Love Apple

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Love Apple
• multi-leaf paris

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Paris polyphylla var. alba
• Paris polyphylla var. wallichii
• Daiswa polyphylla
• Paris marchandii
• Paris biondii
• Paris debeauxii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Paris polyphylla is characterized by its specific adaptation to montane environments, where it thrives across a significant altitudinal gradient. This species is predominantly found in high-altitude habitats, maintaining an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 1000 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 4000 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant reaches its ecological optimum at a mean elevation of approximately 2500 m AMSL. These environmental parameters suggest that the species is well-suited to the cooler, often moisture-rich conditions typical of mid-to-high mountain ecosystems, occupying distinct niches dictated by the varying climatic pressures found across its expansive elevational span.

Elevational range max:

4000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Paris polyphylla is characterized by its specialized survival strategies and developmental patterns within forest ecosystems. As a perennial herb, its life form is classified as a geophyte, meaning it relies on underground storage organs to endure unfavorable environmental conditions. Furthermore, it is categorized as a cryptophyte, as its vital regenerative buds are protected beneath the soil surface during periods of dormancy. This lifecycle involves the development of a fleshy rhizome that serves as a primary nutrient reservoir, allowing the plant to emerge seasonally from the forest floor. During the growing season, it produces characteristic whorled leaves and eventually develops inflorescences that lead to seed production, after which the above-ground structures die back, leaving the plant to persist through its subterranean structures until the next favorable cycle.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Paris polyphylla is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, functioning as an independent organism that does not rely on parasitic or epiphytic lifestyles. This terrestrial species maintains a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber or vine. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a maximum height of 1 meter, with a mean height of approximately 0.675 meters and a minimum height of 0.35 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.675 m

Plant height min:

0.35 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of Paris polyphylla are closely tied to its morphological structure and metabolic processes, particularly its reliance on a C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. The plant's vegetative development is characterized by its leaf dimensions, which serve as key indicators of its growth habit. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, maintaining an average leaf length of approximately 11 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 5 cm. These leaf dimensions, combined with the C3 metabolic strategy, dictate the plant's efficiency in light absorption and energy conversion within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

11 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Paris polyphylla culminates in the development of distinct fleshy fruits that vary in size across different specimens. The dimensions of these fruits show a specific range, with the minimum fruit length and width both measuring approximately 1.5 cm. On average, the fruits maintain a symmetrical profile, with a mean length and mean width of 2 cm. As the fruit matures, it can reach a maximum size where both the length and the width extend up to 2.5 cm, indicating a globular or nearly spherical shape during its reproductive phase.

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit width max:

2.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

2 cm

Fruit width min:

1.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Paris polyphylla has 2 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, root.

Rhizome

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
2. Planta medica
3. Experimental oncology
4. Parasitology
5. Frontiers in plant science

Root

1. International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology
2. Frontiers in microbiology

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.

DIOSGENIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon
3. Nature communications
4. Communications biology
5. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Pennogenin

1. Communications biology
2. Synthetic and systems biotechnology
3. Plant & cell physiology
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

polyphyllin D

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon
3. Journal of medicinal food
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. BMC plant biology
2. Discover oncology
3. Frontiers in microbiology

Polyphylliin VII

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
3. Frontiers in microbiology

Polyphyllin VI

1. Drug design, development and therapy
2. Metabolites
3. Toxins

Polyphyllin VII

1. BMC plant biology
2. Parasitology
3. Metabolites

Saponins

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in microbiology

Cycloartenol

1. Communications biology
2. Metabolic engineering

Dioscin

1. Dr. Duke
2. 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.

Antibacterial

1. Heliyon
2. Nature communications
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
3. Discover oncology

Anticancer

1. Heliyon
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. Heliyon
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Amebicide

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Heliyon

Anthelmintic

1. Heliyon

Antifatigue

1. Dr. Duke

Antifungal

1. Heliyon

Antigliomic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Paris polyphylla has 28 reported investigations on conditions identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, breast cancer, pain, trauma, Acne.

Cancer

1. Drug design, development and therapy
2. Journal of medicinal food
3. European journal of pharmacology
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Breast cancer

1. European journal of pharmacology
2. Oncotarget
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Carbohydrate research

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Trauma

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Acne

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Abscesses

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Analgesic

1. Heliyon

Anthelmintic

1. Heliyon

Antipyretic

1. Heliyon

Antiviral

1. Heliyon

Preparations

Paris polyphylla has 8 reported preparations identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include rhizomes, Ethanolic and methanolic extracts, Polyphyllin D, Polyphyllin VII, extracts of Paris polyphylla.

Rhizomes

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
2. Planta medica

Ethanolic and methanolic extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Polyphyllin d

1. Journal of medicinal food

Polyphyllin vii

1. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

Extracts of paris polyphylla

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol extract from rhizomes

1. Parasitology

Rhizome

1. Experimental oncology

Tubers

1. Planta medica