Glabrous Sarcandra Herb

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Glabrous Sarcandra Herb

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ardisia glabra
• Bladhia glabra
• Chloranthus glaber

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, it is organized into the order Chloranthales and the family Chloranthaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Sarcandra.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in East Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Moving beyond mainland China, its range extends into the neighboring territories of Korea and Japan. These locations highlight a consistent habitat preference throughout the Eastern Asian landscape. Consequently, the species is well-established across these specific subtropical and temperate zones.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sarcandra glabra is closely defined by its altitudinal distribution across its native landscape. This species thrives within a broad elevational gradient, occupying habitats that range from as low as 350 m AMSL to a maximum height of 1690 m AMSL. Throughout its natural range, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 960 m AMSL, indicating a preference for mid-altitude environments where specific moisture and temperature regimes are met. This vertical spread suggests an adaptability to varying climatic zones, though its concentration around the median elevation reflects its specialized niche within these montane or sub-montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1690 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

960 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

350 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Sarcandra glabra is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its developmental stages, it maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present regardless of seasonal shifts.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sarcandra glabra is characterized by a woody growth habit, manifesting as a combination of shrub and subshrub forms. This terrestrial plant functions as an independent species, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. Its structural development includes a self-supporting climbing mechanism rather than being an obligatory or facultative vine or liana. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant exhibits significant variability in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 3 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 1.425 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.425 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Sarcandra glabra is characterized by specific vegetative dimensions and metabolic properties, particularly regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies. The foliage exhibits significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 17 cm, maintaining an average length of 11.5 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 6 cm, resulting in a mean width of 4 cm. In terms of its nutritional physiology, the plant does not possess the capability to function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

17 cm

Leaf length mean:

11.5 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sarcandra glabra is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vehicle for propagation. These fruits are relatively small and consistent in shape, with a mean length of 0.35 cm and a mean width of 0.35 cm, though they can vary slightly between a minimum of 0.3 cm and a maximum of 0.4 cm in both dimensions. Due to their fleshy nature, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to aid in the distribution of its seeds. The seeds contained within these fruits are notably fine, with a mean mass of approximately 0.001234 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.001229 g to a maximum of 0.001239 g. Furthermore, the seeds maintain a highly uniform volume, recorded at a constant 21 mm³ for the minimum, mean, and maximum values, ensuring a standardized seed size for successful germination and establishment.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Seed mass max:

0.001239 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001234 g

Seed mass min:

0.001229 g

Seed volume max:

21 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sarcandra glabra has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Organic & biomolecular chemistry
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. The Journal of organic chemistry

Chemicals

Sarcandra glabra has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isofraxidin, chloranoside A, rosmarinic acid, 5-O-Caffeoylshikimic acid, Astilbin.

Isofraxidin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. International immunopharmacology

chloranoside A

1. Journal of natural products
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

rosmarinic acid

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

5-O-Caffeoylshikimic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Astilbin

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Atractylenolide IV

1. Natural product research

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Chloranthalactone B

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Chloranthalactone E

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Coumarins

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

Activities

Sarcandra glabra has 4 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic.

Antioxidant

1. Food & function

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of natural products

Hypoglycemic

1. Food & function

Hypolipidemic

1. Food & function

Conditions

Sarcandra glabra has 15 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include anti-oxidant, cancer, diabetes mellitus, hepatocellular carcinoma, infectious diseases.

Anti-oxidant

1. International immunopharmacology

Cancer

1. The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics

Diabetes mellitus

1. Food & function

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Infectious diseases

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Inflammation

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Insulin resistance

1. Food & function

Leukemia

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

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

Neuroprotection

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

Preparations

Sarcandra glabra has 10 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 70% EtOH extract, 70% aqueous acetonic extract of the whole plant, EtOH extract from the whole plant, S. glabra polysaccharides, Sarcandra glabra extraction.

70% etoh extract

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

70% aqueous acetonic extract of the whole plant

1. Natural product research

Etoh extract from the whole plant

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

S. glabra polysaccharides

1. Food & function

Sarcandra glabra extraction

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

Sarcandra glabra extracts

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

Uvangoletin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Ethyl acetate (ea) extract

1. Oncology reports

Extract of sarcandra glabra

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Whole plant

1. Journal of natural products