Nardostachys
Nardostachys | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Dipsacales |
Family: | Caprifoliaceae |
Subfamily: | Valerianoideae |
Genus: | Nardostachys DC. (1830) |
Species: | N. jatamansi
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Binomial name | |
Nardostachys jatamansi | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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Nardostachys jatamansi is a species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). It is the sole species in genus Nardostachys.[3]
It is a perennial that grows in the Himalayas, primarily in a belt through Kumaon, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan at elevations of 3,000–5,000 m (9,800–16,400 ft),[4] and in northern Myanmar and western and central China.[2]
It is a source of a type of intensely aromatic amber-colored essential oil, spikenard. The oil has, since ancient times, been used as a perfume, as a traditional medicine, and in religious ceremonies. It is also called spikenard, nard, nardin, or muskroot. It is considered endangered due to overharvesting for folk medicine, overgrazing, loss of habitats, and forest degradation.
Description
The plant grows 10–50 cm (4–20 in) in height and has pink, bell-shaped flowers.[5] Rhizomes (underground stems) can be crushed and distilled into an intensely aromatic amber-colored essential oil, which is very thick in consistency. Nard oil is used as a perfume, an incense, a sedative, and a herbal medicine said to fight insomnia, birth difficulties, and other minor ailments.[6]
Phytochemistry
Preliminary research on the chemical components of Nardostachys jatamansi indicates the plant contains:[7]
- acaciin
- ursolic acid
- octacosanol
- kanshone A
- nardosinonediol
- nardosinone
- aristolen-9beta-ol
- oleanolic acid
- beta-sitosterol
In spikenard
Nardostachys jatamansi may have been used as an ingredient in the incense known as
References
- ^ Traditions), K. Ravikumar (Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health; Technology (IHST)), Debabrata Saha (Institute of Trans-disciplinary Health Sciences and; Ved, D. K.; Haridasan, K. (July 16, 2014). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Nardostachys jatamansi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- ^ a b "Nardostachys jatamansi (D.Don) DC.", Plants of the World Online, retrieved 29 April 2024
- ^ "Nardostachys DC". Plants of the World Online. Kew Science. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
- ISBN 978-8122201338.
- ^ Deyuan Hong; Fred R. Barrie; Charles D. Bell. "Nardostachys jatamansi". Flora of China. Vol. 1. Retrieved 6 June 2020 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
- ISBN 0-520-22789-1) pp. 83–88
- PMID 17539300.
- OCLC 1191267545.
External links
- Original botanical description by David Don from Prodromus Florae Nepalensis (1825), in Latin (archived by the Biodiversity Heritage Library)