Vincetoxicum atratum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Antitoxicum atratum
• Alexitoxicon atratum
• Cynanchum atratum
• Cynanchum atratum f. multinerve
• Vincetoxicum atratum f. viridescens
• Cynanchum atratum f. viridescens
• Vincetoxicum multinerve
• Cynanchum multinerve
• Vincetoxicum multinerve var. kiyohikoanum
• Cynanchum multinerve var. kiyohikoanum
• Cynanchum kiyohikoanum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Vincetoxicum atratum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Gentianaales and the family Apocynaceae. Its taxonomic lineage concludes with its placement in the genus Vincetoxicum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions in East Asia. In the Russian Far East, it can be found growing within the Amur, Khabarovsk, and Primorye territories. Its range extends significantly into China, where it is present in the South-Central regions. Additionally, the species is documented as growing in the Inner Mongolia area of China. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to inhabit various environments across these specific borders.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vincetoxicum atratum is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of altitudinal gradients and specific landscape types. It is found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 100 m AMSL to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 950 m AMSL. This plant typically colonizes varied habitats, including mountains, shrubberies, and various meadow environments, with a particular affinity for dry meadows.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Habitat :

meadows, meadows: dry, mountains, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Vincetoxicum atratum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Regarding its morphological adaptation to environmental stressors, it is classified as a cryptophyte, utilizing specialized underground structures to survive unfavorable periods. Specifically, its life form is identified as a geophyte, which indicates that its regenerative organs are located underground, facilitating its long-term survival and ability to re-emerge following seasonal dormancy.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vincetoxicum atraatum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, manifesting as both a general herb and a specific forb. This terrestrial plant typically exhibits an erect shoot orientation and functions as an obligatory climber. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of 0.5 m, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum height of 0.2 m to a maximum height of 0.8 m.

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vincetoxicum atratum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy that optimizes carbon fixation under specific environmental conditions. The plant's vegetative development is closely tied to its foliar morphology, where leaf dimensions exhibit distinct variations. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 6.5 cm, with dimensions ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width shows a mean measurement of 3.5 cm, fluctuating between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 4 cm. These morphological parameters reflect the plant's structural adaptations for light interception and gas exchange within its ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vincetoxicum atratum is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and the development of distinct fruit structures. The flowering phase typically begins in May and concludes in June, although the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following pollination, the plant produces fruits that exhibit a consistent length, with the minimum, mean, and maximum measurements all recorded at 9 cm. In contrast, the fruit width shows more variability; while the width can reach a maximum of 1 cm, it typically averages around 0.75 cm and can be as narrow as 0.5 cm.

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

9 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.75 cm

Fruit width min:

0.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vincetoxicum atratum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, rhizome.

Root

1. Steroids
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of natural products

Rhizome

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

Chemicals

Vincetoxicum atratum has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2,4-Dihydroxyacetophenone, 2,6,2',6'-tetramethoxy-4,4'-bis(2,3-epoxy-1-hydroxypropyl)biphenyl, 4-Hydroxybenzenemethanol, ARSENIC, BETA-SITOSTEROL.

2,4-Dihydroxyacetophenone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

2,6,2',6'-tetramethoxy-4,4'-bis(2,3-epoxy-1-hydroxypropyl)biphenyl

1. Journal of natural products

4-Hydroxybenzenemethanol

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

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

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

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Cynatratoside A

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

MAGNESIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Vincetoxicum atratum has 156 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, ACE-Inhibitor, Analgesic, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, Anorexic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical science advances

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBPH

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCrohn's

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiLyme

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations