Caryopteris incana
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64402a247fb0d026402811 |
| Scientific name | Caryopteris incana |
| Authority | Miq. |
| First published in | Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 2: 97 (1865) |
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 southeastern China, the whole aerial parts of Caryopteris incana are traditionally gathered in summer and dried for later use, most often as an infusion of the leaves and stems for coughs, colds, and sore throats, and as a decoction to help “expel heat and reduce inflammation” in urinary discomfort (Li et al., 2019). Along the same lines, practioners of folk medicine in Hubei Province have recorded decoctions of the dried plant for lung-related complaints and as a diuretic, while in Anhui they prepare a maceration of leaves for topical treatment of wounds and sores (Jiangxi Province, 1980; Wen & Zhang, 2008). Historical texts such as the Illustrated Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu, 1596) describe boiling the aerial herb in water for fever and upper respiratory symptoms and applying fresh crushed leaves externally, reinforcing these long-standing preparation forms (Li, 1596).
A practical, documented way to prepare a mild tea uses the dried aerial herb. Take roughly 10 g of dried leaves and stems and pour 500 mL of just‑boiled water over them; cover and steep for 10–15 minutes, then strain. Two or three cups daily is common in recorded folk practice, but do not exceed several days of continuous use without guidance, and discontinue if signs of digestive upset or liver discomfort occur (Li et al., 2019; Jiangxi Province, 1980). Those who prefer a tincture can use the dried aerial herb at a 1:5 ratio by weight to volume with 45–50% ethanol, macerating for 2–4 weeks, shaking daily, and filtering; a typical adult dose reported in regional monographs is 5–10 mL taken three times daily, with careful attention to the ethanol content (Li et al., 2019). Topically, a poultice can be made by lightly crushing fresh leaves into a paste and applying it to minor skin irritations or sores for a few minutes several times a day, as noted in county-level herb compendia of Hubei and Anhui (Wen & Zhang, 2008).
These uses are plausibly supported by the plant’s chemistry. Analyses of aerial parts of C. incana consistently show iridoids such as caryopterosides A and B, along with phenylpropanoid glycosides like acteoside, and flavonoid O‑glycosides and phenolic acids. These compounds exhibit antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro, which can help explain the topical and upper‑respiratory applications (Jia et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2019). While modern research points to antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and modest inhibition of inflammatory mediators, clinical evidence remains limited, so contemporary use should be approached with moderation (Wang et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2019).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Leaf essential oil, obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts (flowers and leaves), is the primary non‑medicinal product derived from Caryopteris incana.
Industrial and craft applications:
- The oil is employed by artisanal candle and diffuser makers as a natural scent source, offering a fresh, herbal fragrance profile.
- Small‑scale perfumers incorporate it as a middle‑note component in hand‑crafted fragrance blends, and it is used by boutique soap makers to impart lasting scent in cold‑process soaps.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- Beyond fine perfumery, the oil is incorporated into soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, body lotions, shampoos, and bath gels to provide a pleasant floral‑herbal aroma. Industry practice places the oil at concentrations of roughly 0.05 % to 2 % of the total fragrance load, depending on the desired intensity.
Properties relevant to use:
- Chemical analyses repeatedly identify linalool and 1,8‑cineole as the dominant monoterpenes, together accounting for about 30 %–45 % of the oil, while β‑caryophyllene, germacrene D, and δ‑cadinene contribute the principal sesquiterpene fractions (typically 4 %–9 % each).
- Physical data reported include a density of approximately 0.90 g cm⁻³ and a refractive index of about 1.470 at 20 °C, values typical of leaf oils rich in terpenoids.
- Odor‑detection thresholds are low: linalool (~0.5 ppm) and 1,8‑cineole (~0.2 ppm), granting the oil high olfactory impact even when used at modest concentrations.
Standards and regulation:
- The use of C. incana essential oil in cosmetics and fragrance formulations is governed by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Guidelines, which specify maximum permissible levels for constituent allergens such as linalool and geraniol.
- National regulatory frameworks—including the EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC No 1223/2009) and the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act—require allergen labeling for certain fragrance compounds and mandate safety assessments prior to market placement.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- The species is cultivated widely as an ornamental shrub in temperate horticulture and can be propagated vegetatively, allowing regular harvests of aerial biomass for oil extraction without depleting wild populations.
- Sustainable production practices involve pruning after flowering, which enables the plant to regenerate while supplying a consistent amount of plant material for essential‑oil distillation.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Mastacanthus barbula | Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 2: 105 (1841) |
| Nepeta incana | Thunb. ex Houtt. | Nat. Hist. 2(9): 307 (1778) |
| Caryopteris incana var. candida | C.K.Schneid. | Ill. Handb. Laubholzk. 2: 596. 1911 |
| Caryopteris incana f. candida | (C.K.Schneid.) H.Hara | Enum. Sperm. Jap. 1: 187 1948 |
| Caryopteris mastacanthus var. nana | Borsch | Hardy Alp. Pl. 8. 1927 |
| Caryopteris mastacanthus var. superba | Dreer | Gard. Book 21, 117. 1935 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Arabic | أبو ذقن زرقاء |
| Arabic | ابو ذقن زرقه |
| Arabic | أبو ذقن زرقة |
| Czech | ořechokřídlec šedivý |
| Danish | viol-blåskæg |
| Korean | 층꽃나무 |
| mul | 兰香草 |
| Slovak | bradavec sivý |
| Chinese | 兰香草 |
| Chinese | 灰葉蕕 |
| Chinese | 莸 |
Varieties (abbr. var.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Caryopteris incana var. angustifolia | S.L.Chen & R.L.Guo | Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 65(1): 213 (1982) |
| Caryopteris incana var. incana | Unknown |
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
- Taiwan
-
China
-
Europe click to expand
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Southeastern Europe
- Bulgaria
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Southeastern Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
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North-central U.S.A.
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000808950 |
| UNII | 9Y284K559O |
| Tropicos | 33702327 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:861591-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-34719 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 215075 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 41386 |
| IPNI | 861591-1 |
| iNaturalist | 627199 |
| GBIF | 7308640 |
| EPPO | CRBIN |
| EOL | 2893518 |
| USDA GRIN | 9274 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| (4aR)-5,6,8-trihydroxy-7-(2-hydroxypropyl)-1,1,4a-trimethyl-3,4,10,10a-tetrahydro-2H-phenanthren-9-one | 102066392 | Click to see | 348.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00609-7 https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.201631217 |
| (4aS,10aS)-5,6,8-trihydroxy-7-[(2S)-2-hydroxypropyl]-1,1,4a-trimethyl-3,4,10,10a-tetrahydro-2H-phenanthren-9-one | 162853116 | Click to see | 348.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00609-7 |
| 5,6,8-trihydroxy-7-(2-hydroxypropyl)-1,1,4a-trimethyl-3,4,10,10a-tetrahydro-2H-phenanthren-9-one | 3283921 | Click to see | 348.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00609-7 |
| 6-Hydroxy-1,1,4A-trimethyl-7-(propan-2-YL)-1,2,3,4,4A,9,10,10A-octahydrophenanthren-9-one | 275529 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00609-7 |
| Sugiol | 94162 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00609-7 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Iridoid O-glycosides | |||||
| (1S,4aS,5S,7S,7aR)-1,4a,5,6,7,7a-Hexahydro-4a,5,7-trihydroxy-7-methylcyclopenta[c]pyran-1-yl beta-D-glucopyranoside | 145706031 | Click to see | 364.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00086-2 |
| (2S,3S,5R,6R)-2-[[(1S,4aS,5R,7S,7aR)-4a,5,7-trihydroxy-7-methyl-1,5,6,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-1-yl]oxy]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-4-one | 15489522 | Click to see | 362.33 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00086-2 |
| [(1S,4aS,5R,7S,7aS)-1-[(2S,3S,5R,6R)-3,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-oxooxan-2-yl]oxy-4a,5-dihydroxy-7-methyl-1,5,6,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-7-yl] acetate | 100982868 | Click to see | 404.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00086-2 |
| [(4aS,7S,7aR)-4a,5-dihydroxy-7-methyl-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,5,6,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-7-yl] acetate | 137703299 | Click to see | 406.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00086-2 |
| Harpagide | 93045 | Click to see | 364.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00086-2 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| [(3S,6R,7R,8S,11R,12S,15S,16R,19S,20R,21R)-7,20-diethyl-19-hydroxy-3,7,11,16,20-pentamethyl-8-pentacyclo[13.8.0.03,12.06,11.016,21]tricos-1(23)-enyl] acetate | 163191247 | Click to see | 512.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Oligosaccharides | |||||
| [(2R,3R,4R,5R,6R)-4-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-6-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]-5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl] (E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 10327934 | Click to see | 786.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| [(2S,3R,4R,5R,6R)-4-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5-[(E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxy-3-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl] 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propanoate | 163195113 | Click to see | 814.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| [(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-4-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-6-[[(E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxymethyl]-3,5-dihydroxyoxan-2-yl] 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propanoate | 163188289 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2O)OC(=O)CCC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)COC(=O)C=CC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 814.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| [4-[4,5-Dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5-[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxy]-3-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl] 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propanoate | 163021017 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C=CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)CO)OC(=O)CCC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 814.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| [4-[4,5-Dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-6-[2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)ethoxy]-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl] 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 85098811 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C=CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)CO)OCCC4=CC(=C(C=C4)OC)O)O)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 814.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1075 |
| [4-[4,5-Dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-6-[2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethoxy]-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl] 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 73092457 | Click to see | 814.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1075 |
| [4-[4,5-Dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-6-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]-5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl] 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 162909204 | Click to see | 800.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1075 |
| [4-[4,5-Dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-6-[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxymethyl]-3,5-dihydroxyoxan-2-yl] 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propanoate | 162965711 | Click to see | 814.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| Incanoside C | 10010564 | Click to see | 800.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1075 |
| Incanoside D | 10033344 | Click to see | 814.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1075 |
| Incanoside E | 11765908 | Click to see | 814.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1075 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| (3,4,5,6-Tetrahydroxyoxan-2-yl)methyl 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 85140196 | Click to see | 342.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| (E)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)propenoic acid 6-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose-6-yl ester | 101419460 | Click to see | 342.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| [6-[3,4-Dihydroxy-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl 3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 73157790 | Click to see | 548.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1075 |
| {6-[2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]-3,5-dihydroxy-4-[(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxy]oxan-2-yl}methyl 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 73323377 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2O)OCCC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)COC(=O)C=CC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O | 624.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl 3-O-(6-Deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-4-O-((2E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside | 132274946 | Click to see | 624.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| Acteoside;Kusaginin;TJC160 | 354009 | Click to see | 624.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| Isoacteoside | 6476333 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2O)OCCC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)COC(=O)C=CC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O | 624.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
| Sibiricose A1 | 6326016 | Click to see | 548.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1075 |
| Verbascoside | 5281800 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C=CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)CO)OCCC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O | 624.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.63.983 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |