Viscum coloratum
Viscum coloratum, commonly known as the colored mistletoe, is a parasitic medicinal plant native to East Asia. Valued in traditional medicine, it is frequently used to treat hypertension, dizziness, and joint pain. Rich in bioactive compounds, this plant offers significant therapeutic potential for cardiovascular health and overall vitality.
- Scientific name: Viscum coloratum
- Family: Santalaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Viscum coloratum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Santalales and the family Santalaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Viscum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Santalales | WCVP |
| Family | Santalaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Viscum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Viscum coloratum, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Russian, it is called Омелла окрашенная, while in Korean, it is commonly known as 겨우살이. Across several Chinese linguistic variations, including Mandarin (zh), Simplified Chinese (zh-cn), and Traditional Chinese (zh-tw), the plant is identified as 槲寄生.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ru | Омела окрашенная | Wikidata |
| ko | 겨우살이 | Wikidata |
| zh | 槲寄生 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 槲寄生 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 槲寄生 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 槲寄生 | Wikidata |
| zh | 寄生子 | Wikidata |
| zh | 冬青 | Wikidata |
| zh | 北寄生 | Wikidata |
| zh | 台湾槲寄生 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning several key regions in East Asia. In the Russian Far East, it can be found across the Amur, Khabarovsk, and Primorye territories. Its range also extends significantly into China, where it is documented in the South-Central regions. Additionally, the species is present in the northern reaches of China within Inner Mongolia. Together, these areas define the specific environmental niches where the species thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Russian Far East | Amur | WCVP |
| Russian Far East | Khabarovsk | WCVP |
| Russian Far East | Primorye | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Inner Mongolia | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | Qinghai | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Viscum coloratum, is a parasitic mistletoe species whose medicinal properties are primarily derived from its specialized structures. While the leaves and berries are often noted in botanical descriptions, the branches serve as a critical component of the plant's anatomy, as they must penetrate the host tree to facilitate nutrient absorption. In traditional medicinal practices, various parts of the plant are harvested, but the woody stems and aerial parts are often processed to prepare decoctions used for their therapeutic effects.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| branches | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Viscum coloratum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include polysaccharide, syringin.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| polysaccharide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| syringin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Viscum coloratum has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Viscum coloratum has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, rheumatism, tumors.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumors | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |