Lentisk

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Lentisk
• Mastic Tree
• Chios mastictree
• lentiscus
• mastic
• masticshrub

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lentiscus vulgaris
• Terebinthus lentiscus
• Pistacia lentiscus var. massiliensis
• Pistacia lentiscus var. latifolia
• Pistacia lentiscus f. latifolia
• Lentiscus massiliensis
• Pistacia brevifolia
• Pistacia subfalcata
• Pistacia massiliensis
• Pistacia multiflora
• Pistacia lentiscus f. leptophylla
• Pistacia lentiscus subvar. brevifolia
• Pistacia lentiscus var. chia
• Pistacia lentiscus f. chia
• Pistacia lentiscus f. lanceolata
• Pistacia lentiscus f. massiliensis
• Pistacia lentiscus var. multiflora
• Pistacia lentiscus subvar. subfalcata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following its subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Sapindaales and the family Anacardiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic designation concludes with the genus Pistacia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Pistacia lentiscus, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of Southwestern Europe. It can be found growing natively in the Baleares islands. Additionally, the species is present in the territories of Corse and France. Its range further extends to the coastal areas of Portugal. Finally, the plant is also well-distributed throughout Sardegna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pistacia lentiscus is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution across its native habitats, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1100 m AMSL. While it is capable of thriving in coastal lowlands, its presence is most concentrated within a mid-range altitudinal belt, with a mean elevational range of approximately 304 m AMSL. This vertical distribution allows the species to occupy diverse topographical niches, adapting to various environmental gradients within its ecological zone.

Elevational range max:

1100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

304 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pistacia lentiscus is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain a long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, the plant directs its reproductive buds above the ground, contributing to its structural stability and growth patterns. Throughout its existence, it maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present across different seasons rather than shedding all leaves annually.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pistacia lentiscus is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, functioning as a self-supporting species rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent plant that does not exhibit parasitic behavior or epiphytic tendencies, maintaining a terrestrial life habit rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. The plant reaches a significant stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 6 m to a maximum of 8 m. Its structure is defined by its robust, woody nature, providing the necessary stability for its upright, shrubby habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height min:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pistacia lentiscus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's leaf morphology exhibits a linear form, with leaf dimensions ranging from a minimum length of 1 cm to a maximum length of 5 cm, and a width spanning from 0.5 cm to a maximum of 2.4 cm. These leaves are organized in an opposite arrangement along the stem. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 47.1 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and contributing to its overall resource acquisition and environmental adaptation strategies.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

2.4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

47.1 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pistacia lentiscus is characterized by a dioecious sexual reproduction system, meaning individual plants are either male or female. The flowering period typically begins in March and concludes in May, with flowers exhibiting a green colour. These flowers are arranged in inflorescences that vary in length from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.05 m. Following fertilization, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent drupes that turn black upon maturity. The fruits possess a mean length of 0.52 cm and a width ranging from 0.35 cm to 0.5 cm, with an average width of 0.53 cm. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, relying on animals for seed distribution. The resulting seeds are relatively small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.023458889 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.002 g to a maximum of 0.03704 g) and a consistent seed volume of 32 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

May

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

0.52 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.53 cm

Fruit width min:

0.35 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.05 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

0.03704 g

Seed mass mean:

0.023458889 g

Seed mass min:

0.002 g

Seed volume max:

32 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pistacia lentiscus has 3 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, stem.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Planta medica

Fruit

1. PloS one

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Pistacia lentiscus has 67 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, ALPHA-PINENE, Tannins, Germacrene D, LIMONENE.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Nutrients
3. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
5. Natural product research

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)
3. Planta medica
4. Nutrition and cancer

Tannins

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Scientifica
4. Journal of chemical ecology

Germacrene D

1. Journal of chemical ecology
2. Toxicology reports
3. Planta medica

LIMONENE

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)
3. Journal of chemical ecology

Linalool

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of dentistry
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

MYRCENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of dentistry
3. Planta medica

polyphenols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Scientifica

Cycloartenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

D-Limonene

1. Scientific reports
2. Heliyon

Activities

Pistacia lentiscus has 307 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Pharmaceutical biology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Nutrients

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of medicinal food
3. Nutrients
4. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Antimicrobial

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceutical biology
4. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of medicinal food

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Cardioprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Conditions

Pistacia lentiscus has 36 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include oxidative stress, inflammation, antioxidant, cancer, duodenal ulcer.

Oxidative stress

1. International journal of dentistry
2. Nutrients
3. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)
4. Brain research bulletin
5. Toxicology reports

Inflammation

1. International journal of dentistry
2. Nutrients
3. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Scientific reports

Cancer

1. Nutrients
2. Nutrition and cancer

Duodenal ulcer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology

Infections

1. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
2. Scientific reports

Inflammatory bowel disease

1. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
2. Nutrients

Wound healing

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Veterinary medicine and science

E. coli

1. Heliyon

Helicobacter pylori

1. Georgian medical news

Preparations

Pistacia lentiscus has 22 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils, Chios mastic gum, resin, Chios mastic gum (CMG), Extracts.

Essential oils

1. Acta parasitologica
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Chios mastic gum

1. International journal of dentistry
2. Planta medica

Resin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytochemistry

Chios mastic gum (cmg)

1. Nutrients

Extracts

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Plo

1. Brain research bulletin

Pistacia lentiscus oil

1. Brain research bulletin

Aqueous extract of the plant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract prepared from the dried leaves

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extracts

1. Mycoses