Petasites formosanus
Petasites formosanus, commonly known as the Formosan butterbur, is a versatile medicinal herb native to East Asia. Renowned for its potent bioactive compounds, it is traditionally used to alleviate respiratory ailments and inflammation. Modern research continues to explore its significant therapeutic potential in managing various inflammatory and neurological conditions.
- Scientific name: Petasites formosanus
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is further categorized under the family Asteraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Petasites.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Petasites | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Petasites formosanus, is known by several different common names depending on the linguistic context and regional usage. In Chinese, it is referred to as 台湾蜂斗菜 (zh) or 台湾蜂斗菜 (zh-cn), while specifically in Taiwan, it is called 臺灣蜂斗菜 (zh-tw). Additionally, the plant is known as 山菊 (zh-tw) and 台湾蜂斗叶 (zh).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 台湾蜂斗菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 臺灣蜂斗菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 台湾蜂斗菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 山菊 | Wikidata |
| zh | 台湾蜂斗叶 | Wikidata |
| zh | 山菊 | Wikidata |
| zh | 台湾款冬 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is specifically found within the unique ecosystems of Eastern Asia. Its documented geographical range is quite restricted to a particular island region. Specifically, the distribution of Petasites formosanus is limited to Taiwan. This localized presence suggests that the species thrives under the specific climatic conditions found there. Consequently, the plant serves as a notable example of endemic flora within this East Asian territory.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Petasites formosanus, is primarily utilized for its medicinal properties through the use of its aerial parts. These above-ground structures, which include the expansive leaves and the flowering stalks, contain the bioactive compounds necessary for therapeutic applications. By harvesting the aerial parts, practitioners can access the specific chemical constituents concentrated in the foliage and blooms, which are essential for the plant's traditional and pharmacological uses.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Petasites formosanus has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include S-petasin, Iso-S-petasin, S-Petasin, iso-S-petasin.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| S-petasin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Iso-S-petasin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| S-Petasin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| iso-S-petasin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Petasites formosanus has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihypertensive, Antimuscarinic, Antispasmodic, Hypotensive.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimuscarinic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antispasmodic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypotensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Petasites formosanus has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hypertension, asthma, tumors.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| hypertension | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| asthma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumors | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |