Eleutherococcus

Eleutherococcus
E. gracilistylus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae
Subfamily: Aralioideae
Genus: Eleutherococcus
Maxim.
Synonyms

Acanthopanax (Decne. & Planch.) Miq.

Eleutherococcus is a genus of 38 species[1] of thorny shrubs and trees in the family Araliaceae. They are native to eastern Asia, from southeast Siberia and Japan to the Philippines and Vietnam.[1] 18 species come from China, from central to western parts.[2]

Perhaps the best known in the West is the species E. senticosus used as herbal medicine,[3] and commonly known by such English names as Eleuthero or Siberian ginseng.[3] In Traditional Chinese medicine, this is administered to increase energy, thus traditionally recognized to have attributes akin to true ginseng (Panax). This is also reflected in its formerly used genus name Acanthopanax[4] meaning "thorny ginseng". The word "Eleutherococcus," from Greek, means "free-berried."

The European Medicines Agency has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of Eleutherococcus for any clinical condition.[5]

Naming

The Chinese materia medica in question [3](Chinese: 五加皮; pinyin: wǔjiāpí; Wade–Giles: wuchiapi) may designate a number of species.[6] But the plant now given the common name wujia in China is specifically E. gracilistylus, and according to one source, the genuine crude drug must come from this species, and C. spinosum is only a substitute.[3]

The Japanese name ukogi (ウコギ, 五加(木)) borrows directly from the Chinese name, and refers somewhat broadly to several plants in the genus.[7] A 10th century herbalogy text, Honzō wamyō (本草和名), introduced the Chinese wujia as an herb to be pronounced mu-ko-gi (牟古岐), refers specifically to E. sieboldianus (Japanese name: hime-ukogi).[8] (See #Species list below).

The taxonomical nomenclature in the botanical science also has had a sinuous history, so that Acanthopanax had been used as the proper genus name in China till recent years, while the West adopted Eleutherococcus as the official name.[3]

Several species are also grown as ornamental garden shrubs. In Japan, they have been planted as hedges.[7] Particularly in Yamagata Prefecture, a daimyo named Uesugi Yozan[9] encouraged the planting of the ukogi as fencing around the homes of samurai retainers (E. sieboldianus was planted in the region[9]), and the bitter young buds, leaves and stems have traditionally been picked and eaten as vegetable in the area. However, since the plant is deciduous, it requires sweeping in the fall (high maintenance), and the bare hedges fail to protect the homeowner's privacy.

Another species, E. sciadophylloides known as koshi-abura in Japan is foraged in the wild for their young leaves as sansai ("mountain vegetables").[10]

Species

Eleutherococcus trifoliatus

Formerly under Acanthopanax

References

  1. 1 2 Tumiłowicz & Banaszczak 2006,p.40, citing Frodin, Govaerts 2003
  2. ↑ Tumiłowicz & Banaszczak 2006,p.40, citing Xiang, Lowry 2006
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Foster & Yue 1992,Herbal Emissaries pages=73-
  4. ↑ Agricultural Society of Japan 1896p.9 Acanthopanax spinosum, Miq., Ukogi (ウコギ, 五加)
  5. ↑ Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (2008). "Reflection Paper on the Adaptogenic Concept". European Medicines Agency. None of the studies would be sufficient to substantiate efficacy of Eleutherococcus preparations in a clearly defined clinical condition
  6. ↑ Nanba, Tsuneo (難波恒雄) (1970). 漢方薬入門(Kanpōyaku nyūmon). Hoikusha., p.41
  7. 1 2 (日本國語大辞典), 1976, snippet quote:"果実は熟すと黑くなる,多く生垣に用い,若葉は食用とし、根の皮は五加皮(ごかひ)といい,滋養強壮剤として用いる。"
  8. ↑ Yoshikawa & Ōbori 2002; retrieved from ja:ウコギ属 version 2009年8月23日 (日) 13:10 R.Lucy (accessed April-2012)
  9. 1 2 Ogata 2010(website)
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ 京都府レッドデータブック(Kyoto Prefecture Red Data Book) (2009). ケヤマウコギ（オニウコギ） (in Japanese). Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  12. ↑ 愛媛県レッドデータブック(Ehime Prefecture Red Data Book) (2009). 高等植物 - ウラジロウコギ (in Japanese). Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  13. ↑ NAGY 植物図鑑. コシアブラ (in Japanese). Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  14. ↑ NAGY 植物図鑑. エゾウコギ (in Japanese). Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  15. ↑ GRIN profile on E. senticosus
  16. ↑ NAGY 植物図鑑. ヒメウコギ (in Japanese). Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  17. ↑ NAGY 植物図鑑. ヤマウコギ (in Japanese). Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  18. ↑ 鎌倉発 旬の花. オカウコギ (in Japanese). Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  19. ↑ 神戸・六甲山系の森林. ウラゲウコギ (in Japanese). Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  20. ↑ 日本の植物たち. ミヤマウコギ (in Japanese). Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  21. ↑ Agricultural Society of Japan 1896, p.545 Acanthopanax ricinifolium, Sieb. & Zacc., Harigiri (ハリギリ, 刺楸)
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