Caryopteris mongholica

Details Top

Internal ID UUID64402a2902aff365681167
Scientific name Caryopteris mongholica
Authority Bunge
First published in Uchen. Zap. Imp. Kazansk. Univ. 1835(4): 179 (1835)

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 Mongols of Inner Mongolia, the whole herb has long been taken as a mild tea for wind‑cold type colds and to ease coughing; ethnographers Tong and Bator (2013) record both tea and decoction preparations from the aerial parts. Historic texts of Chinese Materia Medica likewise describe the same species as a tea and decoction for colds and “wind‑damp” limb aches; the leaves and stems are the parts most often used (Zhang et al., 2012, summarizing Zhonghua Bencao). In the framework of Mongolian herbal practice, the herb is valued as a “clearing” and “drying” agent and is likewise used as a hot infusion when fever or headache arise (Badgar & Tsagaan, 2010). Across these sources, the plant part specified is almost exclusively the above‑ground material—leaves and stems—though roots appear in occasional folk notes as an occasional tea for stomach upset (Zhang et al., 2012).

For a practical application, a mild tea can be prepared by simmering 6–9 g of the chopped aerial parts in 250–300 mL of water for 15–20 minutes, then straining and drinking 1 cup 1–2 times daily while symptoms persist. The taste is pungent and pleasantly aromatic. A tincture can also be made with 1:5 herb:solvent using 45% ethanol; macerate for 10–14 days in darkness, shaking occasionally, and take 10–15 drops in water 1–2 times daily. In clinical use, people familiar with the herb limit intake to short courses of a few days, avoid high‑proof preparations if pregnant or nursing, and discontinue if stomach upset appears; children and the elderly are best started with low‑strength infusions (Zhang et al., 2012; Tong & Bator, 2013).

Chemically, well‑documented constituents in this species include phenylethanoid glycosides such as acteoside and isoacteoside, flavonoids including luteolin and apigenin derivatives, monoterpenoid glycosides, and diterpenoids of the clerodane type; methoxylated flavones such as cirsimaritin have also been isolated (Zhang et al., 2012; Singh et al., 2015). These classes are consistent with the traditional assignments of “cooling, drying” and with observed antimicrobial, anti‑inflammatory, and spasmolytic effects in crude extracts (Singh et al., 2015).

Modern relevance: In China the herb remains available in local folk‑medicine shops and is widely gathered in northern provinces; in other regions it is chiefly encountered online as a dried herb (Zhang et al., 2012). Contemporary pharmacological research continues to focus on antimicrobial and anti‑inflammatory screens of aerial‑part extracts and isolated constituents (Singh et al., 2015), while ethnobotanical surveys keep its traditional tea‑ and decoction‑based uses alive in daily practice.

General Uses Top

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Common products:
Caryopteris mongholica is cultivated and sold as an ornamental shrub. Container‑grown plants are supplied to commercial nurseries for landscape use, including borders, mass plantings, and drought‑tolerant garden designs. The compact habit (0.6–1.2 m height) and fragrant violet‑blue flowers make it a popular garden ornamental.

Industrial and craft applications:
Leaves are processed by hydrodistillation to obtain a volatile essential oil. The oil is employed as a fragrance component in perfume formulations and as a scented additive in soaps, detergents, and other personal‑care products. No medical claims are associated with this use; the oil serves purely as a fragrance material.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
The leaf essential oil of C. mongholica is described as fresh and herbaceous. Analyses report high levels of the monoterpenes 1,8‑cineole and linalool, along with α‑ and β‑pinene, which together provide the characteristic scent. The oil is used in perfume bases, lotions, and other cosmetic preparations where a natural aromatic profile is desired.

Scientific/model‑organism:
A draft genome of C. mongholica has been sequenced (e.g., published in GigaScience, 2022). This reference genome is deposited in public repositories (NCBI GenBank) and is employed in phylogenetic and comparative genomic studies within the Lamiaceae family.

Properties relevant to use:
The leaf essential oil’s composition—dominated by 1,8‑cineole, linalool, and other monoterpenes—provides desirable volatility and aromatic intensity for fragrance applications. The plant’s drought tolerance and compact, low‑maintenance growth habit support its ornamental production and landscaping value.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Commercial propagation is primarily through vegetative cuttings in nursery programs in China and Mongolia, reducing reliance on wild harvesting. Sustainable practices recommend periodic renewal of planting material and limitation of wild collection to maintain natural populations, while industrial essential‑oil production is carried out under controlled cultivation to minimise environmental impact.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Caryopteris mongholica var. serrata Maxim. Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg sér. 3, 31: 88. 1886
Caryopteris mongholica var. nuda V.I.Dorof. Turczaninowia 14(2): 109 (2011)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Chinese 白沙蒿
Chinese 蒙古莸
Chinese 蒙莸
Chinese 蓝花茶
Chinese 兰花茶
Chinese 山狼毒

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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No subspecies added yet.

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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No variety added yet.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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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
  • Asia-temperate
    • China
      • China North-central
      • Inner Mongolia
    • Mongolia
      • Mongolia
    • Siberia
      • Buryatiya

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000809111
Tropicos 33702321
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:861594-1
The Plant List kew-34735
Open Tree Of Life 161834
Observations.org 134640
NCBI Taxonomy 201515
IPNI 861594-1
iNaturalist 869007
GBIF 3897666
EPPO CRBMO
EOL 2893520
Elurikkus 436011
USDA GRIN 9276
CMAUP NPO13970

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
A dataset for fine-grained seed recognition Yuan M, Lv N, Dong Y, Hu X, Lu F, Zhan K, Shen J, Wu X, Zhu L, Xie Y Sci Data 06-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC10998916
doi:10.1038/s41597-024-03176-5
PMID:38582756
Geographical variation in functional traits of leaves of Caryopteris mongholica and the role of climate Yu X, Ji R, Li M, Xia X, Yin W, Liu C BMC Plant Biol 15-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10426221
doi:10.1186/s12870-023-04410-9
PMID:37580656
Characterization of the complete plastid genome of Korean endemic, Ajuga spectabilis Nakai (Lamiaceae) Kamra K, Jung J, Kim HJ, Yoon CY, Kim JH Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 15-Jan-2023
PMCID:PMC9848336
doi:10.1080/23802359.2022.2156258
PMID:36685657
Taxonomy, comparative genomics of Mullein (Verbascum, Scrophulariaceae), with implications for the evolution of Verbascum and Lamiales Dong X, Mkala EM, Mutinda ES, Yang JX, Wanga VO, Oulo MA, Onjolo VO, Hu GW, Wang QF BMC Genomics 08-Aug-2022
PMCID:PMC9358837
doi:10.1186/s12864-022-08799-9
PMID:35941527
Genetic diversity and population structure of Caryopteris mongholica revealed by reduced representation sequencing Ji R, Yu X, Ren T, Chang Y, Li Z, Xia X, Yin W, Liu C BMC Plant Biol 17-Jun-2022
PMCID:PMC9205053
doi:10.1186/s12870-022-03681-y
PMID:35710341
Activity strategy and pattern of the Siberian jerboa (Orientallactaga sibirica) in the Alxa desert region, China Ji Y, Yuan S, Fu H, Yang S, Bu F, Li X, Wu X PeerJ 10-Mar-2021
PMCID:PMC7955674
doi:10.7717/peerj.10996
PMID:33854836
Pollen record of climate change during the last deglaciation from the eastern Tibetan Plateau Shi W, Jiang H, Mao X, Xu H PLoS One 06-May-2020
PMCID:PMC7202599
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0232803
PMID:32374789
Complete chloroplast genomes of medicinally important Teucrium species and comparative analyses with related species from Lamiaceae Khan A, Asaf S, Khan AL, Khan A, Al-Harrasi A, Al-Sudairy O, AbdulKareem NM, Al-Saady N, Al-Rawahi A PeerJ 09-Jul-2019
PMCID:PMC6625504
doi:10.7717/peerj.7260
PMID:31328036
An antibacterial ortho-quinone diterpenoid and its derivatives from Caryopteris mongolica. Saruul E, Murata T, Selenge E, Sasaki K, Yoshizaki F, Batkhuu J Bioorg Med Chem Lett 15-Jun-2015
doi:10.1016/J.BMCL.2015.04.048
PMID:25958242
Endemic shrubs in temperate arid and semiarid regions of northern China and their potentials for rangeland restoration Chu J, Yang H, Lu Q, Zhang X AoB Plants 03-Jun-2015
PMCID:PMC4516776
doi:10.1093/aobpla/plv063
PMID:26041782
Iridoid glucosides from Linaria japonica Hideaki Otsuka Elsevier BV 25-Jul-2002
doi:10.1016/0031-9422(93)85459-5

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 / Benzoic acid esters / o-Hydroxybenzoic acid esters
Benzyl 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate 10586364 Click to see 244.24 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives
Protocatechuic Acid 72 Click to see 154.12 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives / P-methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives
(1S,2S)-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-yl 4-methoxybenzoate 10734180 Click to see 316.30 unknown via CMAUP database
[(1R,2R)-2-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propyl] 4-methoxybenzoate 26117978 Click to see 316.30 unknown via CMAUP database
4-Methoxybenzoic Acid 7478 Click to see 152.15 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoyl derivatives
4-Methoxybenzaldehyde 31244 Click to see 136.15 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzyl alcohols
4-Methoxybenzyl alcohol 7738 Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)CO 138.16 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Diphenylmethanes
(alphaS)-4-Methoxy-beta-(4-methoxyphenyl)-alpha-methylbenzeneethanol 10683611 Click to see 272.34 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Phenylpropanes
(1R,2R)-1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1,2-propanediol 11217615 Click to see CC(C(C1=CC=C(C=C1)OC)O)O 182.22 unknown via CMAUP database
(1R,2R)-1-[(1R,2S)-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]oxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-ol 26252192 Click to see 346.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(1S,2R)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,2-diol 9799167 Click to see 182.22 unknown via CMAUP database
(1S,2S)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,2-diol 12387012 Click to see 182.22 unknown via CMAUP database
1-(p-Methoxyphenyl)-2-propanone 31231 Click to see 164.20 unknown via CMAUP database
Erythro Anethole Glycol 9799166 Click to see 182.22 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Phenol ethers
Foeniculin, (E)- 5316879 Click to see 202.29 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Phenol ethers / Anisoles
(2R,3R,5S,6S)-2,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane 10782514 Click to see 328.40 unknown via CMAUP database
(2S,4S,5S)-2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-1,3-dioxolane 10566139 Click to see 300.30 unknown via CMAUP database
2-methoxy-1-(3-methylbut-2-enoxy)-4-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]benzene 16091585 Click to see 232.32 unknown via CMAUP database
2-Propen-1-ol, 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-, 1-acetate, (2E)- 10932638 Click to see 206.24 unknown via CMAUP database
Anethole 637563 Click to see 148.20 unknown via CMAUP database
Estragole 8815 Click to see 148.20 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Phenols / Benzenediols / Hydroquinones
Hydroquinone 785 Click to see 110.11 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols
2-[(2S)-2-hydroxypropyl]-5-methoxyphenol 92475782 Click to see 182.22 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Phenols / Tyrosols and derivatives / Tyrosols
Tyrosol 10393 Click to see 138.16 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans / Tetrahydrofuran lignans / 9,9-epoxylignans
(+/-)-trans-3,4-Divanillyltetrahydrofuran 9906140 Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CC2COCC2CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)O 344.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids
(1S,2S,2'S,4bS,8aS)-1-hydroxy-2',4b,7,8-tetramethylspiro[5,6,8a,9-tetrahydro-1H-phenanthrene-2,1'-cyclopropane]-3,4,10-trione 118737820 Click to see 328.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2015.04.048
11-Hydroxysugiol 10403490 Click to see CC(C)C1=C(C(=C2C(=C1)C(=O)CC3C2(CCCC3(C)C)C)O)O 316.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2015.04.048
14-Deoxycoleon U 10735190 Click to see 330.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2015.04.048
6-Alpha-Hydroxydemethyl-Cryptojaponol 76326386 Click to see CC(C)C1=C(C(=C2C(=C1)C(=O)C(C3C2(CCCC3(C)C)C)O)O)O 332.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2015.04.048
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids
(+)-3-Carene 443156 Click to see 136.23 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids
(+)-alpha-Phellandrene 443160 Click to see 136.23 unknown via CMAUP database
> 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/10.1016/0031-9422(93)85459-5
(7S)-1-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-4a,5-dihydroxy-7-methyl-1,4a,5,6,7,7a-hexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-7-yl acetate 139291803 Click to see 406.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(93)85459-5
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones
(1S,2R,5R,6R,7S,8R,11R)-5,7,11-trihydroxy-7-(methoxymethyl)-2-methylspiro[9-oxatricyclo[6.3.1.01,5]dodecane-6,3'-oxetane]-2',10-dione 9997459 Click to see 342.34 unknown via CMAUP database
methyl (1S,2R,5R,6R,7R,8R,11R)-5,7,11-trihydroxy-2-methyl-2',10-dioxospiro[9-oxatricyclo[6.3.1.01,5]dodecane-6,3'-oxetane]-7-carboxylate 10498456 Click to see 356.32 unknown via CMAUP database
Veranisatin C 10643000 Click to see 372.32 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(3S,3aR,4aS,6aR,7R,9aS,9bS)-Decahydro-7-[(1R,4Z)-6-methoxy-1,5-dimethyl-6-oxo-4-hexen-1-yl]-6a,9a-dimethyl-3-(1-methylethenyl)-1H-cyclopenta[a]cyclopropa[e]naphthalene-3a(4H)-propanoic acid 102317275 Click to see 484.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Shikimic acids and derivatves
Shikimic acid 8742 Click to see C1C(C(C(C=C1C(=O)O)O)O)O 174.15 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds
(1R,2S)-2-Hydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl I(2)-D-glucopyranoside 10593533 Click to see CC(C(C1=CC=C(C=C1)OC)O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O 344.36 unknown via CMAUP database
(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(1R,2R)-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 10958867 Click to see 344.36 unknown via CMAUP database
(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(1R,2S)-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 10497611 Click to see 344.36 unknown via CMAUP database
(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(1S,2S)-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 10958868 Click to see 344.36 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Cyclic ketones / Cyclohexenones
(2'S,4S,5R,7aS,11aS)-5-hydroxy-2',8,8,11a-tetramethylspiro[5,7,7a,9,10,11-hexahydrobenzo[i][2]benzoxepine-4,1'-cyclopropane]-1,3,6-trione 118737821 Click to see CC1CC12C(C3=C(C(=O)OC2=O)C4(CCCC(C4CC3=O)(C)C)C)O 346.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2015.04.048
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzodioxoles
6-Allyl-1,3-benzodioxol-4-ol 16729376 Click to see 178.18 unknown via CMAUP database
6-Allyl-4-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-1,3-benzodioxol-5-ol 16729374 Click to see 246.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Illicinole 16729375 Click to see 246.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Safrole 5144 Click to see 162.18 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Dioxolanes / 1,3-dioxolanes
(7aR)-6-allyl-7a-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-1,3-benzodioxol-5-one 16721104 Click to see CC(=CCC12C=C(C(=O)C=C1OCO2)CC=C)C 246.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyridines and derivatives / Pyridoxines
Pyridoxine 1054 Click to see CC1=NC=C(C(=C1O)CO)CO 169.18 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamaldehydes
4-Methoxycinnamaldehyde 641294 Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C=CC=O 162.18 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamyl alcohols
3-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-ol 5314180 Click to see 164.20 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
Quercetin 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside 5320861 Click to see C1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C(OC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O 434.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes
(1S,2S,3S)-1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)butane-1,3-diol 10780691 Click to see 302.40 unknown via CMAUP database

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