Chinese sumac | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Sapindales |
Family: | Anacardiaceae |
Genus: | Rhus |
Species: | R. chinensis
|
Binomial name | |
Rhus chinensis | |
Synonyms | |
|
Rhus chinensis, the Chinese sumac [2] or nutgall tree, is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the genus Rhus. Growing to 6 m (20 ft) tall, it has downy shoots and leaves comprising several leaflets. These turn red in autumn before falling. [3]
The plant is common in East and South Asia, [4] and is cultivated as an ornamental in temperate climates.
Galls produced on the species that are called Chinese gall, Galla Chinensis, or Wu Bei Zi (五倍子) in Chinese, are a source of gallotannins, [5] [6] molecules of hydrolyzable tannins. Infestation of the tree by Chinese sumac aphids ( Melaphis chinensis Bell) may lead to production of a gall that is valued as a commercial product in China.
Chinese galls are used in traditional Chinese medicine for coughs, diarrhea, night sweats, dysentery, and intestinal and uterine bleeding. [7] Some research has suggested that chemical compounds found in Rhus chinensis possess in vitro antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal, and antioxidant activities. [4] However, this evidence is not substantiated by multiple international researchers. The aqueous extracts of the gall also inhibit alpha-glucosidase activity in vitro. [8]
Chinese sumac | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Sapindales |
Family: | Anacardiaceae |
Genus: | Rhus |
Species: | R. chinensis
|
Binomial name | |
Rhus chinensis | |
Synonyms | |
|
Rhus chinensis, the Chinese sumac [2] or nutgall tree, is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the genus Rhus. Growing to 6 m (20 ft) tall, it has downy shoots and leaves comprising several leaflets. These turn red in autumn before falling. [3]
The plant is common in East and South Asia, [4] and is cultivated as an ornamental in temperate climates.
Galls produced on the species that are called Chinese gall, Galla Chinensis, or Wu Bei Zi (五倍子) in Chinese, are a source of gallotannins, [5] [6] molecules of hydrolyzable tannins. Infestation of the tree by Chinese sumac aphids ( Melaphis chinensis Bell) may lead to production of a gall that is valued as a commercial product in China.
Chinese galls are used in traditional Chinese medicine for coughs, diarrhea, night sweats, dysentery, and intestinal and uterine bleeding. [7] Some research has suggested that chemical compounds found in Rhus chinensis possess in vitro antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal, and antioxidant activities. [4] However, this evidence is not substantiated by multiple international researchers. The aqueous extracts of the gall also inhibit alpha-glucosidase activity in vitro. [8]