STEMONA JAPONICA WHOLE

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• stemona

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stemona argyi
• Helwingia argyi
• Stemona ovata
• Roxburghia japonica

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Pandanales and placed in the family Stemonaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Stemona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated within the Eastern Asian region. In China, its presence is notably recorded across the South-Central provinces. It is also widely distributed throughout the Southeast regions of the country. Beyond mainland China, the species extends its reach to the island nation of Japan. Together, these locations define the natural habitat where Stemona japonica can be found growing.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Stemona japonica is characterized by its preference for specific altitudinal gradients within its natural habitat. This medicinal plant typically thrives within a relatively narrow vertical distribution, occupying an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 300 m AMSL to a maximum of 400 m AMSL. The ecological sweet spot for its development is centered around a mean elevation of 350 m AMSL, suggesting that the environmental conditions—such as temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure—found at this specific altitude are optimal for its growth and survival.

Elevational range max:

400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

350 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Stemona japonica is characterized by its growth habit as an obligatory climber, utilizing surrounding structures for support to ascend toward light. It functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite, deriving its own nutrients without relying on a host plant for sustenance. As a terrestrial plant, it establishes itself firmly in the soil of its natural habitat rather than growing as an epiphyte. Furthermore, the structural composition of the plant is non-woody, possessing flexible stems that lack the secondary lignification found in woody species.

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of the foliage in Stemona japonica are defined by specific morphological dimensions that govern its photosynthetic surface area. The leaves exhibit a notable range in size, with a mean leaf length of 6.5 cm, though individual specimens can vary from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum length of 9 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variability is a distinct range in leaf width, which maintains a mean of 3 cm. The breadth of the leaves fluctuates between a minimum of 1.5 cm and a maximum width of 4.5 cm, reflecting a structural plasticity that assists in managing light interception and transpiration within its natural habitat.

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Stemona japonica is characterized by the development of its fruit, which exhibits specific dimensional variations. The fruits produced by this species typically feature a length that ranges from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.4 cm, with an overall mean length of approximately 1.2 cm. In terms of width, the fruit dimensions are similarly variable, spanning from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm, maintaining an average width of 0.6 cm. These morphological traits define the physical profile of the reproductive structures during their maturation process.

Fruit length max:

1.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.2 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.6 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Stemona japonica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Stemona japonica has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tuberostemonine, Croomine, Maistemonine, Protostemonine, neotuberostemonine.

Tuberostemonine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Nihon yakurigaku zasshi. Folia pharmacologica Japonica

Croomine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Maistemonine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Protostemonine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

neotuberostemonine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

stemoninine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Activities

Stemona japonica has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitussive.

Antitussive

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Journal of natural medicines
3. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Conditions

Stemona japonica has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antitussive, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Fasciola hepatica, Schistosoma japonicum.

Antitussive

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Journal of natural medicines
3. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Angiostrongylus cantonensis

1. Nihon yakurigaku zasshi. Folia pharmacologica Japonica

Fasciola hepatica

1. Nihon yakurigaku zasshi. Folia pharmacologica Japonica

Schistosoma japonicum

1. Nihon yakurigaku zasshi. Folia pharmacologica Japonica

Preparations

Stemona japonica has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include shattered into thick powder, tuberostemonine (TS).

Shattered into thick powder

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Tuberostemonine (ts)

1. Nihon yakurigaku zasshi. Folia pharmacologica Japonica