The efficacy and function of Radix Ophiopogonis

Friends who don’t know about Ophiopogon japonicus will not understand its effects and functions. Ophiopogon japonicus is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. Many people only know it in terms of its appearance, so it is difficult to understand what benefits Ophiopogon japonicus can really bring to people’s health. We need to have an in-depth understanding of this medicinal material.

【Other name】 Ophiopogon japonicus

[Source] Medicinal material source: The tuberous roots of Ophiopogon japonicus and Ophiopogon japonicus, both of which belong to the Liliaceae family.

【Original form】 1. Ophiopogon japonicus is a perennial herb. The rhizome is short and thick, with many long and thin fibrous roots, the middle of which is swollen into a series of bead-shaped or spindle-shaped fleshy tubers. Leaves are clustered; petioles have membranous sheaths; leaf blades are leathery, linear, 15-30cm long and 4-7mm wide. The flower stem is erect, 15-30cm high, with terminal racemes up to 12cm long, with many flowers, often 1-4 clusters in the axils of bracts, the perianth is lavender or light blue, oblong or needle-shaped; the pedicel is about 3-4mm long and the ovary is superior. The berries are spherical and blue-black when ripe. The flowering period is from May to July, and the fruiting period is from August to October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: 1. Grown in shady and moist places in mountains, under forests in valleys and on roadsides; often cultivated in the south. 2. Grown in low mountains, valleys, under sparse or dense forests or in shady and wet places.

[Properties] 1. Identification of properties (1) The root tuber of Ophiopogon japonicus is spindle-shaped, slightly curved, narrow and pointed at both ends, slightly thick in the middle, 1.5-3.5 cm long and 3-5 mm in diameter. The surface is light yellow, sometimes yellow-brown, not full, and has rough longitudinal wrinkles. It is highly fibrous, with a yellowish-white cross section and a waxy texture. The taste is relatively light.

[Chemical composition] 1. Ophiopogon japonicus: The root tuber contains steroidal saponins: spicatoside A and B, prosapogenin Ⅱ of spicatoside A and prosapogenin Ⅲ of spicatoside A, ophiopognin B, and β-sitosterolglucoside. It also contains flavonoids.

[Pharmacological action] 1. Cardiotonic and coronary dilating effect: The coronary flow test of isolated guinea pig hearts showed that the coronary flow was significantly increased (+54.59%) when low-dose (25% 1.5ml) Radix Ophiopogonis injection was infused, while the coronary flow was reduced (-38.20%) when high-dose (200% 1.5ml) was used. When coronary artery flow increases, heart contraction increases, but the heart rate is not significantly affected; when coronary artery flow decreases, heart contraction weakens, the heart rate slows down, and even atrioventricular conduction block and ventricular fibrillation may occur. In situ rabbit heart test showed that when the dose of Radix Ophiopogonis injection was 2.5g/kg and 5.0g/kg, the heart contraction was significantly enhanced, and the contraction amplitude increased by 58.23%-97.35%. The positive inotropic effect at 2.5g/kg was not blocked by propranolol and had no significant effect on heart rate, indicating that its positive inotropic effect seemed to be unrelated to β-receptors. This product can also increase the uptake rate of 86Rb in mouse heart. When 1.75 g/kg of the water-soluble extract of Radix Ophiopogonis was injected intravenously into anesthetized cats, the rate of change of ventricular pressure (LVdp/dt max) increased by 86%, the time from the beginning of left ventricular contraction to ejection (t-dp/dt max) was shortened by 28%, and the cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), stroke index (SI) and left ventricular work index (LVWI) increased by 146%, 151%, 150% and 194%, respectively. Heart rate was slightly slowed, and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was reduced by 48%. After intravenous injection of 0.7g/kg of this product, LVdp/dt max increased by 38%, CO increased by 44%, t-dp/dt max shortened by 20%, and SVR decreased by 20%. This further shows that this product has a cardiotonic effect and can improve the heart's pump function.

[Identification] Physical and chemical identification: Under ultraviolet light, the thin slices of Ophiopogon japonicus do not show fluorescence, while the thin slices of Ophiopogon japonicus show blue fluorescence.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet; slightly bitter; slightly cold

【Functions and indications】Nourishes yin and promotes the production of body fluids. It is mainly used for lung dryness due to deficiency of Yin; cough with sticky phlegm; insufficient stomach Yin; dry mouth and throat; dry intestine and constipation

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 10-15g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Regarding the Ophiopogon japonicus introduced in the article, I hope everyone can learn more about the relevant information in daily life, so that you can correctly treat the disease when facing it.