Phytolacca americana
Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana, commonly known as pokeweed, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to North America. Renowned for its deep purple stems and dark berries, it holds a dual legacy: while traditionally used in folk medicine for various ailments, its potent compounds require careful handling due to inherent toxicity.
- Scientific name: Phytolacca americana
- Family: Phytolaccaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Caryophyllales, it is further categorized into the family Phytolaccaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Phytolacca.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Caryophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Phytolaccaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Phytolacca | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Phytolacca americana, is recognized by various common names across different languages and cultures. In Poland, it is referred to as Szkarłatka amerykańska, while in Russia, it is called Лаконос американский. The Korean name for this species is 미국자리공, and in German-speaking regions, it is known as Amerikanische Kermesbeere. Finally, in Japan, the plant is commonly called ヨウシュヤマゴボウ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Szkarłatka amerykańska | Wikidata |
| ru | Лаконос американский | Wikidata |
| ko | 미국자리공 | Wikidata |
| de | Amerikanische Kermesbeere | Wikidata |
| ja | ヨウシュヤマゴボウ | Wikidata |
| az | Amerika çiçəbaharı | Wikidata |
| lt | Amerikinė fitolaka | Wikidata |
| hsb | Ameriska fytolaka | Wikidata |
| nl | westerse karmozijnbes | Wikidata |
| ar | صبغة أمريكية | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a notable presence across various regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found growing in Austria. It is also widely distributed throughout the Czechia-Slovakia region. Finally, the plant is commonly documented within the borders of Germany.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known commonly as pokeweed, utilizes various parts of its anatomy for both biological reproduction and traditional medicinal applications. The thick, fleshy roots serve as a primary storage organ for the plant, containing high concentrations of saponins and phytolaccatoxin. Above the ground, the plant produces dark, berry-like fruits that grow in drooping clusters, which eventually contain the small, hard seeds necessary for the next generation. While all these parts possess potent bioactive compounds, they must be handled with extreme caution due to their high toxicity.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Phytolacca americana has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, EsA, EsB, EsC, EsF.
- Total chemicals
- 17
- Scientific sources
- 18
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| EsA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| EsB | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| EsC | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| EsF | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| americanin A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| americanol A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoamericanin A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoamericanol A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lignin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Phytolacca americana has 6 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimalarial, Proinflammatory.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Proinflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Toxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Phytolacca americana has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bacteria, cancer, fungi, inflammation, malaria.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fungi | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |