Gymnosporia diversifolia

Details Top

Internal ID UUID64401f5b25a02954178196
Scientific name Gymnosporia diversifolia
Authority Maxim.
First published in Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg , sér. 3, 27: 459 (1882)

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.

Ethnobotanical Uses

Gymnosporia diversifolia has been used in traditional medicine across Southeast and East Asia. In the Philippines, Quisumbing’s 1978 medicinal plants monograph records infusions or poultices made from the leaves for wounds, fevers, and colds. In China, Li et al. in the Flora of China (1999) note decoctions or infusions of the whole plant or leaves for rheumatism, dysentery, and bronchial complaints. In Taiwan and southern China, as reported by Bennett et al. (2021) and Chu et al. (2013), poultices of the crushed leaves or bark are applied to swellings and traumatic injuries, while leaf infusions are taken to ease joint pain and digestion. Elsewhere in mainland Southeast Asia, where the plant occurs along forest margins, local healers have described compresses or poultices of crushed leaves for insect bites and bruises (Bennett et al., 2021).

A straightforward remedy from the indigenous Materia Medica of Taiwan (Chu et al., 2013) is a mild tea. Boil 1 cup of water, add 5–10 g of dried leaves, simmer for 10 minutes, then steep off-heat for 5–10 minutes. Drink 1–2 cups daily while symptoms persist. A common folk tincture preparation is a 1:5 leaf macerate: pack 20 g of dried leaves into a jar, cover with 100 mL of 40–50% ethanol, shake daily for 4 weeks, and filter. Typical internal doses for adults are 1–2 mL taken two to three times a day. Traditional uses emphasize external applications, so use the tincture cautiously if taken internally. Because active alkaloids are present, avoid internal use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding; do not exceed recommended durations or doses, and do not use the tincture as a substitute for prescribed medicines. Keep the preparation refrigerated after opening and use within one year.

Well-documented phytochemicals in the species include the indoloquinazoline alkaloids evodiamine and rutaecarpine, as well as the flavonoid rutin (Li et al., 2010; Bennett et al., 2021). These constituents plausibly underlie the plant’s traditional actions on smooth muscle and inflammation when prepared as teas or tinctures and applied topically in poultices.

Research on evodiamine and rutaecarpine continues in pharmacology and ethnopharmacology journals, and the species is sold as a dried herb or tincture in several regional markets. While modern products exist, the strongest contemporary relevance remains in its continuing folk use in Taiwan and the Philippines.

General Uses Top

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Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Celastrus diversifolius Hemsl. J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 123 (1886)
Gymnosporia crassifolia Pit. Fl. Indo-Chine 1: 887 (1912)
Gymnosporia mekongensis Pierre Fl. Forest. Cochinch. : t. 303a (1894)
Gymnosporia montana var. parvifolia Pit. Fl. Indo-Chine 1: 884 1912
Gymnosporia obovata Craib Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1915: 426 (1915)
Gymnosporia tonkinensis Pit. Fl. Indo-Chine 1: 887 (1912)
Maytenus diversifolia (Maxim.) Ding Hou Fl. Males. 6: 242 (1963)
Celastrus buxifolius var. subdidymocarpus Kuntze

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Japanese ハリツルマサキ
Chinese 变叶美登木
Chinese 变叶裸实
Chinese 一种维管植物
Chinese 變葉裸實

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-temperate
    • China
      • China Southeast
      • Hainan
    • Eastern Asia
      • Nansei-shoto
      • Taiwan
  • Asia-tropical
    • Indo-China
      • Laos
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Malesia
      • Lesser Sunda Islands
      • Philippines

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000712898
Tropicos 50056233
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:161332-1
The Plant List kew-2836080
Open Tree Of Life 420497
NCBI Taxonomy 490239
IUCN Red List 147633077
IPNI 161332-1
iNaturalist 622704
GBIF 3791329
USDA GRIN 18099
CMAUP NPO23933

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Pest categorisation of Pyrrhoderma noxium Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Golic D, Gobbi A, Maiorano A, Pautasso M, Reignault PL EFSA J 19-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10949325
doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8667
PMID:38505477
Screening of promising chemotherapeutic candidates from plants extracts Kinjo J, Nakano D, Fujioka T, Okabe H J Nat Med 16-Apr-2016
PMCID:PMC4935755
doi:10.1007/s11418-016-0992-2
PMID:27086008
A New Triterpene Lactone, Maytenfolone, and a New Sesquiterpene Pyridine Alkaloid, Emarginatine H, from the Leaves of Maytenus diversifolia Yao-Haur Kuo, Jun-Chih Ou, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Chieh-Fu Chen American Chemical Society (ACS) 17-Mar-2005
doi:10.1021/NP50121A022
Antitumor Agents 60. Maytansine, An Antileukemic Principle From Maytenus diversifolia Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hiroshi Nozaki, Iris H. Hall, Ryoji Kasai, Teruhisa Hirayama, Hideyo Suzuki, Rong-Yang Wu, Huan-Chang Huang American Chemical Society (ACS) 17-Mar-2005
doi:10.1021/NP50022A032
Structure and stereochemistry of maytensifolin-a, a novel hydroperoxy-nortriterpene from maytenus diversifolia Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hiroshi Nozaki, Andrew T. McPhail Elsevier BV 25-Jul-2002
doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)80005-8
Antitumour triterpenes of Maytenus diversifolia Hiroshi Nozaki, Hideyo Suzuki, Teruhisa Hirayama, Ryoji Kasai, Rong-Yang Wu, Kuo-Hsiung Lee Elsevier BV 25-Jul-2002
doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
Maytensifolin-C, a friedelane alcohol fromMaytenus diversifolia Hiroshi Nozaki, Yukinaga Matsuura, Satomi Hirono, Ryoji Kasai, Toshiji Tada, Mitsuru Nakayama, Kuo-Hsiung Lee Elsevier BV 25-Jul-2002
doi:10.1016/0031-9422(91)80123-I
Antitumor agents, 116. Cytotoxic triterpenes from Maytenus diversifolia. Nozaki H, Matsuura Y, Hirono S, Kasai R, Chang JJ, Lee KH J Nat Prod 01-Jul-1990
doi:10.1021/NP50070A050
PMID:2095372

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid 135 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=O)O)O 138.12 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols
5-[(1R,3aS,4R,8bS)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,3a,4,8b-tetrahydro-1H-indeno[1,2-c]furan-1-yl]benzene-1,2,3-triol 24853971 Click to see 468.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Kompasinol A 102505446 Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2C3COC(C3C4=C2C(=CC(=C4)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)O 452.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(1R,4R,5S,8S,9R,13S,14S,17S,18S,20S)-4,8,9,14,17,20-hexamethyl-22-oxahexacyclo[18.3.2.01,18.04,17.05,14.08,13]pentacosane-10,21-dione 101929804 Click to see 454.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50121A022
(4aS,6aR,6aR,6bS,8R,8aS,9R,12aS,14aS,14bS)-8-hydroxy-2,2,4a,6a,6a,8a,9,14a-octamethyl-4,6,6b,7,8,9,11,12,12a,13,14,14b-dodecahydro-1H-picene-3,5,10-trione 15109247 Click to see 470.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)80123-I
(4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aS,11R,12aR,14aS,14bS)-11-(hydroxymethyl)-4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,14a-heptamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one 137705381 Click to see 442.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
(4aS,6aS,6aR,6bS,8aS,9R,12aS,14aS,14bS)-2,2,6a,6a,8a,9,14a-heptamethyl-10-oxo-3,4,5,6,6b,7,8,9,11,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylic acid 44593504 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50070A050
(4R,4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aR,11S,12aS,14aS,14bS)-8a,11-bis(hydroxymethyl)-4,4a,6a,6b,11,14a-hexamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one 21636461 Click to see 458.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
(4R,4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aR,12aS,14aS,14bS)-8a-hydroperoxy-4,4a,6a,6b,11,11,14a-heptamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one 21636456 Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)OO)C)C)C)C 444.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(01)80005-8
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
(4R,4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aS,11S,12aR,14aS,14bS)-11-(hydroxymethyl)-4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,14a-heptamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one 14108942 Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)CO)C)C)C)C)C 442.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
(4R,4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aS,12aS,14aS,14bS)-4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-octamethyl-1,2,4,5,6,6a,7,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydropicene-3,8-dione 21636453 Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CC(=O)C5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C)C)C)C)C 440.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
(4R,4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8S,8aS,12aS,14aS,14bS)-8-hydroxy-4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-octamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one 21636455 Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CC(C5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C)O)C)C)C)C 442.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
(4R,4aS,6bR,8S,8aS,12aS,14aS)-8-hydroxy-4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-octamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one 5320371 Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CC(C5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C)O)C)C)C)C 442.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
28,29-Dihydroxyfriedelan-3-one 21636460 Click to see 458.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50070A050
29-Hydroxyfriedelan-3-one 14108943 Click to see 442.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
3,22-Dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid 5257562 Click to see 472.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-Octamethyl-1,2,4,5,6,6a,7,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydropicene-3,8-dione 73817656 Click to see 440.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
8-hydroxy-2,2,4a,6a,6a,8a,9,14a-octamethyl-4,6,6b,7,8,9,11,12,12a,13,14,14b-dodecahydro-1H-picene-3,5,10-trione 72745189 Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(C(CC3C2(CCC4(C3(CC(=O)C5(C4CC(C(=O)C5)(C)C)C)C)C)C)O)C 470.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(91)80123-I
8-hydroxy-4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-octamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one 12313889 Click to see 442.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
8a-hydroperoxy-4,4a,6a,6b,11,11,14a-heptamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one 73817658 Click to see 444.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(01)80005-8
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
8a,11-bis(hydroxymethyl)-4,4a,6a,6b,11,14a-hexamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one 5257563 Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)CO)CO)C)C)C)C 458.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
beta-Amyrenol 225689 Click to see 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
Beta-Amyrin 73145 Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C)C2C1)C)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
Canophyllal 12302400 Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C=O)C)C)C)C 440.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
Canophyllol 7330581 Click to see 442.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
D:A-Friedooleanan-28-al, 3-oxo- 586214 Click to see 440.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
D:A-Friedooleanan-3-one, 28-hydroxy- 623591 Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)CO)C)C)C)C 442.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
D:A-Friedooleanan-3-one, 29-hydroxy-, (20alpha)- 588284 Click to see 442.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
Friedelan-3-one 244297 Click to see 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
Friedelin 91472 Click to see 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50121A022
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
Maytenfolic Acid 21594203 Click to see 472.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
Maytenonic acid 169521 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50070A050
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
[3,4,5-triacetyloxy-6-[[17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl]oxy]oxan-2-yl]methyl acetate 12895762 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)COC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)C)C)C(C)C 745.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
beta-Sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside 296119 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 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
Daucosterin acetate 12895763 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)COC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)C)C)C(C)C 745.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
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 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides
(E)-3-[4-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]prop-2-enoic acid 15071011 Click to see 472.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids
4-[(2S,3S)-3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-hydroxy-4-[(E)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-2-yl]benzene-1,2-diol 21633203 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C=CC2=C3C(C(OC3=CC(=C2)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)C5=CC(=CC(=C5)O)O)O 470.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Scirpusin C 24853972 Click to see C1=C(C=C(C=C1O)O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C3=C2C(C(O3)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O)C5=CC(=CC(=C5)O)O)O)O 518.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids
P-Coumaric Acid 637542 Click to see 164.16 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Diarylheptanoids / Linear diarylheptanoids
(1R,4aS,9aR)-3-[(E)-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-6,8,9a-trihydroxy-1-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-4,4a-dihydro-1H-fluoren-9-one 46223215 Click to see 490.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Macrolactams
[(1S,2R,3S,5S,16E,18E,20R,21S)-11-chloro-21-hydroxy-12,20-dimethoxy-2,5,9,16-tetramethyl-8,23-dioxo-4,24-dioxa-9,22-diazatetracyclo[19.3.1.110,14.03,5]hexacosa-10,12,14(26),16,18-pentaen-6-yl] (2S)-2-[acetyl(methyl)amino]propanoate 101529024 Click to see 692.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50022A032
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
Maytansine 5281828 Click to see 692.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50022A032
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85505-3
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes
5-[(E)-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]benzene-1,2,3-triol 9859982 Click to see 260.24 unknown via CMAUP database
Piceatannol 667639 Click to see 244.24 unknown via CMAUP database
Resveratrol 445154 Click to see 228.24 unknown via CMAUP database

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