Corydalis yanhusuo vs Corydalis

Corydalis is a plant of the genus Corydalis.The Chinese name for Corydalis yanhusuo is yan hu suo (Chinese:Yan Hu Suo; Pinyin: yán hú suǒ; Lit. "Extended wild rope").The Japanese common name is engosaku (エングサク), and the Korean common name is hyeonhosaek (현호색).English common names include yanhusuo, corydalis, and Asian corydalis.The tubers of this plant, often mistaken for roots, are important healing agents in traditional Chinese medicine.It is native to high-altitude grasslands across China, including the provinces of Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, but is grown in a wider range.

Descriptions

According to Flora of China, this herbaceous perennial produces 5 to 15 purple-blue tubular flowers in clusters that curve at the opening. Yellow, round tubers up to 2.5 cm (1 inch) in diameter.

Compound:

The alkaloid dehydrocordidine (DHCB) can be extracted from the root of the plant.Tetrahydropalmatine is another major constituent alkaloid.Corydalis also contains the alkaloids leucine and palmitine.It also contains the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor cordyline.N-methyltetrahydroprotoberberine has been isolated from C. yanhusuo.

Corydalis:

Corydalis (from Greek korydalí, "crested lark") is a genus of about 470 species of annual and perennial herbs in the family Papavedaceae,native to the temperate northern hemisphere and alpine mountains of tropical East Africa.They are most diverse in China and the Himalayas, where there are at least 357 species.

Ecology:

The larvae of some Lepidoptera species (butterflies) use Corydalis species as food plants, notably the clouded apollo.

Toxicity:

Corydalis and some other tuber plants contain the alkaloid bulbocapnine, which is occasionally used medicinally, but scientific evidence for correct dosage and side effects is lacking.Many species in the Corydalis genus contain other toxins and alkaloids, such as canadine, which blocks calcium.C.caseana species are toxic to livestock.