Eleutherococcus Explained

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).[4] [5] This is also reflected in its formerly used genus name Acanthopanax[6] 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.[7]

Naming

The Chinese materia medica in question [3] may designate a number of species.[8] 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 borrows directly from the Chinese name, and refers somewhat broadly to several plants in the genus.[9] A 10th century herbology text, Honzō wamyō (Chinese: 本草和名), introduced the Chinese wujia as an herb to be pronounced mu-ko-gi (Chinese: 牟古岐), refers specifically to E. sieboldianus (Japanese name: hime-ukogi).[10] (See

  1. 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.[9] Particularly in Yamagata Prefecture, a daimyō named Uesugi Yōzan[11] encouraged the planting of the ukogi as fencing around the homes of samurai retainers (E. sieboldianus was planted in the region[11]), 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.

Fossil record

The four earliest fossil species of Eleutherococcus are from the Maastrichtian (about 70 Ma) floras of Eisleben and Walbeck, Germany, the synonym Acanthopanax is used for these species †A. friedrichii, †A. gigantocarpus, †A. mansfeldensis and †A. obliquocostatus.[12]

Species

Formerly under Acanthopanax

External links

Notes and References

  1. ,p.40, citing Frodin, Govaerts 2003
  2. ,p.40, citing Xiang, Lowry 2006
  3. ,Herbal Emissaries pages=73-
  4. Web site: Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220820190049/https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-what-you-need-to-know . 2022-08-20 . 2022-08-20 . . en.
  5. Hu . Jing . Zhang . Junhua . Zhao . Wei . Zhang . Yongling . Zhang . Li . Shang . Hongcai . 2011 . Cochrane systematic reviews of Chinese herbal medicines: an overview . PLOS ONE . 6 . 12 . e28696 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0028696 . 1932-6203 . 3235143 . 22174870 . 2011PLoSO...628696H . free .
  6. p.9 Acanthopanax spinosum, Miq.,
  7. Web site: Reflection Paper on the Adaptogenic Concept . . Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products . 2008 . None of the studies would be sufficient to substantiate efficacy of Eleutherococcus preparations in a clearly defined clinical condition .
  8. Book: Nanba, Tsuneo (難波恒雄). 漢方薬入門(Kanpōyaku nyūmon). Hoikusha. 1970., p.41
  9. (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。"
  10. retrieved from version 2009年8月23日 (日) 13:10 R.Lucy (accessed April-2012)
  11. (website)
  12. The Timetree of Life edited by S. Blair Hedges and Sudhir Kumar, OUP Oxford, 23. apr. 2009 - 576 pages,, 9780191560156
  13. Web site: 京都府レッドデータブック(Kyoto Prefecture Red Data Book). http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/kankyo/rdb/bio/db/flo0419.html. ja:ケヤマウコギ（オニウコギ）. Japanese . August 23, 2009 . 2009.
  14. Web site: 愛媛県レッドデータブック(Ehime Prefecture Red Data Book). http://www.pref.ehime.jp/030kenminkankyou/080shizenhogo/00004541040311/detail/09_06_008190_0.html. ja:高等植物 - ウラジロウコギ. Japanese. August 23, 2009. 2009. April 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230406221012/https://www.pref.ehime.jp/030kenminkankyou/080shizenhogo/00004541040311/detail/09_06_008190_0.html. dead.
  15. Web site: 鎌倉発 旬の花. http://shizuka.sakura.ne.jp/hana/okaukogi.htm. ja:オカウコギ. Japanese . August 23, 2009 .
  16. Web site: 神戸・六甲山系の森林. http://shinrin.cool.ne.jp/sub429.html. ja:ウラゲウコギ. Japanese. August 23, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20071129012511/http://shinrin.cool.ne.jp/sub429.html. November 29, 2007. dead.
  17. Web site: NAGY 植物図鑑 . http://www.nagy-flora.jp/species/e/ezo-ukogi.htm . ja:エゾウコギ . Japanese . August 23, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090726122504/http://www.nagy-flora.jp/species/e/ezo-ukogi.htm . July 26, 2009 .
  18. Web site: NAGY 植物図鑑 . http://www.nagy-flora.jp/species/h/hime-ukogi.htm . ja:ヒメウコギ . Japanese . August 23, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090726122529/http://www.nagy-flora.jp/species/h/hime-ukogi.htm . July 26, 2009 .
  19. Web site: NAGY 植物図鑑 . http://www.nagy-flora.jp/species/y/yama-ukogi.htm . ja:ヤマウコギ . Japanese . August 23, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090726123019/http://www.nagy-flora.jp/species/y/yama-ukogi.htm . July 26, 2009 .
  20. Web site: 日本の植物たち. http://kasugak.sakura.ne.jp/comment/miyamaukogi.html. ja:ミヤマウコギ. Japanese . August 23, 2009 .
  21. , p.545 Acanthopanax ricinifolium, Sieb. & Zacc.,

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