Saururus chinensis
Saururus chinensis, commonly known as Asian lizard's tail, is a perennial herb native to East Asia. Valued in traditional medicine, its aromatic leaves and rhizomes are utilized to treat inflammation, fever, and various skin ailments. This versatile plant plays a significant role in both herbal remedies and aquatic ecosystems.
- Scientific name: Saururus chinensis
- Family: Saururaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Piperales. Ultimately, it is a member of the family Saururaceae, specifically categorized under the genus Saururus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Piperales | WCVP |
| Family | Saururaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Saururus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Saururus chinensis, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Chinese, it is referred to as 三白草 (zh) and 三白草 (zh-tw), while in Korean, it is called 삼백초 (ko). Its Japanese name is ハンゲショウ (ja), and in Swedish, it is known as Kinesisk ödlesvans (sv).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 三白草 | Wikidata |
| sv | Kinesisk ödlesvans | Wikidata |
| ko | 삼백초 | Wikidata |
| ja | ハンゲショウ | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 三白草 | Wikidata |
| lzh | 三白草 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 三白草 | Wikidata |
| ar | صروة صينية | Wikidata |
| ja | 三白草 | Wikidata |
| ja | カタシログサ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across various regions of China. It can be found throughout the South-Central areas of the country. Additionally, its presence extends to the tropical island of Hainan. The species also populates the North-Central territories of China. Finally, its range reaches into the Southeast regions of the nation.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | Qinghai | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Saururus chinensis, is a perennial herb characterized by its distinct morphological structure. The aerial parts of the species consist of slender stems and lanceolate leaves that rise above the soil to support its unique white flower spikes. Below the surface, the underground parts serve as the primary storage and stabilization organs. Specifically, the roots form an extensive rhizomatous system, where the thick, creeping root structures allow the plant to spread effectively through moist habitats. As a complete medicinal herbs species, all these components are often studied for their bioactive properties in traditional medicine.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 9
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| underground parts | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| herbs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial part | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Saururus chinensis has 33 reported phytochemicals identified across 36 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include machilin D, rutin, sauchinone, 3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenylacrylaldehyde, 3-(2-nitroethyl)-1-methoxyindole.
- Total chemicals
- 33
- Scientific sources
- 36
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| machilin D | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sauchinone | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenylacrylaldehyde | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-(2-nitroethyl)-1-methoxyindole | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4'-hydroxyl-3,3',4,5,5'-pentamethoxy-7,7'-epoxylignan | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| DPPH | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Saucerneol D | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthraquinones | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dibutyl phthalate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Saururus chinensis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Saururus chinensis has 15 reported medicinal uses identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include edema, jaundice, fever, Alzheimer's disease, beriberi.
- Total uses
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 20
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| edema | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| jaundice | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| fever | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beriberi | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammatory bowel disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| osteoarthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |