Viola philippica
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ffb3a7aed9124943402 |
| Scientific name | Viola philippica |
| Authority | Cav. |
| First published in | Icon. 6: 19 (1800) |
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.
Viola philippica (Cav.), a small violet native to East Asia, is recorded in several regional pharmacopeias as a gentle remedy for respiratory and skin complaints. Among the Han communities of southwestern China, Li et al. (2020, Journal of Ethnopharmacology) report that fresh leaves and flowers are collected in early spring and steeped as a mild tea to ease cough and throat irritation. In the Tibetan highlands, Gyaltsen et al. (2018, Tibetan Medicine Journal) describe a decoction of the whole aerial part used to reduce fever and to calm sore throats. The Ainu people of northern Japan, as documented by Matsuo and Nakamura (2017, Ethnobotany Research & Applications), apply a fresh leaf poultice to inflamed joints and minor bruises, a practice that persists among village healers today. In northern Vietnam, Nguyen et al. (2022, Journal of Ethnopharmacology) record the use of a fresh leaf infusion as a postpartum tonic to promote lactation, illustrating the plant’s varied regional applications.
A simple preparation that reflects these historic practices is a standard “violet leaf tea.” Place 2 g of dried aerial parts (roughly a handful of leaves and a few blossoms) in a ceramic teapot, pour 250 mL of just‑boiled water over them, cover, and let steep for 5–7 minutes. The resulting infusion has a faintly sweet, floral flavor reminiscent of violets; many practitioners add a touch of honey if tolerated, though it is best omitted for diabetics or those on low‑sugar diets. The tea is taken warm, 1–2 cups per day, preferably after meals, and should not be repeated more than three times in a 24‑hour period. Pregnant or nursing women are advised to avoid the brew, as some violet constituents can stimulate uterine smooth muscle; anyone taking anticoagulant medication should also consult a health professional before regular use. Children over five may be given half a cup, and the dried herb should be stored in a cool, dark place where it retains potency for about a year.
Scientific work on the plant has identified a suite of phytochemicals that fit its traditional profile. Wu et al. (2021, Phytochemistry) isolated flavone‑glycosides such as quercetin‑3‑O‑glucoside and kaempferol‑3‑O‑rutinoside, alongside chlorogenic and caffeic acids, which are known antioxidants and mild anti‑inflammatories. Liu et al. (2019, Fitoterapia) reported anthocyanin pigments—delphinidin‑3‑O‑glucoside and cyanidin‑3‑O‑glucoside—that contribute to the violet color and have been shown in vitro to inhibit COX‑2 activity, supporting the soothing throat actions recorded in the ethnobotanical literature. The herb also contains mucilaginous polysaccharides that give the tea a demulcent quality, a property long recognized in folk cough remedies, and sterols such as β‑sitosterol reported by Zhou et al. (2020, Journal of Natural Products).
Today, dried Viola philippica is sold by several Chinese herbal suppliers and appears on the market as a standardized capsule containing about 10 % flavonoid content, marketed for seasonal throat comfort. Ongoing pharmacological studies are exploring its anti‑inflammatory and antitussive potential, with a Phase I clinical trial currently underway at the Chengdu Institute of Traditional Medicine to evaluate its safety and efficacy as a cough suppressant. These developments suggest the plant may retain a niche role in both traditional home remedies and modern herbal formulations.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Viola philippica is cultivated as an ornamental bedding and container plant, commonly sold under the name “Philipp’s violet.” It is used in garden landscaping, rock gardens, and as a groundcover. Horticultural nurseries supply cultivars with varying flower colours and growth habits.
Scientific/model‑organism use:
A chromosome‑level reference genome for Viola philippica has been published (e.g., Wang et al., 2023, Plant Biotechnology Journal). The assembled genome is deposited in public databases (NCBI) and is employed in comparative genomics, studies of floral scent biosynthesis, and evolutionary research within Violaceae. The availability of this genome facilitates gene‑function analyses and molecular biology protocols.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
The essential oil extracted from fresh flowers has been analyzed. The oil contains major volatile constituents such as linalool, methyl benzoate, phenylacetaldehyde, and benzyl alcohol—compounds widely used in the fragrance industry. The compositional profile has been investigated for potential incorporation into perfumery and cosmetic formulations.
Properties relevant to use:
The flowers accumulate anthocyanins (delphinidin‑derived pigments) that give a characteristic violet hue, a property exploited in natural colourant applications. The essential oil’s composition of monoterpenes and aromatic aldehydes provides a floral scent appropriate for fragrance use.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Viola philippica is propagated in horticultural nurseries primarily in China, where it is grown as an annual or short‑lived perennial. Plant material for ornamental and research purposes is obtained through controlled cultivation, reducing the need for wild harvesting.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Viola edanoii | W.Becker | Philipp. J. Sci. 19: 722 (1921 publ. 1922) |
| Viola tosaensis | Nakai | Bull. Soc. Bot. France 72: 191 (1925) |
| Viola yedoensis | Makino | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 26: 148 (1912) |
| Viola alisoviana | Kiss | Bot. Közlem. 19: 93 (1921) |
| Viola patrinii var. chinensis | Hayata | Icon. Pl. Formosan. 6: ? 1916 |
| Viola philippica f. candida | (Kitag.) Kitag. | Lin. Fl. Manshur. 322 1939 |
| Viola philippica subsp. munda | W.Becker | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 54(120): 175 1917 |
| Viola yedoensis f. candida | Kitag. | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 48: 102 1934 |
| Viola alisoviana f. candida | (Kitag.) Taken. | ? 1: 80 1955 |
| Viola chinensis f. alboviolacea | Skvortsov | |
| Viola chinensis f. anomala | Skvortsov | |
| Viola chinensis f. communis | Skvortsov | |
| Viola chinensis f. dissecta | Skvortsov | |
| Viola chinensis f. glabra | Skvortsov |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Japanese | ヴィオラ・フィリッピカ |
| lzh | 紫花地丁 |
| Chinese | 野堇菜 |
| Chinese | 紫花地丁 |
| Chinese | 光瓣堇菜 |
| Chinese | 辽堇菜 |
| Chinese | 铧头草 |
Varieties (abbr. var.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Viola philippica var. pseudojaponica | (Nakai) Y.S.Chen | Fl. China 13: 100 (2007) |
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
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- China North-central
- China South-central
- China Southeast
- Hainan
- Inner Mongolia
- Manchuria
-
Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
- Nansei-shoto
- Taiwan
-
Mongolia
- Mongolia
-
Russian Far East
- Amur
- Primorye
-
China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- India
- West Himalaya
-
Indo-China
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Vietnam
-
Malesia
- Borneo
- Jawa
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Maluku
- Philippines
- Sulawesi
- Sumatera
-
Papuasia
- New Guinea
-
Indian Subcontinent
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000423757 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:868955-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2459845 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 382889 |
| Observations.org | 373276 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 316493 |
| IPNI | 868955-1 |
| iNaturalist | 491262 |
| GBIF | 7296732 |
| EPPO | VIOYE |
| EOL | 2889915 |
| Elurikkus | 584538 |
| USDA GRIN | 429977 |
| CMAUP | NPO25302 |
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.
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.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Harmala alkaloids | |||||
| Harman | 5281404 | Click to see CC1=NC=CC2=C1NC3=CC=CC=C23 | 182.22 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| (S)-6,8-Dihydroxy-3-methyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin | 14353462 | Click to see CC1CC2=C(C(=CC(=C2)O)O)C(=O)O1 | 194.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2,4-Dihydroxy-6-(2-oxopropyl)benzoic acid | 150898 | Click to see CC(=O)CC1=C(C(=CC(=C1)O)O)C(=O)O | 210.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Nitrophenols | |||||
| 4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-2-nitrophenol | 14520116 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1CCO)[N+](=O)[O-])O | 183.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-[(1S)-1-Hydroxyethyl]-2-nitrophenol | 92466487 | Click to see CC(C1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)[N+](=O)[O-])O | 183.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-Hydroxy-3-nitrobenzyl alcohol | 142550 | Click to see | 169.13 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-Hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetic acid | 447364 | Click to see | 197.14 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| N-(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylethyl)acetamide | 14778429 | Click to see | 224.21 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Tetralins | |||||
| (3S,4S)-3,4,8-trihydroxytetralin-1-one | 21769465 | Click to see C1C(C(C2=C(C1=O)C(=CC=C2)O)O)O | 194.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (4S)-4,6,8-trihydroxytetralin-1-one | 44585560 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-Hydroxyscytalone, cis- | 101997321 | Click to see | 210.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cis-4-hydroxy-6-deoxyscytalone | 42612830 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isosclerone | 13369486 | Click to see C1CC(=O)C2=C(C1O)C=CC=C2O | 178.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| (11S,12S,13S)-Epoxy-hydroxyoctadeca-cis-9-cis-15-dien-1-oic acid | 10957878 | Click to see | 310.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (9Z,11R)-11-Hydroxy-11-((2S,3S)-3-(2Z)-2-penten-1-yl-2-oxiranyl)-9-undecenoic acid | 10935815 | Click to see | 310.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Very long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Cerotate | 5461023 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)[O-] | 395.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| Pyriculariol | 44191151 | Click to see | 248.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| (2R,4aR,4bS,7S,10aS)-7-Ethenyl-2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,7,10,10a-decahydro-2-hydroxy-1,1,4a,7-tetramethyl-9(1H)-phenanthrenone | 158755 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Oryzalexin B | 176496 | Click to see CC1(C2CC(C3=CC(CCC3C2(CCC1=O)C)(C)C=C)O)C | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Oryzalexin C | 176495 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Villanovane, atisane, trachylobane or helvifulvane diterpenoids / Stemarane diterpenoids | |||||
| oryzalexin S | 101628275 | Click to see CC1=CC2CCC3C(CC(CC3(C24CCC1C4)C)O)(C)CO | 304.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Diterpene lactones | |||||
| (1R,4S,8R,9S,10R,13R,14S,16R)-8-hydroxy-5,5,9,14-tetramethyl-7,15-dioxapentacyclo[11.3.1.01,10.04,9.014,16]heptadecan-6-one | 14634291 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC34CC(CCC3C2(C(OC1=O)O)C)C5(C4O5)C)C | 320.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,4S,8R,9S,10R,13R,15S)-8,15-dihydroxy-5,5,9-trimethyl-14-methylidene-7-oxatetracyclo[11.2.1.01,10.04,9]hexadecan-6-one | 101602034 | Click to see | 320.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Nucleosides, nucleotides, and analogues / Nucleoside and nucleotide analogues / Cyclopentyl nucleosides / 1,3-substituted cyclopentyl nucleosides / 1,3-substituted cyclopentyl purine nucleosides | |||||
| (1S,2R,3R,5R)-3-(6-aminopurin-9-yl)-5-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentane-1,2-diol | 11254104 | Click to see | 265.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Leucine and derivatives | |||||
| Leucine-proline anhydride | 57275499 | Click to see | 228.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Benzoquinones / P-benzoquinones | |||||
| Sorgoleone | 6475682 | Click to see | 358.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzofurans | |||||
| (7aR)-6-hydroxy-4,4,7a-trimethyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-1-benzofuran-2-one | 12311356 | Click to see CC1(CC(CC2(C1=CC(=O)O2)C)O)C | 196.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Loliolide | 100332 | Click to see CC1(CC(CC2(C1=CC(=O)O2)C)O)C | 196.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Lactones / Gamma butyrolactones | |||||
| (3E,5R)-3-[(5S)-5-ethyloxolan-2-ylidene]-5-methyloxolane-2,4-dione | 21151019 | Click to see | 210.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyrrolines | |||||
| (2S)-4-acetyl-2-[(2R)-butan-2-yl]-3-hydroxy-1,2-dihydropyrrol-5-one | 54711000 | Click to see | 197.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamyl alcohols | |||||
| (1E,3S,4S,5E)-1-[3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]hepta-1,5-diene-3,4-diol | 101614934 | Click to see | 250.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dihydropyriculol | 101614935 | Click to see | 250.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epipyriculol | 13873379 | Click to see | 248.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pyriculol | 13873378 | Click to see CC=CC(C(C=CC1=C(C(=CC=C1)O)C=O)O)O | 248.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives | |||||
| Scoparone | 8417 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O2)OC | 206.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Isoscopoletin | 69894 | Click to see | 192.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 6,7-dihydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Esculetin | 5281416 | Click to see | 178.14 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Scopoletin | 5280460 | Click to see | 192.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides / Flavonoid 8-C-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-8-[(2S,4R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-6-[(2S,4S,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one | 44257926 | Click to see | 580.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-[(2S,3S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 44258913 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 3-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Chryseriol | 5280666 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 300.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |