black-hellebore
Veratrum nigrum · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (9 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Black-hellebore, scientifically known as Veratrum nigrum, is a striking perennial herb native to mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. Renowned for its distinctive white, bell-shaped flowers, this plant contains potent alkaloids. While historically used in traditional medicine, its extreme toxicity requires careful handling and expert pharmacological knowledge.
Names
Common Names
- black veratrum
- black-hellebore
- Black False-hellebore
- Black False Hellebore
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Melanthium nigrum
- Veratrum purpureum
- Helonias nigra
- Veratrum ussuriense
- Veratrum bracteatum
German:
- Schwarzer Germer
- schwarzer Germer
French:
- Vératre noir
- vérâtre noir
- vérâtre noir
- Veratre noir
- Vératre noir
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Veratrum nigrumSynonyms
- Veratrum nigrum var. ussuriense
- Helonias nigra
- Melanthium nigrum
- Veratrum bracteatum
- Veratrum ussuriense
- Veratrum nigrum subsp. ussuriense
- Veratrum nigrum var. microcarpum
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Liliales, it is further categorized into the family Melanthiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Veratrum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Liliales | WCVP |
| Family | Melanthiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Veratrum | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across several regions within Middle Europe. Specifically, its presence can be documented in the country of Austria. It is also found throughout the territories of Czechia and Slovakia. Furthermore, its geographical range extends into Hungary and Poland. Finally, the distribution of this species includes the mountainous landscapes of Switzerland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Albania | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Bulgaria | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Greece | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Veratrum nigrum, utilizes various underground structures for its survival and medicinal potency. The medicinal properties are often concentrated within the roots and the thick, fleshy rhizomes that extend horizontally through the soil. Because the root system is deeply integrated with these storage organs, practitioners must carefully harvest the entire subterranean portion to ensure the correct concentration of alkaloids is obtained.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| root | Journal of natural products (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rhizome | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Veratrum nigrum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aurantiamide acetate, aconitine.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Aurantiamide acetate | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aconitine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Aurantiamide acetate
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
aconitine
- Zhongguo Zhong xi yi jie he za zhi Zhongguo Zhongxiyi jiehe zazhi = Chinese journal of integrated traditional and Western medicine
Medicinal Uses
Veratrum nigrum has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include colorectal cancer, hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| colorectal cancer | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stroke | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| type 2 diabetes mellitus | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| alkaloidal extract | Journal of arthropod-borne diseases (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |