Stemona tuberosa
Stemona tuberosa, commonly known as Stemona, is a significant medicinal plant valued in traditional practices. Native to various Asian regions, its tuberous roots contain potent alkaloids. These bioactive compounds offer diverse therapeutic potential, ranging from anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties to applications in treating respiratory ailments and parasitic infections.
- Scientific name: Stemona tuberosa
- Family: Stemonaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Pandanales and the family Stemonaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Stemona, specifically the species Stemona tuberosa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Pandanales | WCVP |
| Family | Stemonaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Stemona | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Stemona tuberosa, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is called 大百部 in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), 大百部 in Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), and 大百部 in the Cantonese context of Hong Kong (zh-hk). In Vietnam, the species is commonly known as Bách bộ (vi), while in Azerbaijan, it is called Yumrucuqlu stemona (az).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 大百部 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 大百部 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 大百部 | Wikidata |
| vi | Bách bộ | Wikidata |
| az | Yumrucuqlu stemona | Wikidata |
| ms | Pokok Ubi Keling | Wikidata |
| ml | കരുവിലാഞ്ചി | Wikidata |
| zh | 大百部 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 百部 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 大百部 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical range across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its distribution spans from the South-Central provinces to the Southeast regions. It is also found growing in the tropical environment of Hainan. Moving eastward, the species is documented across Taiwan in Eastern Asia. Additionally, its presence extends to the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the Assam region.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Stemona tuberosa, possesses several distinct anatomical features that contribute to its medicinal properties. The most significant part utilized for pharmacological purposes is the underground portion, which consists of thickened, fleshy roots that develop into specialized, starch-rich root tubers. These tuberous structures serve as the primary storage organs for the plant's active alkaloids. Above the ground, the plant also produces delicate flowers, which represent the reproductive component of its life cycle.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 6
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| root tubers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Stemona tuberosa has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include stemoninine, tuberostemonine, neotuberostemonine, 1,9a- seco-stemoenonine, 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methylbibenzyl.
- Total chemicals
- 23
- Scientific sources
- 28
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stemoninine | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| tuberostemonine | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| neotuberostemonine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1,9a- seco-stemoenonine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methylbibenzyl | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-hydroxy-2',5-dimethoxy-2-methylbibenzyl | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 9a- O-methylstemoenonine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alpha-homonojirimycin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bisdehydrostemoninine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| croomine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Stemona tuberosa has 4 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitussive, Antioxidant, Antitumor, Neuroprotective.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antitussive | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Stemona tuberosa has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antitussive, cough, inflammation, respiratory diseases.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antitussive | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cough | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| respiratory diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |