Süstemaatiline kuuluvus (APG IV)
Riik: Taimed (Plantae)
Klaad: Soontaimed (Tracheophyta)
Klaad: Katteseemnetaimed (Angiospermae)
Klaad: Päriskaheidulehelised (Eudicotyledonae)
Selts: Kanarbikulaadsed (Ericales)
Sugukond: Siniladvalised (Polemoniaceae)
Perekond: Sinilatv (Polemonium)
Liik: Harilik sinilatv - Polemonium caeruleum L.

Botaaniline kirjeldus
Harilik sinilatv on mitmeaastane rohttaim siniladvaliste sugukonnast, perekonnast sinilatv. Taim kasvab kuni 120 cm kõrguseks. Siniladva vars on püstine. Juurikas on lühike, viltune, rohkete pikkade peenikeste külgjuurtega. Alumised varrelehed pikarootsulised, ülemised peaaegu rootsutud. Lehed on sulgjad, vahelduva seisuga, meenutavad palderjani omi. Õied on enamasti sinised, harvem violetsed või valged, lehterjad, viie kroonlehega.  [1]

Levila
Hariliku siniladva peamised kasvukohad on niisked aruniidud, luhaniidud, soovõsad, lodumetsad, jõekaldad ja paekalda alused. Metsikult kasvab harilik sinilatv Euroopas ja Aasia põhjaosas. Eestis kasvab ta kõikjal hõredalt, kohati ka tihedamate rühmadena eelkõige niiskematel niitudel ja jõekallastel. [2]

Toime ja kasutamine
Hiina ravimtaim, mida kasutatakse tuberkuloosi, läkaköha, palaviku, viljatuse, epilepsia, endometriidi ja unetuse raviks. Seda kasutati ka rahusti ja anesteetikumina. Juurestik on röga lahtistav ja rahustav. Mõningatel andmetel on toime 10 korda tugevam kui palderjanil. Taime kasutati ravimtaimena Vana-Kreekas. Vanad kreeklased kasutasid juurt düsenteeria, hambavalu ja loomahammustuste raviks. Taime leidus üheksateistkümnendal sajandil ka mõnes Euroopa apteegis ning seda kasutati süüfilisevastase vahendina ja marutaudi raviks. [3, 4] 

Taim sisaldab triterpeenseid saponiine, kumariine, flavinoide, lima, lipiide, orgaanilisi happeid, tärklist. Hariliku siniladva metanooliekstraktil on parasiidivastane nig antibakteriaalne toime Escherichia coli vastu. Täheldatud bioloogilisi toimeid võib seostada taimes leiduvate triterpeensaponiinide, eriti oleanaanide olemasoluga. [3]

Droogiks varutakse juurikat koos juurtega ning ürti, mis kuivatatakse temperatuuril mitte üle 60 °C. Ravimiannustes ohutu. Üleannustamisel ärritavad taimes sisalduvad tanniinid seedekulglat. [4]

Kasutatud allikad
1. Kew Science. (n.d.). Polemonium caeruleum. Retrieved November 4, 2023, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30001488-2
2. Jacob’s ladder | Climbing Plant, Perennial, Fragrant | Britannica. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/plant/Jacobs-ladder#ref154933
3.  Łaska, G., Sieniawska, E., Świątek, Ł., Zjawiony, J., Khan, S., Boguszewska, A., Stocki, M., Angielczyk, M., & Polz-Dacewicz, M. (2019). Phytochemistry and biological activities of Polemonium caeruleum L. Phytochemistry Letters, 30, 314–323. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOL.2019.02.017 
4. Raal, A. (2010). Maailma ravimtaimede entsüklopeedia. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus.

Classification (APG IV)
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Polemoniaceae
Genus: Polemonium
Species: Jacob's-ladder - Polemonium caeruleum L.

Botanical Description
Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Polemoniaceae family, genus Polemonium. The plant grows up to 120 cm in height. Its stems are upright. The rhizome is short and inclined, with numerous long, slender lateral roots. The lower stem leaves are long-petioled, while the upper leaves are nearly sessile. The leaves are pinnate, alternately arranged, and resemble those of valerian. The flowers are usually blue but may occasionally be violet or white. They are funnel-shaped with five petals. [1]

Distribution
Jacob’s ladder typically grows in moist habitats such as wet meadows, floodplain meadows, marshy thickets, swamp forests, riverbanks, and limestone slopes. Wild populations are found in Europe and northern Asia. In Estonia, it grows sparsely but can form denser groups, particularly in wetter meadows and along riverbanks. [2]

Effects and Uses
In Chinese medicine, Polemonium caeruleum has been used to treat tuberculosis, whooping cough, fever, infertility, epilepsy, endometritis, and insomnia. It has also been employed as a sedative and anesthetic. The root system is known for its expectorant and calming properties, reportedly 10 times more potent than valerian. In ancient Greece, the root was used to treat dysentery, toothaches, and animal bites. In the 19th century, the plant was available in some European pharmacies and used against syphilis and rabies. [3, 4]

The plant contains triterpene saponins, coumarins, flavonoids, mucilage, lipids, organic acids, and starch. Its methanol extract has demonstrated antiparasitic and antibacterial activity, particularly against Escherichia coli. These biological effects are attributed to the triterpene saponins, especially oleanane derivatives, present in the plant. [3]

The rhizome and roots, as well as the herb, are harvested as raw material (droog). The plant material is dried at temperatures not exceeding 60°C. It is considered safe at medicinal doses. Overdoses, however, can irritate the digestive system due to the tannins it contains. [4]

References
1. Kew Science. (n.d.). Polemonium caeruleum. Retrieved November 4, 2023, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30001488-2
2. Jacob’s ladder | Climbing Plant, Perennial, Fragrant | Britannica. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/plant/Jacobs-ladder#ref154933
3. Łaska, G., Sieniawska, E., Świątek, Ł., et al. (2019). Phytochemistry and biological activities of Polemonium caeruleum L. Phytochemistry Letters, 30, 314–323. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOL.2019.02.017
4. Raal, A. (2010). Maailma ravimtaimede entsüklopeedia. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus.