Chinese figwort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese figwort
• Ningpo figwort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Scrophularia microdonta
• Scrophularia silvestrii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Lamiales and the family Scrophulariaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Scrophularia, as part of the species Scrophularia ningpoensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several distinct regions of Asia. Within China, it can be found spanning from the Inner Mongolia region in the north to the Southeast provinces. Its presence is also well-documented throughout the North-Central and South-Central territories of the country. Beyond the borders of China, the species extends its reach into the Indo-China peninsula. Specifically, this medicinal plant is also known to grow within the country of Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Scrophularia ningpoensis is characterized by its presence in specific montane environments, where it thrives across a distinct altitudinal gradient. This species is typically found at an elevational range that reaches a maximum of 1700 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range also centering around 1700 m AMSL. Such positioning suggests that the plant is highly adapted to the specific climatic conditions, soil compositions, and moisture levels found within these mid-to-high altitude zones, which often feature cooler temperatures and specialized microclimates compared to lowland habitats.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Scrophularia ningpoensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. The plant typically exhibits a self-supporting habit rather than acting as a climber, maintaining its structure through its own stem strength. It reaches a characteristic plant height with a mean measurement of approximately 1 m. As a herbaceous species, it lacks woody tissue, resulting in a soft, non-woody stem structure throughout its development.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Plant height mean:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Scrophularia ningpoensis is characterized by a robust vegetative structure designed to optimize photosynthetic surface area and nutrient acquisition. The plant exhibits significant biomass accumulation in its foliage, with morphological data indicating a substantial leaf size that facilitates efficient light interception. Specifically, the foliage displays a mean leaf length of 30 cm and a mean leaf width of 19 cm, dimensions that support a high rate of gas exchange and transpiration necessary for maintaining turgor pressure and metabolic activity. These large leaf dimensions contribute to an expansive canopy, allowing the plant to maximize carbon fixation through its photosynthetic apparatus while managing the hydraulic conductivity required to support its structural integrity.

Leaf length mean:

30 cm

Leaf width mean:

19 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Scrophularia ningpoensis is characterized by the development of distinct fruit structures that follow a specific morphological range. The fruits produced by this species exhibit consistent sizing, with a mean fruit length of 0.85 cm. Throughout the reproductive cycle, the fruit dimensions fluctuate within a narrow margin, ranging from a minimum length of 0.8 cm to a maximum length of 0.9 cm. These measurements define the physical parameters of the fruit during its maturation process.

Fruit length max:

0.9 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.85 cm

Fruit length min:

0.8 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Scrophularia ningpoensis has 3 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem, leaf.

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Acta pharmacologica Sinica
3. Journal of separation science
4. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
5. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Stem

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Leaf

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Chemicals

Scrophularia ningpoensis has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Harpagoside, Harpagide, Acteoside, Angoroside C, Aucubin.

Harpagoside

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Acta pharmacologica Sinica
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
4. Current microbiology
5. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Harpagide

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Acta pharmacologica Sinica
3. Current microbiology
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Acteoside

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Acta pharmacologica Sinica
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Angoroside C

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Acta pharmacologica Sinica
3. Frontiers in plant science

Aucubin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

CINNAMIC ACID

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Flavonoids

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Iridoids

1. Journal of separation science
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

4-Methylcatechol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Angroside C

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Activities

Scrophularia ningpoensis has 4 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidepressant, Antihypertensive, Antitumor, Neuroprotective.

Antidepressant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antihypertensive

1. BMC genomics

Antitumor

1. BMC genomics

Neuroprotective

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Scrophularia ningpoensis has 32 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, depression, fever, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations