Cynanchum auriculatum
| Cynanchum auriculatum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asclepiadaceae |
| Genus: | Cynanchum |
| Species: | C. auriculatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight [1] | |
| Varieties | |
| |
| Synonyms[3] | |
Cynanchum auriculatum is a species of climbing vine swallowworts. Its Chinese name is niu pi xiao [ 牛皮消 ] (leather eater).[4] C auriculatum flowers between June and August; fruiting from August all the way to December.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Cynanchum auriculatum is native to Asian temperate and tropical regions; found in China (in Sichuan, Xizang, and Yunnan provinces), Bhutan, Nepal, and the northern parts of Pakistan and India[5] (it is also native to Kashmir).[4] Its habitat is mountainous shrubland terrain, at elevations from 2800–3600 meters.[4]
Studies
Ethanol extracts derived from roots of C. auriculatum are being studied for use in anti-cancer medicine; one preliminary study found extracts to have some cytotoxic effects on certain human tumor cell lines. The tests were conducted, both in vitro and in vivo, on both human subjects, and mice.[6]
References
- ↑ Cynanchum auriculatum was originally described and published in Contributions to the Botany of India 58. 1834. "Name - Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ↑ "Name - Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight subordinate taxa". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ↑ "Name - Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight synonyms". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Cynanchum auriculatum". Flora of China (eFloras) 16: 216. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ↑ GRIN (March 11, 2003). "Cynanchum auriculatum information from NPGS/GRIN". Taxonomy for Plants. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ↑ Shan L., Zhang W.D., Zhang C., Liu R.H., Su J., Zhou Y. (March 2005). "Antitumor activity of crude extract and fractions from root tuber of Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight.". Phytotherapy Research (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.) 19 (3): 259–261. doi:10.1002/ptr.1678. PMID 15934033. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
External links
- A photo of C. auriculatum, from Flora of China, courtesy of the Harvard University Herbaria