Family

Cornaceae

Genus

Cornus

Common Name

cornel

Plant Figure

Description

Cornus officinalis, an important medicinal plant in Cornaceae family, is highly recognized for its immune and anti-diabetic properties provided by cornel iridoid glycosides (CIGs) in the dried pericarp (called 'shanzhuyu' in Chinese). It has been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years in China, Japan, and Korea due to its broad pharmacological activities, such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-shock, cardiotonic, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, and immunoregulatory activities.