Viola odorata
Wood violet
Viola odorata, commonly known as sweet violet, is a perennial herb cherished for its delicate fragrance and charming purple blooms. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, this botanical treasure has long been utilized in traditional medicine for its soothing properties, supporting respiratory health and skin vitality through its diverse bioactive compounds.
- Scientific name: Viola odorata
- Family: Violaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Malpighiales and categorized in the family Violaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Viola.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Violaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Viola | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Viola odorata, is recognized by several common names across different Chinese linguistic contexts. In Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), it is referred to as 香堇菜, a name that is consistently used in Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), as well as in the specific regional designations for Hong Kong (zh-hk), Mainland China (zh-cn), and Singapore (zh-sg), where it is also called 香堇菜.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 香堇菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 香堇菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 香堇菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 香堇菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 香堇菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 香堇菜 | Wikidata |
| pl | fiołek wonny | Wikidata |
| he | סיגל ריחני | Wikidata |
| fr | Violette odorante | Wikidata |
| ang | Æppellēaf | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Viola odorata, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Europe. In the British Isles, it can be found growing throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Moving further north, the species is also distributed across the Scandinavian Peninsula. Specifically, it inhabits the landscapes of Norway and Denmark. Additionally, its geographical range extends into the northernmost territories of Finland.
| 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, Viola odorata, is a versatile medicinal herb where various components offer therapeutic benefits. The fragrant, violet-colored flowers are frequently used to create aromatic infusions, while the heart-shaped leaves can be utilized in topical applications or herbal preparations. Deep within the soil, the roots serve as a potent source of medicinal compounds, often harvested for their specific healing properties. In many traditional practices, the whole plant is collected to ensure a complete profile of its bioactive constituents, and the tiny seed capsules are also noted for their role in the plant's reproductive cycle and potential medicinal utility.- Total parts
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 18
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| roots | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| whole plant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| runners | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| plant peptide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| petioles | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| petiole | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Viola odorata has 34 reported phytochemicals identified across 38 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, cycloviolacin O2, saponins, 5,7-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethoxyflavone, Coumarins.
- Total chemicals
- 34
- Scientific sources
- 38
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cycloviolacin O2 | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5,7-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethoxyflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Coumarins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Quercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Rutin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Umbelliferone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthocyanins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Viola odorata has 21 reported activities identified across 33 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antihypertensive, Cytotoxic, Anticancer, Antimalarial.
- Total activities
- 21
- Scientific sources
- 33
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Viola odorata has 52 reported medicinal uses identified across 60 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include fever, insomnia, cough, dyspnea, headache.
- Total uses
- 52
- Scientific sources
- 60
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fever | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| insomnia | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cough | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dyspnea | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headache | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus subtilis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| COVID-19 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |