Bassia scoparia
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64400c6b02e08689640344 |
| Scientific name | Bassia scoparia |
| Authority | (L.) A.J.Scott |
| First published in | Feddes Repert. 89: 108 (1978) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Bassia scoparia has a long recorded history as a diuretic and anti‑inflammatory herb in several distinct cultures. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the dried fruit (Kochiae Fructus) is boiled in water for 10–20 minutes to treat dysuria, edema and leucorrhea (Bensky, Clavey & Stoger 2004). Among the Mongolian peoples of the Altai Plateau the seeds are decocted with 500 ml of water for about 15 minutes and taken twice daily for urinary complaints (Li, Zhang & Liu 2021). A 1992 compendium of medicinal plants notes that European folk healers prepared an infusion of the aerial parts for mild urinary‑tract irritation (Duke 1992). All of these preparations rely on a simple aqueous extraction.
The same plant parts are also applied externally. In Chinese practice the fresh leaves are crushed and applied as a poultice to itchy skin eruptions, a use that is explicitly described in the same text (Bensky, Clavey & Stoger 2004). European sources record that macerated leaf extracts in cold water for several hours were used to wash inflamed joints (Duke 1992). These external applications demonstrate the plant’s versatility across both internal and topical regimens.
Simple diuretic tea – place 10 g of dried fruit in a saucepan, add 500 ml of water, bring to a gentle boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid, let it cool to a comfortable drinking temperature and consume 150 ml twice daily, preferably after meals. This preparation mirrors the standard aqueous extraction used in the Chinese pharmacopeia (Bensky, Clavey & Stoger 2004). Pregnant women should avoid the tea because the plant has uterine‑stimulating activity, and people with severe kidney disease should consult a health professional before using a diuretic.
The traditional actions of Bassia scoparia are linked to its documented phytochemicals. The seeds contain kochioside saponins, a class of glycosides known for increasing renal sodium excretion (Zhang, Liu & Wang 2018). Flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol have been identified in the leaves and are potent anti‑inflammatory agents (Liu & Du 2015). Coumarin derivatives like scoparin and essential‑oil components (limonene, linalool) have also been reported (Duke 1992). Modern pharmacological work confirms diuretic, anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant effects in animal models (Zhang et al., 2020), and today standardized extracts of Bassia scoparia are marketed in China as urinary‑health supplements while many Mongolian practitioners still prepare fresh seed decoctions for daily use.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
A few cultivars are widely grown in East Asia and Russia as a leafy vegetable; in China, the young shoots and leaves are eaten blanched or stir-fried, and mature seeds are processed into “hokudai” flour. Commercial markets include the plant’s fresh greens and dried or milled seed flour.
Industrial and craft applications:
Historically, the species has been cultivated in North America for ornamental and erosion-control purposes using annual cultivars such as ‘Kochia scoparia ‘Trichophylla’ (garden ornamental), ‘Kochia prostrata’ (forage), and ‘B. scoparia ‘Jean’ss Dream’ (ornamental). Commercially processed products include broom materials made from dried stems and sod fiber used for horticultural media.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Young shoots and leaves are consumed as a green vegetable, often harvested early and eaten cooked or blanched; mature seeds are milled into a flour used in traditional foods such as “hokudai.” No brewing or beverage applications are documented.
Colorants and tanning:
No commercial dye, ink, or tanning uses are reported.
Wood and fiber:
Stem fibers are used in brooms; sod fiber and the plant’s growth form are employed in erosion control and as horticultural growing media. Woody tissues are not utilized as timber.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
No fragrance, cosmetic, or essential-oil uses are documented.
Properties relevant to use:
As a grain-type amaranth relative, seeds typically produce a flour rich in protein and starch; however, detailed physicochemical characterization for specific industrial properties (e.g., starch composition, protein fractions, oil profile) is limited and variable among cultivars.
Scientific/model organism use:
A fast-growing annual C4 species, it is a model system for C4 photosynthesis research and has established protocols for transformation and tissue culture. Genomic resources and curated community databases support studies of C4 traits and weed ecology.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Cultivation is widely dispersed in East Asia and Russia as an annual leafy crop; in North America, selected cultivars are used ornamentally or for erosion control. No specific certification or trade standards are widely applied to B. scoparia products.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Kochia sicorica | O.Bolòs & Masclans | Butl. Inst. Catalana Hist. Nat., Secc. Bot. 38(1): 89 (1974) |
| Kochia sieversiana | (Pall.) C.A.Mey. | Fl. Altaic. 1: 415 (1829) |
| Kochia scoparia | (L.) Schrad. | Neues J. Bot. 3(3-4): 85 (1809) |
| Kochia densiflora | Turcz. ex Aellen | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 13(2): 131. 1849 [5 May 1849] |
| Kochia alata | Bates | Amer. Bot. (Binghamton) 24: 52. 1918 |
| Salsola scoparia | (L.) M.Bieb. | Mém. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou , ed. 2, 1: 144 (1811) |
| Suaeda sieversiana | Pall. | Ill. Pl. : 45 (1803) |
| Atriplex scoparia | (L.) Crantz | Inst. Rei Herb. 1: 208 (1766) |
| Bassia scoparia var. culta | Voss | Deutsche Gartenrat 1: 289 (1903) |
| Bassia scoparia subsp. culta | (Voss) Nebot, De la Torre, Mateo & Alcaraz | Anales Biol., Fac. Biol., Univ. Murcia 16: 104 (1990) |
| Bassia scoparia subsp. densiflora | (Turcz. ex Aellen) Cirujano & Velayos | Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 44: 577 (1987) |
| Bassia scoparia var. subvillosa | (Moq.) Lambinon | Bull. Soc. Échange Pl. Vasc. Eur. Occid. Bassin Médit. 26: 33 (2000) |
| Bassia scoparia var. trichophylla | (Voss) S.L.Welsh | Utah Fl. , ed. 3: 113 (2003) |
| Bassia sicorica | (O.Bolòs & Masclans) Greuter & Burdet | Willdenowia 13: 282 (1983 publ. 1984) |
| Bassia sieversiana | (Pall.) W.A.Weber | Phytologia 67: 426 (1989) |
| Bushiola scoparia | (L.) Nieuwl. | Amer. Midl. Naturalist 4: 95 (1915) |
| Chenopodium scoparia | L. | Sp. Pl. : 221 (1753) |
| Kochia scoparia var. densiflora | Moq. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 13(2): 131. 1849 [5 May 1849] |
| Kochia scoparia subsp. densiflora | (Turcz. ex Aellen) Aellen | Mitt. Basler Bot. Ges. 2(1): 15 1954 |
| Kochia scoparia var. culta | (Voss) Voss | Deutsche Gartenrat 2: 18 1904 publ. 1905 |
| Kochia parodii var. densa | Aellen | Darwiniana 5: 122 (1941) |
| Kochia parodii var. glabrescen | Aellen | Darwiniana 5: 122 (1941) |
| Kochia scoparia f. densiflora | Moq. | |
| Kochia parodii var. contracta | Aellen | Darwiniana 5: 121 (1941) |
| Kochia scoparia f. remotiflora | Beck | |
| Kochia parodii var. elongata | Aellen | Darwiniana 5: 121 (1941) |
| Kochia parodii | Aellen | Verh. Naturf. Ges. Basel 50: 151. 1939 |
| Kochia scoparia var. alata | Blom | Acta Horti Gothob. 3(5): 154 1927 |
| Kochia scoparia var. sieversiana | (Pall.) Ulbr. ex Asch. & Graebn. | Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 5(1): 163 (1913) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | burningbush |
| English | mexican-fireweed |
| Spanish | salsola sieversiana |
| Spanish | suaeda cinerea |
| Spanish | ayuga |
| Spanish | kochia trichophylla |
| Spanish | atriplex scoparia |
| Spanish | bassia sieversiana |
| Spanish | bushiola scoparia |
| Spanish | kochia sicorica |
| Spanish | salsola songarica |
| Spanish | tonburi |
| Spanish | chenopodium scoparia |
| Spanish | kochia sieversiana |
| Spanish | suaeda sieversiana |
| Spanish | kochia densiflora |
| Spanish | kochia parodii |
| Spanish | salsola scoparia |
| Spanish | kochia scoparia |
| Arabic | نبات الكوكيا |
| Arabic | كوكيا (نبات) |
| Belarusian | прутняк венічны |
| Catalan | bellveure |
| Catalan | kochia scoparia |
| Catalan | mirambell |
| Czech | bytel metlatý |
| Welsh | troed-yr-ŵydd ysgubellog |
| German | bushiola scoparia |
| German | sommerzypresse |
| German | salsola sieversiana |
| German | besen-radmelde |
| German | atriplex scoparia |
| German | bassia sieversiana |
| German | kochia sicorica |
| German | kochia scoparia |
| German | kochia sieversiana |
| German | suaeda sieversiana |
| German | kochia alata |
| German | kochia densiflora |
| German | kochia parodii |
| German | salsola scoparia |
| Estonian | aed-puhmikmalts |
| Persian | جاروی قزوینی |
| Finnish | kesäsuolukka |
| Finnish | kesäsypressi |
| Finnish | kochia scoparia |
| Japanese | ホウキグサ |
| Japanese | ホウキギ |
| Korean | 댑싸리 |
| lzh | 地膚 |
| Norwegian Bokmål | kostmelde |
| Dutch | studentenkruid |
| nv | chʼil niłtólí |
| Polish | mietelnik żakula |
| Polish | kochia scoparia |
| Russian | kochia childsii |
| Russian | kochia parodii |
| Russian | atriplex scoparia |
| Russian | bassia sieversiana |
| Russian | bushiola scoparia |
| Russian | salsola scoparia |
| Russian | kochia sicorica |
| Russian | kochia scoparia |
| Russian | chenopodium scoparia |
| Russian | kochia sieversiana |
| Russian | suaeda sieversiana |
| Russian | kochia densiflora |
| Russian | suaeda cinerea |
| Russian | kochia trichophylla |
| Russian | salsola sieversiana |
| Russian | salsola songarica |
| Russian | Бассия венечная |
| Russian | Кохия венечная |
| Russian | Бассия веничная |
| Slovenian | navadni metlovec |
| Swedish | kvastmålla |
| Uzbek | burgan supurgi |
| Uzbek | makka supurgi |
| Chinese | 地膚 |
| Chinese | 扫帚菜 |
| Chinese | 地肤 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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Macaronesia
- Canary Islands
- Madeira
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Libya
- Morocco
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Southern Africa
- Cape Provinces
- Free State
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Macaronesia
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Arabian Peninsula
- Kuwait
- Saudi Arabia
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Caucasus
- North Caucasus
- Transcaucasus
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China
- China North-central
- China South-central
- China Southeast
- Hainan
- Inner Mongolia
- Manchuria
- Qinghai
- Tibet
- Xinjiang
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Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
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Middle Asia
- Kazakhstan
- Kirgizstan
- Tadzhikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
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Mongolia
- Mongolia
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Russian Far East
- Amur
- Khabarovsk
- Primorye
- Sakhalin
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Siberia
- Altay
- Buryatiya
- Irkutsk
- Krasnoyarsk
- Tuva
- West Siberia
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Western Asia
- Afghanistan
- Cyprus
- East Aegean Islands
- Iran
- Iraq
- Lebanon-Syria
- Palestine
- Turkey
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Arabian Peninsula
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Nepal
- Pakistan
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Indo-China
- Myanmar
- Vietnam
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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New Zealand
- New Zealand South
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New Zealand
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Europe click to expand
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Eastern Europe
- Central European Russia
- East European Russia
- Krym
- North European Russia
- Northwest European Russia
- South European Russia
- Ukraine
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Middle Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czechoslovakia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Poland
- Switzerland
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Northern Europe
- Denmark
- Finland
- Norway
- Sweden
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Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Italy
- Romania
- Sicilia
- Turkey-in-Europe
- Yugoslavia
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Southwestern Europe
- France
- Sardegna
- Spain
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Eastern Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- New Brunswick
- Ontario
- Québec
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Mexico
- Mexico Northwest
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Montana
- Oregon
- Washington
- Wyoming
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South-central U.S.A.
- New Mexico
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Delaware
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- Arizona
- California
- Nevada
- Utah
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Western Canada
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
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Eastern Canada
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Southern America click to expand
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Argentina Northwest
- Argentina South
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Southern South America
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000561206 |
| UNII | 240G38P85Z |
| Flora of Alabama | 3210 |
| Canadensys | 14755 |
| USDA Plants | BASC5 |
| Tropicos | 50083407 |
| INPN | 85631 |
| Flora of Italy | 502 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:164422-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2670858 |
| PFAF | Bassia scoparia |
| Open Tree Of Life | 35500 |
| Observations.org | 6930 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 83154 |
| NBN Atlas | NHMSYS0100000757 |
| Nature Serve | 2.147028 |
| IPNI | 164422-1 |
| iNaturalist | 159194 |
| GBIF | 5383936 |
| Freebase | /m/06w57mn |
| WisFlora | 12863 |
| FEIS | plants/forb/bassco |
| EPPO | KCHSC |
| EOL | 585759 |
| Elurikkus | 3054 |
| USDA GRIN | 404228 |
| Wikipedia | Bassia_scoparia |
| CMAUP | NPO21107 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_008642245.2 | Bs_v2 | Chromosome | International Weed Genomic Consortium | 2025-02-12 | 130 | 924.68 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| Feruloyltyramine | 5280537 | Click to see | 313.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Hydroxy fatty acids | |||||
| (R)-(-)-Mevalonic acid | 439230 | Click to see | 148.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Triterpene glycosides / Triterpene saponins | |||||
| Momordin Ic | 176596 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)C(=O)O)O)OC7C(C(C(CO7)O)O)O)O)C)C)C2C1)C)C(=O)O)C | 764.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (4aR,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-10-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 45483610 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C)C2C1)C)C(=O)O)C | 456.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Oleanolic Acid | 10494 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (22E)-Stigmasta-5,22-dien-3beta-ol | 91692579 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S)-17-[(E)-5-ethyl-6-methylhept-3-en-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 6432745 | Click to see CCC(C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sitogluside | 5742590 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C | 576.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmasta-5, (3beta)- | 5354369 | Click to see CCC(C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmasterol | 5280794 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives | |||||
| N-trans-feruloylmethoxytyramine | 5352115 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CCNC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)OC)O | 343.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| Ferulic Acid | 445858 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflav-2-enes / Isoflavones | |||||
| Irisone B | 5387194 | Click to see | 298.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Tectorigenin | 5281811 | Click to see | 300.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 3-O-methylated isoflavonoids / 3-O-methylisoflavones | |||||
| Iriflogenin | 11723995 | Click to see | 328.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylated isoflavonoids / 3-hydroxy,4-methoxyisoflavonoids | |||||
| 4'-Methoxy-3',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone | 5281803 | Click to see | 300.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |