China, Korea, Japan
"The flowers are visited by a variety of insects, including small bees, flies, and beetles." [1]
"It is widely cultivated for the ornamental effect of its foliage and red berries and the ability to grow on any soils in deep shade." [2]
A traditional medicinal herb. [3]
A. japonica contains Aucubin [3], "a highly active compound possessing extensive biological effects including antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and osteoprotective properties... clinical studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of aucubin in specific diseases." [4]
[1] Abe, T. (2001). Flowering phenology, display size, and fruit set in an understory dioecious shrub, Aucuba japonica (Cornaceae). American Journal of Botany, 88(3), 455-461.
[2] Henricot, B., Perez Sierra, A., & Jung, T. (2014). Phytophthora pachypleura sp. nov., a new species causing root rot of Aucuba japonica and other ornamentals in the United Kingdom. Plant pathology, 63(5), 1095-1109.
[3] Rombouts, J. E., & Links, J. (1956). The chemical nature of the antibacterial substance present inAucuba japonica thunbg. Experientia, 12(2), 78-80.
[4] Zeng, X., Guo, F., & Ouyang, D. (2020). A review of the pharmacology and toxicology of aucubin. Fitoterapia, 140, 104443.
