Liriopogons (Genera Ophiopogon and Liriope, Asparagaceae): A Critical Review of the Phytochemical and Pharmacological Research

Abstract

The closely related genera Liriope and Ophiopogon (Asparagaceae), collectively known in English as liriopogons, have similar therapeutic uses in treating cough, rheumatoid arthritis, and cleaning heat. The main aim of this review is to understand the current phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge including an assessment of the quality of the scientific evidence. A literature search was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines, by retrieving available information up to 2020 from five online resources. The bioactive metabolites of liriopogons include steroidal saponins, flavonoids, polysaccharides, organic acids, phenols. Cardiovascular protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, anti-viral, anti-acute myeloid leukemia and hepatoprotective effects have been at the center of attention. From a toxicological perspective Ophiopogon japonicus seems to be safe. Some problems with the quality of the pharmacological evidence stand out including the application of excessive dose level and methodological problems in the design. Additionally, a reasonable link between local/traditional uses and pharmacological assessment is often vague or not reflected in the text. Future researches on liriopogons are required to use rigorous scientific approaches in research on evidence-based natural products for the future benefits of patients.

Ophiopogonin D: review of pharmacological activity

“…The seeds are spherical, and the flowers are solitary or in pairs. The flowering period is from May to August, and the fruiting period lasts from August to September ( Lei et al, 2021 ). OP-D is identified as a white crystalline powder with a molecular formula of C 44 H 70 O 16, and a molecular weight of 855.07.…”

Traditional Medicine Combination Therapy Is A Promising Strategy for MRSA Infection

“…Its rhizome, as the primary medical portion, has been used to treat inflammatory diseases [91] . Ruscogenin (RUS) is a major effective steroidal sapogen in O. japonicus [92] . It exerts immunoregulatory activities mainly by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration and phagocytosis as well as blocking cell apoptosis, thus alleviating acute lung injury (ALI) and pneumonia caused by committee-or hospital-acquired MRSA (CAor HA-MRSA) infection [93] .…”

Discovery of chemical marker formaidong(roots ofOphiopogon japonicusandLiriope spicata): a feature-based molecular networking approach

“…(as substitute), both belonging to Asparagaceae, are collectively referred as maidong medicine in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, 2020). For millennia, maidong has been consumed as a monotherapy to nourish yin and generate fluids, moisten lung and clear heart fire (Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, 2020;Lei et al, 2021).…”