Lindera obtusiloba, the blunt-lobed spice bush, is a species of flowering plant in the laurel family (Lauraceae). It is native to the Himalayas, northeastern India, Myanmar, China, Korea and Japan. It is a spreading deciduous shrub or small tree growing to tall and wide, with glossy aromatic leaves and deep yellow flowers which appear in spring before the leaves. Juvenile leaves are lobed (as the name suggests) and are deep purple. The leaves often turn yellow in autumn.
The species was described by Carl Ludwig Blume in 1851. Two varieties are accepted. Lindera obtusiloba var. heterophylla – Bhutan, Tibet, northeastern India, Myanmar, China, Korea, and Japan Lindera obtusiloba var. obtusiloba – Himalayas, northestern India, Myanmar, China, Korea, and Japan
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Uses A Lindera obtusiloba water extract inhibited mast-cell-derived allergic inflammation in vitro and vivo, suggesting it may have possible uses in allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis.Suh WM, Park SB, Lee S, Kim HH, Suk K, Son JH, Kwon TK, Choi HG, Lee SH, Kim SH.,"Suppression of mast-cell-mediated allergic inflammation by Lindera obtusiloba." Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2011 Feb;236(2):240-6
The plant contains the anti-histamine compound koaburaside and also a source of valuable obtusilic acid.
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