Alisma orientale, also known as Asian Water Plantain, is a flowering plant species found in Asia.
It belongs to the genus Alisma and is sometimes considered a variety of Alisma plantago-aquatica (Alisma plantago-aquatica var. orientale).
What Are the Traditional Uses of Asian Water Plantain?
The rhizomes of Asian Water Plantain have been used in traditional Chinese medicine under the name ze xie.
It’s commonly used to treat oliguria, edema, gonorrhea with turbid urine, leukorrhea, diarrhea, and dizziness.
The rhizome is also used as a herb in kampo, a Japanese medicine.
What Are the Bioactive Compounds Found in Asian Water Plantain?
Approximately 120 compounds have been isolated from Asian Water Plantain, including terpenoids, which have been identified as its characteristic constituents.
These terpenoids consist of protostane triterpenoids and guaiane sesquiterpenoids.
The seed of this plant contains cis-aconitic anhydride ethyl ester and cis-2,4,5-trihydroxycinnamic acid.
What Are the Proven Benefits and Medicinal Potential of Asian Water Plantain?
Modern pharmacological studies have evaluated the traditional medical uses of Asian Water Plantain in traditional Chinese medicine.
The studies show that this plant and its active constituents exhibit a wide range of bioactivities, such as:
- Diuretic,
- Anti-urolithiatic,
- Antinephritic,
- Anti-atherosclerotic,
- Immunomodulatory, and
- Hepatoprotective.
These bioactivities make Asian Water Plantain an ideal candidate for new drug development.
Are There Any Side Effects or Risks Associated with Asian Water Plantain?
Although Asian Water Plantain has been used in traditional medicine, it may have serious side effects or even toxic effects, such as hepatotoxicity.
Further studies are needed to better understand the safety and proper use of this plant in medicine.
What Are the Future Research Directions for Asian Water Plantain?
There are several areas where additional research is needed to better understand Alisma orientale and its potential medicinal uses:
- Identifying its bioactive constituents,
- Elucidating the structure-activity relationship,
- Understanding the detailed mechanisms of action, and
- Exploring the use of other medicinal parts of the plant.
By conducting further research in these areas, it may be possible to reduce resource waste and discover new secondary metabolites from Alisma orientale.
You can check out what this plant looks like over here.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Alismataceae |
| Genus: | Alisma |
| Scientific Name: | Alisma orientale |
| Also Known As: | Asian Water Plantain |
| Conservation Status: | Unknown |