Polygonatum

Polygonatum
Polygonatum multiflorum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
clade:	Angiosperms
clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Nolinoideae
Genus:	Polygonatum Mill.
Species
See text

Polygonatum ( /ˌpɒlɨˈɡɒnətəm/),^[1] King Solomon's-seal or Solomon's Seal, is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae). ^[2] It has also been classified in the former family Convallariaceae and, like many lilioid monocots, was formerly classified in the lily family Liliaceae.

Some species of this genus are believed to have medicinal properties, and some (in particular P. sibiricum) are used as a tisane in Korea, which is called dungulle.

Some Polygonatum shoots are edible, cooked like asparagus, as are the roots - after appropriate treatment ^[3] - being a good source of starch.^[4]

Traditional medicine

Traditionally, "Solomon's Seal" purportedly alleviates a range of afflictions from menopause to broken bones.^{[citation needed]} As a topical application, the root are said to expedite the healing of cuts and bruises, skin irritations and inflammations, and as a face wash is good for acne, blemishes and all kinds of imperfections of the skin.^{[citation needed]} Its use to fight diabetes was first observed in 1930 by Hedwig Langecker. After experiments, she concluded that it was effective in fighting nutritional hyperglycemia, though not that caused by adrenaline release, probably due to its content of glucokinin.^[5]

Selected species

References

See also

• Maianthemum