Saussurea
Saussurea, commonly known as Snow Lotus, is a resilient medicinal plant flourishing in the high-altitude alpine regions of the Himalayas. Renowned in traditional medicine, particularly Tibetan pharmacology, it is highly valued for its potent antioxidant properties and its ability to treat inflammation, respiratory ailments, and various blood-related disorders.
- Scientific name: Saussurea
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Saussurea.
| 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, belonging to the genus Saussurea, is known by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In German, it is referred to as Alpenscharten, while in Azerbaijani, it is called Qalxanotu. In Hindi, the plant is known as हिम कमल, and in Russian, it is commonly called Соссюрея. Additionally, in Thai, it is referred to as บัวหิมะ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Alpenscharten | Wikidata |
| az | Qalxanotu | Wikidata |
| hi | हिम कमल | Wikidata |
| ru | Соссюрея | Wikidata |
| th | บัวหิมะ | Wikidata |
| uk | Соссюрея | Wikidata |
| zh | 风毛菊属 | Wikidata |
| ne | कपासे | Wikidata |
| vi | Saussurea involucrata | Wikidata |
| sv | Fjällskäror | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. Within this territory, it can be found growing in the country of Finland. The species is also documented in the Faroe Islands, known locally as Føroyar. Furthermore, its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, the plant's range includes the rugged landscapes of Norway.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Saussurea, is highly valued in traditional medicine, particularly for its specialized medicinal properties found within its subterranean structures. The most significant part utilized for therapeutic purposes is the root, which is often harvested from high-altitude regions to extract its bioactive compounds. These roots are carefully processed to be used in various herbal formulations aimed at treating diverse ailments, making them the primary focus of pharmacological interest in this species.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Saussurea has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Dehydrocostuslactone, rutin, syringin.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Dehydrocostuslactone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| syringin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Saussurea has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include fever, rheumatic arthritis.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatic arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |