Persicaria odorata
Vietnamese mint
Persicaria odorata, commonly known as Vietnamese coriander or Rau Ram, is a fragrant perennial herb essential to Southeast Asian cuisine. Valued for its spicy, lemony flavor, it offers more than culinary delight. This medicinal plant possesses potent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, traditionally used to support digestive health and inflammation.
- Scientific name: Persicaria odorata
- Family: Polygonaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Falling under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, it is a member of the family Polygonaceae. Finally, its taxonomic classification is completed within the genus Persicaria.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Caryophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Polygonaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Persicaria | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Persicaria odorata, is recognized by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is referred to as 越南香菜 in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), and in the Hong Kong dialect (zh-hk). In Vietnam, it is widely known as Rau răm (vi), and in Bulgaria, it is called виетнамски кориандър (bg).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 越南香菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 越南香菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 越南香菜 | Wikidata |
| vi | Rau răm | Wikidata |
| bg | виетнамски кориандър | Wikidata |
| ru | Горец ароматный | Wikidata |
| ms | Kesum Vietnam | Wikidata |
| th | ผักแพว | Wikidata |
| zh | 越南香菜 | Wikidata |
| cs | vietnamský koriandr | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical range that spans across multiple regions of Asia and Europe. In the European continent, its presence is specifically noted within Great Britain. Moving toward Asia, it is widely distributed throughout several distinct provinces of China. This includes significant coverage in China South-Central, China North-Central, and China Southeast. Additionally, the species can be found growing in the tropical climate of Hainan.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Vietnamese coriander, primarily utilizes its aromatic leaves for medicinal and culinary purposes. The leaves are the most significant part of the plant used in traditional practices, as they contain the essential oils responsible for its distinct scent and therapeutic properties. Whether used fresh or dried, the leaf serves as the primary source of the plant's bioactive compounds, which are often employed to aid digestion or provide antioxidant benefits.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Persicaria odorata has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include catechin, flavonoids, quercetin.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Persicaria odorata has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Persicaria odorata has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include disease resistance, fungi.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| disease resistance | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fungi | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |