Anemone chinensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Anemone pulsatilla var. chinensis
• Pulsatilla kissii
• Pulsatilla chinensis f. alba
• Pulsatilla chinensis var. kissii
• Pulsatilla chinensis f. plurisepala
• Anemone chinensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ranunculales, it is classified under the family Ranunculaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is established within the genus Pulsatilla.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range spanning across parts of East Asia. Within the Russian Far East, its distribution includes the Amur, Khabarovsk, and Primorye regions. In China, it can be found growing in the South-Central territories. Additionally, the species extends northward into the Inner Mongolia region of China. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in varied continental environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pulsatilla chinensis is characterized by its preference for open, well-drained environments, typically thriving in meadows that are notably dry. It is commonly found inhabiting mountainous regions, where it colonizes stony places and rocky terrains that provide the necessary drainage for its root system. These specific niches allow the plant to flourish in landscapes where competition from dense vegetation is limited, favoring its growth in sunny, exposed, and somewhat austere geological settings.

Habitat :

meadows: dry, mountains, stony places

Life history

The life history of Pulsatilla chinensis is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, meaning it survives for multiple years and undergoes repeated seasonal growth cycles. As a perennial herb, it typically spends the dormant winter months in a state of rest, often protected by its root system, before emerging in the spring to initiate its reproductive phase. The plant's development follows a predictable phenological pattern, beginning with the emergence of basal leaves and progressing to the production of characteristic bell-shaped flowers. Following successful pollination, the plant transitions into a seed-bearing stage, ensuring the continuation of its population through the dispersal of seeds. Because of its perennial nature, the individual plant can accumulate biomass over several growing seasons, allowing it to establish a more robust presence in its native habitat compared to annual or biennial species.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pulsatilla chinensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. This species is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing or liana-like habits, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, with a strictly terrestrial habitat. It maintains a relatively low stature, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.07 m to a maximum of 0.25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.25 m

Plant height min:

0.07 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pulsatilla chinensis is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework adapted to its temperate habitat, most notably through its photosynthetic pathway, which follows the C3 mechanism. As a C3 plant, its carbon fixation process occurs primarily via the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells, where atmospheric carbon dioxide is converted into three-carbon molecules during the Calvin cycle. This metabolic strategy dictates its water-use efficiency and gas exchange patterns, making the plant particularly sensitive to environmental temperature and moisture availability. Beyond its carbon fixation, the plant's physiological processes involve the complex synthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites, such as protoanemonin, which are produced through specific enzymatic pathways to serve as chemical defenses. Its physiological regulation is also closely tied to its perennial life cycle, involving seasonal transitions in nutrient translocation and metabolic dormancy to survive cold climates.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Pulsatilla chinensis is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and the production of small, specialized fruits. The plant enters its flowering phase during the month of May, a timing that can vary depending on environmental conditions. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that are notably diminutive in size. These fruits exhibit a tight range of dimensions, with a minimum length of 0.35 cm, a mean length of 0.375 cm, and a maximum length reaching 0.4 cm.

Flowering time :

May

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.375 cm

Fruit length min:

0.35 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pulsatilla chinensis has 1 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 root.

Root

1. Parasitology research
2. International immunopharmacology
3. Phytochemistry
4. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
5. Journal of separation science

Chemicals

Pulsatilla chinensis has 42 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 23-hydroxybetulinic acid, Saponins, ARSENIC, Hederagenin, Lupeol.

23-hydroxybetulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. European journal of pharmacology

Saponins

1. Parasitology research
2. International immunopharmacology
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chinese herbal medicines

Hederagenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

Lupeol

1. European journal of pharmacology
2. Frontiers in plant science

Pulsatillic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Pulsatilloside B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

pulsatilloside A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

(+)-Pinoresinol

1. Journal of natural products

2,3-Oxidosqualene

1. Frontiers in plant science

Activities

Pulsatilla chinensis has 185 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include ACE-Inhibitor, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic, Amebicide, Analgesic.

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Amebicide

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBPH

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCrohn's

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Pulsatilla chinensis has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, Lewis lung carcinoma, dysentery, giardiasis, melanoma.

Inflammation

1. Scientific reports
2. Frontiers in plant science

Lewis lung carcinoma

1. Phytochemistry

Dysentery

1. Scientific reports

Giardiasis

1. Parasitology research

Melanoma

1. European journal of pharmacology

Preparations

Pulsatilla chinensis has 8 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include roots, Ethyl acetate extracts, MeOH extract of the roots, aqueous extracts, dried radix.

Roots

1. Phytochemistry
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Journal of natural products

Ethyl acetate extracts

1. Parasitology research

Meoh extract of the roots

1. Journal of natural products

Aqueous extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Dried radix

1. Frontiers in plant science

Lipid-based formulations

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Saponins

1. International immunopharmacology

Tissue-smashing extraction

1. Journal of separation science