Stephania epigaea
Stephania epigaea, commonly known as the "mistletoe vine," is a climbing woody plant native to the tropical regions of the Americas. Renowned for its medicinal properties, it is traditionally utilized in folk medicine to treat various ailments, including inflammation and respiratory issues, thanks to its unique bioactive phytochemical compounds.
- Scientific name: Stephania epigaea
- Family: Menispermaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Stephania epigaea, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the family Menispermaceae and falls under the genus Stephania.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ranunculales | WCVP |
| Family | Menispermaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Stephania | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Stephania epigaea, is known by several different common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Chinese, it is referred to by the names 地不容, 雅丽千金藤, and 山乌龟. Specifically, the names 地不容 (zh), 地不容 (zh-cn), and 地不容 (zh-tw) are used across different Chinese linguistic standards to identify this medicinal species.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 地不容 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 地不容 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 地不容 | Wikidata |
| zh | 雅丽千金藤 | Wikidata |
| zh | 山乌龟 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known scientifically as Stephania epigaea, possesses a specific and limited geographical range. Its presence is primarily concentrated within the regional landscapes of China. More specifically, the species is found throughout the South-Central portion of the country. This localized distribution suggests that the plant thrives under the particular environmental conditions unique to that area. Consequently, understanding these specific habitats is essential for the study of its natural ecology.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Stephanio epigaea, is characterized by distinct morphological features across its various structures used in traditional medicine. The roots serve as a foundational part of the organism, anchoring it to the soil and absorbing essential nutrients. Above the ground, the stems provide the necessary structural support to elevate the plant toward sunlight. Most notably, the flowering twigs bear the reproductive elements of the plant, displaying the blossoms that are often the most significant components when harvesting for medicinal purposes.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowering twigs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Stephania epigaea has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include N-methylcalycinine, N-methyllaurotetanine, N-methylliriodendronine, aknadinine, cephakicine.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| N-methylcalycinine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| N-methyllaurotetanine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| N-methylliriodendronine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aknadinine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cephakicine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dehydrodicentrine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dicentrine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| homostephanoline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pronuciferine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| romerine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |