Isatis tinctoria is a european and probably asian species very polymorphic in fruit shape, shape and size of auricles of cauline leaves, and the amount of indumentum. In both traditional chinese medicine tcm and ayurveda, it is used in combination with isatis leaf and other herbs to treat the common cold, sore throat, mumps, respiratory ailments, other febrile diseases, hepatitis, and malignant tumors 1 2. Isatis tinctoria article about isatis tinctoria by the free. Tracheophyta magnoliopsida brassicaceae isatis isatis tinctoria. Production and analysis of organic acids in hairyroot cultures of isatis indigotica fort. The earliest known source of indigo is woad isatis tinctoria, a biennial species. The plant isatis indigotica has been used in traditional chinese medicine for the treatment of various illnesses. Isatis root isatis tinctoria lane assignments lanes, from left to right track, volume, sample. The content of indigo precursors in isatis tinctoria leavesa comparative study of selected accessions and postharvest treatments. Monograph isatis tinctoria isatis tinctoria description isatis tinctoria also known as dyers woad, is a member of the brassica family. Isatis root is derived from the isatis plant and is a source of indigo dye. Liu et al, 2003, organic acids wang et al, 2009, and sucrose liu et al, 2002a. Data source and references for isatis tinctoria dyers woad from the usda plants database. Although native to the grasslands of southeastern russia, it spread widely across asia and europe by cultivation, and is considered a noxious weed in.
On dry plants, they remain standing into winter, providing interesting silhouettes in the landscape. One author says it is so astringent that it is not fit to be used internally it is only used externally as a plaster applied to the region of the spleen and as an ointment for ulcers, inflammation and to staunch bleeding. It has been cultivated since ancient times as a source of a dark blue dye woad obtained by fermenting the leaves and lower portions of the plant. Woad is native to the steppe and desert zones of the caucasus, central asia to eastern siberia and western asia per hegi but is now also found in. Jul 03, 2011 it has been used and cultivated in europe and china since antiquity. Woad definition is a european herb isatis tinctoria of the mustard family formerly grown for the blue dyestuff yielded by its leaves. This herb is very strong, and should not be used for extended periods. The easily distinguished flowers of the cruciferae have four petals arranged diagonally cruciform and alternating with the four sepals. Long valued for the dye it produces, it is of pest status in alkaline soils of some western states of the united states.
It is in flower from june to august, and the seeds ripen from august to september. Coolville ridge road athens, ohio 45701 7405924643 7405933092 fax. It was valued for its rich blue pigment, and archeological evidence traces its use as a natural dye back to the neolithic period in france, the bronze age in austria and germany, the iron age in northern europe and the british isles. Note that the pdf version is the booklet as published, whereas the. Flowers appear in loose racemes, are yellow and develop into large, flat, blueblack seedheads. Dyers woad is listed as a noxious weed in both arizona and new. It is a member of the broccoli family with antiviralantibacterial properties. Cultivated in ancient times for its blue dye, isatis tinctoria dyers woad is an upright biennial plant with large terminal clusters of bright goldenyellow flowers in early summer which turn into flattened, lanternlike, dark, decorative seed heads.
Isatis tinctoria root ahpa botanical identity references. In ayurvedic, siddha, unani and chinese medical traditions, isatis tinctoria is used as a treatment for the common cold as well as for mumps, sore throat, fever, sore throat, oral sores. Both compounds exhibited scavenging activities on a dpphfree radical, whereas. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Sometimes woad, mainly isatis emarginata, is grown for. Media in category isatis tinctoria the following 118 files are in this category, out of 118 total. It is also likely to persist in the absence of fire or with long firefree intervals see.
Pdf new archaeobotanical finds of isatis tinctoria l. The pdf file linked from each plant community name describes the model. Wiggins, the american farmers instructor, or practical agriculturist, page 185, woad is one of those plants which yield the deep blue colouring matter so greatly valued in the arts indigo. Isatis tinctoria is a biennialperennial growing to 1 m 3ft 3in by 0. It drains heat, reduces fire toxicity, cools the blood, and benefits the throat. Woad is also the name of a blue dye produced from the leaves of the plant. Fresh leaves of four isatis species culture form of i.
It was valued for its rich blue pigment and archeological evidence traces its use as a natural dye back to the neolithic period in france, the bronze age in austria and germany, the iron age in northern europe and the british isles. Isatis tinctoria dyers woad this plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below. Although native to the grasslands of southeastern russia, it spread widely across asia and europe by cultivation, and is considered a noxious weed in most of the western united states. Isatis root and leaf are bitter in taste and cold in action.
The botanical name is isatis indigotica root and ban lan gen is the pin yin name. Isatis tinctoria dyers woad seeds world seed supply. Jan 06, 2020 extracting pastel from isatis tinctoria. This requires persons, companies or corporations to clean transport and farm machinery free from all. Isatis tinctoria definition of isatis tinctoria by the. It is the leaves that are harvested at the point when the edges are turning violet. Isatis tinctoria online atlas of the british and irish flora.
It is thought that the ancient britons used woad to dye their bodies to make them look more fearsome in battle, as reported by pliny in ad 44. It forms a rosette of leaves in the first year, which spawns a flowering stalk in the following season. Analysis of the extracts of isatis tinctoria by new. Isaindigotidione was the first compound known to contain the indolizino7,6cquinoline ring system, and. The scientific name of dyers woad is isatis tinctoria l.
They reduce fever and heat, cool the blood and throat, and reduce activity of virulent virus and microbes. Isatis tinctoria synonyms, isatis tinctoria pronunciation, isatis tinctoria translation, english dictionary definition of isatis tinctoria. Isatis tinctoria article about isatis tinctoria by the. Download includes an excel spreadsheet of the attributes, and a pdf explaining the background and nomenclature. Biennial, woad develops leaf rosettes and deep roots in its first year, and flowers in its second year, before setting seed and dying. The cox2 inhibitory activity of the dichloromethane extract of leaves of isatis tinctoria is shown to be induced by its active component, tryptanthrin and its inhibitory ability has been reported to be comparable with that of the preferential cox2 inhibitors such as nimesulide and ns 398 65. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning. Isatis root memorial sloan kettering cancer center.
Isatis root has been used for centuries in traditional chinese medicine as an herb that clears heat. Isatis tinctoria definition of isatis tinctoria by the free. The extraction of pastel dye from isatis tinctoria was a truly timeconsuming and noxious process. An account on the reinvestigation of the old dye and medicinal plant isatis tinctoria as an antiinflammatory and current research on the active principles in woad is given. Use only certified weed free seed mixes when revegetation is necessary.
This page was last edited on 20 february 2019, at 11. Brassicaceae ipni although these plants are most commonly known for their bluedye colour there is a long tradition of them both being used medicinally, particularly in the treatment of infection. Native to russia, but now a common invasive in the us, europe, and asia. This herb is commonly known as indigo root and woad root. A dietary herbal supplement that helps strengthens immune system and maintain regularity during the changing seasons and healthy respiratory system, clears heat and toxins, reduce swelling and relieve sore throat. Isatis tinctoria from the rediscovery of an ancient. Woad has rather a mixed press for its medicinal virtues.
The pdf file linked from each plant community name describes the model and synthesizes the knowledge available on vegetation composition, structure, and dynamics in that community. Due to their extremely variable morphology, the asian species in particular are difficult to determine. Brassicaceae, which is commonly known as woad, is a species with an ancient and welldocumented history as an indigo dye and medicinal plant. Isatis is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants in the family brassicaceae, native to the mediterranean region east to central asia. Oct 22, 2015 isatis tinctoria, with woad or glastum as the common name, is a flowering plant in the family brassicaceae. Media in category isatis tinctoriathe following 118 files are in this category, out of 118 total. Isatis is a difficult genus requiring revision according to ball and akeroyd 2010 who state that i. It grows like a weed in sunny, welldrained soil, however, that is the only easy bit. Isatis tinctoria is a herbaceous dye plant which has spread, often by human intervention, widely from its area of origin in central asia or southeast russia.
Isatis tinctoria european biennial formerly grown for the blue coloring matter yielded by its leaves dyers woad genus isatis, isatis old world. This essay compares and contrasts baptisia tinctoria l. This plant may be known by one or more common names in. Glucobrassicin enhancement in woad isatis tinctoria leaves by chemical and physical treatments. Isatis tinctoria or dyers woad is an easy to grow biennial that originated in the caucus area, near turkey. The species is hermaphrodite has both male and female organs and is pollinated by insects.
Data source and references for isatis tinctoria dyers. The most common species is isatis tinctoria, whose leaves yield a dark blue coloring indigo used to dye cloth. This alkaloid is thought to be a potent inhibitor of the inflammatory enyzme cyclooxygenase2 cox2 and is likely responsible for the plants feverreducing and antiinflammatory activity. Data source and references for isatis tinctoria dyers woad. This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Isatis tinctoria woad the earliest known source of indigo is woad isatis tinctoria, a biennial species, previously a native of southeast russia, that has become indigenous to northern europe. Isatis tinctoria woad, dyers woad pfaf plant database. Isatis tinctoria is widely used as antiinflammatory and dye medicinal plant in europe and china. Extraction of indigo from some isatis species and dyeing. Pdf isatis tinctoria from the rediscovery of an ancient medicinal. In a broadbased screening, a dichloromethane extract from the leaves displayed significant activities on several clinically relevant targets of inflammation.
Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Tinctorial definition of tinctorial by the free dictionary. The alkaloid isaindigotidione, 96, which is isolated from the roots, is a possible source of its biological activity, although no such activity has been established. Apr, 2020 alkaloid tryptanthrin, found in the plants leaves, is thought to be responsible for a significant portion of the pharmacological activity of isatis tinctoria. It has been used and cultivated in europe and china since antiquity. Isatis tinctoria is a herbaceous dye plant which has spread, often by human.
Isatis tinctoria, with woad or glastum as the common name, is a flowering plant in the family brassicaceae. Known as daqingye or qing dai in mandarin chinese and as dyers woad in english, the root of the isatis tinctoria plant has been used in both european and asian traditional medical systems for over 1,000 years. Da qing ye clear heattoxicity and cool blood, but the former is better at relieving sore throat while the latter at eliminating macula. Woad is a biennial to perennial plant native to southeastern europe. Qing dai are important herbs for relieving fire toxicity, but the latter is salty in. Glucobrassicin enhancement in woad isatis tinctoria leaves by chemical and. It was once widely cultivated in western europe as a dye plant, but this almost stopped when indigo began to be produced synthetically. Information on california plants for education, research and conservation. Liu et al, 2003, organic acids wang et al, 2009, and sucrose liu et al, 2002a,b were identified. Volatile constituents in dried roots of isatis tinctoria l. Over the last decade, more than 65 compounds of isatis tinctoria including glycosides, alkaloids wu et al, 1997. Somerset rare plants group, uk last amended 22022015 isatis tinctoria l. Isatis root capsule has been a very popular herbs in asia.