Adenophora triphylla

Adenophora triphylla
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Adenophora
Species:
A. triphylla
Binomial name
Adenophora triphylla
Synonyms[1]
  • Adenophora tetraphylla (Thunb.) Fisch. ex B.D.Jacks.
  • A. verticillata Fisch.
  • A. verticillata var. angustifolia Regel
  • A. verticillata var. princeps Korsh.
  • Campanula tetraphylla Thunb.
  • C. triphylla Thunb. (basionym[2])

Adenophora triphylla, also known as Japanese lady bell, is one of the 62 species of Adenophora.[3] It is a flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae that is distributed mainly over the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and China.[4]

Ecology

Flowers of Adenophora triphylla
Stem and leaves of Adenophora triphylla

Adenophora triphylla is an erect, perennial herb growing to 100 centimetres (39 in) in height.[4] It has a white and thickened taproot, shaped like a carrot, 7–16 centimetres (2.8–6.3 in) by 1.5–1.8 centimetres (0.59–0.71 in) in diameter.[3] Stems are white pilose with alternately arranged leaves. It has oval, almost round, serrated leaves growing to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) that are white, sharply pointed, and pilose. A. triphylla flowers are about 13–22 millimetres (0.51–0.87 in) long and have both male and female organs (hermaphrodite), each having 5 stamens and a pistil (the long head of the pistil overhangs the flower). Flowers are pollinated by insects. Seeds are yellow-brown colored and oblong slightly compressed, 1–1.5 millimetres (0.039–0.059 in).[3]

  • Habitat: Grassy areas in lowlands and mountains.[4]
  • Suitable for: Grassy places in lowland and mountain with loamy soils.
  • Distribution: Korea, Japan, China, Laos, Russia (Far East, Eastern Siberia), Vietnam.[3]

Cultivation details

Adenophora triphylla grows well in a warm and sunny or slightly shaded niche, but cannot grow in full shade; A. triphylla needs alkaline soil that is slightly moisturized, or peaty soil. Plants are hardy to about −20 °C (−4 °F). Slugs have been known to destroy its young growth or even mature plants.

Propagation

Adenophora triphylla grows wild in mountains and meadows, but is also cultivated. The seed can be sown in spring and germinates in 1–3 months. At that time, it needs a temperature of about 10 °C (50 °F). It can be planted out into a permanent positions while young.

Chemical constituents

Adenophora triphylla roots contain chemical compounds that are luteolin,[5] butanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane,[6] saponins and triterpenes.[7]

Cooking

The dried roots of Adenophora triphylla are eaten roasted, stir-fried, or pickled and are also used as seasoning in various Korean dishes.[5]

Traditional medicine

In Korea, A. triphylla is traditionally used for sputum, cough, bronchial catarrh and to fight obesity, cancer, and inflammation.[8] It is believed to have antifungal, expectorant, and cardiotonic effects.[4] In addition, the water extracts of Adenophora triphylla rejuvenate estrogen in postmenopausal women.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Adenophora triphylla". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  2. ^ The basionym of this plant (Campanula triphylla) was originally described and published in Flora Japonica sistens plantas insularum japonicarum... 87. 1784. "Name - Campanula triphylla Thunb". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d Adenophora tetraphylla. Flora of China. Vol. 19. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University (1998). Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea. World Health Organization. p. 11. ISBN 92-9061-120-0.
  5. ^ a b c Kim, Yoonjeong; Pyeon, Jiye; Yu, Yeong Eun; Jung, Cheol-jong; Lee, Do Sang; La, Im-Joung; Kim, Younghwa (2025). "Profiling of phytochemicals in Adenophora triphylla using LC-Q-TOF/MS-based untargeted metabolomics". RSC Advances. 15 (23): 18275–18282. Bibcode:2025RSCAd..1518275K. doi:10.1039/d5ra00186b. PMC 12127841. PMID 40458424.
  6. ^ Choi, Hyun-Jin; Chung, Mi Ja; Ham, Seung-Shi (2010). "Antiobese and hypocholesterolaemic effects of an Adenophora triphylla extract in HepG2 cells and high fat diet-induced obese mice". Food Chemistry. 119 (2): 437–444. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.06.039.
  7. ^ Kang, Ji-Nam; Lee, Si-Myung; Choi, Ji-Weon; Lee, Seung-Sik; Kim, Chang-Kug (2023). Li, Ying; Quan, Mingyang (eds.). "First Contiguous Genome Assembly of Japanese Lady Bell (Adenophora triphylla) and Insights into Development of Different Leaf Types". Genes. 15 (1): 58. doi:10.3390/genes15010058. PMC 10815912. PMID 38254948.
  8. ^ Ya, Liu; Ren, Xiuxia; Jeong, Byoung Ryong (2019). "Supplementary Light Source Affects Growth, Metabolism, and Physiology of Adenophora triphylla (Thunb.) A.DC. Seedlings". BioMed Research International: 1–16. doi:10.1155/2019/6283989. PMC 6530224. PMID 31205942.