Rehmannia glutinosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rehmannia lutea var. purpurea
• Digitalis glutinosa
• Sparmannia sinensis
• Rehmannia glutinosa f. huechingensis
• Rehmannia glutinosa var. hemsleyana
• Rehmannia glutinosa var. huechingensis
• Rehmannia sinensis
• Rehmannia chanetii
• Chirita chanetii
• Rehmannia glutinosa f. purpurea
• Rehmannia glutinosa f. lutea

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Orobanchaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Rehmannia, specifically as the species Rehmannia glutinosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several distinct regions within China. It is commonly found throughout the South-Central areas of the country. The species also extends its range into the northern territories of Inner Mongolia and Manchuria. Additionally, its distribution encompasses the North-Central provinces of China. Finally, the plant can be located within the Southeast regions of the nation.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rehmannia glutinosa is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution that spans from lowland coastal or riparian areas to mid-elevation hilly terrains. It thrives within an elevational range that begins as low as 50 m AMSL, reaching a maximum height of 1100 m AMSL. Throughout its natural habitat, the species maintains a mean elevation of approximately 575 m AMSL, indicating a preference for sub-tropical to tropical environments where it can adapt to varying topographical gradients and moisture levels found within these specific altitudinal zones.

Elevational range max:

1100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

575 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

50 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Rehmannia glutinosa is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, meaning it survives for multiple years throughout its existence. As a long-lived species, it undergoes successive vegetative and reproductive cycles, allowing it to establish a robust presence within its natural habitat. The plant's developmental stages involve a prolonged period of growth and maturation that extends beyond a single growing season, contributing to its ability to endure varying environmental conditions over time. This perennial nature ensures that the plant can replenish its energy reserves and engage in repeated flowering and seeding processes, facilitating its long-term survival and persistence in the ecosystem.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rehmannia glutinosa is characterized by a non-woody growth form, specifically classified as a forb. The plant exhibits a self-supporting habit, functioning without the need for obligatory or facultative climbing structures, though it can be categorized within the liana or vine spectrum depending on environmental support. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.2 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

forb

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.2 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rehmannia glutinosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency within its natural habitat. The plant's vegetative development is closely linked to the morphological variation of its foliage, where leaf dimensions exhibit significant plasticity. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 7.5 cm, though they can range in size from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 13 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 6 cm, contributing to the overall surface area available for light interception and gas exchange essential to its physiological functions.

Leaf length max:

13 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rehmannia glutinosa is characterized by the development of distinct fruit structures that play a vital role in its life cycle and seed dispersal. The fruits exhibit specific morphological dimensions, with the length varying according to individual developmental stages and environmental factors. Based on botanical observations, the fruit length typically ranges from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm. On average, the fruit maintains a mean length of 1.25 cm, providing a standardized metric for identifying the reproductive output of the species during its fruiting season.

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rehmannia glutinosa has 3 reported plant parts identified across 32 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf, rhizome.

Root

1. Journal of oleo science
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. International journal of immunopharmacology

Leaf

1. Journal of oleo science
2. Genes
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Rhizome

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Chemicals

Rehmannia glutinosa has 138 reported phytochemicals identified across 32 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Catalpol, Acteoside, Ajugol, RAFFINOSE, Rehmannioside D.

Catalpol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of separation science
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. BMC plant biology

Acteoside

1. Journal of separation science
2. Current protein & peptide science
3. Journal of oleo science
4. Molecules and cells
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ajugol

1. Journal of separation science
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Frontiers in pharmacology

RAFFINOSE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Food chemistry

Rehmannioside D

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Stachyose

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Food chemistry

ferulic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Biotechnology journal
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Genes

sucrose

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Food chemistry

Aucubin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Manninotriose

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Food chemistry

Activities

Rehmannia glutinosa has 276 reported activities identified across 32 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic, Antinephritic, Hepatoprotective, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
3. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Antinephritic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

Neuroprotective

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Additive

1. Dr. Duke

Aggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Rehmannia glutinosa has 38 reported investigations on conditions identified across 32 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diabetic nephropathy, type 2 diabetes mellitus, anemia, ADHD, Alzheimer's disease.

Diabetic nephropathy

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Anemia

1. International journal of clinical and experimental pathology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Adhd

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Alzheimer's disease

1. Neuroscience letters

Polyuria

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Alopecia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Frontiers in plant science

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Breast cancer

1. Toxicology and applied pharmacology

Preparations

Rehmannia glutinosa has 34 reported preparations identified across 32 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include catalpol, Rehmannia glutinosa oligosaccharides, roots, Catapol, Ethanol extract.

Catalpol

1. Cell biochemistry and biophysics
2. Toxicology and applied pharmacology
3. Journal of natural products

Rehmannia glutinosa oligosaccharides

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Roots

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Contrast media & molecular imaging

Catapol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanol extract

1. Metabolic brain disease

Fresh root

1. Organic letters

Kanjiou

1. Yakushigaku zasshi

Kiou

1. Yakushigaku zasshi

Kushen decoction

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

Pmc-12

1. Neuroscience letters