Lonicera japonica

Lonicera japonica, “Japanese honeysuckle” in English and “Chèvrefeuille du Japon” in French, belongs to the Caprifoliaceae botanical family.

It is a climber growing to 5 m by 5 m at a fast rate, native to East Asia, found in scrub, sparse forests, mountain slopes, stony places and roadsides.

The drug, made with stems and flower buds, has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for its many activities: alterative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge. It is used for colds, fever, thirst, infections of the respiratory tract, enteritis, dysentery and skin diseases.

Its main components are : protocatechuic acid, biflavonoids, luteolin, lonicerin and chrysin, hyperoside, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid and lonicerosides (saponins of hederagenin).

  • English name Honey suckle
  • French name Chèvrefeuille du Japon
  • Chinese name Jinyinhua
Lonicera japonica