Stephania rotunda

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Menispermum roxburghii
• Clypea glabra
• Clypea rotunda
• Cissampelos glabra
• Stephania hexandra
• Stephania glabra

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ranunculales, it is further categorized into the family Menispermaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Stephania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it can be found growing specifically within the Tibet region. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is located in Assam and throughout India. Furthermore, the species is distributed across Bangladesh and the East Himalaya area. These diverse locations highlight the wide ecological range of Stephanotis rotundata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Stephania rotunda is characterized by its specific distribution across varying altitudinal gradients, where it thrives within a defined vertical niche. This species is typically found inhabiting mid-altitude montane environments, occupying an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 600 m AMSL to a maximum of 1600 m AMSL. Within this altitudinal belt, the plant adapts to the specific temperature regimes, moisture availability, and soil compositions characteristic of these subtropical or tropical highland zones. Its presence within this specific range suggests a specialized ecological requirement for the atmospheric conditions and environmental pressures found between these two elevations.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Stephania rotunda is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its ecological classification and growth habit, the species is categorized as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting traits consistent with both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms. This indicates that its perennating buds are located high above the ground, supporting its specialized development over time.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Stephania rotunda is characterized by its specialized growth habit and structural composition. It functions as an obligatory climber, relying on external structures for support to ascend. While its growth form is categorized under other developmental types, it specifically exhibits a shrub-like structure in its physical presence. The plant is terrestrial in nature rather than epiphytic, establishing itself within the soil substrate. Furthermore, its stem architecture is non-woody, lacking the rigid lignification found in truly woody species.

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

other

Growth form :

shrub

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Stephanotis rotundifolia (often referred to in botanical contexts as Stephanotis, though noted here as Stephanis rotundis) is characterized by a standard metabolic framework typical of many woody climbers. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it fixes carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme RuBisCO, a process that is most efficient under moderate temperatures and well-watered conditions. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, lacking the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (such as Rhizobium or Frankia) required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Stephania rotunda has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Stephania rotunda has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include tetrahydropalmatine, Dehydrocorydalmine, Palmatine, stepharanine, (+)-Pronuciferine.

tetrahydropalmatine

1. Dr. Duke
2. ACS omega
3. Natural product communications

Dehydrocorydalmine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of Asian natural products research

Palmatine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of Asian natural products research

stepharanine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of Asian natural products research

(+)-Pronuciferine

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Stepholidine

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-corydalmine

1. Dr. Duke

Bisbenzylisoquinolines

1. Natural product research

Columbamine

1. Dr. Duke

Corydalmine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Stephania rotunda has 51 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antiplasmodial, Antipyretic, Abortifacient, Adrenocorticotrophic.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Antiplasmodial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenocorticotrophic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antialopecic

1. Dr. Duke

Antialzheimeran?

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarrhythmic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarthritic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Stephania rotunda has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include asthma, cancer, fever, headache, malaria.

Asthma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Headache

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Stephania rotunda has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extracts, dichloromethane extracts.

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dichloromethane extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology