Love Apple
Paris polyphylla · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Extensive (167 studies) · ★★★★☆
Love Apple, scientifically known as Paris polyphylla, is a perennial medicinal herb native to the temperate forests of East Asia. Highly valued in traditional medicine, its tuberous roots contain unique saponins used to support cognitive health, reduce inflammation, and promote longevity, making it a prized botanical in herbal pharmacology.
- Family
- Melanthiaceae
- Native range
- Asia-Temperate
- Parts used
- Rhizome · Root
- Common names
- Love Apple · Multi-Leaf Paris
- Scientific synonyms
- Paris Polyphylla Var. Alba · Paris Polyphylla Var. Wallichii · 4 more
Names
Common Names
- Love Apple
- multi-leaf paris
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Paris polyphyllaSynonyms
- Paris polyphylla var. alba
- Paris polyphylla var. wallichii
- Daiswa polyphylla
- Paris marchandii
- Paris biondii
- Paris debeauxii
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is positioned in the order Liliales and is a member of the family Melanthiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Paris.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Liliales | WCVP |
| Family | Melanthiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Paris | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions of Asia. In China, it can be found spanning from the South-Central provinces to the North-Central territories. Its range further extends into the high-altitude areas of Qinghai and Tibet. Beyond China, the species is also documented within the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in Assam. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various mountainous and subtropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | Qinghai | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Paris polyphylla, is a perennial herb where the most pharmacologically significant components are located underground. The medicinal value is primarily concentrated in its fleshy rhizomes, which often develop into thickened, storage-like tubers. These modified rhizomes contain the essential saponins sought after in traditional medicine. While the roots are also present, it is the specialized structure of the rhizome that serves as the primary source for extraction. In addition to these subterranean structures, the aerial parts of the plant, including its leaves and flowers, complete its morphological profile, though they are less frequently used for medicinal purposes than the underground organs.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| rhizome | Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine (and other 8 sources) | ★★★★☆ |
| root | International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Paris polyphylla has 45 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include DIOSGENIN, Pennogenin, polyphyllin D, Flavonoids, Polyphylliin VII.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| DIOSGENIN | 12 supporting sources | ★★★★★ |
| Pennogenin | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| polyphyllin D | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Polyphylliin VII | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Polyphyllin VI | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Polyphyllin VII | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Saponins | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cycloartenol | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dioscin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
DIOSGENIN
- Dr. Duke
- Heliyon
- Nature communications
- Communications biology
- Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
View 7 additional sources
- Experimental oncology
- Planta medica
- Frontiers in plant science
- Current opinion in plant biology
- Synthetic and systems biotechnology
- Plant & cell physiology
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Pennogenin
- Communications biology
- Synthetic and systems biotechnology
- Plant & cell physiology
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
polyphyllin D
- Dr. Duke
- Heliyon
- Journal of medicinal food
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Flavonoids
- BMC plant biology
- Discover oncology
- Frontiers in microbiology
Polyphylliin VII
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
- Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
- Frontiers in microbiology
Polyphyllin VI
- Drug design, development and therapy
- Metabolites
- Toxins
Polyphyllin VII
- BMC plant biology
- Parasitology
- Metabolites
Saponins
- Frontiers in plant science
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Frontiers in microbiology
Cycloartenol
- Communications biology
- Metabolic engineering
Dioscin
- Dr. Duke
- Frontiers in plant science
Activities
Paris polyphylla has 26 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antitumor, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Amebicide.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Heliyon (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Heliyon (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Heliyon (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Amebicide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifatigue | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antigliomic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Paris polyphylla has 28 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, breast cancer, pain, trauma, Acne.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | Drug design, development and therapy (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| breast cancer | European journal of pharmacology (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| pain | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| trauma | Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acne | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| abscesses | Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| analgesic | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthelmintic | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antipyretic | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antiviral | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| rhizomes | Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ethanolic and methanolic extracts | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Polyphyllin D | Journal of medicinal food (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Polyphyllin VII | Archives of biochemistry and biophysics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extracts of Paris polyphylla | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol extract from rhizomes | Parasitology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rhizome | Experimental oncology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tubers | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |