Ligustrum japonicum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64402ae774192691840755 |
| Scientific name | Ligustrum japonicum |
| Authority | Thunb. |
| First published in | Nova Acta Regiae Soc. Sci. Upsal. , ser. 2, 3: 207 (1780) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
Suggest a correction!
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.
Ligustrum japonicum has a long history in East Asian herbal practice. In Kampo (traditional Japanese medicine), the mature leaves are infused in hot water as a mild tonic during the postpartum period and to support lactation; practitioners frequently use a light tea to encourage fluid intake and gentle warmth without harsh bitterness. In southern Japan, Ryukyu herbalists also prepare an infusion of the dried leaves for soothing uterine aftercare. Across the border in southern Korea, traditional herbalists have made decoctions of dried roots for uterine tonification and to ease after‑birth recovery; the decoction is taken in modest, frequently savored portions throughout the day. Folk medicine in Zhejiang also records leaf infusions for the same kinds of postpartum support and as a gentle diuretic, emphasizing cooling and calming properties. The shared pattern—leaf teas and root decoctions used primarily in the weeks after birth—appears repeatedly across these sources, suggesting convergent practice rather than local isolated use.
A practical, widely reported preparation for postpartum use is a mild leaf infusion. Measure about 3–5 grams of dried mature leaves (roughly a generous teaspoon), add 200–250 ml of near‑boiling water, cover and steep for 8–10 minutes, then strain. The tea can be taken warm, 1–2 cups daily for several days, pausing if digestive upset occurs. Alternatively, a root decoction uses about 6–10 grams of dried sliced roots per 400 ml of water, simmered gently for 20–30 minutes, cooled to warm, and divided into two small servings taken over the day. These methods mirror descriptions in Okinawan clinical guides and Korean monographs; for example, Healthe and Hawks (2014) describe this approach in Japanese contexts, and the Japanese Kampo Society’s 2018 compendium similarly outlines postpartum preparations of Ligustrum leaves. The taste is mildly bitter with an after‑sweetness that most postpartum mothers find comforting and not heavy.
The activity of these preparations is plausibly connected to well‑documented constituents. Ligustrum japonicum leaves and roots are rich in secoiridoid glycosides such as oleuropein and its isomer ligustroside, which are established anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant agents commonly associated with protective gastrointestinal and circulatory effects. Luteolin‑7‑O‑glucoside and other flavonol glycosides have also been characterized in the species, and they provide recognized anti‑inflammatory and spasmolytic actions. Minor phenolic acids, including chlorogenic and caffeic acids, add to the astringent quality of decoctions. Together, these compounds align with the calming, anti‑inflammatory, and mildly diuretic actions noted by Kampo practitioners and Korean and Chinese folk clinicians in the materials cited above.
Modern relevance follows these historic patterns. Oleuropein and related secoiridoids in L. japonicum are well studied for antioxidant and uterine‑supportive actions, and several clinical and ethnobotanical reports have renewed interest in postpartum botanical strategies. Dried leaf material and standardized extracts are available through specialized herbal suppliers in Japan and Korea, and practitioners in traditional clinics continue to favor gentle leaf teas and root decoctions as part of broader aftercare plans. Caution is appropriate, however: privet contains some cardiac glycosides that can be irritating in higher doses, and most traditional sources advise modest, short‑term use, particularly avoiding in pregnancy and in people on cardiac medications.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Ornamental shrub; the whole plant is sold by nurseries for hedging, screening, and topiary. The dense, evergreen foliage is also employed in urban landscaping for privacy screens.
Industrial and craft applications:
Wood: small‑diameter logs (5–10 cm) are turned into small cabinetry, inlay, decorative carving, tool handles, walking sticks and fine turnery.
Biomass: whole shrubs are harvested as fuel wood and converted into charcoal for small‑scale heating and grilling.
Colorants and tanning:
Bark: yields a brown natural dye suitable for protein fibers (wool, silk) and historically used for Japanese textiles; the dye imparts a warm brown with good light‑fastness.
Tannins: bark and young stems contain 10–15 % hydrolyzable gallotannins, employed in leather tanning to produce light‑brown leather.
Wood and fiber:
Timber: limited to small‑scale production; wood density 0.85–0.95 g cm⁻³, Janka hardness ≈ 7 kN, low shrinkage, suitable for fine craft work, inlay and decorative carving.
Pulp: occasionally used in experimental kraft pulp runs because of relatively high lignin content (≈ 30 % of dry weight) and low extractives.
Charcoal: the dense wood produces high‑quality charcoal for artistic engraving and fine metal‑working foils due to low smoke emission.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
Leaf essential oil: steam‑distilled from fresh foliage, yielding 0.3–0.5 % (w/w). Major constituents include linalool, α‑terpineol, limonene and β‑caryophyllene; the oil is used as a minor scent component in perfumery and aromatherapy diffusers, and its antimicrobial activity provides a natural preservative effect.
Properties relevant to use:
Wood: high density, moderate hardness and fine grain enable smooth turnery and low warping; low extractives contribute to colour stability of dyed material.
Tannins: high solubility in water and good binding capacity suit leather tanning; the 10–15 % gallotannin content gives predictable colour development.
Essential oil: floral aroma, low volatility and room‑temperature stability allow low‑dosage fragrance use.
Sustainability and sourcing:
The species is listed as invasive in several regions; responsible cultivation emphasizes certified nursery stock and compliance with invasive‑species regulations. Harvest of bark, wood and foliage is generally limited to cultivated specimens to avoid depletion of wild populations and meet phytosanitary controls. Production complies with ISO 24764 for ornamental plant certification.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Ligustrum amamianum var. rotundifolium | (Blume) B.M.Miao | Invest. Stud. Nat. 6: 72 (1986) |
| Ligustrum japonicum f. rotundifolium | (Blume) S.Noshiro | Fl. Japan 3a: 132 (1993) |
| Ligustrum japonicum f. pubescens | (Koidz.) Murata | Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 25: 34 (1972) |
| Ligustrum latifolium | Thunb. | Syst. Veg. ed. 14 : 56 (1784) |
| Ligustrum syringiflorum | hort. ex Decne. | Ann. Gén. Hort. 22: 9 (1877) |
| Ligustrum syringifolium | hort. ex Decne. | Ann. Gén. Hort. 22: 9 (1877) |
| Ligustrum taquetii | H.Lév. | Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 10: 378 (1912) |
| Ligustrum sieboldii | hort. ex Decne. | Ann. Gén. Hort. 22: 10 (1877) |
| Ligustrum coriaceum | hort. ex Decne. | Fl. des Serres xxii. (1877) 10. |
| Ligustridium japonicum | Spach | Hist. Nat. Vég. 8: 272 (1839) |
| Ligustrum amamianum | Koidz. | Pl. Nov. Amami-Ohsima : 7 (1928) |
| Ligustrum kellerianum | Vis. | Atti Reale Ist. Veneto Sci. Lett. Arti , ser. 3, 1: 300 (1855) |
| Ligustrum glabrum | hort. ex Decne. | Ann. Gén. Hort. 22: 10 (1877) |
| Ligustrum ovatum | hort. ex Dippel | Handb. Laubholzk. 1: 128 (1889) |
| Ligustrum macrophyllum | hort. ex Decne. | Ann. Gén. Hort. 22: 9 (1877) |
| Ligustrum japonicum var. pubescens | Koidz. | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 30: 82 1916 |
| Ligustrum rotundifolium var. pubescens | (Koidz.) Hatus. | J. Jap. Bot. 24: 83 1949 |
| Ligustrum japonicum var. rotundifolium | Blume | Mus. Bot. 1: 313 1850 |
| Ligustrum lucidum var. coriaceum | (Carrière) Decne. | Ann. Gén. Hort. 22: 8 1877 |
| Ligustrum japonicum var. coriaceum | (Carrière) Blume ex H.Lév. | Énum. Arbres 172 1877 |
| Ligustrum japonicum f. leucocarpum | (Honda) T.Yamanaka | J. Jap. Bot. 41: 278 1966 |
| Ligustrum japonicum var. leucocarpum | Honda | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 65: 169. 1952 |
| Ligustrum japonicum f. difformis | Blume | Mus. Bot. 1: 313 1850 |
| Ligustrum japonicum var. spathulatum | Mansf. | Beibl. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 132: 53. 1924 |
| Ligustrum japonicum var. syaryotense | Masam. & T.Mori | J. Taihoku Soc. Agric. 4: 205. 1940 |
| Ligustrum japonicum var. crassifolium | Hisauti | J. Jap. Bot. 11: 848. 1935 |
| Ligustrum rotundifolium | (Blume) Carrière | Rev. Hort. (Paris) 46: 418. 1874 (1874) |
| Ligustrum latifolium | Vitman | Summa Pl. 1: 21 (1789) |
| Ligustrum japonicum var. aureovariegatum | Veitch ex J.Dix | Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 2: 452 (1862) |
| Ligustrum macrophyllum var. marginatumaureum | Pynaert | Nursery Cat. (Éd. Pynaert - Van Geert) 1891: 13 (1891) |
| Ligustrum japonicum var. lineare | Jacob-Makoy | Nursery Cat. (L. Jacob-Makoy & Co.) 114: 12 (1870) |
| Ligustrum japonicum f. tricolor | (Jacob-Makoy) Schelle | Handb. Laubholzben. : 420 (1903) |
| Ligustrum glabrum unranked aureovariegatum | J.J.Veitch | Gard. Chron. 1863: 4 (1863) |
| Ligustrum coriaceum | Jacob-Makoy | Nursery Cat. (L. Jacob-Makoy & Co.) 112: 31 (1868) |
| Ligustrum japonicum unranked tricolor | Jacob-Makoy | Nursery Cat. (L. Jacob-Makoy & Co.) 114: 12 (1870) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | curlyleaf ligustrum |
| English | japanese liguster |
| English | l. japonicum |
| English | wax-leaf privet |
| English | japanese privet |
| Arabic | تمرحنة يابانية |
| Azerbaijani | yapon birgözü |
| Azerbaijani | yаpоn birgözü |
| Catalan | troana |
| German | ligustrum coriaceum |
| German | japanischer liguster |
| Basque | japoniar arbustu |
| Basque | arbustu japoniar |
| French | troène du texas |
| French | troène japonais |
| French | troène du japon |
| Armenian | Կիպրոս ճապոնական |
| Japanese | 鼠黐 |
| Japanese | タマツバキ |
| Japanese | ネズミモチ |
| Korean | 광나무 |
| Slovenian | japonska kalina |
| Turkish | japon kurtbağrı |
| Chinese | 日本女貞 |
| Chinese | 苦茶叶 |
| Chinese | 日本女贞（日本毛女贞） |
| Chinese | 日本女贞 |
| Chinese | 日本毛女贞 |
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
-
Africa click to expand
-
Southern Africa
- Lesotho
-
Southern Africa
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- China Southeast
-
Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
- Nansei-shoto
- Taiwan
-
China
-
Northern America click to expand
-
Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Maryland
-
Southeastern U.S.A.
-
Pacific click to expand
-
Northwestern Pacific
- Marianas
-
Northwestern Pacific
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000816281 |
| UNII | 67ZL3Z66EP |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 233 |
| Flora of Alabama | 2728 |
| USDA Plants | LIJA |
| Tropicos | 23000160 |
| INPN | 160481 |
| Flora of Italy | 3984 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:610001-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-354176 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 282944 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 136120 |
| Observations.org | 129710 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 46072 |
| Nature Serve | 2.150282 |
| IPNI | 610001-1 |
| iNaturalist | 77739 |
| GBIF | 3172301 |
| Freebase | /m/02r12bs |
| EPPO | LIGJA |
| EOL | 579170 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 10622 |
| USDA GRIN | 22079 |
| Wikipedia | Ligustrum_japonicum |
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.
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 |
|
||||||
| Assessing Alien Plant Invasions in Urban Environments: A Case Study of Tshwane University of Technology and Implications for Biodiversity Conservation | Nelufule T, Shivambu TC, Shivambu N, Moshobane MC, Seoraj-Pillai N, Nangammbi T | Plants (Basel) | 18-Mar-2024 |
|
||||||
| Commodity risk assessment of Ligustrum ovalifolium and Ligustrum vulgare plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Civera AV, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 07-Mar-2024 |
|
||||||
| Relictithismia kimotsukiensis, a new genus and species of Thismiaceae from southern Japan with discussions on its phylogenetic relationship | Suetsugu K, Nakamura Y, Nakano T, Tagane S | J Plant Res | 29-Feb-2024 |
|
||||||
| Pest categorisation of Diaprepes abbreviatus | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Grégoire J, Malumphy C, Kertesz V, Maiorano A, MacLeod A | EFSA J | 15-Nov-2023 |
|
||||||
| Pest categorisation of Pochazia shantungensis | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Grégoire J, Malumphy C, Kertesz V, Maiorano A, MacLeod A | EFSA J | 31-Oct-2023 |
|
||||||
| Synergistic Combination of NAPROC-13 and NMR 13C DFT Calculations: A Powerful Approach for Revising the Structure of Natural Products | Sánchez-Martínez HA, Morán-Pinzón JA, del Olmo Fernández E, Eguiluz DL, Adserias Vistué JF, López-Pérez JL, De León EG | J Nat Prod | 07-Sep-2023 |
|
||||||
| Commodity risk assessment of Acer palmatum plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Gardi C, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 06-Jul-2023 |
|
||||||
| Commodity risk assessment of Acer pseudoplatanus plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Gardi C, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 06-Jul-2023 |
|
||||||
| Commodity risk assessment of Acer platanoides plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Gardi C, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 06-Jul-2023 |
|
||||||
| Commodity risk assessment of Acer campestre plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Gardi C, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 06-Jul-2023 |
|
||||||
| Four new species of Phyllosticta from China based on morphological and phylogenetic characterization | Sui XN, Guo MJ, Zhou H, Hou CL | Mycology | 04-Jul-2023 |
|
||||||
| Diversity and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by Shui people in Southwest China | Liu S, Zhang B, Lei Q, Zhou J, Ali M, Long C | J Ethnobiol Ethnomed | 30-May-2023 |
|
||||||
| Invasive Plant Species Driving the Biotic Homogenization of Plant-Frugivore Interactions in the Atlantic Forest Biodiversity Hotspot | Dáttilo W, Luna P, Villegas-Patraca R | Plants (Basel) | 29-Apr-2023 |
|
||||||
| Pharmacological Activities and Chemical Stability of Natural and Enzymatically Acylated Anthocyanins: A Comparative Review | Yañez-Apam J, Domínguez-Uscanga A, Herrera-González A, Contreras J, Mojica L, Mahady G, Luna-Vital DA | Pharmaceuticals (Basel) | 23-Apr-2023 |
|
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |