Petasites japonicus
Fuki
Petasites japonicus, commonly known as Japanese butterbur, is a perennial herb valued in traditional medicine and East Asian cuisine. Renowned for its bioactive compounds, it possesses significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Often used to treat respiratory ailments and allergies, this versatile plant bridges the gap between nutrition and pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Petasites japonicus
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is specifically situated in the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is categorized under 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 japonicus, is known by various common names across different regions and languages. In Chinese, it is referred to as 蜂斗菜 in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), and the Cantonese variant used in Hong Kong (zh-hk). In Japan, the plant is widely known as フキ (ja), and in Poland, it is called Lepiężnik japoński (pl).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 蜂斗菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 蜂斗菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 蜂斗菜 | Wikidata |
| ja | フキ | Wikidata |
| pl | Lepiężnik japoński | Wikidata |
| ru | Белокопытник японский | Wikidata |
| ko | 머위 | Wikidata |
| fr | Pétasite du Japon | Wikidata |
| sv | Bitterskråp | Wikidata |
| nl | Japans hoefblad | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Petasites japonicus, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Europe. Its distribution can be traced through various territories, including Denmark and Finland. Additionally, the species is found within the Faroe Islands, which are known as Føroyar in the local language. The plant also extends its reach to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations define its geographical footprint within the northern reaches of the continent.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as Petasites japonicus, utilizes various components for its medicinal properties, primarily focusing on its aerial parts, roots, and leaves. The aerial parts, which include the stems and flowers, are often harvested during specific growth stages to ensure potency. The roots are particularly significant in traditional medicine, often being processed into decoctions or powders due to their concentrated bioactive compounds. Additionally, the large, broad leaves are frequently utilized, providing a distinct morphological feature that is characteristic of the species.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Petasites japonicus has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Petasin, S-Petasin, S-japonin, eremophilenolide, s-petasin.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Petasin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| S-Petasin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| S-japonin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eremophilenolide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| s-petasin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Petasites japonicus has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimigraine.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimigraine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Petasites japonicus has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include adipogenesis, cancer stem cells, hepatocellular carcinoma, metabolic diseases, osteoporosis.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| adipogenesis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer stem cells | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatocellular carcinoma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| metabolic diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| osteoporosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |