Prunus mume
Ume
Prunus mume, commonly known as Japanese apricot or ume, is a significant medicinal plant in East Asian traditions. Renowned for its antioxidant properties, the fruit and bark are utilized to treat digestive issues, respiratory ailments, and inflammation. This resilient flowering tree offers profound therapeutic benefits through its diverse phytochemical profile.
- Scientific name: Prunus mume
- Family: Rosaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Rosales and belongs to the family Rosaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Prunus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Rosales | WCVP |
| Family | Rosaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Prunus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Prunus mume, is known by various common names depending on the region and language, though it shares a consistent designation across several Chinese dialects; specifically, it is referred to as 梅 in zh-hans, zh-hant, zh-hk, zh-cn, and zh-sg.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 梅 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 梅 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 梅 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 梅 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 梅 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 梅 | Wikidata |
| eo | Umeo | Wikidata |
| pl | Morela japońska | Wikidata |
| ko | 매실나무 | Wikidata |
| fr | abricotier du Japon | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread geographical presence across various diverse regions of China. It can be found growing in the South-Central parts of the country, reaching down to the island of Hainan. Moving toward the north, the species is also distributed throughout the Inner Mongolia region. Its range further extends into the area known as Manchuria. Additionally, the plant is commonly documented within China North-Central.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | Inner Mongolia | WCVP |
| China | Manchuria | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| China | Xinjiang | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Prunus mume, is highly valued in traditional medicine for its various components. The delicate flowers bloom in early spring, often appearing as beautiful pink or white blossoms before the foliage fully develops. During this period, the tiny flower buds are also notable, signaling the onset of the blooming season. As the plant matures, the leaf serves an important role in photosynthesis, while the development of the fruit follows. Both the fresh and dried fruits are extensively utilized in medicinal preparations, often processed into traditional remedies to treat various ailments.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 15
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| flowers | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower buds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flesh of the fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Prunus mume has 41 reported phytochemicals identified across 46 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include isoquercitrin, rutin, chlorogenic acid, 2''-O-acetyl-3'-O-methylrutin, 2''-O-acetylrutin.
- Total chemicals
- 41
- Scientific sources
- 46
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| isoquercitrin | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2''-O-acetyl-3'-O-methylrutin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2''-O-acetylrutin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-nonenal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,4-dimethoxytoluene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-allylphenol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ABA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Polyphenol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Prunus mume has 6 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antitumor, Hepatoprotective.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mitogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Prunus mume has 13 reported medicinal uses identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include aldose reductase, platelet aggregation, Clonorchis sinensis, antioxidant, cancers.
- Total uses
- 13
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aldose reductase | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| platelet aggregation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Clonorchis sinensis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cold stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| drought | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucose intolerance | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mucositis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |