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Family Polygonaceae
Oriental pepper
Persicaria orientalis (L.) Spach
TALL PERSICARIA

Shui hong hua zi

Scientific names Common names
Amblygonum orientale (L.) Nakai Oriental pepper (Engl.)
Amblygonum orientale var. pilosum (Meisn.) Nakai Oriental persicary (Engl.)
Amblygonum pilosum (Meisn.) Nakai Prince's feather (Engl.)
Goniaticum solitarium Stokes Princess feather (Engl.)
Heptarina orientalis (L.) Raf. Princess plume (Engl.)
Lagunea cochinchinensis Lour. Tall persicaria (Engl.)
Lagunea orientalis Lour. Kiss me over the garden gate (Engl.)
Lagunea orientalis var. pilosa (Meisn.) Nakai  
Persicaria cochinchinensis (Lour.) Kitag.  
Persicaria orientalis (L.) Spach.  
Persicaria orientalis var. glabrata (Hook.f.) Dash & Bhaumik  
Persicaria pilosa (Roxb.) Kitag.  
Persicaria schroeteriana (Danser) Sojak  
Polygonum altissimum Moench  
Polygonum amoenum Blume  
Polygonum cochinchinense (Lour.) Meisn.  
Polygonum cordobense Lindau  
Polygonum hirtum Willd. ex Spreng.  
Polygonum inundatum Mart. ex Meisn.  
Polygonum orientale (L.) Spach  
Polygonum orientale var. cochinchinense (Lour.) Domin  
Polygonum orientale var. discolor Benth.  
Polygonum orientale var. glabratum Hook.f.  
Polygonum orientale var. pilosum Meisn.  
Polygonum pilosum Roxb. ex Wall.  
Polygonum schroeterianum Danser  
Polygonum spaethii Dammer  
Polygonum subcordatum Miq.  
Polygonum torquatum Bruyn.  
Reynoutria spaethii (Dammer) Moldenke  
Polygonum orientale (L.) is a synonym of Persicaria orientalis (L.) Spach.
Persicaria orientalis (L.) Spach is an accepted species. KEW: Plants of the World Online

Other vernacular names
BANGLADESH: Hati shunr, Hatisur.
CHINESE: Shui hong hua zi, Hong liao, Hongcao.
FRENCH: Baton de St. Jean, Monte-au-ciel, Persicaire dy Levant, Renouée orientale.
HINDI: Vasaka.
INDIA: Hati shunr.
JAPANESE: O-ke-tade.
SPANISH: Disciplinas de monja, Gitanas, Golilas de corte.

Gen info
- Persicaria
orientalis is a species of flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae.
- Plants in the genus are known commonly as knotweeds or smartweeds. As of November 2023, 132 species were accepted,
(24)
- It was initially described as Polygonum orientale by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, and transferred to the genus Persicaria by Edouard Spach in 1841. (23)
- Etymology: Persicaria derives from Latin persica meaning 'peach', alluding to the shape of the leaves. In ancient times a peach was called persike or persica meaning 'Persian apple'. A fruit that reach Europe from China by way of Persia. The species epithet derives from Latin orientalis, meaning 'of or from the East' or 'from the Orient'. (28)

Botany
• Polygonum orientale is a branching annual, 30 to 100 centimeters in height. Leaves are long petioled, ovate or ovate-cordate, 15 to 20 centimeters long, 5 to 12 centimeters wide, and covered with soft, silky, gray hairs. Racemes are cylindric, laxly panicled, 8 to 13 centimeters long. Flowers are white. Nut is rounded, black and shining, about 3 millimeters in diameter.

A variety of the plant has rose-pink flowers.

Habit: Annual, rhizomes, stolons 0. Stem: erect, 50--200(250) cm, +- glabrous to hairy, +- ribbed. Leaf: ocrea funnel-shaped, 10--20(25) mm, brown, papery at base, leaf-like distally, margins truncate, ciliate, bristles 1--3 mm, surface strigose, not gland-dotted; petiole 1--9(14) cm; blade 4--25(30) cm, 2--16 cm wide, ovate, scabrous on midveins, strigose to densely hairy especially along veins, not +- gland-dotted, not dark blotched adaxially, base wedge-shaped, tip acute to acuminate. Inflorescence: axillary, terminal, spike-like, nodding or erect, not interrupted, 20--180 mm, 5--20 mm wide; flowers 1--5; peduncle (0)10--50 mm, glabrous, gland-dotted; bractlets not overlapped; pedicels ascending to spreading, 1--5 mm. Flower: perianth +- bell-shaped, 3--4.5 mm, pink to dark pink, not gland-dotted, lobes 5, obovate, margins of same color, veins +- prominent or not, not anchor-shaped, tips obtuse to rounded; stamens 6--8, included or exserted, anthers pink or red; styles 2, fused basally. Fruit: 2--3.5 mm, 1.5--3 mm wide, lens-shaped, dark brown to black, shiny to dull, minutely rough. (29)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- In open, wet places along streams at low and medium altitudes in Pampanga and Rizal Provinces in Luzon.
- Also native to
Amur, Assam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Jawa, Khabarovsk, Korea, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Manchuria, Myanmar, New Guinea, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Primorye, Queensland, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, West Himalaya. (16)


Constituents
- A total of 153 chemical constituents have been identified from P. orientalis, including flavonoids, carboxylic acids, phenolic acids, amino acids, hydrocarbons, chromones, lignans, volatile oils, amides, and other components. (25)
- Rootstock yields oxymethyl-anthraquinone, 0.05%.

- Study yielded six compounds: myricitrin, luteolin, gallic acid, catechin, protocatechuic acid and p-hydroxycinnamic acid. (3)
- Study of aerial parts isolated three lignans: arctiin, lappaol B, orientalin. (5)
- Study of fruits yielded
28-O-ß,7ß-dihydroxt-lup-20(29)-en-28-oate (a new triterpenoid saponin), 5,7-dihydroxychromone, and naringenin.
- Study for chemical constituents yielded seven compounds identified as ombuine-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (1), ombuine-3-O-rutinoside (2), tryptophan (3), quercetin-3-O-methyl ether (4), kaempferol-3-O-(2"-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl) -beta-D-glucuronopyranoside (5), quercetin-3-O-(2"-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside (6), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucuronide (7). (12)
- Study for chemical constituents from flowers yielded nine compounds viz. alphitonin (1), methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (2), apocynin (3), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (4), 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (5), 3,3′-dimethoxyellagic-acid-4-O-β-D-glucoside (6), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (7), quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (8), kaempferol (9). (14)
- Ethanolic extract of aerial parts yielded a new anthraquinone glucoside 1-hydroxy-8-methoxy-3-methyl-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-anthraquinone (1), along with 1, 6-dihydroxy- 8-methoxy-3-methyl-anthraquinone (2), quercitrin (3), kaempferol-3-O-α-rhamnoside (4), arborinol (5), β-sitosterol (6) and β-sitosterol-D-glucoside (7). (15)

Properties
- Studies have suggested antioxidant, radical scavenging, cardioprotective, antihyperglycemic, melanogenesis inhibitory, bone healing, phytoremediative, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, cytotoxic, thrombolytic properties.

Parts used
- Roots, fruit, leaves, whole plant.

Uses

Folkloric
- Nuts prescribed for flatulence and for tuberculous swellings.
- In India, whole plant is used for whooping cough and menorrhagia. Fruit and leaves are burned and prescribed for fever. Decoction of leaves used for liver and splenic diseases. (6)

- Decoction of ripe fruits used for treatment of hepatitis.
- In Bangladesh, roots or root juice use for urinary retention, taken to increase frequency of urination.   (20)
- Infusion used as tonic; also used in ulcerative colitis and as remedy of fever. (22)
- In Chinese herbal medicine, used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, coronary heart disease, hernia, carbuncles, dilated bronchiectasis, as antimicrobial, and to enhance immunity . (27)
Others
- Herbal tonifying liquid: A constituent of an herbal spleen tonifying and liver protection liquid, together with P. orientalis, Prunella vulgaris, Radix bupleuri, R. rubescens, among others. (21)

Studies
Taxifolin / Antioxidant:
Study showed the taxifolin from Polygonum orientale showed very potent antioxidant activity. (1)
Free Radical Scavenging: Study investigated the free radical scavenging potentials of P orientale extracts. Results showed the free radical-scavenging activities to be: methanol>ethanol>water>ethyl acetate>chloroform. (2)
Cardioprotective / Antioxidant / Flowers: Study evaluated the protective effect of flowers, leaves, and main stem of Polygonum orientale on H9c2 myocardial cells oxidative injury induced by H2O2. Results showed a protective effect on H9c2 myocardial cells oxidative injury. The activity showed a positive correlation with antioxidant activities. (4)
Antihyperglycemic / Flowers: Study evaluated the antihyperglycemic effect of an aqueous extract of flowers in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Results showed significant reduction of blood glucose, serum cholesterol, and increase in liver glycogen. (6)
Cardioprotective Flavonoids: A FEE (flavonoid-enriched extract) was reported to show cardioprotective effect. Study isolated twenty-three active phenolics including ten flavonoid C-glycosides and six flavonoids O-glycosides. (7)
Bone Healing / Roots: Study showed root tubers of P. orientale could increase ALP activity and DNA synthesis by stimulating proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in vitro, respectively. Results partly explain the pharmacologic ways the herb promotes the healing of bone fractures and rheumatism. (8)
New Triterpenoid Saponin / Fruits: Study of fruits yielded 28-O-ß,7ß-dihydroxt-lup-20(29)-en-28-oate (a new triterpenoid saponin), 5,7-dihydroxychromone, and naringenin. (9)
Effects on Osteoblastic Cell Growth / Benefits for Bone Healing and Rheumatism: Study showed root tubers could increase both ALP activity and DNA synthesis by stimulating proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in vitro, with the potential to promote healing of bone fractures and rheumatism. . (10)
Absorption of Basic Dyes on P. orientale Activated Carbon: Low cost activated carbon from Polygonum orientale was evaluated for its ability to remove basic dyes (malachite green and rhodamine B). Thermodynamic study showed the adsorption was a spontaneous endothermic process. (11)

Phytoremediation of Phenol from Waste Water: Removing phenol from wastewater is a major challenge of international concern. Study evaluated the ability of P. orientale to phytoremediate phenol. Results provide a theoretical basis for the understanding of mechanisms involved in removal of phenol by P. orientale. (13)
• Antinociceptive / Leaves: Study investigated methanolic extract of Persicaria orientalis leaves for antinociceptive activity in a rodent model using hot plate and tail immersion methods for acute effect and carrageenan-induced paw edema and formalin-induced edema methods for chronic inflammatory effect. Results showed antinociceptive effect and protecting effect against inflammatory stimuli which may be due to phenolic and flavonoid compounds. (18)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Anti-Diarrheal / Thrombolytic / Cytotoxic / Leaves: Study evaluated of methanolic extract of leaves showed significant anti-inflammatory (inhibition of hypotonicity-induced human red blood cell hemolysis and albumin denaturation) and anti-diarrheal (castor oil-induced diarrhea) effects and moderate thrombolytic (33.13% clot lysis) and lower cytotoxic (LC50 58.91 µg/ml in brine shrimp lethality) activities. (19)
• Melanogenesis Inhibition / Phenylpropanoids / Roots: Hyperpigmentation is an important cosmetic issue, and the prominent target for inhibition of hyperpigmentation is tyrosinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in melanogenesis. Study of EtOH extract of roots isolated nine compounds, including five phenyl-propanoid sucrose esters (PSE)(1-5). The PSEs signficantly reduced extracellular melanin formation in B16 melanoma cells and inhibited tyrosinase monophenolase and diphenolase activity in a dose dependent manner. Compound 4 was twice as effective as kojic acid, when L-DOPA was used as substrate. Compounds 1 and 4 showed better inhibitory activity (>59%) on melanin synthesis at concentration of 50 µM compared with arbutin (730 µM). Results suggest the roots is a potential source of natural compounds for dermatological use and cosmetological use research. (26)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Seeds in the cybermarket.


Updated July 2024 / June 2019 / October 2017 / March 2017 / July 2015


PHOTOS / ILLUSTRATIONS
Photos © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange
IMAGE SOURCE: Polygonaceae : Persicaria orientalis / Habit of plant in flower (cultivated) / Copyright © 2021 by D L Nickrent (contact: dn277@cornell.edu) [ref. DOL153829] / Non-Commercial Use  / Image modified / Click on image or link to go to source page / Phytoimages.siu.edu
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Polygonum orientale L. / Permission granted to use under GFDL by Kurt Stueber. Source: www.biolib.de/ AlterVISTA
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Polygonum orientale L. / USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An M\illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 1: 670 / Public Domain / AlterVISTA
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Seeds / Polygonum orientale L / Kiss me over the garden gate / Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Databaset / USDA

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Determination of taxifolin in Polygonum orientale and study on its antioxidant activity / Yan Wei, Xiaoqing Chen et al /
Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, Volume 22, Issue 2, March 2009, Pages 154-157 /
doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2008.08.006 |
(2)
Free radical-scavenging activity and flavonoid contents of Polygonum orientale leaf, stem, and seed extracts / Xinyu Jiang, Xiaoqing Chen and Yan Wei / Arch. Biol. Sci., Belgrade, 61 (1), 79-83, 2009 / DOI:10.2298/ABS0901079J
(3)
Studies on chemical constituents in herb of Polygonum orientale / Li Y J et al / Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2005 Mar;30(6):444-6
(4)
Study on fingerprint-pharmacology correlation of protective effect of Polygonum orientale on myocardial cell oxidative injury induced by H202 / Zheng L, Li J, Chen H, Wang YL, Wang AM, Huang Y. / Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2012 Sep;37(17):2585-8.
(5)
Studies on the Lignans of Polygonum orientale / ZHENG Shang-Zhen, WANG Ding-Yong, MENG Jun-Cai and SEN XU Wei / Acta Botanica Sinica Volume 40 Issue 5, Pages
(6)
Antihyperglycaemic activity on flower of Polygonum orientale Linn. using steptozotocin induced diabetic mice model / Vijay Nigam et al / Int. J. of Pharm. & Life Sci. (IJPLS), Vol. 4, Issue 5: May: 2013, 2626-2631
(7)
UPLC–PDA–ESI–MS/MS Analysis of Compounds Extracted by Cardiac h9c2 Cell from Polygonum orientale / Shang-Gao Liao, Yue-Ting Li et al / Phytochemical Analysis, Volume 24, Issue 1, pages 25–35, January/February 2013 / DOI: 10.1002/pca.2374
(8)
In vitro evaluation of the effects of Polygonum orientale L. on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell / Mei-xian Xiang, Li Xu1, Yun Liu, Yun-jun Yan* Jin-yue Hu and Han-wen Su / Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 5(2), pp. 231-236, 18 January, 2011
(9)
A new triterpenoid saponin from the fruits of Polygonum orientale / Yang zhi-yun, Qian shi-hui, Qin Min-jian / Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica, 2008, 43(4):388-391.
(10)
In vitro evaluation of the effects of Polygonum orientale L. on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell / Mei-xian Xiang, Li Xu, Yun Liu, Yun-jun Yan* Jin-yue Hu and Han-wen Su / Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 5(2), pp. 231-236, 18 January, 2011
(11)
Adsorption of basic dyes on activated carbon prepared from Polygonum orientale Linn: Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies / Liancheng Wang, Jun Zhang, R. Zhao, Chong Li, Yan Li, Chuanqin Zhang / Desalination, 2010 | Volume: 254, Issue 1-3
(12)
Studies on the chemical constituents in ethyl acetate extraction from the fruit of Polygonum orientale / Zhou-tao Xie, Jin Hu / Zhong Yao Cai 2009 Sep;32(9):1397-9
(13)
Phytoremediation of phenol using Polygonum orientale , including optimized conditions / Kai Wang, Jin Cai, Jia Feng, Shulian Xie / Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, December 2014, Volume 186, Issue 12, pp 8667-8681
(14)
Chemical constituents of flowers from Polygonum orientale / LI Yongjun, HE Xun, LIU Zhibao, HUANG Yong, LAN Yanyu, WANG Aimin, WANG Yonglin / China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica
(15)
Anthraquinone glucosides from aerial parts of Polygonum macrophyllum D. Don. / Sushma Semwal *, Rajni Kant Sharma, Amita Bamola, Girish Pundeer, Usha Rawat / AsianJTM
(16)
Persicaria orientalis / Synonyms / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(17)
Persicaria orientalis / Common names / Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
(18)
Investigation of Antinociceptive Activity of Methanolic Extract of Persicaria Orientalis Leaves in Rodents / P Ansari et al. / J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol., 2017 / DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2016-0018
(19)
Anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, thrombolytic and cytotoxic activities of an ornamental medicinal plant: Persicaria orientalis / Josim Uddin, Prawej Ansari, Md Masudur Rahman, A S M Ali Reza /  Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 1 Jan 2017; 28(1): pp 51-58 / DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2016-0023
(20)
FOLK MEDICINAL USES OF SOME PLANTS IN TANGAIL DISTRICT, BANGLADESH / Zahid Kamal, Mohammed Rahmatullah et al / World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014; Vol 3, Issue 11: pp 52-63 / ISSN: 2278-4357
(21)
Spleen tonifying and liver protection liquid medicine: CN 103463240 / Patents: CN 201310366316
(22)
Study on medicinal uses of Persicaria and Rumex species of polygonaceae family / Tamanna Sharmin, Sonia Sultaha, Sharmin Tonny / Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
(23)
Persicaria orientalis / Wikipedia
(24)
Persicaria / Wikipedia
(25)
A review of the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and quality control of the ethnic medicinal plant Persicaria orientalis (L.) Spach in China / Xiaorui Zhang, Mingshuo Zhang, Zhixin Wang, Na Zhu, Jinfang Zhang, Zijun Sha, Zhiyong Li, Xiulan Huang et al / Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2021; Volume 280: 113521 / DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113521
(26)
Isolation of phenylpropanoid sucrose esters from the roots of Persicaria orientalis and their potential as inhibitors of melanogenesis / Mohammad Nuruzzaman Masum, Siwattra Choodej, Kosei Yamauchi, Tohru Mitsunaga / Medicinal Chemistry Research, 2019; Volume 28: pp 623-632 /
DOI: 10.1007/s00044-019-02312-w
(27)
Traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Persicaria orientalis (L.) Spach - A review / Kai-Jun Gou, Rui Zeng, Yue Ma, Ai-Nuan Li, Kai Yang, Heng-Xiu Yan, Shen-Rui Jin, Yan Qu  / J Ethnopharmacol., 2020; 1:249:112407 / DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112407
(28)
Persicaria orientalis / Seedaholic
(29)
Persicaria orientalis / Mihai Costea / The Jepson Herbarium

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)

                                                            List of Understudied Philippine Medicinal Plants
                                          New plant names needed
The compilation now numbers over 1,300 medicinal plants. While I believe there are hundreds more that can be added to the collection, they are becoming more difficult to find. If you have a plant to suggest for inclusion, native or introduced, please email the info: scientific name (most helpful), local plant name (if known), any known folkloric medicinal use, and, if possible, a photo. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

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