árnica

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• árnica

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Laurus lingui
• Boldu olivifera
• Boldu chilanum
• Peumus fragrans
• Boldea boldus
• Boldea fragrans
• Ruizia fragrans
• Laurus belloto

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Laurales and the family Monimiaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Peumus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to the specific regions of Southern South America. Its natural habitat is primarily concentrated within the territory of Chile. Specifically, it can be found growing in the central areas of the country. Additionally, its distribution extends further down into the southern part of Chile. Therefore, its geographical range is strictly limited to these particular South American zones.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Peumus boldus is characterized by its adaptation to a diverse range of altitudinal gradients, allowing it to inhabit various topographical niches within its native range. This species thrives across an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 1500 m AMSL. This broad vertical distribution suggests a capacity to tolerate varying climatic conditions, ranging from coastal influences to more temperate, higher-altitude environments, provided the specific soil and moisture requirements of its habitat are met.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Peumus boldus is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches above the ground level, specifically manifesting as a phanerophyte in its structural growth habit. This woody shrub or small tree maintains a constant presence through its evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage year-round rather than shedding it seasonally. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and persistent greenery allows it to establish a stable biological presence within its native habitats.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Peumus boldus is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which typically reaches an average height of approximately 6 meters. As a terrestrial organism, it is neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, nor does it function as an epiphyte. The plant is a self-supporting structure that does not exhibit climbing behavior, and it grows as an independent species rather than as a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Peumus boldus is characterized by its metabolic processes geared toward the synthesis of specific secondary metabolites, most notably the alkaloid boldine, which is produced as a protective mechanism within its leaf tissues. As a perennial evergreen shrub adapted to the Mediterranean climate of central Chile, its physiological rhythm is heavily influenced by seasonal water availability and solar radiation, driving a robust photosynthetic capacity to sustain its woody structure. The plant's nutrient acquisition strategies are primarily focused on the uptake of minerals from the soil through an extensive root system; however, it does not possess the specialized symbiotic relationships required for atmospheric nitrogen assimilation, meaning it is not a nitrogen fixer. Consequently, its growth and nitrogen metabolism are entirely dependent on the availability of nitrates and ammonium within the substrate, rather than through biological nitrogen fixation.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Peumus boldus is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insect vectors to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, indicating a reliance on cross-pollination to maintain genetic diversity. Regarding its reproductive output, the seeds produced are highly uniform in size; the seed mass is constant with a minimum, maximum, and mean value of 0.0811 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.0811 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Peumus boldus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Planta medica
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem

1. Tree physiology

Chemicals

Peumus boldus has 102 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Boldine, LIMONENE, P-CYMENE, 1,8-Cineole, ASCARIDOLE.

Boldine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Die Pharmazie
3. Pharmacological research
4. Journal of medicinal food
5. Mutation research

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

P-CYMENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ASCARIDOLE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CATECHIN

1. Journal of chromatography. A
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

polyphenols

1. Tree physiology
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

(R)-Coclaurine

1. Dr. Duke

(S)-Coclaurine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Peumus boldus has 352 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiinflammatory, Choleretic, Hepatoprotective, Sedative.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Die Pharmazie
3. Journal of medicinal food
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
5. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Choleretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Peumus boldus has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include gastrointestinal disorders, Staphylococcus aureus, anxiety, cancer, cardiovascular disease.

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Mutation research
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Anxiety

1. Revista gaucha de enfermagem

Cancer

1. Cancers

Cardiovascular disease

1. Journal of medicinal food

Epilepsy

1. Biological research

Gastrointestinal diseases

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Liver diseases

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Metabolic syndrome

1. Journal of medicinal food

Neuroinflammation

1. Biological research

Preparations

Peumus boldus has 4 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Dried hydro-alcoholic extract, extracts, leaf extracts, teas.

Dried hydro-alcoholic extract

1. Planta medica

Extracts

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Leaf extracts

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Teas

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR