Lithospermum
| Lithospermum | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | (unplaced) |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Subfamily: | Boraginoideae |
| Genus: | Lithospermum |
| Species | |
|
About 50,[1] see text |
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Lithospermum is a genus of plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae. Herbs or small shrubs, they are widely distributed except in Australasia. Species are known generally as gromwells or stoneseeds.
Some species, such as Lithospermum arvense, are sometimes classified in the genus Buglossoides, but that genus is subsumed into Lithospermum by works such as the Flora of China.[1]
Lithospermum officinale, or gromwell, is a European native while Lithospermum caroliniense, a species of puccoon, is native to North America. Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum is native to Japan, where it has been traditionally been used to make a purple dye.
The dried root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon is a Chinese herbal medicine with various antiviral and biological activities, including inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 (HIV-1).[2][3]
Lithospermum leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of certain Lepidoptera, such as the moth Ethmia pusiella which has been recorded on Common Gromwell (L. officinale).
[edit] Selected species
- Lithospermum arvense - field gromwell
- Lithospermum californicum - California stoneseed
- Lithospermum canescens - hoary puccoon
- Lithospermum caroliniense - Carolina puccoon
- Lithospermum confine - Arizona stoneseed
- Lithospermum erythrorhizon - Zicao
- Lithospermum incisum - narrowleaf stoneseed
- Lithospermum multiflorum - manyflowered stoneseed
- Lithospermum officinale - European stoneseed
- Lithospermum prostratum
- Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum - purple gromwell
- Lithospermum ruderale - western stoneseed
- Lithospermum viride - green stoneseed
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Lithospermum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 132. 1753.". Flora of China. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=118745.
- ^ "Shikonin, a component of chinese herbal medicine, inhibits chemokine receptor function and suppresses human immunodeficiency virus type 1." Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2003 Sep;47(9):2810-6.
- ^ Gao H, Liu L, Qu ZY, Wei FX, Wang SQ, Chen G, Qin L, Jiang FY, Wang YC, Shang L, Gao CY"Anti-adenovirus activities of shikonin, a component of Chinese herbal medicine in vitro.Biol Pharm Bull. 2011;34(2):197-202
[edit] External links
"Gromwell". New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
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