Aster tataricus is a member of the Aster genus of flowering plants.

Traditional uses

It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs of Traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...

, where it has the name zǐwǎn . It has an antibacterial

Antiseptic

Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction...

 action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium. It is frequently found as part of the normal skin flora on the skin and nasal passages. It is estimated that 20% of the human population are long-term carriers of S. aureus. S. aureus is the most common species of...

, E. coli, Bacillus dysenteriae, B. typhi, Pseudomonas

Pseudomonas

Pseudomonas is a genus of gammaproteobacteria, belonging to the family Pseudomonadaceae containing 191 validly described species.Recently, 16S rRNA sequence analysis has redefined the taxonomy of many bacterial species. As a result, the genus Pseudomonas includes strains formerly classified in the...

and Vibrio proteus.

Traditional significance

In Japan, Aster tataricus is known as shion, or 紫苑. The name can be translated to "I won't forget you," and the flower is generally associated with memory and remembrance.

External links

• Plants for a future Database