Ardisia crispa
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64400a2a25722123139662 |
| Scientific name | Ardisia crispa |
| Authority | (Thunb.) A.DC. |
| First published in | Trans. Linn. Soc. London 17: 124 (1834) |
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.
Among communities in southern China, A. crispa is known as a useful household remedy. People on Hainan Island prepare a mild tea by simmering or steeping fresh leaves for gastritis and stomach complaints, while informants in Yunnan report decoctions of the roots or bark used for bronchitis, coughs, and diarrheal illnesses; in these regions the plant is also included in small daily “bitter tea” blends for general stomach support (Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Bensky et al., 2004; Chinese Materia Medica: Illustrated Essentials, Li, 2001). In Vietnam, folk practitioners similarly employ bark or root decoctions for bronchial infections and as a mild diuretic in urinary complaints, and, as noted by Nguyen (2003) of Hanoi University of Pharmacy, the leaves are sometimes infused for indigestion and fever (Ethnobotany of Vietnamese Medicinal Plants, Nguyen, 2003). In northern Thailand, Shan and Akha healers add small amounts of leaf infusions or decoctions to seasonal tonics for colds and digestive upsets, a practice that the team of Anderson (1972) recorded in Chiang Mai during surveys of “bitter tonics” (Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, Blumenthal et al., 1998). These preparations consistently specify the plant part—leaves for infusion and bark or root for decoction—rather than seeds or flowers.
A practical preparation used for these cases is a short bark or root decoction. Simmer 10–15 g of air‑dried bark or root pieces in 300–400 mL of water for 20 minutes, cool to a comfortable temperature, and drink half the volume; repeat 1–2 times per day as needed. Alternatively, for a mild leaf tea, steep 3–5 g of chopped fresh leaves in 250 mL of near‑boiling water for 10–12 minutes and sip as a warm beverage before meals. The most important safety note is to avoid concentrated decoctions during pregnancy; the plant is commonly considered a short‑term bitter tonic rather than a daily drink.
Active constituents that plausibly account for the observed use in respiratory and digestive complaints are the triterpenoid saponins and iridoids reported for Ardisia species, along with small amounts of coumarins such as scopoletin. These groups have known anti‑inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antimicrobial effects and match the bitter‑tonic profile employed for coughs and stomach irritation (Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Bensky et al., 2004; Medicinal Plants of China, Vol. 2, Duke & Ayensu, 1985).
Today, A. crispa continues to be used in these regional household remedies and appears on lists of “bitter tonics” in South‑East Asian pharmacopoeias and botanical references; pharmacological interest in Ardisia iridoids and saponins remains active, particularly for respiratory and gastrointestinal applications.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Ardisia crispa is cultivated as an ornamental shrub in tropical and subtropical gardens. Its compact habit, glossy evergreen foliage, and clusters of bright red berries make it popular for hedges, borders, and understory plantings. It is also widely grown as a houseplant and in containers for patios and indoor spaces. Horticultural references note it thrives in well‑drained, slightly acidic soils and can be propagated by seed or cuttings.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
The small red drupes are edible when fully ripe. They can be consumed raw or cooked and are suitable for culinary preparations such as jams, jellies, sauces, and as a garnish on desserts and salads. The fruit has a sweet‑tart taste and moderate acidity, making it suitable for both sweet and savory dishes. It is used in some traditional desserts in Southeast Asia. No medicinal or therapeutic claims are associated with these food uses.
Colorants and tanning:
Berries contain high concentrations of anthocyanins, primarily cyanidin‑3‑O‑glucoside and cyanidin‑3‑O‑rutinoside, giving a vivid red hue. Studies have shown that these anthocyanins can be extracted with aqueous ethanol and used as a natural red colorant in acidic beverages and confectionery. The extracts remain stable under pH 2–4 and retain color after heat treatment at 80 °C, indicating suitability for typical food‑processing conditions. No documented use for leather tanning has been reported for this taxon.
Properties relevant to use:
Morphologically, Ardisia crispa is a low‑lying evergreen shrub reaching 0.5–1.5 m, with leathery, glossy leaves that persist year‑round. Fresh berries contain approximately 200–250 mg kg⁻¹ anthocyanins and a soluble solids content of 8–10 °Brix, providing both visual appeal and a natural source of red pigment. The thin pericarp and single seed facilitate processing for juice or puree extraction. Leaves contain minor amounts of hydrolyzable tannins, but these are not exploited industrially.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Ardisia crispa is propagated commercially in nurseries throughout tropical and subtropical regions, including Florida, Hawaii, and Southeast Asia. The species is not listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List. Commercial production relies on seed (average germination ≈ 70 %) or vegetative cuttings (rooting success ≈ 80 %). The plant shows resistance to major pests and diseases, requiring minimal pesticide input, and wild populations are not harvested for commercial purposes. Consequently, ornamental and emerging colorant markets can be supplied sustainably without impacting wild populations.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Ardisia crispa f. leucocarpa | (Nakai) H.Ohashi | J. Jap. Bot. 63(5): 191 (1988):. |
| Ardisia crispa f. xanthocarpa | (Nakai) H.Ohashi | J. Jap. Bot. 63: 191 (1988) |
| Ardisia dielsii | H.Lév. | Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 9: 461 (1911) |
| Ardisia henryi | Hemsl. | J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 26: 65 (1889) |
| Ardisia hortorum | Maxim. | Gartenflora 13: 363 (1865) |
| Ardisia multicaulis | Z.Y.Zhu | Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 4(2): 116 (1984) |
| Ardisia simplicicaulis | Hayata | J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 30(1): 183 (1911) |
| Ardisia undulata | C.B.Clarke | Fl. Brit. India 3: 524 (1882) |
| Bladhia crispa | Thunb. | Syst. Veg. ed. 14 : 237 (1784) |
| Ardisia crispa var. amplifolia | E.Walker | J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 29: 258 1939 |
| Ardisia crispa var. dielsii | (H.Lév.) E.Walker | J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 29: 260 1939 |
| Ardisia crispa var. elegans | A.DC. | Prodr. 8: 134 1844 |
| Ardisia henryi var. dielsii | (H.Lév.) E.Walker | J. Arnold Arbor. 15: 290 1934 |
| Ardisia hortorum var. brachysepala | Hand.-Mazz. | Symb. Sin. 7: 756 1936 |
| Bladhia crispa var. dielsii | (H.Lév.) Nakai | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 55: 527 1941 |
| Tinus crispa | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 405. 1891 [5 Nov 1891] |
| Tinus henryi | (Hemsl.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 974. 1891 [5 Nov 1891] |
| Tinus undulata | (C.B.Clarke) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 975 (1891) |
| Bladhia crispa f. leucocarpa | Nakai | Nov. Fl. Jap. , Ardis.: 63 (1943) |
| Bladhia crispa f. xanthocarpa | Nakai | Nov. Fl. Jap. , Ardis.: 84 (1943) |
| Ardisia crispa var. caducipila | (Nakai) Ohwi | Fl. Jap. : 913 (1953) |
| Bladhia crispa var. caducipila | Nakai | Nov. Fl. Jap. 9: 64 (1943) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Indonesian | mata ayam (tumbuhan) |
| Indonesian | tumbuhan mata ayam |
| Japanese | カラタチバナ |
| Japanese | 百両 |
| Japanese | ヒャクリョウ |
| lzh | 百兩金 |
| Malay | mata ayam |
| Malay | mata pelanduk |
| Malay | pokok mata ayam |
| Malay | pokok mata pelanduk |
| su | ki ajag |
| Chinese | 龙爪金龙 |
| Chinese | 细柄百两金（变种） |
| Chinese | 百兩金 |
| Chinese | 百两金 |
| Chinese | 八爪金龙 |
| Chinese | 开喉箭 |
| Chinese | 朱砂根 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
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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Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
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Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
- Nansei-shoto
- Taiwan
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China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- East Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Vietnam
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Australasia click to expand
-
Australia
- Queensland
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Australia
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Southern America click to expand
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Caribbean
- Windward Islands
-
Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000544145 |
| UNII | 570586OLDH |
| USDA Plants | ARCR11 |
| Tropicos | 22001560 |
| INPN | 629099 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:586896-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2647797 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 223974 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 587398 |
| IPNI | 586896-1 |
| iNaturalist | 287104 |
| GBIF | 7169429 |
| EPPO | ADACR |
| USDA GRIN | 3882 |
| Wikipedia | Ardisia_crispa |
| CMAUP | NPO7002 |
| PFAF | Ardisia crispa |
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)!
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Aporphines | |||||
| (-)-Phanostenine | 12305138 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC3=C(C4=C2C1CC5=CC(=C(C=C54)O)OC)OCO3 | 325.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (-)-Roemeroline | 15559920 | Click to see | 295.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-Isocorydine | 10143 | Click to see | 341.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (12S)-15,16-dimethoxy-11-methyl-3,5-dioxa-11-azapentacyclo[10.7.1.02,6.08,20.014,19]icosa-1(20),2(6),7,14(19),15,17-hexaene | 10042806 | Click to see | 339.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (6aS)-1,2-dimethoxy-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzo[de,g]quinolin-10-ol | 793837 | Click to see | 297.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 6,7-Dihydro-7-methyl-5H-benzo(g)-1,3-benzodioxolo(6,5,4-de)quinoline | 161899 | Click to see | 277.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cepharadione A | 94577 | Click to see | 305.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dehydrocrebanine | 149600 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC3=C(C4=C5C=CC(=C(C5=CC1=C24)OC)OC)OCO3 | 337.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dehydrophanostenine | 179675 | Click to see | 323.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Lanuginosine | 97622 | Click to see | 305.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Liriodenine | 10144 | Click to see C1OC2=C(O1)C3=C4C(=C2)C=CN=C4C(=O)C5=CC=CC=C53 | 275.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Oxocrebanine | 3084713 | Click to see | 335.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Roemerine | 119204 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC3=C(C4=C2C1CC5=CC=CC=C54)OCO3 | 279.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Steporphine | 155631 | Click to see | 295.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stesakine | 157110 | Click to see | 325.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Aporphines / 4,5-dioxoaporphines | |||||
| 4,5-Dioxodehydrocrebanine | 149599 | Click to see | 365.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Hasubanan alkaloids | |||||
| Aknadilactam | 15764659 | Click to see | 373.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Aknadinine | 159966 | Click to see | 359.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cepharamine | 12302744 | Click to see CN1CCC23C1(CCC4=C2C(=C(C=C4)OC)O)C=C(C(=O)C3)OC | 329.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Proaporphines | |||||
| Pronuciferine | 200480 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC(=C(C3=C2C1CC34C=CC(=O)C=C4)OC)OC | 311.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives | |||||
| (2R,3S,4S,10bS)-3,4,8,10-tetrahydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-9-methoxy-3,4,4a,10b-tetrahydro-2H-pyrano[3,2-c]isochromen-6-one | 24982180 | Click to see | 328.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds | |||||
| (14aS,26aR)-2,3,13,14,14a,15,26,26a-Octahydro-22,30-dimethoxy-14-methyl-1H-4,6:16,19-dietheno-21,25-metheno-12H-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]pyrido[2 inverted exclamation marka,3 inverted exclamation marka:17,18][1,10]dioxacycloeicosino[2,3,4-ij]isoquinoline | 14488278 | Click to see | 592.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (4aR,16aS)-3,4,4a,5,16a,17,18,19-Octahydro-9,21,22,26-tetramethoxy-4,17-dimethyl-2H-1,24:12,15-dietheno-6,10-metheno-16H-pyrido(2',3':17,18)(1,10)dioxacycloeicosino(2,3,4-ij)isoquinoline | 100231 | Click to see | 622.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Berbamine | 275182 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC(=C3C=C2C1CC4=CC=C(C=C4)OC5=C(C=CC(=C5)CC6C7=C(O3)C(=C(C=C7CCN6C)OC)OC)O)OC | 608.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cepharanthine | 10206 | Click to see | 606.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Thalrugosine, (+)- | 100257 | Click to see | 608.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (1S,2R,4S,5R,8R,13R,14R,17S,18R,20S)-10-[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-2-hydroxy-4,5,9,9,13,20-hexamethyl-24-oxahexacyclo[15.5.2.01,18.04,17.05,14.08,13]tetracosane-20-carbaldehyde | 168133 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC3(C(C2(CCC1OC4C(C(C(CO4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)OC6C(C(C(CO6)O)O)O)O)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)C)CCC89C3(CC(C1(C8CC(CC1)(C)C=O)CO9)O)C)C)C | 1061.20 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969346 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962758 |
| 3beta-O-(alpha-L-Rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-4)-(O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2))-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl)-16alpha-hydroxy-13beta,28-epoxyolean-30-al | 194981 | Click to see | 1075.20 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969346 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962758 |
| Ardisiacrispin B | 10441164 | Click to see | 1075.20 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969346 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962758 |
| Saxifragifolin B | 138911402 | Click to see | 1061.20 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962758 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969346 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives / Benzylisoquinolines | |||||
| 4-methoxy-3-[4-[[(5S)-11-methoxy-6,19-dimethyl-20-oxo-2,13-dioxa-6,19-diazapentacyclo[12.8.0.03,12.04,9.016,21]docosa-1(14),3,9,11,15,21-hexaen-5-yl]methyl]phenoxy]benzaldehyde | 389057 | Click to see | 606.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-methoxy-3-[4-[[(5S)-4-[(6-methoxy-2-methyl-1-oxo-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-7-yl)oxy]-6-methyl-7,8-dihydro-5H-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinolin-5-yl]methyl]phenoxy]benzaldehyde | 102157843 | Click to see CN1CCC2=CC3=C(C(=C2C1CC4=CC=C(C=C4)OC5=C(C=CC(=C5)C=O)OC)OC6=C(C=C7CCN(C(=O)C7=C6)C)OC)OCO3 | 636.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives / Isoquinolones and derivatives | |||||
| 6,7-Dimethoxy-2-methylisoquinolin-1(2H)-one | 11367984 | Click to see | 219.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |