Saussurea medusa
Saussurea medusa, commonly known as the Medusa Saw-wort, is a rare medicinal herb native to the high-altitude Himalayan regions. Renowned in traditional Tibetan medicine, its roots possess potent bioactive compounds used to treat inflammation, fever, and various ailments, making it a valuable botanical treasure in mountain ecosystems.
- Scientific name: Saussurea medusa
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Saussurea, specifically as the species Saussurea medusa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Saussurea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Saussurea medusa, is referred to by several common names across different linguistic contexts. In Chinese, it is widely called 水母雪兔子 (zh), 水母雪兔子 (zh-cn), 水母雪兔子 (zh-tw), and 水母雪兔子 (zh-hans), as well as 甘青雪莲花 (zh).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 水母雪兔子 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 水母雪兔子 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 水母雪兔子 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 水母雪兔子 | Wikidata |
| zh | 甘青雪莲花 | Wikidata |
| zh | 水母雪莲花 | Wikidata |
| zh | 杂各尔手把 | Wikidata |
| zh | 夏古贝 | Wikidata |
| zh | 水母雪莲 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several key regions within the vast landscape of China. Its distribution is particularly notable in the South-Central and North-Central parts of the country. Furthermore, it can be found growing in the high-altitude terrains of the Qinghai province. The species also inhabits the rugged mountainous areas of Tibet. Finally, its geographical range extends into the remote and diverse environments of Xinjiang.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | Qinghai | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| China | Xinjiang | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
Chemicals
Saussurea medusa has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, rutin, Anthocyanins, TFC, TPC.
- Total chemicals
- 16
- Scientific sources
- 18
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthocyanins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| TFC | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| TPC | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumarins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dihydromyricetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dihydroquercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isochlorogenic acid A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Saussurea medusa has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant, Antitumor.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Saussurea medusa has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include analgesic, anthrax, arthritis, cancer, cold.
- Total uses
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthrax | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cold | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gout | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| myocardial ischemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |