Aleppo oak

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Aleppo Oak
• Cyprus Oak
• Asian holly oak
• Aleppine Oak

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Quercus lusitanica var. infectoria
• Quercus lusitanica subsp. infectoria

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fagales, it is a member of the Fagaceae family. Finally, it is identified by its genus name, Quercus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Quercus infectoria, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several key regions. In Southeastern Europe, it can be found growing in Greece. Its range extends into the Caucasus, specifically within the Transcaucasus region. In Western Asia, the species is distributed across Cyprus and the East Aegean Islands. Furthermore, the plant is also documented to grow in Iran.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Quercus infectoria is characterized by its ability to thrive in specialized environmental niches, particularly within stony places where it can establish itself amidst rocky substrates. This species typically inhabits rugged terrains and prefers environments that offer specific drainage properties provided by such lithic conditions. Regarding its vertical distribution, the plant maintains a relatively specific altitudinal preference, with an elevational range that reaches a maximum of 1000 m AMSL (meters above sea level). This distribution pattern suggests an adaptation to sub-montane or lower montane zones, where the combination of rocky soil and moderate elevation creates the necessary ecological conditions for its growth and development.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

stony places

Life history

The life history of Quercus infectoria is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located high above the ground on woody branches. Within this category, it specifically manifests as a phanerophyte, indicating its development into a robust, woody tree capable of enduring seasonal variations through its elevated structural components. As a perennial species, it establishes a long-term presence in its ecosystem, investing significant energy into the development of a woody stem and a complex root system that supports its perennial growth cycle. This life strategy allows the plant to persist through unfavorable environmental conditions, maintaining its reproductive capacity over many years as it matures from a seedling into a significant arboreal component of its habitat.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Quercus infectoria is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub or small tree. It is a self-supporting plant that reaches an average height of approximately 20 meters. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor epiphytic, growing independently in its environment without relying on a host for nutrients. The plant's structure is defined by its robust, woody composition, providing the necessary stability for its upright, self-supporting habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Quercus infectoria is characterized by a metabolic framework consistent with the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common trait among woody dicotyledonous species that rely on the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide via the enzyme Rubisco. This C3 pathway dictates the plant's carbon assimilation efficiency and water-use patterns, as it lacks the specialized CO2-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants, making its gas exchange processes highly sensitive to environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, and stomatal conductance. The plant's physiological vigor is further supported by a robust secondary metabolism, particularly the high-level biosynthesis and sequestration of hydrolyzable tannins within its gall tissues. These metabolic processes are intricately linked to the plant's resource allocation, where energy derived from C3 photosynthesis is diverted toward the production of complex polyphenolic compounds, serving as a vital physiological defense mechanism against herbivory and oxidative stress.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Quercus infectoria is characterized by its seasonal flowering patterns, which are essential for its reproductive cycle. The flowering period for this species is highly specific, with the flowering start occurring in May. This period concludes within the same month, as the flowering end is also observed in May. While the timing can exhibit some degree of variability across different environmental conditions, these parameters define the primary window for its reproductive activity.

Flowering time :

May

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Quercus infectoria has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Chemical biology & drug design

Chemicals

Quercus infectoria has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, Tannin, ellagic acid, Flavonoids, Steroids.

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of AOAC International
3. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Tannin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
3. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

ellagic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of AOAC International
3. Journal of chromatographic science

Flavonoids

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Steroids

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tannins

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

BETA-D-GLUCOGALLIN

1. Dr. Duke

Gallotannic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Gallotannin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Glucogallic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Quercus infectoria has 225 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antibacterial.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Veterinary parasitology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of electron microscopy

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Revista Argentina de microbiologia

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Astringent

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Quercus infectoria has 28 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Staphylococcus aureus, diarrhea, Acinetobacter baumannii, Blastocystis hominis, Candida albicans.

Staphylococcus aureus

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Journal of applied microbiology

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of food protection

Acinetobacter baumannii

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Blastocystis hominis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Candida albicans

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Enterococcus faecalis

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Escherichia coli

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Klebsiella pneumoniae

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Oral cancer

1. Food science & nutrition

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Preparations

Quercus infectoria has 20 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract, methanol extracts, Ethanolic extract, Ethanolic extracts, Q. infectoria extract.

Ethanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of electron microscopy

Methanol extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Fitoterapia

Ethanolic extract

1. Journal of food protection

Ethanolic extracts

1. Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Q. infectoria extract

1. Revista Argentina de microbiologia

Qi extract

1. Food science & nutrition

Quercus infectoria gall extract

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Acetone extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Aqueous and ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous soxhlet extraction

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)