Pokeweed

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Turkey, US(Colonial), US(Penobscot), Belgium, US, China, US(Appalachia), US(Amerindian)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Alterative, Bactericide, Cancer, Cancer(Breast)

Science studied: 3-ACETYLOLEANOLIC-ACID, AMERICANIN, ANTHOCYANIN, ASCORBIC-ACID

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Phytolaccaceae

Scientific name: Phytolacca americana

Common names: Pokeweed, American Nightshade, American Pokeweed, American pokeweed, American spinach, Amerikaanse Karmozijnbes, Amerikanische Kermesbeere, Amerikanische Kermesbeere (DE); American Pokeweed (EN); Hierba carmin (ES), Amerikansk kermesbær, Amerikinė fitolaka

POWO: 323290-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Turkey, Elsewhere, US(Colonial), US(Penobscot), Belgium, US, China, US(Appalachia) and 4 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Alterative
• Bactericide
• Cancer
• Cancer(Breast)
• Diuretic
• Emetic
• Fever
• Laxative

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Turkey
• Elsewhere
• US(Colonial)
• US(Penobscot)
• Belgium
• US
• China
• US(Appalachia)
• US(Amerindian)
• Spain
• Mexico
• Cuba

Documented cultural uses

• Alterative
• Bactericide
• Cancer
• Cancer(Breast)
• Diuretic
• Emetic
• Fever
• Laxative
• Obesity
• Poison
• Purgative
• Rheumatism

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Alterative · Turkey · "
• Bactericide · Elsewhere · "
• Cancer · US(Colonial) · "
• Cancer · US(Penobscot) · "
• Cancer · Belgium · "
• Cancer(Breast) · US · "
• Diuretic · China · "
• Emetic · US · "
• Emetic · US(Appalachia) · "
• Emetic · Turkey · "
• Fever · US(Amerindian) · "
• Laxative · Turkey · "
• Obesity · Elsewhere · "
• Poison · US · "
• Purgative · Spain · "
• Purgative · US · "
• Purgative · Turkey · "
• Rheumatism · Elsewhere · "
• Syphilis · Turkey · "
• Tumor · Mexico · "
• CNS stimulant · Turkey · "
• Diuretic · Elsewhere · "
• Emetic · Elsewhere · "
• Eruption · US(Colonial) · "

17 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Identification and characterization of a promiscuous pentacyclic triterpenoid O-glycosyltransferase from Phytolacca americana. · 2026 source ↗
• Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence for Repellency of Phytolacca americana (Pokeweed) Fruit Extract in Plutella xylostella · 2026 source ↗
• Study on the chemical composition of the stems and leaves of <i>Phytolacca americana</i>. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• 3-ACETYLOLEANOLIC-ACID
• AMERICANIN
• ANTHOCYANIN
• ASCORBIC-ACID
• CAFFEIC-ALDEHYDE
• CALCIUM
• BETA-CAROTENE
• ESCULENTIC-ACID
• FRUCTOSE
• GLUCOSE
• HEMICELLULOSE
• ISOQUERCITRIN
• JALIGONIC-ACID
• NIACIN
• 3-OXO-3-CARBOMETHOXY-24-NOROLEAN-12-EN-29-OIC-ACID
• OXYMYRISTIC-ACID

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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