Daphne gnidium
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644015b9eb237119730630 |
| Scientific name | Daphne gnidium |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 357 (1753) |
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.
Ethnobotanical Uses
In the Nilgiri Hills of southern India, the Irula community traditionally prepare a strong, aromatic clove tea (Syzygium aromaticum L.) by boiling a handful of bruised flower buds in water; this infusion is taken to warm the stomach, freshen breath, and soothe a cough. In Morocco and neighboring North African communities, cloves are infused in hot water and then sweetened as a stimulant beverage that doubles as a simple digestive aid. Across the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica and Trinidad, the same clove infusion—sometimes combined with cinnamon and ginger—has long been used to relieve gas, nausea, and mouth pain. According to the World Health Organization monographs on medicinal plants, all three regions value clove flower buds in hot infusions for digestive and respiratory comfort. While the species is more widely known as a spice, the WHO monographs, together with Duke’s Handbooks of Medicinal Spices and the British Herbal Compendium, confirm that a decoction or strong infusion of the whole buds is a recognized traditional use. European pharmacopeias and historic texts further note clove infusion as a household carminative.
A practical preparation is a simple clove tea. Bruise 1–2 grams of whole dried flower buds (about a generous teaspoon), pour 250 milliliters of freshly boiled water over them, cover, and steep for 8–10 minutes. Strain and sip up to 2 cups daily. This infusion delivers a warm, numbing sensation and is traditionally favored for mild digestive upset and congestion. Safety notes: some people are sensitive to clove oil; discontinue if heartburn or mouth irritation occurs. Clove is not recommended in late pregnancy and should not be used in very high, concentrated preparations or for long periods without a break; children and people on anticoagulant medication should use caution, as clove may potentiate bleeding risk.
Phytochemistry supports these uses. Cloves are rich in eugenol and related phenylpropanoids, with smaller amounts of eugenol acetate and β-caryophyllene. These constituents have well-documented antimicrobial, carminative, and mild anesthetic properties that align with the traditional applications. The fragrance and numbing character of the infusion largely reflects the eugenol content, and antimicrobial activity against oral bacteria is an established feature of these compounds.
Today, clove tea remains a widely available home remedy and is also found in commercial “digestive” and “throat-soothing” herbal blends. Research continues to investigate eugenol’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions, and the spice market keeps supplies of high-quality dried buds consistent. For those who enjoy the warm, spicy profile, a simple clove infusion is an accessible way to carry this long-standing folk practice into modern daily life.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Reference phytochemical material: bark and leaf extracts are used in laboratories as a source of daphnetoxin and related daphnane diterpenes for toxicological and natural‑product studies.
- Natural brown dye: dried bark ground to a powder provides a brown dye historically employed in Mediterranean textile dyeing; it is used as a natural colorant for protein fibers.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Tannin extraction: the bark contains condensed tannins; aqueous extracts are processed to give a tannin‑rich fraction suitable for leather tanning.
- Dye processing: the brown dye is applied to wool and silk; colorfastness is improved by mordanting with iron or copper salts.
Colorants and tanning:
- The condensed tannins act as the tanning agent in leather, delivering high astringency and good fixation.
- The dye yields a stable reddish‑brown hue on protein fibers; historical records from 19th‑century Mediterranean textile workshops note its use.
Properties relevant to use:
- Condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins) in the bark provide the chemical basis for leather tanning and brown dye formation.
- Presence of daphnane diterpenes (e.g., daphnetoxin) gives the plant potent bioactivity, limiting its use in consumer products.
- Leaf essential oil yields monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes; while not commercial, the oil’s composition has been characterized.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- The leaf essential oil has been analyzed for its aromatic constituents, but it is not presently employed in commercial fragrance or cosmetic formulations.
Standards and regulation:
- In several jurisdictions extracts of Daphne gnidium are restricted in cosmetics because of the presence of toxic diterpenes.
- National regulations for leather tanning in some EU states require tannin preparations to meet purity standards; commercial extracts must be free of toxic diterpene residues.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Daphne gnidium occurs in rocky Mediterranean scrub; it is not cultivated on a large scale, and bark or leaf material is harvested from wild populations.
- Over‑harvest for dye or tannin could threaten local populations; best‑practice guidelines recommend selective harvesting of mature stems and limiting extraction to a fraction of the stand each year.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Daphne orthophylla | St.-Lag. | Ann. Soc. Bot. Lyon 7: 124 (1880) |
| Daphne paniculata | Lam. | Fl. Franç. 3: 222 (1779) |
| Daphne gnidium f. angustifolia | Litard. & Simon | Bull. Soc. Bot. France 68: 103 1921 |
| Daphne gnidium var. sericea | Faure & Maire | Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Afrique N. 22: 314 1931 |
| Thymelaea gnidium | All. | Fl. Pedem. 1: 133 (1785) |
| Mistralia gnidium | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 17: 147 (1869) |
| Laureola gnidium | (L.) Samp. | Herb. Port. , Ap. 2: 8 (1914) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | flax-leaved daphne |
| Spanish | truvisco |
| Spanish | trovisco |
| Spanish | torvizco |
| Spanish | mistralia gnidium |
| Spanish | torvisquina |
| Spanish | daphne paniculata |
| Spanish | thymelaea gnidium |
| Spanish | daphne orthophylla |
| Spanish | laureola gnidium |
| Spanish | torvisco |
| Spanish | torovizco |
| Spanish | matagallina |
| Spanish | torbisco |
| Spanish | culopollo |
| Spanish | alentisco |
| Spanish | boliaga |
| Spanish | buralaga |
| Spanish | burhalaga |
| Spanish | chorovisco |
| Spanish | chorvisca |
| Spanish | chorvisco |
| Spanish | espantamoscas |
| Spanish | espantapulgas |
| Spanish | matalagallina |
| Spanish | pimienta del monte |
| Spanish | torvisquera |
| Spanish | toroviscu |
| Spanish | torovisco |
| Spanish | torovisca |
| Spanish | torobisco |
| Spanish | torbizco |
| Spanish | torbisquera |
| Spanish | torbisca |
| Spanish | matapollera |
| Arabic | متنان |
| Arabic | لزاز |
| Arabic | سبرح |
| Arabic | المثنان |
| Arabic | دافني |
| Arabic | مثنان |
| Catalan | baladre bord |
| Catalan | matapoll |
| co | pateddu |
| co | patellu |
| German | herbst-seidelbast |
| Greek | Δάφνη η γνίδιος |
| Basque | torbisko |
| Finnish | syysnäsiä |
| French | daphné garou |
| French | garou (plante) |
| Galician | trobisco |
| Japanese | 一種 |
| Kabyle | alẓaz |
| Vietnamese | thụy hương lá lanh |
| Walloon | sint-bwès |
| Chinese | 亞麻葉瑞香 |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Daphne gnidium subsp. maritima | (Rozeira) Capelo, J.C.Costa, Esp.Santo & Lousã | Silva Lusitana 21: 237 (2013 publ. 2014) |
| Daphne gnidium subsp. mauritanica | (Nieto Fel.) Halda | Acta Mus. Richnov., Sect. Nat. 7: 6 (2000) |
| Daphne gnidium subsp. gnidium | 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
-
Africa click to expand
-
Macaronesia
- Canary Islands
-
Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Morocco
- Tunisia
-
Macaronesia
-
Europe click to expand
-
Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Greece
- Italy
- Sicilia
- Yugoslavia
-
Southwestern Europe
- Baleares
- Corse
- France
- Portugal
- Sardegna
- Spain
-
Southeastern Europe
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000637624 |
| Tropicos | 32000442 |
| INPN | 94427 |
| Flora of Italy | 3140 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:831233-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2756985 |
| PFAF | Daphne gnidium |
| Open Tree Of Life | 716475 |
| Observations.org | 126734 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 224034 |
| IPNI | 831233-1 |
| iNaturalist | 82836 |
| GBIF | 7311306 |
| Freebase | /m/0g9vjdd |
| EPPO | DAPGN |
| EOL | 2870875 |
| Elurikkus | 209881 |
| USDA GRIN | 13263 |
| Wikipedia | Daphne_gnidium |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Coumarinolignans | |||||
| 3-(4-Hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3-dihydropyrano[3,2-h][1,4]benzodioxin-9-one | 3530566 | Click to see | 386.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.1047 |
| Daphneticin | 158341 | Click to see | 386.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.1047 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Rhamnofolane and daphnane diterpenoids | |||||
| (2S,3aR,3bS,3cS,4aR,5S,5aS,8aR,8bR,9R,10aR)-3a,3b,3c,4a,5,5a,8a,9,10,10a-Decahydro-5,5a-dihydroxy-4a-(hydroxymethyl)-7,9-dimethyl-10a-(1-methylethenyl)-2-phenyl-6H-2,8b-epoxyoxireno(6,7)azuleno(5,4-e)-1,3-benzodioxol-6-one | 119454 | Click to see | 482.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2004-832648 |
| Orthobenzoic acid, cyclic 7,8,10a-ester with 5,6-epoxy-4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,10a,10b-decahydro-3a,4,7,8,10a-pentahydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-8-isopropenyl-2,10-dimethylbenz(e)azulen-3(3ah)-one | 571311 | Click to see | 482.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2004-832648 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Quinone and hydroquinone lipids / Vitamin E compounds / Tocopherols | |||||
| Alpha-Tocopherol | 14985 | Click to see CC1=C(C2=C(CCC(O2)(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)C)C(=C1O)C)C | 430.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| Covi-Ox | 6560141 | Click to see | 430.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| DL-alpha-Tocopherol | 2116 | Click to see | 430.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives | |||||
| 7-Acetoxycoumarin | 928228 | Click to see CC(=O)OC1=CC2=C(C=C1)C=CC(=O)O2 | 204.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Coumarin glycosides | |||||
| Daphnin | 439499 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C2=C1C=CC(=O)O2)O)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O | 340.28 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00036 https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| Daphnin (daphnetin-7-O-glucoside) | 626442 | Click to see | 340.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7,8-dihydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Daphnetin | 5280569 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C2=C1C=CC(=O)O2)O)O | 178.14 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00036 https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Daphnoretin | 5281406 | Click to see | 352.30 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00036 https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| Apigenin | 5280443 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 270.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| Luteolin | 5280445 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O | 286.24 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00036 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides | |||||
| Isoorientin | 114776 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00036 https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides / Flavonoid 8-C-glycosides | |||||
| Orientin | 5281675 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C(=C(C=C3O)O)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00036 https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-6-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 5459939 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C=C(C(=C3O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-6-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 6121316 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C=C(C(=C3O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-5-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 59030313 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| Yuankanin | 157000 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| Apigenin 7-O-glucoside | 5280704 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00036 https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| Luteolin 7-galactoside | 5291488 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| Luteolin 7-O-glucoside | 5280637 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| Npc85473 | 5385553 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-8-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-8-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 13988639 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| Hypolaetin-8-glucoside | 5318255 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Genkwanin | 5281617 | Click to see | 284.26 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00036 https://doi.org/10.1007/S11746-003-0652-X |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |