Menispermum dauricum

Menispermum dauricum, commonly known as the Korean Moonseed, is a perennial climbing plant native to East Asia. Valued in traditional medicine, it contains bioactive alkaloids used to treat inflammation and various ailments. This botanical species is highly regarded for its potential therapeutic properties and its unique role in herbal pharmacology.

  • Scientific name: Menispermum dauricum
  • Family: Menispermaceae
  • Native range: Asia-Temperate

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Ranunculales and the family Menispermaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Menispermum and the species Menispermum dauricum.

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

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Menispermum dauricum, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is called 蝙蝠葛 (biānfú gé), while in Russian, it is known as Луносемянник даурский. In Swedish, the species is called Asiatisk månfröranka, and in Korean, it is identified as 새모래덩굴. Additionally, in Arabic, it is referred to as بذر القمر الدورياني.
Language Common Name Source
zh 蝙蝠葛 Wikidata
ru Луносемянник даурский Wikidata
sv Asiatisk månfröranka Wikidata
ko 새모래덩굴 Wikidata
ar بذر القمر الدورياني Wikidata
fi aasiankilpikierto Wikidata
et dauuria kilplehik Wikidata
zh-cn 蝙蝠葛 Wikidata
zh-tw 蝙蝠葛 Wikidata
ru Амурский плющ Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the vast regions of Siberia. It can be found growing in the Altai mountain range, which marks one of its key habitats. Additionally, the species is documented throughout the Republic of Buryatia. Its presence extends further into the Chitа region, demonstrating a wide longitudinal spread. Finally, the plant is also distributed across the Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk areas, completing its Siberian range.

Region Area Source
Siberia Altay WCVP
Siberia Buryatiya WCVP
Siberia Chita WCVP
Siberia Irkutsk WCVP
Siberia Krasnoyarsk WCVP
Russian Far East Amur WCVP
Russian Far East Khabarovsk WCVP
Russian Far East Primorye WCVP
China China South-Central WCVP
China Inner Mongolia WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Menispermum dauricum, is a medicinal herb whose therapeutic properties are primarily derived from its underground structures. In traditional pharmacological studies, the roots serve as the fundamental source of bioactive compounds. Specifically, the rhizomes act as the horizontal growing stems that facilitate the plant's spread and storage of nutrients. For the purpose of herbal preparation and extraction, the dry root is frequently utilized to ensure stability and potency in medicinal formulations. Furthermore, in modern biotechnological research, cultured roots are developed in laboratory settings to provide a controlled and sustainable source of specific alkaloids without depleting wild populations.
Total parts
4
Scientific sources
5
Plant Part Sources Confidence
roots 2 ★☆☆☆☆
rhizomes 1 ★☆☆☆☆
dry root 1 ★☆☆☆☆
cultured roots 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Menispermum dauricum has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include acutumine, dauricine, (S)-reticuline, acutudaurin, acutumidine.

Total chemicals
11
Scientific sources
13

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
acutumine 2 ★☆☆☆☆
dauricine 2 ★☆☆☆☆
(S)-reticuline 1 ★☆☆☆☆
acutudaurin 1 ★☆☆☆☆
acutumidine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
dauricinoline 1 ★☆☆☆☆
dauricumidine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
dauricumine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
daurinoline 1 ★☆☆☆☆
daurisoline 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Menispermum dauricum has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Total activities
1
Scientific sources
1

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Cytotoxic 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Menispermum dauricum has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include sore throat, allergy, arrhythmia, cancer, diarrhea.

Total uses
11
Scientific sources
12

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Confidence
sore throat 2 ★☆☆☆☆
allergy 1 ★☆☆☆☆
arrhythmia 1 ★☆☆☆☆
cancer 1 ★☆☆☆☆
diarrhea 1 ★☆☆☆☆
enteritis 1 ★☆☆☆☆
inflammation 1 ★☆☆☆☆
pharyngitis 1 ★☆☆☆☆
platelet aggregation 1 ★☆☆☆☆
rheumatism 1 ★☆☆☆☆