Spinacia oleracea
Spinach plant
Spinacia oleracea, commonly known as spinach, is a nutrient-dense leafy green celebrated for its profound medicinal properties. Rich in iron, vitamins, and antioxidants, it supports cardiovascular health, boosts immunity, and combats oxidative stress. Integrating this versatile superfood into your diet promotes overall wellness and serves as a nutritional powerhouse.
- Scientific name: Spinacia oleracea
- Family: Amaranthaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Amaranthaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Spinacia, which encompasses the species Spinacia oleracea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Caryophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Amaranthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Spinacia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Spinacia oleracea, is referred to by various names across different languages and cultures. In Polish, it is called Szpinak warzywny, while in the Scottish Gaelic dialect, it is known as Bloinigean-gàrraidh. In the Basque language, the common name is ziazierba, and in Chinese, it is identified as 菠菜. Additionally, in the language oflb, it is referred to as Päinetsch.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| lb | Päinetsch | Wikidata |
| zh | 菠菜 | Wikidata |
| eu | ziazerba | Wikidata |
| pl | Szpinak warzywny | Wikidata |
| gd | Bloinigean-gàrraidh | Wikidata |
| hu | spenót | Wikidata |
| ms | bayam Jepun | Wikidata |
| sq | spinaqi | Wikidata |
| el | σπανάκι | Wikidata |
| rw | Epinari | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad distribution across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is well-documented in Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species can also be found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, it is known to inhabit the territories of Czechia and Slovakia. Consequently, its geographical range spans from the northern coastal reaches to the central European landscapes.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Greece | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Kriti | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Spinacia oleracea, is widely recognized as a nutritious dark leafy vegetable that serves as a vital dietary staple. The primary edible portion consists of its vibrant green leaves, which are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. In scientific research, the methanolic leaf extract is often utilized to study the plant's bioactive compounds and medicinal properties. A significant component of these leaves is chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for its deep green color and its role in photosynthesis, which also contributes to the plant's overall nutritional value.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic leaf extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dark leafy vegetable | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorophyll | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Spinacia oleracea has 60 reported phytochemicals identified across 71 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include carotenoids, flavonoids, chlorophyll, iron, paracetamol.
- Total chemicals
- 60
- Scientific sources
- 71
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| carotenoids | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| chlorophyll | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| iron | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| paracetamol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5,3',4'-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ABA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| APX | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CAT | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Spinacia oleracea has 5 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Cytoprotective, Hypoglycemic, Laxative.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Laxative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Spinacia oleracea has 29 reported medicinal uses identified across 30 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include appetite, Alzheimer's disease, Aspergillus flavus, DNA damage, back pain.
- Total uses
- 29
- Scientific sources
- 30
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| appetite | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus flavus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| DNA damage | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| back pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cardiovascular diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cataract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chronic fatigue syndrome | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |