Dendrobium nobile

Dendrobium nobile
Dendrobium nobile
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Dendrobieae
Subtribe: Dendrobiinae
Genus: Dendrobium
Species: D. nobile
Binomial name
Dendrobium nobile
Lindl.[1]

The Noble Dendrobium, Dendrobium nobile, is a member of the family Orchidaceae. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it has the name shí hú (Chinese: 石斛) or shí hú lán (Chinese: 石斛兰). This orchid is one of the most widespread ornamental members of the family. There are many different created varieties which bloom in different colors - yellow, white, etc. The plant is native to southern Asia.

Contents

Nomenclature and taxonomy

Characteristics

Dendrobium nobile is a sympodial orchid which forms pseudobulbs. When the life cycle of the mother plant ends it produces little offsets, continuing the life of the plant. The same cycle is used every year. The stem is erect and during the flowering period it forms blooms on its sides along the whole length of the orchid. This monocot has thin, white roots and leads an epiphytic type of life.

Toxicology

Extract of the stems of Dendrobium nobile yielded 17phenanthrenes[2],[3] There have been many studies on the complex chemistry of the plant.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Dendrobium nobile information from NPGS/GRIN". http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?13509. Retrieved 2008-02-05. 
  2. ^ Hwang JS, Lee SA, Hong SS, Han XH, Lee C, Kang SJ, Lee D, Kim Y, Hong JT, Lee MK, Hwang BY,."Phenanthrenes from Dendrobium nobile and their inhibition of the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2010 Jun 15;20(12):3785-7
  3. ^ Yang H., Sang H.S., Young C.K."Antifibrotic phenanthrenes of Dendrobium nobile stems" Journal of Natural Products 2007 70:12 (1925-1929)

External links

 Media related to Dendrobium nobile at Wikimedia Commons


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