot officinal | Wikidata |
| hu | orvosi somkóró | Wikidata |
| et | kollane mesikas | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as sweet clover, exhibits a specific distribution across several Northern European regions. It can be found growing naturally within the borders of Denmark. Additionally, its presence is documented throughout the landscapes of Finland. The species is also widely distributed across Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range extends further north into Norway.
| 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 sweet clover, is primarily utilized for its medicinal properties through the use of its aerial parts. These above-ground components include the slender, upright stems, the trifoliate leaves, and the fragrant, pale yellow flowers that bloom in dense racemes. When harvested, these aerial parts are typically dried to preserve the active coumarins, which are the key chemical constituents responsible for the plant's pharmacological effects.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Melilotus officinalis has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include coumarin, astragaloside VIII, coumarins, flavonoids, isoquercetin.
- Total chemicals
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| coumarin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| astragaloside VIII | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumarins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoquercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lutein 5,6-epoxide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| melilotus-saponin O1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| soyasaponin I | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wistariasaponin D | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Melilotus officinalis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Melilotus officinalis has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antidiabetic, nociception.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nociception | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |