Lindera obtusiloba, the blunt-lobed spice bush,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the laurel family Lauraceae, native to China, Korea and Japan. It is a spreading deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 6 m (20 ft) tall and wide, with glossy aromatic leaves and deep yellow flowers which appear in spring before the leaves.[1] Juvenile leaves are lobed (as the name suggests) and are deep purple. The leaves often turn yellow in autumn.

Japanese spicebush
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Lauraceae
Genus: Lindera
Species:
L. obtusiloba
Binomial name
Lindera obtusiloba

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2][3]

Uses

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A Lindera obtusiloba water extract inhibited mast-cell-derived allergic inflammation in vitro and vivo, suggesting it may have possible uses in allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis.[4]

The plant contains the anti-histamine compound koaburaside.

References

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  1. ^ a b RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1-4053-3296-5.
  2. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Lindera obtusiloba". Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  3. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 60. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  4. ^ Suh WM, Park SB, Lee S, Kim HH, Suk K, Son JH, Kwon TK, Choi HG, Lee SH, Kim SH.,"Suppression of mast-cell-mediated allergic inflammation by Lindera obtusiloba." Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2011 Feb;236(2):240-6
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