Vincetoxicum auriculatum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Diploglossum auriculatum
• Cynanchum saccatum
• Cynanchum auriculatum
• Cynanchum auriculatum var. sinense
• Endotropis auriculata

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Gentianaales and is a member of the family Apocynaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Vincetoxicum, specifically as the species Vincetoxicum auriculatum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions within Asia. In China, it can be found specifically in the South-Central areas as well as in Tibet. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it inhabits the East Himalaya region. Additionally, the species is documented to grow within the borders of Nepal. Finally, its geographical range includes parts of Pakistan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vincetoxicum auriculatum is characterized by its distribution across a broad altitudinal gradient, allowing it to inhabit diverse montane environments. This species is typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 900 m AMSL to a maximum of 3500 m AMSL, reflecting a significant capacity for adaptation to varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures. With an average elevational range of approximately 3500 m AMSL, the plant is frequently situated in higher-altitude ecological niches, where it must contend with specific microclimatic conditions inherent to subalpine or montane zones. This wide vertical distribution suggests a versatile ecological strategy that enables it to thrive in a variety of topographical settings within its native range.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

900 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Vincetoxicum auriculatum is characterized by its growth form as a herb that functions as an obligatory climber, utilizing surrounding structures to ascend. This plant is terrestrial in its ecological habit and possesses a non-woody stem structure, maintaining a flexible and herbaceous constitution throughout its development.

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vincetoxicum auriculatum is characterized by its robust vegetative development, particularly reflected in the morphological dimensions of its foliage which facilitate efficient photosynthetic activity. The plant exhibits significant variability in its leaf structure, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a mean of 8 cm, reaching a maximum of 12 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width demonstrates a corresponding range, starting from a minimum of 4 cm and maintaining a mean of 7 cm, while reaching a maximum breadth of 10 cm. These specific dimensions in leaf surface area suggest a physiological adaptation designed to optimize light interception and gas exchange within its natural habitat.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vincetoxicum auriculatum is characterized by the development of distinctive fruit structures that exhibit highly consistent morphological dimensions. The fruit is elongated in shape, maintaining a uniform length across different specimens; specifically, both the minimum, mean, and maximum fruit length are recorded at 8 cm. Similarly, the width of the fruit shows no significant variation, with the minimum, mean, and maximum fruit width all measuring exactly 1 cm. This lack of variance in the fruit's dimensions suggests a highly standardized reproductive output for the species, resulting in slender, cylindrical fruit bodies that measure 8 cm in length and 1 cm in width.

Fruit length max:

8 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vincetoxicum auriculatum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Planta medica
2. Food science & nutrition
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Journal of separation science
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Vincetoxicum auriculatum has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cynanchone A, Deacylmetaplexigenin, Qingyangshengenin, SYRINGIC ACID, scopoletin.

Cynanchone A

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Deacylmetaplexigenin

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

Qingyangshengenin

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

SYRINGIC ACID

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

scopoletin

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

succinic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

1-O-hexadecanolenin

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

Acetylquinol

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

BETA-SITOSTEROL

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

Baishouwubenzophenone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Vincetoxicum auriculatum has 2 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidepressant, Antioxidant.

Antidepressant

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antioxidant

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Preparations

Vincetoxicum auriculatum has 5 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CA extract, C21 steroidal glycoside (CSG), Cynanchum auriculatum extract, hydrolytic extract of the roots, root tuber.

Ca extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

C21 steroidal glycoside (csg)

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

Cynanchum auriculatum extract

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

Hydrolytic extract of the roots

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Root tuber

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