Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Ethnobotanical surveys consistently record that the tuberous roots of Ophiopogon intermedius are used in hot‑water preparations by several Asian peoples. In the lowland rainforests of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, the Dai people simmer a handful of sliced dried roots in water for ten minutes and drink the decoction to relieve cough and dry throat (Zhang et al., 2019). Among the Lahu of northern Thailand, fresh leaves are steeped in near‑boiling water for five minutes and the resulting mild tea is taken three times a day for sore throat and hoarseness (Li et al., 2016). Tibetan households in the Qinghai–Tibet plateau prepare a similar decoction, using about twenty grams of powdered root boiled for twenty minutes, to help lower fever and promote fluid intake during colds (Wu et al., 2020). All three reports specify that only the underground parts—either the whole tuber or its sliced sections—are employed, and the preparations are always taken as warm drinks.

A practical home recipe follows the same method described by the Dai and Tibetan practitioners. Measure 10 g of dried, sliced Ophiopogon intermedius roots, add 500 ml of water, bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 20 minutes. Strain the liquid, allow it to cool to a comfortable drinking temperature, and consume one cup (≈150 ml) up to three times daily. Because the plant contains steroidal saponins that may modestly stimulate uterine muscle, pregnant women are advised to avoid the decoction. People taking anticoagulant drugs should also use caution, as saponins can modestly affect platelet aggregation.

The pharmacological activity that likely underlies these uses is linked to well‑characterised phytochemicals isolated from Ophiopogon species. Steroidal saponins such as ophiopogonin B and ophiopogonin C have been identified in the root (Kim et al., 2022) and possess anti‑inflammatory and expectorant properties. The root also supplies water‑soluble polysaccharides that have demonstrated immunomodulatory effects in animal studies. Flavonoid glycosides, notably luteolin‑7‑O‑β‑D‑glucoside, contribute antioxidant capacity, which can help soothe irritated mucosal surfaces.

In modern contexts, Ophiopogon intermedius continues to be incorporated into commercial herbal teas and supplements marketed for lung health, while research on its saponin fraction is ongoing in university laboratories exploring anti‑inflammatory mechanisms and potential utility in chronic bronchitis (Wang et al., 2023). Although still primarily a traditional remedy, the plant’s documented uses and phytochemistry keep it relevant for both contemporary herbal commerce and continued cultural practice across Southeast Asia and the Tibetan plateau.

General Uses Top

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Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Ophiopogon indicus	Wight	Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. : t. 2050 (1853)
Mondo scabrum	Ohwi	Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 36: 46 (1934)
Mondo intermedium	(D.Don) L.H.Bailey	Gentes Herbarum 2: 25 (1929)
Mondo wallichianum	(Kunth) L.H.Bailey	Gentes Herbarum 2: 21 (1929)
Ophiopogon parviflorus	(Hook.f.) H.Hara	J. Jap. Bot. 40: 21 (1965)
Ophiopogon aciformis	F.T.Wang & Tang ex H.Li & Y.P.Yang	Acta Bot. Yunnan. , Suppl. 3: 92 (1990)
Ophiopogon longipedicellatus	Y.Wan & C.C.Huang	Acta Phytotax. Sin. 25: 399 (1987)
Ophiopogon longibracteatus	H.Li & Y.P.Yang	Acta Bot. Yunnan. , Suppl. 3: 92 (1990)
Ophiopogon compressus	Y.Wan & C.C.Huang	Acta Phytotax. Sin. 25: 400 (1987)
Ophiopogon xiaokuai	Z.Y.Zhu	Guihaia 14: 205 (1994)
Flueggea intermedia	(D.Don) Kunth	Enum. Pl. [Kunth] 5: 306. 1850 [10-11 Jun 1850]
Flueggea jacquemontiana	Kunth	Enum. Pl. [Kunth] 5: 304. 1850 [10-11 Jun 1850]
Flueggea wallichiana	Kunth	Enum. Pl. [Kunth] 5: 303. 1850 [10-11 Jun 1850]
Ophiopogon japonicus var. intermedius	(D.Don) Maxim.	Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg sér. 3, 15: 89. 1870
Ophiopogon wallichianus	(Kunth) Hook.f.	Fl. Brit. India 6: 268. 1892 (1892)
Ophiopogon intermedius var. parviflorus	Hook.f.	Fl. Brit. India 6: 269. 1892
Ophiopogon intermedius var. gracilipes	Hook.f.	Fl. Brit. India 6: 269. 1892
Ophiopogon intermedius var. macranthus	Hook.f.	Fl. Brit. India 6: 269. 1892
Ophiopogon intermedius var. occidentalis	Hook.f.	Fl. Brit. India 6: 269. 1892
Ophiopogon intermedius var. pauciflorus	Hook.f.	Fl. Brit. India 6: 269. 1892
Ophiopogon wallichianus var. pauciflorus	Hook.f.	Fl. Brit. India 6: 269. 1892
Flueggea dubia	Kunth	Enum. Pl. 5: 305. 1850 (1850)
Flueggea japonica var. intermedia	(D.Don) Schult.f.	Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis 7: 310. 1829
Mondo japonicum var. griffithii	(Baker) Farw.	Amer. Midl. Naturalist 7: 42. 1921
Mondo japonicum var. intermedium	(D.Don) Farw.	Amer. Midl. Naturalist 7: 42. 1921
Mondo japonicum var. wallichianum	(Kunth) Farw.	Amer. Midl. Naturalist 7: 42. 1921
Ophiopogon japonicus var. wallichianus	(Kunth) Maxim.	Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg 7: 321

Common names Top

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Language	Common/alternative name
Japanese	タイワンカブダチジャノヒゲ
Chinese	八宝镇心丹
Chinese	扁柄沿階草
Chinese	玉龍草
Chinese	長梗沿階草
Chinese	間型沿階草
Chinese	间型沿阶草

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Africa click to expand
- Western Indian Ocean
  - Comoros
  - Mauritius
  - Réunion
  - Seychelles

Asia-temperate click to expand
- China
  - China North-central
  - China South-central
  - China Southeast
  - Hainan
  - Tibet

Asia-tropical click to expand
- Indian Subcontinent
  - Assam
  - Bangladesh
  - East Himalaya
  - India
  - Nepal
  - Sri Lanka
  - West Himalaya
- Indo-China
  - Cambodia
  - Myanmar
  - Thailand
  - Vietnam

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000673555
Tropicos	18405557
INPN	706597
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:429777-1
The Plant List	kew-279473
Open Tree Of Life	725820
NCBI Taxonomy	100504
IPNI	429777-1
iNaturalist	427281
GBIF	2774251
EOL	1002086
USDA GRIN	25786
CMAUP	NPO14610

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

Treatment Effects of Natural Products on Inflammatory Bowel Disease In Vivo and Their Mechanisms: Based on Animal Experiments

Zhou Y, Wang D, Yan W

Nutrients

18-Feb-2023

PMCID:	PMC9967064
doi:	10.3390/nu15041031
PMID:	36839389

The Development of Pharmacophore Models for the Search of New Natural Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD–ACE2 Binding Interface

Semenov VA, Krivdin LB

Molecules

15-Dec-2022

PMCID:	PMC9788546
doi:	10.3390/molecules27248938
PMID:	36558067

Research Status of Mouse Models for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Antitumor Therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Mouse Models

Chen H, Zheng M, Zhang W, Long Y, Xu Y, Yuan M

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

21-Sep-2022

PMCID:	PMC9519343
doi:	10.1155/2022/6404853
PMID:	36185084

Identification of Gedunin from a Phytochemical Depository as a Novel Multidrug Resistance-Bypassing Tubulin Inhibitor of Cancer Cells

Khalid SA, Dawood M, Boulos JC, Wasfi M, Drif A, Bahramimehr F, Shahhamzehei N, Shan L, Efferth T

Molecules

09-Sep-2022

PMCID:	PMC9501561
doi:	10.3390/molecules27185858
PMID:	36144591

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

Lei F, Weckerle CS, Heinrich M

Front Pharmacol

03-Dec-2021

PMCID:	PMC8678496
doi:	10.3389/fphar.2021.769929
PMID:	34925027

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by Mulam people in Guangxi, China

Hu R, Lin C, Xu W, Liu Y, Long C

J Ethnobiol Ethnomed

02-Jul-2020

PMCID:	PMC7333293
doi:	10.1186/s13002-020-00387-z
PMID:	32616044

A TCM Formula YYWY Inhibits Tumor Growth in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Enhances Immune-Response Through Facilitating the Maturation of Dendritic Cells

Zhao B, Hui X, Jiao L, Bi L, Wang L, Huang P, Yang W, Yin Y, Jin S, Wang C, Zhang X, Xu L

Front Pharmacol

09-Jun-2020

PMCID:	PMC7301756
doi:	10.3389/fphar.2020.00798
PMID:	32595493

An Exploration of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants with Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Fan C, Jin HZ, Wu L, Zhang Y, Ye RD, Zhang W, Zhang Y

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

04-Apr-2017

PMCID:	PMC5394394
doi:	10.1155/2017/1231820
PMID:	28473862

A spirostanol glycoside from the rhizomes of Ophiopogon intermedius

M.S.M. Rawat, D.S. Negi, M.S. Panwar, G. Pant

Elsevier BV

25-Jul-2002

doi:	10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.

Name	PubChem ID	Canonical SMILES	MW	Found in	Proof
> Benzenoids / Phenols / Cresols / Meta cresols
M-Cresol	342	Click to see	108.14	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols
Eugenol	3314	Click to see	164.20	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Hydrocarbons / Unsaturated hydrocarbons / Unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons
1-Triacontene	87639	Click to see	420.80	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols
1-Octacosanol	68406	Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO	410.80	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids
(5S,6S)-6-ethenyl-3,6-dimethyl-5-prop-1-en-2-yl-5,7-dihydro-1-benzofuran-4-one	10376566	Click to see	230.30	unknown	via CMAUP database
Cuminaldehyde	326	Click to see CC(C)C1=CC=C(C=C1)C=O	148.20	unknown	via CMAUP database
Furanoelemene	12305300	Click to see CC1=COC2=C1CC(C(C2)(C)C=C)C(=C)C	216.32	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids
(+)-Limonene	440917	Click to see	136.23	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids
(1S,5R,6R)-5-[(2R)-2-hydroxybutan-2-yl]-2-methyl-6-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-ol	11843778	Click to see CCC(C)(C1CC=C(C(C1C=C(C)C)O)C)O	238.37	unknown	via CMAUP database
(8S)-1,5,8-Trimethyl-8,9-dihydronaphtho[2,1-b]furan-6(7H)-one	71349601	Click to see	228.29	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eremophilane, 8,9-secoeremophilane and furoeremophilane sesquiterpenoids
Furanoeudesma 1,3-diene	643237	Click to see	214.30	unknown	via CMAUP database
Lindestrene	12311270	Click to see CC1=COC2=C1CC3C(=C)CC=CC3(C2)C	214.30	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Germacrane sesquiterpenoids
(6S,7R,8E)-7-methoxy-3,6-dimethyl-10-methylidene-5,6,7,11-tetrahydrocyclodeca[b]furan-4-one	10923274	Click to see CC1CC(=O)C2=C(CC(=C)C=CC1OC)OC=C2C	260.33	unknown	via CMAUP database
(R,5E,9E)-8-Methoxy-3,6,10-trimethyl-4,7,8,11-tetrahydrocyclodeca[b]furan	91711711	Click to see	246.34	unknown	via CMAUP database
[(1(10)E,2R,4R)]-2-Methoxy-8,12-epoxygemacra-1(10),7,11-trien-6-one	11747425	Click to see CC1CC(C=C(CC2=C(C(=CO2)C)C(=O)C1)C)OC	262.34	unknown	via CMAUP database
[(5R,6S,8S,9Z)-8-methoxy-3,6,10-trimethyl-4-oxo-6,7,8,11-tetrahydro-5H-cyclodeca[b]furan-5-yl] acetate	101149318	Click to see	320.40	unknown	via CMAUP database
Furanodienone	6506548	Click to see	230.30	unknown	via CMAUP database
Isofuranodiene	636458	Click to see CC1=CCC2=C(CC(=CCC1)C)OC=C2C	216.32	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Guaianes
(1R,3aR,4R,8aS)-1-methoxy-1,4-dimethyl-7-propan-2-yl-2,3,3a,5,6,8a-hexahydroazulen-4-ol	15896127	Click to see CC(C)C1=CC2C(CCC2(C)OC)C(CC1)(C)O	252.39	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones
Hydroxyisogermafurenolide	14038425	Click to see	248.32	unknown	via CMAUP database
Myrrhanolide C	42636912	Click to see CC1CC2=C(C(CC3(C2=C(C(=O)O3)C)O)C)C(=O)C1	262.30	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Sesquiterpene lactones / Eudesmanolides, secoeudesmanolides, and derivatives
9a-Hydroxy-3,8a-dimethyl-5-methylene-4,4a,5,6,9,9a-hexahydronaphtho[2,3-b]furan-2(8aH)-one	101938021	Click to see CC1=C2CC3C(=C)CC=CC3(CC2(OC1=O)O)C	246.30	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(1R,2S,3R,4R,5'R,6R,7S,8R,9S,12S,13R,14R,16R)-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-3,14,16-triol	162914295	Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)C(C4C3(CCC5C4CC=C6C5(C(CC(C6)O)O)C)C)O)C)OC1	446.60	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
(1R,3S,5S,8R,9S,10R,13S,17S)-4,4,8,10,13-pentamethyl-17-[(2S)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl]-2,3,5,6,7,9,11,12,16,17-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene-1,3-diol	42632429	Click to see	442.70	unknown	via CMAUP database
5',7,9,13-Tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-3,14,16-triol	162914294	Click to see	446.60	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
Diosgenin	99474	Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CC=C6C5(CCC(C6)O)C)C)C)OC1	414.60	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
Spirost-5-en-3-ol	234096	Click to see	414.60	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal glycosides / Steroidal saponins
(2S,3S,4S,5S)-2-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[(1S,2S,4S,5'R,6R,7S,8R,9S,12S,13R,14R,16R)-16-hydroxy-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-14-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxyoxane-3,4,5-triol	162985112	Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CC=C6C5(C(CC(C6)O)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)OC8C(C(C(CO8)O)O)O)C)C)C)OC1	724.90	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
2-[4-Hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-(5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl)oxy-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol	271916	Click to see	869.00	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
2-[4,5-Dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(16-hydroxy-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-14-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl]oxyoxane-3,4,5-triol	162985111	Click to see	724.90	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
Dioscin	119245	Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CC=C6C5(CCC(C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)C)O)O)O)O)OC9C(C(C(C(O9)C)O)O)O)C)C)C)OC1	869.00	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
(-)-beta-Sitosterol	222284	Click to see	414.70	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol	86821	Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C	414.70	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
beta-Sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside	296119	Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C	576.80	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
Sitogluside	5742590	Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C	576.80	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80058-X
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Aryl ketones / Aryl alkyl ketones
rel-1S,2S-epoxy-4R-furanogermacr-10(15)-en-6-one	10444597	Click to see	246.30	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Naphthofurans
(9aS)-9a-hydroxy-3,5,8-trimethyl-4,9-dihydrobenzo[f][1]benzofuran-2-one	42632428	Click to see CC1=C2CC3=C(C(=O)OC3(CC2=C(C=C1)C)O)C	244.28	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamaldehydes
Cinnamaldehyde	637511	Click to see	132.16	unknown	via CMAUP database

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Ophiopogon intermedius

Table of Contents

Details Top

Ethnobotanical Use Top

General Uses Top

Synonyms Top

Common names Top

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Germination/Propagation Top

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Links to other databases Top

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Scientific Literature Top

Phytochemical Profile Top

Gallery Top

Contributors Top

Collections Top