The Papaveraceae are an economically important family of about 42 genera and approximately 775 known species of flowering plants in the order Ranunculales, informally known as the poppy family. The family is cosmopolitan, occurring in temperate and subtropical climates, but almost unknown in the tropics. Most are herbaceous plants, but a few are shrubs and small trees. The family currently includes two groups that have been considered to be separate families: Fumariaceae and Pteridophyllaceae.
Corydalis is a genus of about 540 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the family Papaveraceae, native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere and the high mountains of tropical eastern Africa. They are most diverse in China and the Himalayas, with at least 357 species in China.
Bulbocapnine is an alkaloid found in Corydalis and Dicentra, genera of the plant family Fumariaceae which have caused the fatal poisoning of sheep and cattle. It has been shown to act as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and inhibits biosynthesis of dopamine via inhibition of the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase. Like apomorphine, it is reported to be an inhibitor of amyloid beta protein (Aβ) fiber formation, whose presence is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Bulbocapnine is thus a potential therapeutic under the amyloid hypothesis. According to the Dorlands Medical Dictionary, it "inhibits the reflex and motor activities of striated muscle. It has been used in the treatment of muscular tremors and vestibular nystagmus".
Capnoides sempervirens, the harlequin corydalis, rock harlequin, pale corydalis or pink corydalis, is an annual or biennial plant native to rocky woodland and burned or disturbed places in northern North America. Capnoides sempervirens is the only species in the genus Capnoides.
Pseudofumaria lutea, the yellow corydalis or rock fumewort, is a short-lived perennial plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is native to the southern foothills of the south-western and central Alps of Italy and Switzerland, but widely introduced elsewhere.
Corydalis aurea is a flowering plant in the poppy family (Papaveraceae), native to North America. A winter annual, it can be found in such areas as the sagebrush steppe.
Corydalis cheilanthifolia, the fern-leaved corydalis or fern-leaf corydalis, is a perennial growing from rhizomes, native to western and central China.
Parnassius tenedius, the tenedius Apollo, is an east Palearctic member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae). Populations range from Siberia and the Far East of Russia to the western Chukchi Peninsula, Mongolia and north China. The larva feeds on Corydalis species. In the northern part of its range it is a low altitude butterfly; further south it is montane.
Corydalis solida, fumewort or bird-in-a-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae, native to moist, shady habitats in northern Europe and Asia. Growing to 25 cm (10 in), it is a spring ephemeral, with foliage that appears in spring and dies down to its tuberous rootstock in summer. It is cultivated for its deeply divided, ferny leaves and narrow, long-spurred flowers which appear in spring. The flowers show color variation, and may be mauve, purple, red, or white.
(S)-Canadine, also known as (S)-tetrahydroberberine and xanthopuccine, is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA), of the protoberberine structural subgroup, and is present in many plants from the family Papaveraceae, such as Corydalis yanhusuo and C. turtschaninovii.
Dicentra peregrina is a herbaceous perennial growing from a rhizome, native to mountains in Japan and nearby areas of East Asia.
Ceratocapnos claviculata, the climbing corydalis, is a weak scrambling plant in the family Papaveraceae. It is endemic to Europe, growing mostly near the Atlantic fringe.
Corydalis micrantha is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family (Papaveraceae), native to the United States. Common names include smallflower fumewort, southern corydalis, and golden corydalis.
Corydaline is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor isolated from Corydalis yanhusuo.
Corynoline is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor isolated from Corydalis incisa.
Corydalis cava is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae, native to moist, shady, woodland habitats throughout most of mainland Europe, although commonest in central and southeast Europe. Its range extends from Spain in the west to Ukraine, Belarus and the Caucasus in the east and as far north as Sweden. It is absent from Iceland, the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Russia and Greece.
Corydalis mucronifera is a plant which does not have a common name as it is quite rare in nature. This plant has also previously been recorded as Corydalis boweri. Being as rare as it is, it has only been found in two regions: China and Tibet. The range where the plant can be found is small as it is only found near rocky beaches or high mountain ranges at altitudes between 4200 and 5300 meters. Corydalis mucronifera is small in size and displays a variety of colors: purple, yellow, white, and cream. The plant has similar structures to other plants found in Europe and North America as it displays a racemose corymb. Due to its herbal properties, it is currently being studied in medicine for its inhibitory properties; these properties are focused in studies regarding neurodegenerative disorders.
