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Useful Tropical Plants

Ilex hainanensis

Merr.

Aquifoliaceae

+ Synonyms

Ilex hunanensis C.J.Qi & Q.Z.Lin

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Ilex hainanensis is a small evergreen tree, usually growing around 5 - 8 metres tall[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild in large quantities for use as a health-promoting tea and a medicine. It is used as an ingredient in various proprietary medicines and is included in the Pharmacopeia of the People’s Republic of China as of 2010[
2072
Title
Therapeutic Effect of Ilex hainanensis Merr. Extract on Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysi
Publication
Front. Pharmacol. 9:424. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00424
Author
Yang X. et al
Website
http://10.3389/fphar.2018.00424
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
Ilex hainanensis has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

Although no specific reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, Ilex species in general contain several potentially toxic compounds, particularly saponins, glycosides and triterpenoids. These compounds also often have a range of potential health benefits[
274
Title
Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
Publication
 
Author
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J
Website
http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm
Publisher
Botanical Research Institute, Texas.
Year
1999
ISBN
1-889878-01-4
Description
An excellent flora, which is also available on-line.
,
293
Title
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes.
,
2070
Title
Genus Ilex L.: Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacology, and Pharmacology
Publication
Chinese Herbal Medicines, 2016, 8(3): 209-230
Author
Fan Yi, Xiao-ling Zhao, Yong Peng, Pei-gen Xiao
Website
http://10.1016/S1674-6384(16)60044-8
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
The berries are usually the part of the plant most likely to be toxic, though the degree of toxicity is usually low. Their bitter flavour usually prevents a person eating more than one or two, but even a small handful of the fruit eaten by a healthy adult is unlikely to cause more than feelings of nausea that can lead on to vomiting and diarrhoea[
293
Title
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes.
].
The compounds in the leaves are particularly interesting. The leaves of many Ilex species around the world are commonly used to make health-promoting teas that, when drunk on a regular basis, help to regulate bodily functions and can reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood-cholesterol levels etc (See Ilex paraguariensis or Ilex kaushue for examples)[
2070
Title
Genus Ilex L.: Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacology, and Pharmacology
Publication
Chinese Herbal Medicines, 2016, 8(3): 209-230
Author
Fan Yi, Xiao-ling Zhao, Yong Peng, Pei-gen Xiao
Website
http://10.1016/S1674-6384(16)60044-8
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. Even these teas, however, if taken in very concentrated doses, can act as a laxative or cause vomiting. Indeed, several species are used by traditional peoples to induce vomiting as a means of purifying the body (see Ilex guayusa or Ilex vomitoria for examples)

Botanical References

266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

Range

E. Asia - southern China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Yunnan)

Habitat

Dense forests, sparse forests, valleys, mountain slopes; at elevations from 400 - 1,000 metres[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height7.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Ilex species generally tolerate most soils that are not water-logged[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The leaves are used to make a tea, known as 'shanlv cha' that is said to have a range of health-promoting attributes, especially in its ability to regulate blood cholesterol levels, reduce high blood pressure and reduce inflammation[
2072
Title
Therapeutic Effect of Ilex hainanensis Merr. Extract on Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysi
Publication
Front. Pharmacol. 9:424. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00424
Author
Yang X. et al
Website
http://10.3389/fphar.2018.00424
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Medicinal

The leaves are the raw material of Shanlvcha tea, effectively used in the treatment of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol, and coronary heart disease[
2070
Title
Genus Ilex L.: Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacology, and Pharmacology
Publication
Chinese Herbal Medicines, 2016, 8(3): 209-230
Author
Fan Yi, Xiao-ling Zhao, Yong Peng, Pei-gen Xiao
Website
http://10.1016/S1674-6384(16)60044-8
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 
].


The leaves are anticholesterolemic, antiinflammatory, hypotensive[
2072
Title
Therapeutic Effect of Ilex hainanensis Merr. Extract on Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysi
Publication
Front. Pharmacol. 9:424. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00424
Author
Yang X. et al
Website
http://10.3389/fphar.2018.00424
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
 
] They are used to regulate several body functions, for treating oedema, relieving pain, invigorating the blood and unblocking the collaterals. The leaves are used as a traditional tea product for relieving symptoms such as headache, dizziness and tinnitus, brain swelling, upset, irritability, and insomnia, In clinical practice, the leaves have also been used for treating numerous chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, etc[
2072
Title
Therapeutic Effect of Ilex hainanensis Merr. Extract on Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysi
Publication
Front. Pharmacol. 9:424. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00424
Author
Yang X. et al
Website
http://10.3389/fphar.2018.00424
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
The extract of the leaves has been used in various preparations such as shan_lv_cha antihypertensive capsule, jue_ming_shan_lv_cha tablet, and shan_lv_cha antihypertensive tablet, which is included in the Pharmacopeia of the People’s Republic of China as of 2010[
2072
Title
Therapeutic Effect of Ilex hainanensis Merr. Extract on Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysi
Publication
Front. Pharmacol. 9:424. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00424
Author
Yang X. et al
Website
http://10.3389/fphar.2018.00424
Publisher
 
Year
2018
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ilex+hainanensis>

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