Rhodoleia is a genus of plants in the family Hamamelidaceae. It includes six species which range from southern China to northern Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia, and Sumatra. Together with its sister genus Exbucklandia, Rhodoleia forms the sister clade to the other 25 genera of Hamamelidaceae. Flowers of Rhodoleia are bird-pollinated. Nectar-foraging birds including Japanese white-eyes and fork-tailed sunbirds, avidly visit the flowers, which they also pollinate in the process.
Scientists found that a compound called rhodolin F, extracted from the ornamental tree Rhodoleia championii, powerfully blocks an enzyme linked to high cholesterol and fat buildup in cells — with no apparent toxicity. This opens a path toward plant-derived treatments for hyperlipidemia, validating a traditional medicinal use of this plant.
