Uncaria rhynchophylla ex

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nauclea rhynchophylla
• Ourouparia rhynchophylla
• Uncaria rhynchophylla var. kouteng

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianales, falling within the family Rubiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Uncaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions of East and Southeast Asia. In China, it can be found specifically throughout the South-Central and Southeast territories. Its presence extends further into Eastern Asia, where it is documented in both Japan and Taiwan. Additionally, the species is located within the Indo-China region, specifically in Vietnam. Together, these locations define the natural habitat range for Uncaria rhynchophylla.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Uncaria rhynchophylla is characterized by its specialized growth habit as a woody climber, primarily classified under the life form categories of phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte. As a phanerophyte, its perennial reproductive organs and vegetative structures are elevated above the soil surface, typically supported by the structural framework of surrounding trees in its tropical forest habitat. This climbing strategy allows the plant to navigate the vertical strata of the ecosystem, transitioning from a nanophanerophyte state in its earlier, more compact developmental stages to a more robust, climbing woody vine. Its life cycle is sustained through continuous vegetative growth and seasonal reproductive cycles, utilizing its climbing mechanism to access sunlight in the canopy, which is essential for its long-term survival and maturation within competitive forest environments.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Uncaria rhynchophylla is characterized by its growth as a liana, functioning as an obligatory climber that utilizes external structures for support rather than being self-supporting. While it can exhibit characteristics associated with a shrub or tree-like form in certain developmental stages or contexts, its primary structural habit is that of a woody vine. The plant is an independent organism, meaning it does not function as a parasite, and it maintains a terrestrial existence rather than living as an epiphyte. The woodiness of the species is considered variable, reflecting its adaptation to its climbing lifestyle as it transitions from younger, more flexible shoots to more robust, lignified stems.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

variable

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Uncaria rhynchophylla has 3 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf, root.

Stem

1. Journal of separation science
2. Bioorganic chemistry
3. Biomolecules
4. Chinese journal of natural medicines
5. International journal of biological macromolecules

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products
2. Bioorganic chemistry
3. Biomolecules
4. International journal of biological macromolecules

Root

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. Biomolecules

Chemicals

Uncaria rhynchophylla has 32 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Rhynchophylline, Corynoxeine, Isocorynoxeine, Flavonoids, Hirsuteine.

Rhynchophylline

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of chromatographic science
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals
5. Acta pharmacologica Sinica

Corynoxeine

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of chromatographic science
3. Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals
4. International journal of biological macromolecules

Isocorynoxeine

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of chromatographic science
3. Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. European journal of mass spectrometry (Chichester, England)

Hirsuteine

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Isorhynchophylline

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Strictosidine

1. Plant, cell & environment
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

(E)-LINALOOL OXIDE

1. Journal of oleo science

As

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

CATECHIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Uncaria rhynchophylla has 6 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antihypertensive.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Neuroprotective

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antihypertensive

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Free-Radical Scavenging

1. Life sciences

Conditions

Uncaria rhynchophylla has 17 reported investigations on conditions identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson's disease, cancer, epilepsy.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Acta pharmacologica Sinica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. International journal of biological macromolecules

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Journal of separation science
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. European journal of mass spectrometry (Chichester, England)

Parkinson's disease

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Epilepsy

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Life sciences

Hypertension

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Neuroinflammation

1. Acta pharmacologica Sinica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antihypertensive

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Anxiety

1. CNS drugs

Cognitive impairments

1. Acta pharmacologica Sinica

Preparations

Uncaria rhynchophylla has 16 reported preparations identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Gou-Teng, "Ling-Jiao-Gou-Teng-Yin", "Tian-Ma-Gou-Teng-Yin", "Yi-Gan-San", 50% aqueous methanol extracts.

Gou-teng

1. Journal of separation science
2. BMC genomics

"ling-jiao-gou-teng-yin"

1. Journal of separation science

"tian-ma-gou-teng-yin"

1. Journal of separation science

"yi-gan-san"

1. Journal of separation science

50% aqueous methanol extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Alkaloid fraction

1. Neuroscience letters

Chcl3 extract of the leaves of uncaria rhynchophylla

1. Journal of natural products

Methanol extract

1. Life sciences

U. rhyncophylla extracts

1. Journal of chromatographic science

Urp70-1

1. International journal of biological macromolecules