Cistanche tubulosa (Cistanche tubulosa)
Description
Cistanche tubulosa is a holoparasitic desert plant species in the genus Cistanche. The plant lacks chlorophyll and obtains nutrients and water from the host plants whose roots it parasitizes. The plant is grown in the Taklamakan desert, and is traditionally used for medicines and foods in China. A recent study found a combination of Cistanche Tubulosa and Laminaria Japonica Extracts to be "promising substances for promoting health of the scalp and hair treatment" The main sources of the Chinese herbal medicine cistanche are Cistanche salsa and Cistanche deserticola, although it may also be obtained from C. tubulosa. The drug, known in Chinese as suosuo dayun, is collected in spring before sprouting, by slicing the stems of the plant. Recent Chinese studies demonstrated that C. tubulosa contains several phenylethanoid glycosides, e.g. echinacoside, acteoside, and isoacteoside, which potentially can be used as regulators of blood glucose level for treatment of Type I and Type II diabetes mellitus.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Lamiales
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Family: Orobanchaceae
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Genus: Cistanche
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