Pinellia ternata

Pinellia ternata, commonly known as Ternate Pine, is a distinctive medicinal plant revered in traditional healing practices. Renowned for its unique bioactive compounds, this species offers significant therapeutic potential. Exploring its botanical properties provides vital insights into its role in treating various ailments and its importance in herbal pharmacology.

  • Scientific name: Pinellia ternata
  • Family: Araceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Alismatales, falling under the family Araceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Pinelliia.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Alismatales WCVP
Family Araceae WCVP
Genus Pinellia WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Pinellia ternata, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Chinese, it is referred to as 半夏 (Bànxià), while in Vietnamese, it is called Bán hạ bắc. Its botanical identity is also expressed as pinelia trójlistkową in Polish and Dreizählige Pinellie in German. Additionally, in Korean, the plant is known as 반하 (Ban-ha).
Language Common Name Source
zh 半夏 Wikidata
pl pinelia trójlistkowa Wikidata
vi Bán hạ bắc Wikidata
de Dreizählige Pinellie Wikidata
ko 반하 Wikidata
ja カラスビシャク Wikidata
zh-tw 半夏 Wikidata
lzh 半夏 Wikidata
zh-hant 半夏 Wikidata
zh-cn 半夏 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans across both Europe and Asia. In Middle Europe, its presence is specifically noted within the territories of Austria and Germany. Moving towards the eastern part of the continent, the species is also found in China. Within China, it inhabits several distinct regions including South-Central China and the island of Hainan. Additionally, its range extends further north to include the Inner Mongolia region.

Region Area Source
Middle Europe Austria WCVP
Middle Europe Germany WCVP
China China South-Central WCVP
China Hainan WCVP
China Inner Mongolia WCVP
China Manchuria WCVP
China China North-Central WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
Eastern Asia Japan WCVP
Eastern Asia Korea WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Pinellia ternata, possesses a complex underground structure that is essential to its medicinal properties. The primary storage organ is a fleshy, thickened tuber, which is actually a modified underground stem known as a rhizome. This central tuber serves as the main source of active compounds used in traditional remedies. From this base, the plant develops its functional aerial parts, most notably the broad, green leaves that facilitate photosynthesis. While the plant is characterized by this singular, prominent tuber, the overall anatomy relies on the connection between the nutrient-storing rhizome and the leafy canopy above.
Total parts
21
Scientific sources
38
Plant Part Sources Confidence
tubers 7 ★★★★☆
tuber 4 ★★☆☆☆
leaves 4 ★★☆☆☆
rhizome 3 ★★☆☆☆
stems 2 ★☆☆☆☆
roots 2 ★☆☆☆☆
bulbil 2 ★☆☆☆☆
stem-leaf 1 ★☆☆☆☆
stem tuber 1 ★☆☆☆☆
root exudates 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Pinellia ternata has 78 reported phytochemicals identified across 86 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include POD, SOD, abscisic acid (ABA), chlorophyll, flavonoids.

Total chemicals
78
Scientific sources
86

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
POD 2 ★☆☆☆☆
SOD 2 ★☆☆☆☆
abscisic acid (ABA) 2 ★☆☆☆☆
chlorophyll 2 ★☆☆☆☆
flavonoids 2 ★☆☆☆☆
glutathione 2 ★☆☆☆☆
guanosine 2 ★☆☆☆☆
inosine 2 ★☆☆☆☆
(-)-epigallocatechin 1 ★☆☆☆☆
1,3,12-nonadecatriene 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Pinellia ternata has 5 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitussive, Expectorant, Antibacterial, Antiemetic, Antitumor.

Total activities
5
Scientific sources
7

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antitussive 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Expectorant 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Antibacterial 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antiemetic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antitumor 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Pinellia ternata has 28 reported medicinal uses identified across 43 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cough, antitussive, vomiting, antiemetic, asthma.

Total uses
28
Scientific sources
43

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Confidence
cough 5 ★★★☆☆
antitussive 4 ★★☆☆☆
vomiting 4 ★★☆☆☆
antiemetic 2 ★☆☆☆☆
asthma 2 ★☆☆☆☆
expectorant 2 ★☆☆☆☆
inflammation 2 ★☆☆☆☆
nausea 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Erwinia 1 ★☆☆☆☆
airway obstruction 1 ★☆☆☆☆