Vibernum opulus
Viburnum opulus · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (693 studies) · ★★★★★
Viburnum opulus, scientifically known as Viburnum opulus, is a deciduous shrub native to Europe and Asia. Commonly called Guelder-rose, it is prized for its striking red berries and ornamental foliage. In traditional medicine, its bark and roots are utilized for their anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties to support reproductive health.
Names
Common Names
- European cranberry viburnum
- European cranberry-bush
- European highbush cranberry
- cranberry viburnum
- Guelder Rose
- crampbark
- European cranberry bush
- snowball tree
- water elder
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Rocela
- Sauco real
- Sauco acuatico
- Viburnum lobatum
- Corcovanos
- Viburnum glandulosum
- Rosal de Gueldres
- Sauco acuático globoso
- Mundillos
- Opulus glandulosus
- Opulus lobatofolia
- Borlones
- Opulus vulgaris
- Sabuco-rosa
- Opulus palustris
- Guelde
- Sauco acuatico globoso
- rodela
- mundo
- bola de oro
- barbatilla
- bola de nieve
- mundillo
- mundos
- rosa de Gueldres
- sauco acuático
- sauco de agua
- sauco palustre
- sauco rodel
- saúco rodel
- sauquillo
- aleluyos
- copo de nieve
- flor del Mundo
- gebre
- geldre
- gueldre
- verdedurillo
- mundillo
- Rodela
German:
- Gewöhnlicher Schneeball
- Gemeiner Schneeball
- Gewöhnlicher Schneeball
- Gemeiner Schneeball
French:
- Viorne obier
- Rose de Gueldre
- Obier
- viorne obier
- viorne obier
- Boule de neige
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Viburnum opulusSynonyms
- Viburnum pinnina
- Viburnum primina
- Opulus vulgaris
- Opulus trilobifolia
- Viburnum opulus var. pimina
- Viburnum opulus var. vasicii
- Viburnum opulus var. variegatum
- Viburnum palustre
- Viburnum opulus f. variegatum
- Viburnum oxycoccos var. eradiatum
- Viburnum opulus xanthocarpum
- Viburnum nanum
- Viburnum oxycoccos var. subintegrifolium
- Viburnum lobatum
- Viburnum opulus var. xanthocarpum
- Viburnum glandulosum
- Viburnum opulus f. xanthocarpum
- Viburnum opulus var. roseum
- Viburnum opulus f. glabrifolium
- Viburnum opulus nanum
- Viburnum opuloides
- Viburnum opulus var. subintegrifolium
- Viburnum opulus var. flavum
- Viburnum opulus f. nanum
- Viburnum opulus f. flavum
- Viburnum opulus var. sterile
- Viburnum opulus var. nanum
- Viburnum opulus var. sterilis
- Viburnum opulus f. pygmaeum
- Viburnum opulus f. roseum
- Opulus palustris
- Opulus oxycoccos
- Opulus glandulosa
- Opulus edulis
- Viburnum opulus var. europeanum
- Viburnum opulus var. europaeum
- Viburnum oxycoccos
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Dipsacales, it is classified under the family Viburnaceae. Finally, it is placed in the genus Viburnum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Dipsacales | WCVP |
| Family | Viburnaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Viburnum | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the northern regions of Europe. It can be found growing naturally throughout the various landscapes of Denmark. Its presence is also well-documented in the northern territories of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, the species is widely distributed across the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. These locations collectively highlight the plant's preference for Northern European climates.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Guelder-rose, possesses distinct morphological features that are utilized in various traditional applications. The leaves are characterized by their opposite arrangement and deeply lobed, maple-like shape, which provides a lush green canopy during the growing season. Most notably, the plant produces bright red, translucent fruits that appear in clusters; while these berries are often visually striking, they are typically consumed only after being processed to mitigate their natural toxicity.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Viburnum opulus has 83 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Carotenoids, kaempferol, quercetin, (+)-catechin.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| CHLOROGENIC ACID | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Carotenoids | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-catechin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Epicatechin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-carboxyarabinitol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALUMINUM | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aesculetin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthocyanins | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
CHLOROGENIC ACID
- Dr. Duke
- Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
Carotenoids
- Nutrients
- Protoplasma
kaempferol
- Dr. Duke
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
quercetin
- Dr. Duke
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
(+)-catechin
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
(-)-Epicatechin
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2-carboxyarabinitol
- Dr. Duke
ALUMINUM
- Dr. Duke
Aesculetin
- Dr. Duke
Anthocyanins
- Protoplasma
Activities
Viburnum opulus has 568 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytoprotective, Osteogenic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Cytoprotective | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Osteogenic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 11B-HSD-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AP-1-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ATPase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acaricide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acetylcholinergic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Viburnum opulus has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include endometriosis, cough, ovarian cysts, oxidative damage, tuberculosis.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| endometriosis | Nutrients (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cough | Nutrients (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ovarian cysts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative damage | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tuberculosis | Nutrients (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ulcers | Nutrients (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| urinary tract diseases | Nutrients (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Viburnum opulus fruit extracts | Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |