Ophiopogon Root
Market name:麦門冬 Photo location:Museum of Materia Medica, Inst. of Nat. Med. TMPW No.:194 |
Plant name:Ophiopogon japonicus (Ophiopogon ohwii) Photo location:Sichuan Prov., China Photo date:2002 Photographer:K. Komatsu |
Synonym | |
Latin name | Ophiopogonis Radix |
Botanical source: Family name | Liliaceae |
Botanical source: Plant name | Ophiopogon japonicus Ker Gawler (IPNI:429781-1) |
Part used | Enlarged part of the root |
Empirical criteria for quality selection | Good one is enlarged, rich in moisture, pale yellow and heavy (TN). |
Constituents | Monosaccharides: Sucrose, D-Fructose, D-Glucose Oligosaccharides: Oligosaccharide Sterols: β-Sitosterol, β-Sitosterol-β-D-glucoside, Stigmasterol Steroid saponins & Sapogenins: Ophiopogonin A, Ophiopogonin B, Ophiopogonin C, Ophiopogonin D, Ophiopogonin B', Ophiopogonin C', Ophiopogonin D' Neoflavanoids & Homoisoflavonoids: Ophiopogonone A, Ophiopogonone B, Methylophiopogonone A, Methylophiopogonone B, Ophiopogonanone A, Methylophiopogonanone A, Methylophiopogonanone B |
Pharmacological effects | Hypoglycemic (water extract). Antiinflammatory (ethanol extract). |
Indications | As a mucous and synovial antiinflammatory drug, tonic, antitussive, expectorant, diuretic, for strengthening the constitution, it is applied to treat nourish the stomach, to remove reversed flow of qi and to relieve feeling of hot flushes. It has a strong cardiotonic and diuretic effects for the one who has a hot flush tendency. |
Diseases | Dry cough, Few sputum, Thirst, Lack of energy, Weak pulse, Malaise, Insomnia, Fret, Constipation |
Formulas | unkeito , kamishimotsuto , kanroin , gedaishimotsutokami , shakanzoto , shin'iseihaito , jiinkokato , jiinshihoto , seikiankaito , seishoekkito , seishinrenshiin , seijokentsuto , seinetsuhokito , seinetsuhoketsuto , seihaito , chikujountanto , chikuyosekkoto , chotosan , bakumondoto , fuhishomyakusan , hokikenchuto , hohaito , mibakujiogan |
Meridian tropism | Heart, Lung, Stomach |
Property | Slightly cold |
Flavor | Sweet, Slightly bitter |
Classification in "Shen-non Ben-cao Jing" | Superior |
TCM: Classification | Tonics |
TCM: Medicinal effects | To nourish yin and promote the production of body fluid, to moisten the lung, and to ease the mind. Used for dry cough, phthisical cough, thirst due to impairment of body fluid, fidgetiness and insomnia, diabetes caused by internal heat, constipation, diphtheria. |
Remarks | Listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18th ed. |
References | TN: T. Namba & Y. Tsuda ed., Outline of Pharmacognosy, a Textbook, 3rd ed., Nankodo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 1998. |
DNA sequences of medicinal plants
Gene Region | |||||||||||||||||||
Nuclear | Chloroplast | Mitochondria | |||||||||||||||||
Botanical source: Plant name | 5Ss | 18S | ITS1 | 5.8S | ITS2 | 26S | others | trnH-psbA | matK | trnK | trnK-rps16 | trnT-L | trnL | trnL-F | rbcL | rpoC1 | ndhF | others | |