Indian madder

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian madder

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Galium cordifolium

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. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianales, it is situated in the Rubiaceae family. Finally, it is identified by the genus Rubia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents and diverse climates. In Southeastern Europe, it can be found growing in the country of Greece. Its presence extends significantly into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically within Burundi, Rwanda, and the DR Congo. Additionally, the species is located in the Northeast Tropical Africa region, specifically in Ethiopia. Through these varied locations, the plant demonstrates a wide range of ecological adaptability.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rubia cordifolia is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse landscapes and significant altitudinal variations. It thrives in a wide array of environments, ranging from lush forests and forest edges to open meadows, shrubberies, and steppes. This species is also capable of colonizing more rugged or transitional terrains, including mountains, stony places, and even shores. Its vertical distribution is extensive, spanning an elevational range from as low as 5 m AMSL to a maximum of 3200 m AMSL, allowing it to occupy various ecological niches across different climatic zones.

Elevational range max:

3200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, meadows, mountains, shores, shrubberies, steppe, stony places

Life history

The life history of Rubia cordifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence in its habitat. Regarding its morphological life form, the species is classified as a chamaephyte, a growth habit where the permanent buds are located close to the soil surface, often protected by the ground or leaf litter. This classification is consistent across its life form designations, identifying it specifically as a chamaephyte within the broader spectrum of botanical life forms.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rubia cordifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and a climbing vine. As an obligatory climber, it functions as a liana that relies on external support to ascend, rather than being self-supporting. The plant exhibits a terrestrial lifestyle, neither being aquatic nor epiphytic, and it exists as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of stature, its height is variable, ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 5 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rubia cordifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Morphologically, the plant features cordate leaf forms with entire margins, and while it lacks leaf thorns, it does possess leaf spines. Additionally, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nitrogen sources for its nutrient requirements.

Leaf form :

cordate

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

yes

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rubia cordifolia is characterized by a sexual reproductive process involving bisexual flowers, which facilitate self-fertilization or cross-pollination. The flowering period is relatively concentrated, typically beginning in July and concluding in August. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with a highly consistent mass, maintaining a mean, maximum, and minimum value of 0.0041 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically utilizing endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals, aiding in the colonization of new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass mean:

0.0041 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rubia cordifolia has 2 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, rhizome.

Root

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Life sciences
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Frontiers in plant science
5. Journal of Asian natural products research

Rhizome

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Chemicals

Rubia cordifolia has 57 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Rubiadin, Alizarin, Anthraquinones, Flavonoids, PURPURIN.

Rubiadin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics
3. Drug design, development and therapy
4. Journal of Asian natural products research
5. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Alizarin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of Asian natural products research
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Metabolites

Anthraquinones

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Metabolites
4. Indian journal of pharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Indian journal of pharmacology

PURPURIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Metabolites

Mollugin

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
3. Journal of separation science

RA-V

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Gan

Rubicoumaric acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Saponins

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
2. Indian journal of pharmacology

Xanthopurpurin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of Asian natural products research

Activities

Rubia cordifolia has 210 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antiinflammatory, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Drug design, development and therapy
5. Natural product research

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Drug design, development and therapy
3. Natural product research
4. Journal of separation science
5. Metabolites

Anticancer

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Drug design, development and therapy
3. Metabolites

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of experimental biology
3. Pharmaceutical biology

Antimicrobial

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of Asian natural products research
3. Recent patents on biotechnology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Drug design, development and therapy
3. Recent patents on biotechnology

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Drug design, development and therapy

Antifungal

1. Drug design, development and therapy
2. Natural product research

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Medicinal Uses

Rubia cordifolia has 39 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, antioxidant, acne, inflammation, kidney stones.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations