rowan
Sorbus aucuparia · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (49 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Rowan, scientifically known as Sorbus aucuparia, is a resilient deciduous tree revered in traditional herbalism. Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, its bright berries have long been utilized to support immune function and digestive health. This versatile plant holds significant importance in both folklore and modern botanical studies.
Names
Common Names
- European mountain-ash
- dogberry
- rowan
- rowan tree
- Mountain Ash
- Quicken-tree
- quickbeam
- rowan-berry
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Capurrio
- Pyrus aucuparia var typica
- Cerolera de puerto
- Buxarolera
- Mespilus aucuparia
- Pyrus aucuparia var. typica
- Serbal de los cazadores
- Argomeno
- Sorbus aucuparia var. typica
- Caputrio
- Sorbus caucasigena
- Serbellón
- Zerollera borde
- Pyrus aucuparia
- Sorbellano
- Buzadero
- Serbellon
- Azarollo
- Serbal de cazadores
German:
- Eberesche
- Krametsbeerbaum
- Pyrus aucuparia
- Vogelbeerbaum
- Drosselbeerbaum
- Krametsbeere
- Drosselbeere
- Quitsche
- Gewöhnliche Vogelbeere
- sorbier des oiseleurs
- Vogelbeere
- Eberesche
- Vogelbeerbaum
- Vogelkirsche
French:
- Sorbier des oiseleurs
- sorbier des oiseleurs
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Sorbus aucupariaSynonyms
- Pyrus aucuparia
- Pyrenia aucuparia
- Mespilus aucuparia
- Crataegus aucuparia
- Aucuparia silvestris
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified in the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Sorbus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Rosales | WCVP |
| Family | Rosaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Sorbus | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its presence is well-established throughout the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The species also extends its range to the rugged terrain of Iceland. Together, these locations define its specific geographical footprint across the northern part of the continent.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | 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, known as the mountain ash, possesses several distinct components used in various traditional applications. Each individual leaf is pinnate, meaning it is composed of multiple small leaflets arranged along a central stem, and these leaves collectively form a lush, green canopy. The most notable medicinal and nutritional part of the species is the fruit, which appears in dense clusters. These small, red berries are highly valued for their vitamin content, and while a single fruit may seem insignificant, the abundance of these fruits provides a significant source of antioxidants.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | Nutrients (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Acta poloniae pharmaceutica (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Sorbus aucuparia has 25 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Flavonoids, Cynarin, Proanthocyanidins, 2'-hydroxyaucuparin.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| CHLOROGENIC ACID | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cynarin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Proanthocyanidins | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2'-hydroxyaucuparin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-Hydroxycoumarin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aucuparin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Biphenyl | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CATECHIN | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| D-allose | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
CHLOROGENIC ACID
- Chemistry & biodiversity
- Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
- Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
Flavonoids
- Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
- Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
- Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
Cynarin
- Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
- Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
Proanthocyanidins
- Chemistry & biodiversity
- Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
2'-hydroxyaucuparin
- BMC plant biology
4-Hydroxycoumarin
- Plant molecular biology
Aucuparin
- BMC plant biology
Biphenyl
- BMC plant biology
CATECHIN
- Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
D-allose
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
Activities
Sorbus aucuparia has 4 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Nephroprotective.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Biomedical chromatography : BMC (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Nephroprotective | Nutrients (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Sorbus aucuparia has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, inflammation, nitro-oxidative stress, oxidative stress, urinary tract infections.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nitro-oxidative stress | Nutrients (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| urinary tract infections | Acta poloniae pharmaceutica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Sorbus aucuparia extracts | Nutrients (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Sorbus aucuparia fruit extracts | Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit extracts | Biomedical chromatography : BMC (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | Biomedical chromatography : BMC (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| suspension cells(SASCs) | Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |