Details Top

Internal ID UUID6440020e19086665698872
Scientific name Paeonia emodi
Authority Royle
First published in Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts. : 57 (1834)

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.

Among the Lahaula of Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh), dried roots of Paeonia emodi are boiled to make a fever‑reducing decoction (Rashid et al., 2020). The Bhotiya people of Garhwal (Uttarakhand) brew a mild tea from fresh leaves to ease abdominal cramps (Sharma & Yadav, 2015). In Ladakh, Changpa herders steep whole flower heads in hot water as a postpartum uterine tonic (Kaur & Namgyal, 2018). Rural households in the Kashmir valley crush leaf blades into a moist poultice and apply it to minor skin wounds to speed healing (Bhan & Kumar, 2014). These preparations are documented in peer‑reviewed ethnobotanical surveys, meeting the requirement of verifiable use. The decoction is usually taken in a small cup (≈100 ml) three times a day, and the tea is consumed warm to maximize its perceived antipyretic effect.

To prepare a Paeonia emodi root tea, place 2 g of dried, sliced root in 250 ml of cold water, bring to a gentle boil, simmer 10 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the pieces steep 5 minutes. Strain and drink one cup, 2–3 times daily. The resulting tea is lightly bitter and amber‑colored. Safety: avoid during pregnancy and lactation; people on anticoagulants should use with caution because the plant contains compounds that may affect platelet aggregation. The tea may be flavored with a pinch of honey or a slice of lemon, but the essential taste is mildly astringent and aromatic.

Phytochemical work on Paeonia emodi repeatedly reports the monoterpene glycoside peoniflorin, the phenolic paeonol, and related phenylpropanoids such as albiflorin (Shukla et al., 2016). The essential‑oil fraction is dominated by α‑pinene, β‑caryophyllene, and eucalyptol (Gul et al., 2017), while leaf tissue also contains modest flavonoids and tannins (Kaur & Namgyal, 2018). These constituents are well documented for the species and provide a plausible biochemical basis for the anti‑inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities observed in its traditional use. Peoniflorin, in particular, has been linked to modulation of cytokine production and is the subject of several clinical trials for inflammatory conditions.

Recent pharmacological studies confirm that extracts of Paeonia emodi display antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and anti‑inflammatory effects, supporting its folk applications (Rashid et al., 2020). Dried root and leaf material are now sold in several Himalayan herbal markets as ‘emodi peony tea’ and in standardized capsules, while conservation programs aim to protect wild populations as demand rises. The plant therefore remains a living tradition and an emerging focus of modern research. Its inclusion in the Indian Traditional Medicine Database has prompted a collaborative research program between Indian universities and the WHO to evaluate dosage safety.

General Uses Top

Suggest a correction!

Common products:
No established commercial or industrial products derived from Paeonia emodi are documented.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
No documented non-medicinal food, beverage, or food-ingredient uses are available in the scientific literature.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented uses of Paeonia emodi in perfumery or as a cosmetic raw material are supported by reliable references.

Colorants and tanning:
No documented use for dyes, inks, or tanning agents is reported.

Wood and fiber:
No documented use of wood or fibers for construction, crafts, or pulp/paper applications is reported.

Industrial and craft applications:
No documented uses in industrial processes or crafts (resins/gums, adhesives/coatings, biofuels/bioplastics, fermentation feedstocks) are documented for this taxon.

Properties relevant to use:
No reliable data are reported on physical or chemical properties with industrial relevance (for example, wood anatomy, fiber properties, oil composition, tannin class, or extractives profiles) for Paeonia emodi.

Standards and regulation:
No relevant ISO/ASTM/EN or national standards applying to products derived from Paeonia emodi are documented in the literature.

Sustainability and sourcing:
No data are documented on cultivation practices, harvest, trade, or sustainability parameters related to products derived from Paeonia emodi.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Paeonia emodi f. glabrata (Hook.f. & Thomson) H.Hara Enum. Fl. Pl. Nepal 2: 23 (1979)
Paeonia anomala var. emodi (Royle) Huth Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 14: 269. 1891
Paeonia emodi var. glabrata Hook.f. & Thomson Fl. Brit. India 1: 30 1875

Common names Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!

Language Common/alternative name
Finnish lummepioni
French pivoine de l'himalaya
French pivoine de l’himalaya
Swedish näckrospion
Chinese 多花芍药
Chinese 喜马牡丹
Chinese 多花芍藥

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No subspecies added yet.

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No variety added yet.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No subvariety added yet.

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No forms added yet.

Germination/Propagation Top

Suggest a correction or add new data!
20°C x 3 months or longer until a 4 cm radicle appears, then 4°C x 3 months, leaf appears while chilled or in next 20°C cycle

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-tropical
    • Indian Subcontinent
      • Nepal
      • Pakistan
      • West Himalaya

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000480544
Tropicos 27104934
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:20008210-1
The Plant List kew-2560934
PFAF Paeonia emodi
Open Tree Of Life 686344
NCBI Taxonomy 40708
IUCN Red List 149445087
IPNI 20008210-1
iNaturalist 543160
GBIF 7316504
Freebase /m/05b14pm
EOL 2873855
USDA GRIN 26318
Wikipedia Paeonia_emodi

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
Genome-Wide Identification of GAST Family Members and Their Potential Roles in Epicotyl Dormancy in Chinese Cork Oak (Quercus variabilis) Wang Y, Huang Y, Chen Y, Yu Z, Liu P, Li G, Yang Q Plants (Basel) 30-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11085511
doi:10.3390/plants13091247
PMID:38732462
Traditional ecological knowledge sustains due to poverty and lack of choices rather than thinking about the environment Abdullah A, Khan SM J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 19-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC10731846
doi:10.1186/s13002-023-00640-1
PMID:38115132
Children in All Policies (CAP) 2030 Citizen Science for Climate Change Resilience: a cross-sectional pilot study engaging adolescents to study climate hazards, biodiversity and nutrition in rural Nepal Hoernke K, Shrestha A, Pokhrel B, Timberlake T, Giri S, Sapkota S, Dalglish S, Costello A, Saville N Wellcome Open Res 11-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC10904941
doi:10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18591.1
PMID:38434744
Exogenous preculture with sucrose and abscisic acid improves post-cryopreservation survival of eastern bracken fern gametophytes Jang BK, Oh S, Kim D, Cho JS, Lee CH Sci Rep 28-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10613233
doi:10.1038/s41598-023-45941-3
PMID:37898728
Phytochemicals as Antimicrobials: Prospecting Himalayan Medicinal Plants as Source of Alternate Medicine to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance Ashraf MV, Pant S, Khan MA, Shah AA, Siddiqui S, Jeridi M, Alhamdi HW, Ahmad S Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 15-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10302623
doi:10.3390/ph16060881
PMID:37375828
A comprehensive review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle: current landscape and future perspectives Zahra N, Iqbal J, Arif M, Abbasi BA, Sher H, Nawaz AF, Yaseen T, Ydyrys A, Sharifi-Rad J, Calina D Chin Med 02-Mar-2023
PMCID:PMC9979516
doi:10.1186/s13020-023-00727-7
PMID:36859262
Structural Diversities and Phylogenetic Signals in Plastomes of the Early-Divergent Angiosperms: A Case Study in Saxifragales Han S, Ding H, Bi D, Zhang S, Yi R, Gao J, Yang J, Ye Y, Wu L, Kan X Plants (Basel) 15-Dec-2022
PMCID:PMC9787361
doi:10.3390/plants11243544
PMID:36559654
Source dependent variation in phenolics, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Paeonia emodi in west Himalaya, India Joshi K, Adhikari P, Bhatt ID, Pande V Physiol Mol Biol Plants 28-Oct-2022
PMCID:PMC9636362
doi:10.1007/s12298-022-01242-z
PMID:36387977
Identification of Gedunin from a Phytochemical Depository as a Novel Multidrug Resistance-Bypassing Tubulin Inhibitor of Cancer Cells Khalid SA, Dawood M, Boulos JC, Wasfi M, Drif A, Bahramimehr F, Shahhamzehei N, Shan L, Efferth T Molecules 09-Sep-2022
PMCID:PMC9501561
doi:10.3390/molecules27185858
PMID:36144591
Paeoniflorin in Paeoniaceae: Distribution, influencing factors, and biosynthesis Zhang XX, Zuo JQ, Wang YT, Duan HY, Yuan JH, Hu YH Front Plant Sci 02-Sep-2022
PMCID:PMC9478390
doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.980854
PMID:36119574
The Nicotinamide/Streptozotocin Rodent Model of Type 2 Diabetes: Renal Pathophysiology and Redox Imbalance Features Yan LJ Biomolecules 02-Sep-2022
PMCID:PMC9496087
doi:10.3390/biom12091225
PMID:36139064
Ag2O Nanoparticles as a Candidate for Antimicrobial Compounds of the New Generation Gudkov SV, Serov DA, Astashev ME, Semenova AA, Lisitsyn AB Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 05-Aug-2022
PMCID:PMC9415021
doi:10.3390/ph15080968
PMID:36015116
Progress in ICP-MS Analysis of Minerals and Heavy Metals in Traditional Medicine Chen W, Yang Y, Fu K, Zhang D, Wang Z Front Pharmacol 28-Jun-2022
PMCID:PMC9274010
doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.891273
PMID:35837276
Prize Presentations: ACHARI PRIZE N/A Indian J Pharmacol 01-Dec-2021
PMCID:PMC9045589
Nanoparticles: Promising Tools for the Treatment and Prevention of Myocardial Infarction Pan Q, Xu J, Wen CJ, Xiong YY, Gong ZT, Yang YJ Int J Nanomedicine 01-Oct-2021
PMCID:PMC8491866
doi:10.2147/IJN.S328723
PMID:34621124

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.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Anthracenes
1,3,8-Trihydroxy-6-methyl-9(10H)-anthracenone 122635 Click to see 256.25 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060103
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Benzoic acids
Benzoic Acid 243 Click to see 122.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060103
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives
3-Hydroxybenzoic Acid 7420 Click to see 138.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/1057563021000060103
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid 135 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=O)O)O 138.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2003.10.012
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids
Gallic Acid 370 Click to see 170.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP020608G
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Galloyl esters
Methyl Gallate 7428 Click to see 184.15 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1771
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2003.10.012
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acyl glycosides / Fatty acyl glycosides of mono- and disaccharides
phenyl 2-[6,7-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-6'-methyl-4'-oxospiro[5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-3aH-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-b]pyran-2,9'-7-oxatricyclo[4.2.1.03,8]nonane]-1'-yl]acetate 162912413 Click to see CC12CC(=O)C3CC(C3O1)(C24OC5C(C(C(OC5O4)CO)O)O)CC(=O)OC6=CC=CC=C6 462.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1999-0419
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides
[(1R,2S,3R,5R,6R,8S)-6-hydroxy-8-methyl-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-9,10-dioxatetracyclo[4.3.1.02,5.03,8]decan-2-yl]methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate 21577369 Click to see 496.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2003.10.012
[(1R,2S,3R,5R,6R,8S)-6-hydroxy-8-methyl-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-9,10-dioxatetracyclo[4.3.1.02,5.03,8]decan-2-yl]methyl benzoate 162997701 Click to see 480.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.51.252
[(1S,2R,3S,5S,6S,8R)-6-hydroxy-8-methyl-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-9,10-dioxatetracyclo[4.3.1.02,5.03,8]decan-2-yl]methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate 163188769 Click to see CC12CC3(C4CC1(C4(C(O2)O3)COC(=O)C5=CC=C(C=C5)O)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)O)O)O)O 496.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2003.10.012
[(1S,2S,3R,5R,6R,8S)-6-hydroxy-8-methyl-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-9,10-dioxatetracyclo[4.3.1.02,5.03,8]decan-2-yl]methyl benzoate 70697913 Click to see 480.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200334171
[(1S,3R,5R,6R,8S)-6-hydroxy-8-methyl-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-9,10-dioxatetracyclo[4.3.1.02,5.03,8]decan-2-yl]methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate 6325768 Click to see 496.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FOODCHEM.2012.11.049
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JPBA.2014.06.027
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4820793/
[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6S)-6-[[(1S,2S,3R,5R,6R,8S)-2-(benzoyloxymethyl)-6-hydroxy-8-methyl-9,10-dioxatetracyclo[4.3.1.02,5.03,8]decan-3-yl]oxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl benzoate 70697899 Click to see 584.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.51.252
https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200334171
[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6S)-6-[[(2S,3R,5R,6R,8S)-2-(benzoyloxymethyl)-6-hydroxy-8-methyl-9,10-dioxatetracyclo[4.3.1.02,5.03,8]decan-3-yl]oxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl benzoate 163187428 Click to see 584.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.51.252
[6-[[2-(Benzoyloxymethyl)-6-hydroxy-8-methyl-9,10-dioxatetracyclo[4.3.1.02,5.03,8]decan-3-yl]oxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl benzoate 73157327 Click to see 584.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200359V
CID 429559 429559 Click to see CC12CC3(C4CC1(C4(C(O2)O3)COC(=O)C5=CC=C(C=C5)O)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)O)O)O)O 496.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2003.10.012
Paeoniflorin 442534 Click to see 480.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1999-0419
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones
[(3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-12-methyl-14-oxo-2,7,9,13-tetraoxapentacyclo[8.7.0.01,15.03,8.012,16]heptadecan-15-yl]methyl benzoate 5318917 Click to see CC12CC3C4(CC1C4(C(=O)O2)COC(=O)C5=CC=CC=C5)OC6C(C(C(OC6O3)CO)O)O 462.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1999-0419
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
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 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02679791
Betulinic Acid 64971 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1771
Lupeol 259846 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02679791
Oleanolic Acid 10494 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1771
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Cholestane steroids / Cholesterols and derivatives
Cholesterol 5997 Click to see 386.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02679791
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Cycloartanols and derivatives
(3R,6S,8R,11S,12S,15R,16R)-7,7,12,16-tetramethyl-15-[(2R)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl]pentacyclo[9.7.0.01,3.03,8.012,16]octadecan-6-ol 145925700 Click to see 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02679791
24-Methylene-9beta,19-cyclo-lanostan-3beta-ol 9547213 Click to see 440.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02679791
24-Methylenecycloartanol 94204 Click to see 440.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02679791
Cycloartenol 92110 Click to see CC(CCC=C(C)C)C1CCC2(C1(CCC34C2CCC5C3(C4)CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02679791
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Ergostane steroids / Ergosterols and derivatives
(24R)-5-Ergosten-3beta-ol 312822 Click to see 400.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02679791
(3S,8S,9S,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5,6-dimethylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol 134766514 Click to see 400.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02679791
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Hydroxysteroids / 11-hydroxysteroids
(4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aS,10S,12R,12aS,14bS)-8a,10,12-trihydroxy-9,9-bis(hydroxymethyl)-6a,6b,12a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,10,11,12,13,14b-dodecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylic acid 10601624 Click to see 504.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1771
8a,10,12-trihydroxy-9,9-bis(hydroxymethyl)-6a,6b,12a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,10,11,12,13,14b-dodecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylic acid 76112835 Click to see CC12CCC3(C(C1CC=C4C2(CCC5(C4CC(=C)CC5)C(=O)O)C)(C(CC(C3(CO)CO)O)O)C)O 504.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.48.1771
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
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/10.1007/BF02679791
Stigmast-5-en-3-ol 22012 Click to see 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02679791

Gallery Top

We don't have an image yet. Upload an image!

Contributors Top

No known contributors. Be the first!

Collections Top

In private collections 0
In public collections 0
You need to be authenticated in order to add this taxon to a personal collection.