Coptis trifolia
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64401344978c5648911113 |
| Scientific name | Coptis trifolia |
| Authority | Salisb. |
| First published in | Trans. Linn. Soc. London 8: 305 (1807) |
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.
Coptis trifolia (Salisb.), commonly called American goldthread, is a low‑growing perennial of the buttercup family that has been used for centuries by Indigenous peoples of North America as a bitter tonic. Moerman (1998) records that the Menominee of the Great Lakes prepared a decoction of the dried rhizome to relieve gastrointestinal upset and to bring down fevers. The Cherokee of the southeastern United States steeped the aerial parts—leaves and tender stems—in hot water and drank the infusion to treat colds and mild fevers. The Potawatomi of the upper Midwest applied a poultice of crushed fresh leaves to wounds and skin irritations, taking advantage of the plant’s astringent properties. All three preparations involve well‑documented ethnobotanical methods: a boiled decoction, a hot‑water infusion, and a fresh‑leaf poultice.
Each preparation targets a specific part of the plant. The Menominee relied on the underground rhizome, harvested in late summer and dried for storage. The Cherokee gathered the aerial foliage while it was still green, a practice that preserves the volatile alkaloids. The Potawatomi selected the broadest leaves, mashing them directly onto the skin. In each case the method reflects the plant’s bitter constituents, which were valued for stimulating digestion, reducing fever, and soothing inflammation. The ethnobotanical record consistently cites these three cultures, showing how the same species can serve different therapeutic purposes across regions.
A practical recipe that reflects traditional practice is a mild tea made from the dried rhizome. Measure 5 g of dried Coptis trifolia rhizome (about 1 – 1½ teaspoons) and place it in a small pot. Add 250 ml of freshly boiled water, cover, and let the mixture steep for 10 – 15 minutes. Strain the liquid and drink up to one cup three times daily. This dosage provides a gentle bitter tonic without overwhelming the system. A safety note should be included: pregnant women should avoid this tea because isoquinoline alkaloids such as berberine can stimulate uterine activity; people on diabetes medication should use caution as berberine may lower blood glucose; individuals with known allergy to Ranunculaceae plants should refrain from use.
The herb’s therapeutic activity is linked to well‑established isoquinoline alkaloids that have been isolated from Coptis trifolia, including berberine, coptisine, palmatine, and jatrorrhizine. These compounds are known for antimicrobial, anti‑inflammatory, and antispasmodic effects, which support the traditional uses described above. Contemporary research continues to explore the antimicrobial and anti‑inflammatory potential of these alkaloids, and the dried rhizome and leaf poultice are now available in specialty herb shops and online catalogs, reflecting an ongoing bridge between historic ethnobotanical practice and modern herbal commerce.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Berberine is isolated from the rhizomes as a high‑purity alkaloid reference material supplied in certified standard form for analytical chemistry. Dried, powdered rhizome material is also marketed as a natural yellow dye preparation for textile artisans. Both products are available from specialized botanical suppliers and chemical reagent vendors, typically labelled with the species name and the alkaloid concentration.
Industrial and craft applications:
The purified berberine from Coptis trifolia is employed as a certified reference material in HPLC, UV‑Vis, and mass‑spectrometric assays for isoquinoline alkaloids, providing a reproducible standard for method validation and quantitative analysis. In textile craft work, the powdered rhizome yields a yellow dyebath that can be applied to wool, silk and other protein fibers; the dye is noted for its stability under neutral to mildly acidic conditions and its ability to produce a clear golden hue without the need for mordants in some formulations.
Colorants and tanning:
Historically, Native American communities in the boreal forest regions have used the dried root of Coptis trifolia to produce a yellow dye for basketry, clothing and feather decoration. The dye imparts a bright yellow colour that is fast to washing when used on protein fibres; modern small‑scale dyers continue to employ this natural colourant in restoration projects and artistic textile works. While the plant contains tannin‑like compounds, its primary use in tanning remains limited and is not widely documented.
Properties relevant to use:
The rhizome typically contains 2–3 % (w/w) berberine on a dry basis, together with minor related alkaloids such as coptisine. Berberine exhibits a strong UV absorption maximum around 345 nm and shows fluorescence under UV light, properties that facilitate its detection in analytical procedures. In aqueous dye baths the compound is soluble under mildly acidic conditions (pH 4–5) and provides a vivid yellow colour due to its conjugated isoquinoline chromophore, granting high tinctorial strength while remaining stable to light exposure for several weeks.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Coptis trifolia is a low‑lying perennial herb that occurs in acidic, moist forest soils across Canada, Alaska and the northern United States. Populations are generally classified as secure by regional conservation assessments, yet localized over‑harvest can threaten individual colonies because the plant spreads slowly by rhizome fragments. Recommended sustainable harvest practices involve taking no more than one‑third of mature plants per site and allowing a minimum five‑year recovery period. Cultivation of the species is possible in shaded, well‑drained soils but is not yet scaled for commercial production of dye or alkaloid material; most supply remains wild‑collected.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Anemone groenlandica | O.F.Müll. | Fl. Dan. [Oeder] t. 566. |
| Anemone groenlandica | Oeder | Fl. Dan. 4(10): 5 (1771) |
| Chryza borealis | Raf. | Med. Repos. 5: 352 (1808) |
| Coptis daisetsuensis | Tatew. ex Miyabe & Tatew. | Trans. Sapporo Nat. Hist. Soc. xiv. 2 (1935), in syn. |
| Coptis groenlandica | Fernald | Rhodora 31: 142 (1929) |
| Coptis trifolia subsp. groenlandica | (Oeder) Hultén | Fl. Aleutian Isl. : 178 (1937) |
| Coptis trifolia var. groenlandica | Fassett | Trans. Wisconsin Acad. Sci. 38: 195 (1946) |
| Coptis trifolia var. semiplena | Miyabe & Tatew. | Trans. Sapporo Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 2 1935 |
| Helleborus pumilus | Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 374 (1796) |
| Helleborus trifoliatus | Houtt. | Nat. Hist. 2(9): 262 (1778) |
| Helleborus trifolius | L. | Sp. Pl. : 558 (1753) |
| Helleborus trilobus | Lam. | Encycl. 3: 98 (1789) |
| Isopyrum trifolium | Britton | Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 18: 265 (1891) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | threeleaf goldthread |
| Arabic | كوبتس تريفوليا |
| Arabic | عرق الذهب |
| Arabic | كوبتس ثلاثي الورق |
| Arabic | كوبتس غرونلاند |
| Arabic | خيط الذهب |
| German | dreiblättriger goldfaden |
| French | coptide du groenland |
| French | coptide trifoliée |
| French | coptide trifoliolée |
| French | savoyane |
| French | sawayane |
| Japanese | ミツバオウレン |
| pdc | goldwatzel |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Maintain seeds at a constant 10°C. |
| Sow seeds immediately as their viability decreases rapidly, or they best germinate when fresh. If stored, seeds might need temperature cycling and patience to germinate. |
| hydrophilic, plant in peat based medium |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
Eastern Asia
- Japan
-
Russian Far East
- Kamchatka
- Khabarovsk
- Kuril Islands
- Magadan
- Primorye
- Sakhalin
-
Siberia
- Yakutskiya
-
Eastern Asia
-
Northern America click to expand
-
Eastern Canada
- Labrador
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Québec
-
North-central U.S.A.
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
-
Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- District Of Columbia
- Maryland
-
Subarctic America
- Alaska
- Aleutian Islands
- Greenland
- Northwest Territorie
- Nunavut
-
Western Canada
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
-
Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000619881 |
| UNII | JXD8M951VX |
| Canadensys | 8471 |
| USDA Plants | COTR2 |
| Tropicos | 27100081 |
| INPN | 762066 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:710328-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2736138 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 982768 |
| Observations.org | 148378 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 38790 |
| Nature Serve | 2.154777 |
| IPNI | 710328-1 |
| iNaturalist | 126251 |
| GBIF | 3033632 |
| Freebase | /m/0gf3sc |
| WisFlora | 3200 |
| FEIS | plants/forb/coptri |
| EPPO | CPXTR |
| EOL | 594145 |
| USDA GRIN | 402567 |
| Wikipedia | Coptis_trifolia |
| CMAUP | NPO28627.1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Protoberberine alkaloids and derivatives | |||||
| Epiberberine | 160876 | Click to see | 336.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| Protocatechuic Acid | 72 | Click to see | 154.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Lineolic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Catalpic acid | 5385589 | Click to see CCCCC=CC=CC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)O | 278.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Glycerolipids / Glycosylglycerols / Glycosyldiacylglycerols / 1,2-diacyl-3-O-beta-D-galactosyl-sn-glycerols | |||||
| [(2S)-2-[(9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoyl]oxy-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxypropyl] (Z)-octadec-9-enoate | 10509461 | Click to see CCCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(COC1C(C(C(C(O1)CO)O)O)O)OC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCC | 781.10 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| (1R,2R,4bR,6R,7R,8aS)-2-ethenyl-1,6,7-trihydroxy-2,4b,8,8-tetramethyl-1,5,6,7,8a,9-hexahydrophenanthren-3-one | 56954823 | Click to see CC1(C2CC=C3C(C(C(=O)C=C3C2(CC(C1O)O)C)(C)C=C)O)C | 332.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,4S,6S,9S,10S,13S)-6-hydroxy-5,5,9,13-tetramethyltetracyclo[11.2.1.01,10.04,9]hexadec-14-ene-7,12-dione | 5352023 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC34CC(C=C3)(C(=O)CC4C2(CC(=O)C1O)C)C)C | 316.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2R,4aS,4bS,7R,8aS)-2-ethenyl-7-hydroxy-2,4b,8,8-tetramethyl-4,4a,5,6,7,8a,9,10-octahydrophenanthren-3-one | 101448906 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 17-Norkaur-15-ene-3,12-dione, 13-methyl-, (8beta,13beta)- | 100926172 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2beta,3alpha-Dihydroxybeyer-15-en-12-one | 44448252 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Beyerene | 107412 | Click to see | 272.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ent-pimara-8(14),15-diene | 12314280 | Click to see | 272.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| yucalexin P-15 | 44448251 | Click to see CC1(C2CC=C3C(C(C(=O)C=C3C2(CC(=O)C1O)C)(C)C=C)O)C | 330.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| yucalexin P-17 | 44448241 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Kaurane diterpenoids | |||||
| Ent-Kaurene | 11966109 | Click to see | 272.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Villanovane, atisane, trachylobane or helvifulvane diterpenoids / Atisane diterpenoids | |||||
| Atis-13-en-3-one, 16-hydroxy-, (5beta,8alpha,9beta,10alpha,12alpha)- | 100926173 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesterterpenoids / Scalarane sesterterpenoids | |||||
| (2R,4aR,6aR,6bR,8aR,12aR,14aS,14bR)-2,4a,6b,9,9,12a,14a-heptamethyl-10-oxo-3,4,5,6a,7,8,8a,11,12,13,14,14b-dodecahydro-1H-picene-2-carboxylic acid | 102134163 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC3(C(C2(CCC1=O)C)CCC4(C3=CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C(=O)O)C)C)C)C | 454.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isotaraxerol | 12443227 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CC=C3C4(CCC5C(C(CCC5(C4CCC3(C2C1)C)C)O)(C)C)C)C)C | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Taraxerol | 92097 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Taraxerone | 92785 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CC=C3C4(CCC5C(C(=O)CCC5(C4CCC3(C2C1)C)C)(C)C)C)C)C | 424.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides | |||||
| 7-[(2E,6Z)-3,7-dimethyl-8-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyocta-2,6-dienoxy]-6-methoxychromen-2-one | 163188175 | Click to see | 506.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| 7-[(2E,6Z)-3,7-dimethyl-8-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxyocta-2,6-dienoxy]-6-methoxychromen-2-one | 163188420 | Click to see | 652.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| 7-[(2E,6Z)-3,7-dimethyl-8-[(2R,3S,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxyocta-2,6-dienoxy]-6-methoxychromen-2-one | 163009914 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OCC(=CCCC(=CCOC3=C(C=C4C=CC(=O)OC4=C3)OC)C)C)O)O)O)O)O)O | 652.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| 7-[(2E,6Z)-3,7-dimethyl-8-[(2R,3S,4S,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyocta-2,6-dienoxy]-6-methoxychromen-2-one | 162882433 | Click to see | 506.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| 7-[3,7-Dimethyl-8-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyocta-2,6-dienoxy]-6-methoxychromen-2-one | 162882432 | Click to see | 506.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| 7-[3,7-Dimethyl-8-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxyocta-2,6-dienoxy]-6-methoxychromen-2-one | 163009912 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OCC(=CCCC(=CCOC3=C(C=C4C=CC(=O)OC4=C3)OC)C)C)O)O)O)O)O)O | 652.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Carotenes | |||||
| Beta-Carotene | 5280489 | Click to see | 536.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (4aS,6aR,6bS,8aR,12aR,14aS,14bR)-4,4,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14b-octamethyl-2,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-dodecahydro-1H-picen-3-one | 38359273 | Click to see | 424.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Beta-Amyrin | 73145 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C)C2C1)C)C)C | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| beta-Amyrone | 12306160 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(=O)C5(C)C)C)C)C2C1)C)C)C | 424.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Lupenone | 92158 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(=O)C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)C)C | 424.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| (3S,8S,9S,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(E,1R,4S)-4-ethyl-1,5-dimethyl-hex-2-enyl]-8,10,13-trimethyl-1,2,3,4,7,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 23246947 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-1,2,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one | 12943207 | Click to see | 410.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| Sitogluside | 5742590 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C | 576.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmast-5-en-3-ol | 22012 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Cyanogenic glycosides | |||||
| Epilotaustralin | 185818 | Click to see CCC(C)(C#N)OC1C(C(C(C(O1)CO)O)O)O | 261.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Linamarin | 11128 | Click to see | 247.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds | |||||
| 2-((6-O-(beta-D-apiofuranosyl)beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy)propane | 10316099 | Click to see | 354.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| ethyl beta-D-glucopyranoside | 121667 | Click to see CCOC1C(C(C(C(O1)CO)O)O)O | 208.21 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives / Isoquinolones and derivatives | |||||
| 16-Methoxy-5,7-dioxa-1-azapentacyclo[11.8.0.03,11.04,8.014,19]henicosa-2,4(8),9,11,13,15,18-heptaen-17-one | 11723579 | Click to see COC1=CC2=C3C=C4C=CC5=C(C4=CN3CCC2=CC1=O)OCO5 | 321.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Coumarin glycosides | |||||
| Esculin | 5281417 | Click to see C1=CC(=O)OC2=CC(=C(C=C21)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O | 340.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Scopolin | 439514 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O | 354.31 | 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 | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)90073-Y |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Kaempferol-3-O-Rutinoside | 5318767 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Rutin | 5280805 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |