Rhodiola crenulata
Rhodiola crenulata
Rhodiola crenulata (Rhodiola crenulata (Hook.f. & Thomson) H. Ohba) is a succulent species belonging to the Crassulaceae family.
Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Subarign Tracheobionta,
Spermatophyta superdivision,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Subclass Rosidae,
Rosales Order,
Crassulaceae family,
Genus Rhodiola,
R. crenulata species.
The terms are synonymous:
– Rhodiola euryphylla (Fröd.) S.H.Fu;
– Rhodiola megalophylla (Fröd.) S.H.Fu;
– Rhodiola rotundata (Hemsl.) S.H.Fu;
– Sedum bupleuroides var. rotundatum (Hemsl.) Fröd .;
– Sedum crenulatum Hook.fil. & Thomson;
– Sedum euryphyllum Fröd .;
– Sedum megalanthum Fröd .;
– Sedum megalophyllum Fröd .;
– Sedum rotundatum Hemsl .;
– Sedum rotundatum var. oblongatum Marquand & Airy Shaw ex Marquand.
Etymology –
The term Rhodiola comes from the Greek ῥόδιος rhódios roseo: for the pink color of its inflorescences.
The specific crenulata epithet comes from crénulae small indentations: which has small indentations.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Rhodiola crenulata is a plant native to the Himalayas where it grows at high altitudes in an area that includes China, Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim and Ouzbekistan.
Its habitat is that of rocky and mountainous areas, at high altitudes, where it grows in areas even with little soil, between ledges or rocky ravines.
Description –
Rhodiola crenulata is a perennial succulent plant that grows between 5 and 20 cm.
The leaves are fleshy of a light green color, ovoid in shape with small indentations.
The flowers have 4 sepals and 4 petals, light red to dark red, about 1 to 3.5 millimeters long, which bloom in the summer.
It is a dioecious plant.
Cultivation –
Rhodiola crenulata is a succulent plant that grows wild in rocky areas or on stony soils and has long been harvested for its medicinal properties.
It grows in elevated areas but can be grown directly through seeds or plant portions.
Customs and Traditions –
Rhodiola crenulata is a plant that has been used in traditional oriental medicine for a variety of medicinal purposes for many years and is particularly described in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
It has been used extensively to prevent acute altitude sickness in Himalayan areas.
Research has shown that Rhodiola crenulata root may prove to be an excellent candidate for the treatment of aggressive breast cancers and for the prevention of secondary metastases.
Compared to Rhodiola rosea, Rhodiola crenulata has been found to contain 2.5 times more salidroside and lack the presence of rosavins.
The main components of its roots are salidroside, tyrosol, pyrogallol, gallic acid, beta-sitosterol and crenulatin (1-isopentenyl-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside).
Preparation Method –
The drug is obtained from the roots and rhizomes and is rich in phenylpropanoids and their glycosides.
It is a plant capable of increasing resistance to fatigue and normalizing the functions of the body in the presence of both physical and mental stress.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=89005&flora_id=800
– https://s3.amazonaws.com/huhspecimenimages/JPG/00272471.jpg
Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.