Sonchus arvensis
Common sow thistle
Sonchus arvensis, commonly known as annual sow thistle, is a versatile medicinal herb belonging to the Asteraceae family. Characteristically identified by its jagged leaves and yellow flowering heads, this plant has been traditionally utilized for its diuretic, digestive, and anti-inflammatory properties, offering significant therapeutic potential in herbal medicine.
- Scientific name: Sonchus arvensis
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, falling into the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Sonchus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Sonchus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Sonchus arvensis, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In German, it is called Acker-Gänsedistel, while in Arabic, it is known as تفاف بستاني. Its Danish name is Ager-Svinemælk, and in Finnish, it is identified as peltovalvatti. In Japan, the species is commonly called タイワンハチジョウナ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Acker-Gänsedistel | Wikidata |
| ar | تفاف بستاني | Wikidata |
| da | Ager-Svinemælk | Wikidata |
| fi | peltovalvatti | Wikidata |
| ja | タイワンハチジョウナ | Wikidata |
| jv | Tempuyung | Wikidata |
| lt | Dirvinė pienė | Wikidata |
| nl | akkermelkdistel | Wikidata |
| nn | Åkerdylle | Wikidata |
| pl | mlecz polny | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several key regions of Northern Europe. In the Scandinavian area, its presence is documented in both Denmark and Finland. The species also extends its range to the remote Faroe Islands. Furthermore, it can be found throughout the territory of Great Britain. Finally, the plant is naturally established within the landscape of Ireland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| 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 | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as annual sowthistle, possesses distinct morphological features across its various structures. The leaves are typically basal or alternate, often characterized by a deeply lobed or pinnatifid shape with serrated edges. The stems are erect, somewhat succulent, and can grow quite tall, providing the necessary support for the plant's flowering heads. Beneath the surface, the roots consist of a slender taproot system that allows the plant to anchor itself firmly in the soil while absorbing essential nutrients.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Sonchus arvensis has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, antioxidants, apigenin, benzyl amino purine, caffeic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidants | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| apigenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| benzyl amino purine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caffeic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chicoric acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| indole-3-butyric acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| naphthalene acetic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sucrose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Sonchus arvensis has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, antimalarial, malaria, ulcerative colitis.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ulcerative colitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |