Mai Men Dong
StarOphiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl.
Traditionally used for
- Nose & throat
- Cough & breathing
- Colds & fever
- Digestion
- Bowel health
- Sleep
- Mood & calm
- Energy & fatigue
Cautions & contraindications
- Bleeding disorders
☯ TCM Properties
Moistens the Lungs, nourishes Yin and s tops coughing; Nourishes Stomach Yin and g enerates Fluids; Moistens the Intestines; Clears the Heart and e liminates irritability
Traditional Chinese Uses
Mai Men Dong is the small tuber of Ophiopogon japonicus (Asparagaceae), a sweet, slightly bitter, cool yin-tonic. It moistens the Lung and nourishes Lung Yin for dry cough, scanty sticky sputum, hoarseness, and dry throat—classically in Mai Men Dong Tang for rebellious Qi, and in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang for dryness. It nourishes Stomach Yin and generates Fluids in thirst, dry mouth, and post-febrile fluid depletion, and moistens the Intestines to ease dry constipation. Entering the Heart, it clears Heat and eases irritability and insomnia from Heat harassing the Heart. It is a key ingredient of Sheng Mai San (with Ren Shen and Wu Wei Zi), which restores Qi and fluids after profuse sweating or in Qi-and-Yin depletion. Usual dose is 6-15 g. Its cool, enriching nature is contraindicated in cough or diarrhea from Cold-Damp or Spleen Deficiency.
Western Herbalism Properties
Used In Formulas (17)
Relationships
Full-screen graph →Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
Botanical Description
Ophiopogon japonicus is a low, evergreen, grass-like perennial herb of the Asparagaceae (formerly Liliaceae), native to Japan, China, Korea, and Vietnam and widely cultivated as an ornamental groundcover. It grows 15–30 cm tall in dense tufts from a short rhizome connected by slender stolons. The basal leaves are linear, dark green, 10–30 cm long and 2–4 mm wide, arching gracefully. In summer, slender scapes shorter than the leaves bear loose racemes of small, nodding, pale lilac to white six-tepalled flowers, succeeded by bright blue, berry-like seeds. Along the fibrous root system arise the characteristic small, fusiform tuberous swellings, 1.5–3 cm long, translucent yellowish-white when freshly dug. These tuberous roots are the medicinal organ, harvested in summer and dried.
Active Constituents
Ophiopogonin D
Steroidal saponin (spirostanol glycoside)Concentration: Marker saponin; typically 0.02-0.2% of dry tuber depending on origin
A principal bioactive saponin credited with the herb's cardioprotective actions. In experimental models ophiopogonin D reduces myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and exerts anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects, partly via upregulation of CYP2J3/EETs signaling.
Ophiopogonin D'
Steroidal saponin (furostanol/spirostanol glycoside)Concentration: Minor marker saponin, trace to ~0.05%
An isomeric steroidal saponin co-eluting with ophiopogonin D and used together as a quality-control marker. Contributes to anti-inflammatory and vascular-protective activity but is also flagged in higher purified doses for potential cardiotoxicity, so it is monitored in pharmacopoeial assays.
Methylophiopogonanone A
HomoisoflavonoidConcentration: Major homoisoflavone marker, roughly 0.01-0.1%
One of the two dominant homoisoflavonoids of the tuber. Shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-arrhythmic activity in preclinical work and is used alongside methylophiopogonanone B as a chemical marker for the flavonoid fraction.
Methylophiopogonanone B
HomoisoflavonoidConcentration: Major homoisoflavone marker, trace to ~0.05%
Co-occurring homoisoflavonoid contributing to the free-radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory profile of Ophiopogon root; investigated as a neuroprotective and anti-oxidative agent.
Ophiopogon polysaccharides (e.g., MDG-1)
Fructan / polysaccharideConcentration: Abundant; polysaccharides may comprise a large fraction of the water extract
Fructan-type polysaccharides such as MDG-1 lower blood glucose, improve insulin sensitivity, protect pancreatic beta-cells and exert prebiotic and immunomodulatory effects, supporting the traditional yin-nourishing and fluid-generating uses.
Ruscogenin
Steroidal sapogenin (aglycone)Concentration: Trace aglycone, sub-0.01% range
A steroidal sapogenin with documented anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic activity; inhibits leukocyte adhesion and improves microcirculation, relevant to cardiovascular indications.
Monoterpene glycosides
Monoterpene glycosideConcentration: Minor constituents
A group of minor glycosides isolated from the tuber that add to the overall antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of the crude drug.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Warfarin
Ophiopogon is a core ingredient of the compound formula Shengmai/Shengmai-Yin. A documented case linked Shengmai-Yin use to a markedly elevated INR (5.08) and intracerebral hematoma in a stably anticoagulated patient, suggesting potentiation of warfarin's anticoagulant effect, possibly via antiplatelet/antithrombotic components and altered drug metabolism.
Clinical note: Avoid combining Ophiopogon-containing formulas (e.g., Shengmai) with warfarin unless INR is closely monitored; counsel patients on anticoagulants not to self-medicate with these products.
Antiplatelet/anticoagulant agents (aspirin, clopidogrel, heparin)
Ophiopogon constituents (e.g., ruscogenin) show anti-thrombotic and anti-platelet-adhesion activity; additive effects with other agents affecting hemostasis are plausible.
Clinical note: Use caution and monitor for bruising or bleeding when co-administered with drugs that impair coagulation.
Substrates of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)
Components of Shengmai injection, including ophiopogonins, have been shown in vitro to inhibit several UGT isoforms, which could theoretically slow glucuronidation of co-administered drugs.
Clinical note: Clinical relevance is unproven; consider for narrow-therapeutic-index UGT substrates only.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6–12 g | Daily | — | — | 中国药典 2020 【用法与用量】6～12g。 【性味与归经】甘、微苦，微寒。归心、肺、胃经。 — Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020, quoted verbatim; route and cautions preserved. Replaces a cleared category-filler value. |
Preparation Methods
Water decoction
Parts: root tuber
Typically 6-12 g of dried tuber decocted in water; the pith is sometimes removed in classical practice. Used to moisten the Lungs, nourish Stomach yin and generate fluids for dry cough and thirst.
Component of Shengmai San/Yin (with ginseng and Schisandra)
Parts: root tuber
Combined with Ren Shen and Wu Wei Zi as a qi-and-yin tonifying formula for palpitation, spontaneous sweating and exhaustion; available as decoction, oral liquid or injection in China.
Prepared (honey-fried) or with clear food-grade forms
Parts: root tuber
Sometimes used raw for clearing heat and irritability, or in gentle tonic congees and infusions. Because it is cold and moistening, it is used cautiously in patients with damp phlegm, loose stools or Spleen deficiency with cold.
Dui Yao — Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations this herb appears in, each with an action neither herb has alone.
Lung and stomach yin are moistened while rebellious qi is directed down, the dry herb kept from injuring fluids by the moist one.
Cough and counterflow from Lung and Stomach yin deficiency. Ban Xia is used processed; the raw herb is toxic.
Core pair of a classical formula — Mai Men Dong Tang, Jin Gui Yao Lue (Zhang Zhongjing)
Qi is tonified while yin and fluids are nourished, treating combined qi and yin exhaustion.
Wu Wei Zi completes the formula by astringing.
Core pair of a classical formula — Sheng Mai San, Yi Xue Qi Yuan (Zhang Yuansu)
Lung and stomach yin are nourished while dryness-heat is cleared, generating fluids.
Core pair of a classical formula — Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang, Wen Bing Tiao Bian (Wu Jutong)
Lung and kidney yin are nourished together while heat is cleared, moistening dryness and stopping cough.
Paired as Er Dong Gao.
Named pairing — Lü Jingshan, Shi Jinmo Dui Yao
Moistening and sour-astringent actions together generate fluids, nourish Lung and Heart yin and restrain the loss of qi and sweat.
Used with Ren Shen for qi and yin damage after heat or chronic cough, with sweating, thirst and a weak pulse.
Core pair of a classical formula — Sheng Mai San, Yi Xue Qi Yuan (Zhang Yuansu)
Clearing heat and nourishing yin is combined with moistening the lung and stomach, together increasing fluids to moisten dryness.
Core pair of a classical formula — Zeng Ye Tang, Wen Bing Tiao Bian (Wu Jutong)
Evidence Tier
Limited evidence · 2 studiesRecorded studies by study design, strongest design at the top. This is a study-design tier only, not a GRADE rating: it does not weigh risk of bias, consistency or precision.
Systematic review / meta-analysis
0
Randomized controlled trial
0
Other clinical trial
0
Observational / case report
1
1 verified · 0 unverified
In vitro / animal
1
1 verified · 0 unverified
Other / unclassified
0
Verified: design read from PubMed for a DOI that resolves to the cited paper Unverified: taken from the study's recorded description
Clinical Studies
Interaction between Warfarin and the Herbal Product Shengmai-Yin: A Case Report of Intracerebral Hematoma
A 71-year-old man on stable warfarin therapy after valve replacement developed an INR of 5.08 and a left temporoparietal intracerebral hematoma after seven days of self-administered Shengmai-Yin (an Ophiopogon-containing formula). The Drug Interaction Probability Scale rated the herb a highly probable cause, illustrating a clinically important herb-warfarin interaction.
Ophiopogonin D Reduces Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Upregulating CYP2J3/EETs in Rats
In a rat model, ophiopogonin D limited myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by upregulating CYP2J3 and increasing circulating epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, reducing infarct size and inflammation. Preclinical evidence supporting the cardioprotective reputation of Ophiopogon; not a human trial.
Historical Texts
Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica)
Han dynasty, c. 200 CEJin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet), Zhang Zhongjing
Eastern Han, c. 220 CEReferences
- Chen M, Chen X, Wang M, Lin L, Wang Y. Ophiopogon japonicus—A phytochemical, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological review . Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2016) [DOI]
- Su Q, Li Y. Interaction between Warfarin and the Herbal Product Shengmai-Yin: A Case Report of Intracerebral Hematoma . Yonsei Medical Journal (2010) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Mai Men Dong.
No notes yet.