A flowering Climber.
Stephania japonica · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Sparse (75 studies) · ★★☆☆☆
A flowering climber, scientifically known as Stephania japonica, is a distinctive medicinal plant valued in traditional healing practices. Characterized by its unique foliage and climbing habit, this species contains bioactive compounds used to treat various ailments. Understanding its botanical properties is essential for exploring its therapeutic potential in herbal medicine.
- Family
- Menispermaceae
- Native range
- Asia-Temperate
- Parts used
- Leaves · Aerial Parts
- Common names
- Ivyweed · Tapevine · 1 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Cocculus Japonicus
Names
Common Names
- ivyweed
- tapevine
- snake vine
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Stephania japonicaSynonyms
- Cocculus japonicus
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ranunculales. Ultimately, it is a member of the family Menispermaceae within 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 |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the regions of East Asia. In China, its presence is noted across the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Moving further east, the species can also be found throughout the islands of Japan. Additionally, its range extends into the Korean peninsula. Together, these locations define the natural habitat of Stephanica japonica.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Stephania japonica, is a climbing species characterized by its distinct morphology, where the primary structure consists of sprawling and twisting vines that allow it to ascend through surrounding vegetation. The leaves are a key identifying feature, typically exhibiting a shape and arrangement that contribute to the plant's overall lush appearance. In medicinal applications, the aerial parts of the plant are often the focus of study, encompassing the visible structures above the ground that contain various bioactive compounds.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vines | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Stephania japonica has 32 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ISOTRILOBINE, Aknadicine, Aknadinine, Cyclanoline, Cycleanine.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ISOTRILOBINE | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aknadicine | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aknadinine | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cyclanoline | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cycleanine | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| D-Tetrandrine | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| EPISTEPHANINE | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Epistephamiersine | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HYPOEPISTEPHANINE | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hasubanonine | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Stephania japonica has 24 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antiaggregant, Antialopecic, Antiarthritic, Anticarcinomic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiaggregant | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antialopecic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiarthritic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticarcinomic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidandruff | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antileishmanic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiplasmodial | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Stephania japonica has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bone fracture, cancer, chronic pain, convulsion, epilepsy.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bone fracture | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chronic pain | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| convulsion | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epilepsy | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headache | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mental disorders | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| An alkaloidal extract | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |