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Lung cancer, one of the most often diagnosed malignancies, is the top cause of death in both men and women globally. In both developed and emerging countries, high incidences of cancer are becoming a huge health burden. Natural resources, including plants, have always been a possible source of lead compounds in the identification of optimal medications for cancer treatment, with natural resources accounting for around half of all anticancer drugs. Ruscogenin, a natural saponin, is a major component of Radix Ophiopogon japonicus with a well-established anticancer activity. In this study, the anticancer potential of ruscogenin against a B(a)P-challenged lung cancer model in mice was assessed. The mice were categorized into four groups: group I was as the control group, group II mice were challenged with B(a)P, group III rodents were treated with ruscogenin prior to challenge with B(a)P, and group IV rodents were treated with ruscogenin after B(a)P administration. Tumor incidence was calculated, and the following parameters were analyzed: body weight, lung weight, immunoglobulin (Ig) levels (IgG, IgA, and IgM), key marker enzymes, and proinflammatory cytokines in both treated and control mice. Lung tissues were analyzed via histopathological analysis. According to our results, all the markers that favor the growth of cancer were increased in the lung cancer group. After administration of ruscogenin, all the markers returned to their original levels, revealing the anticancer potential of ruscogenin.

Ophiopogon muongnhensis K.S.Nguyen, N.Tanaka & Aver., sp. nov. (Figs. 1, 2) Type: — VIETNAM. Dien Bien Province: Muong Nhe Distr., Muong Nhe Natural Reserve, Sin Thau Municipality, A Pa Chai Village, remnants of primary evergreen broad-leaved submontane forest on steep slopes of sandstone mountain, alt. 700–800 m a.s.l., humid and shady areas along streams, around point N22º22’51’’ E102º14’26”, terrestrial herb, flowers light lilac to almost white, seeds glossy blue, common, 15 May 2022, L . Averyanov, H. T. Tran, K. S. Nguyen, H. C. Nguyen, T. Maisak & B. C. Khoa, VR 1660 (holotype: HN, isotypes: LE, HN) Diagnosis: —In having slenderly petioled clavate leaves, this new species is most similar to O. griffithii, but is clearly distinguishable mainly by the wider (1.8–2.9 vs. 0.3–1.9 cm) leaf blades, wider (3.5–7.5 vs. 2–2.8 mm), obliquely (vs. explanately) expanded perianth lobes, and free narrowly deltoid (vs. laterally connate, linear-lanceolate) anthers. Description: —Herb terrestrial, rhizomatous, tufted, glabrous, evergreen, perennial. Rhizome subterranean, horizontal, simple or branched, knobby, flexuose, (3–)5–7(–8.5) cm long, (6–)7–9(–11) mm in diameter, robust, brown; knobs (tubers) (5–)7–9(–11), subglobose or ovoid, erect or suberect, 9–14 mm high, producing (2–)3–4(–5) roots, apically covered with cataphylls and bases of leaves. Roots proximally cordlike, somewhat straight, semi-ligneous, (1–)1.5– 2.2(–2.5) mm in diameter, brown, puberulent when young. Cataphylls several, imbricate, the innermost linear-lanceolate or ensiform, (5–)7–9(–11) cm long, (8–)10–16(–18) mm wide (when flattened), subacute or obtuse, longitudinally concave or convolute, chartaceous, margins winged and scarious, soon disintegrated into fibrous remains. Leaves (20–)30–45(–50) per plant, 4–5 per shoot, tufted, sub-erect or slightly arching, (41–)65–80(–83) cm long, distinctly petiolate; petiole linear, (5–)20–38(–40) cm long, (2.5–)3–3.5(–4) mm wide, triangular to semi-circular in cross section, grooved adaxially, basally brown to brownish yellow, light green upward; blade linear-oblanceolate (or narrowly clavate), (35–)40–50(–52) cm long, (1.8–)2–2.7(–2.9) cm wide, acute to subacute at apex, attenuate at base, leathery, slightly oblique, adaxial surface glossy, light green when young, becoming darker green with age, abaxially silverglaucous; longitudinal veins 21–30 including midrib which is raised on both surfaces, pale light green; transversal veinlets numerous, strongly oblique, spaced at intervals of 5–6 mm, indistinct (detectable only on dried blades by a magnifier); leaf margins finely serrulate distally, with white scarious wings 2–4(–5) mm wide from base to petiole. Flowering stem (including peduncle and rachis) sub-erect to ascending, nearly straight, with 2 prominent and 15–19 slightly raised longitudinal ridges, broadly elliptic or nearly circular in cross section, whitish green tinged with purple, base sometimes almost purple; peduncle subterete, slightly flattened, (6–)8–10(–12) cm long, (3–)3.5–4(4.5) mm in diameter, basally covered with several imbricate sterile bracts 1.8–2.5 cm long, 1.2–1.5 cm wide, in the middle part usually with 1 (rarely 0) sterile bract which is ascending, broadly ovate to deltoid-ovate, 16–22(–25) mm long, 14–18(–20) mm wide, acute to obtuse, concave, abaxially greenish white tinged with purple, or almost purple to black purple, margins white, membranous. Inflorescence racemose with (5–)9–12(–15) fascicles of (1–)2(–3) flowers; rachis (5–)9–12(–17) cm long; pedicels much shorter than basal stalky part of perianth, (2.8–)3–4(–4.2) mm long, (0.7–)0.8–0.9(–1) mm in diameter, terete or sub-triangular in cross section, greenish white, sometimes tinged with purple; floral bracts in tufts of (2–)3, cymbiform, broadly acute to obtuse, abaxially dirty bluish purple to almost black purple, adaxially dull white, margins membranous to scarious; the outermost bract broadly ovate to ovate, becoming smaller upward, (7–)9–13(–15) mm long, (5–)6–9(–10) mm wide, with three longitudinal veins; the second outermost bract (bracteole), if present, ovate to narrowly ovate, (3.5–)4–6(–7) mm long, (2–)2.5–3.5(–4) mm wide; the third bract (innermost bracteole), ovate to subulate, 1.5–2(–2.5) mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide. Flowers secund, cernuous, broadly campanulate, (15–)17–19(20) mm across when fully expanded, odorless, enectariferous. Perianth proximally syntepalous, distally 6-cleft, fleshy; syntepalous part (including basal stalky part) infundibuliform, (9–)10–13(–14) mm long, (4–)5–7(–8) mm in diameter at summit, 1.2–1.5 mm in diameter at base, white, glossy; lobes 6 in 2 whorls, abaxially white, pinkish white, or white tinged with purple or maroon along margins, adaxially white, often distally pinkish, or purple in large part, broadly acute to obtuse, slightly recurved at apex, almost entire; outer 3 lobes oblong, (9.5–)10–12 (–12.5) mm long, (3.5–)4–5(–5.5) mm wide; inner 3 lobes deltoid-ovate, shorter and slightly wider than outer ones, (9–)9.5–11(–11.5) mm long, (5–)5.5–6.5(–7.5) mm wide. Stamens 6, free, inserted at base of each perianth lobe; filaments trapezoidal, 0.5–0.6 mm long, 1.4–2 mm wide, ca. 0.6–0.8 mm thick, greenish white to light green; connective dorsally incrassate, subulate, greenish; anthers connivent distally, distinct, narrowly hastate-deltoid (lateral sides slightly concave and dilated toward base), (4.8–)5–5.8(–6) mm long, 2–2.4 mm wide at base, 0.7–0.9 (–1) mm thick, introrse, apical portion of each theca dehiscent, light pale yellowish white. Pistil 1, tricarpellate, white; ovary inferior, obconoid or nearly obovoid, apex subtruncate, slightly convex above, but somewhat concave around base of style, 3-locular; each locule with 2 ovoid to subglobose ovules on basal part of ovary central axis; style (acicular-)subulate, erect, straight or slightly curved distally, (9–)10–12(–13) mm long, 0.8–1 mm in diameter at base; stigmatic portion minute, subacute to obtuse. Seeds ellipsoid or ovoid, (11–)12–15(–16) mm long, (8.5–)9–11(–11.5) mm in diameter, glossy, sarcotesta externally cobalt blue, sparsely dispersed with minute white dots. Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to the type locality (Muong Nhe, NW Vietnam). Phenology: —Flowering in May, probably also in June. Seed ripening in May. It takes about 1 year from flowering to seed ripening. Habitat and conservation status:― Ophiopogon muongnhensis grows in humid and shady areas along streams of sandstone mountains covered by remnants of primary evergreen broad-leaved forest, alt. 700–800 m a.s.l. It was not rare in the surveyed area. We estimated approximately 80–150 mature plants occurring in the area of about 1000 m 2. The habitat in the Muong Nhe Nature Reserve is protected by regional authorities from any artificial disturbance. More populations of this species may also be found in other sandstone mountains of Muong Nhe District, northwestern Vietnam, the southwestern areas (e.g. Pu’er, Honghe and Xishuangbanna Counties) of Yunnan Province, China, and in the northeastern regions of Phongsali Province, Laos. According to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria (2019), O. muongnhensis is tentatively assessed here as “data deficient” (DD). Distribution: ―Currently known only from the type locality, NW Vietnam. Taxonomic relationships: ―In having slenderly petioled clavate leaves Ophiopogon muongnhensis appears most similar to O. griffithii (Baker 1875: 502) Hooker (1892: 270) originally described from NE India. According to Tanaka (1999), O. griffithii is distributed also in Myanmar, N. Thailand, and SW China (SW Yunnan). The new species is distinguishable from O. griffithii mainly by the characters mentioned in the above diagnosis. The anthers of O. muongnhensis are free, whereas those of O. griffithii are laterally connate. In this respect O. muongnhensis is plesiomorphic. The new species also shares slenderly petioled leaves with O. corifolius F.T.Wang & L.K.Dai in Wang and Tang (1978: 253) distributed in SW Guizhou, SW China, but differs chiefly by the wider (1.8–2.9 vs. 1–1.5 cm) leaf blades with more longitudinal veins (21–30 vs. 9), shorter peduncle (6–12 vs. ca. 24 cm), and shorter (4.8–6 vs. ca. 8 mm) narrowly deltoid (vs. linear) anthers. In general appearance, the new species somewhat resembles both O. intermedius and O. megalanthus, but readily distinguishable from them mainly by the distinctly petiolate, wider (1.8–2.9 vs. 0.2–0.8 cm in O. intermedius and 0.8–1.5 cm in O. megalanthus) clavate (vs. linear) leaves, shorter peduncle (6–12 vs. 20–50 cm in O. intermedius and 30–35 cm in O. megalanthus), ovate (vs. lanceolate) floral bracts, and longer style (9–13 vs. 5.8 mm in O. intermedius and ca. 8 mm in O. megalanthus) (data from Wang and Tang 1978 for O. intermedius and O. megalanthus, and Tanaka 2001 for the style length of O. intermedius)., Published as part of Pham, Van The, Tanaka, Noriyuki, Averyanov, Leonid V., Maisak, Tatiana V., Tran, Huy Thai, Nguyen, Huu Cuong & Nguyen, Khang Sinh, 2023, Ophiopogon muongnhensis (Asparagaceae, Convallarioideae), a new species from northwest Vietnam, pp. 171-176 in Phytotaxa 591 (2) on pages 172-175, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.591.2.9, http://zenodo.org/record/7797569, {"references":["Baker, J. G. (1875) Revision of the genera and species of Asparagaceae. Journal of the Linnean society, Botany 14: 508 - 632 plus 2 plates.","Hooker, J. D. (1892) Flora of British India 6 (18). L. Reeve & Co., London, pp. 225 - 448. [https: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / item / 13819 # page / 2 / mode / 1 up]","Tanaka, N. (1999) Taxonomic notes on Ophiopogon of South Asia IV. The Journal of Japanese Botany 74 (6): 321 - 328. [http: // www. jjbotany. com / pdf / JJB _ 074 _ 321 _ 328. pdf]","Wang, F. T. & Tang, T. (eds.) (1978) Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae 15. Science Press, Beijing, 280 pp.","Tanaka, N. (2001) Taxonomic notes on Ophiopogon (Convallariaceae) of East Asia (III). The Journal of Japanese Botany 76 (4): 205 - 218. [http: // www. jjbotany. com / pdf / JJB _ 076 _ 205 _ 218. pdf]"]}

Methylophiopogonanone A (MOPNA, 1) is a characteristic homoisoflavonoid, having two methyl groups on the A ring, isolated from Ophiopogon Root (enlarged part of the root of Ophiopogon japonicus Ker-Gawler, Liliaceae). Although MOPNA is chemically stable in various organic solvents, such as acetone, chloroform, methanol and dimethyl sulfoxide, it gave a spot of higher polarity in addition to the spot of MOPNA on the surface of TLC plate. The spot was isolated and the structure of the major compound was revealed to be a compound with an oxygen atom at C-6 of the A ring. This oxidation on the surface of TLC plate was observed for synthetic intermediates of MOPNA having two methyl groups on a phloroacetophenone-type ring, suggesting that the methyl groups enhanced susceptibility to air oxidation. The structure of the major oxidation product was similar to those of humulone and sufflomin A. Humulone has two prenyl units and sufflomin A has two C-glucosyl moieties instead of the two methyl groups, respectively. As dialkylated phloroacetophenone derivatives seem susceptible to oxidation, air oxidation might be involved in the formation of these compounds.

Ophiopogon sclerophyllus D. X. Nong & H. Z. L ü, sp. nov. (Fig. 1 & 2) Diagnosis:— Ophiopogon sclerophyllus is morphologically similar to O. pseudotonkinensis, but differs markedly by its roots with fusiform or oblong tubercles, thickly leathery leaf blade, longer and slender inflorescence exceeding or as long as the leaves, smaller flowers with oblong, recurved perianth segments, separate anthers and 3-sulcate style. Type:— CHINA. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hechi city, Donglan county, Sannong town, Shuangsu village. Collected in nature in November 2019 by H. Z. Lü (Garden number: 20190601). Type specimen prepared from a living cultivated plant in May 2022 by D. X. Nong 451224220527001 (holotype: GXMG!). The photographic plates in Fig. 2 were prepared from the same plant as the holotype. Description: —Herb terrestrial, perennial, completely glabrous. Rhizome shortly many branched, with numerous brownish roots. Roots 1–1.5 mm in diam., pubescent, usually with fusiform or oblong tubercles near middle or tip. Sheath leaves 3–5, 1.5–7 cm long, 1–1.2 cm wide, wings of margins scarious, white; Leaves 8–12, thickly leathery, linear-oblanceolate, 15–40 cm long, 0.7–2.2 cm wide, slightly oblique, basal part gradually narrowed into petiolelike, apex rounded to obtuse and emarginate at tip, entire margins reflexed when dry; adaxially glossy, uniformly dark green, abaxially light green, with 7–14 parallel narrow white stripes; main longitudinal veins indistinct, numerous; secondary veins hardly visible. Inflorescence a lax raceme with distant fascicles of 2–4 pedicellate flowers; peduncle erect, slightly flattened, 2(3)-edged or angled, 14–22.5 cm long, 2–3 mm in diam., dull greenish to dull brownishpurple; rachis flattened and obscurely ridged, 6–19.5 cm long. Bracts narrowly triangular, acuminate, green, scarious at margins; bracts on main axis 4–14 mm long, 2–5 mm wide; flower-subtending bract similar to bracts subtending cymes, but much smaller. Flowers light violet to white, drooping, widely opening, 10–12 mm in diam., fragrant. Pedicel terete, arising from bracteal axils, violet, 4–5 mm long, 0.5–0.6 mm in diam., as long as stalky part of floral base, straight or curved distally, jointed to floral base forming a distinct articulation. Perianth segments 6, in 2 whorls, subsimilar, fleshy, oblong, recurved, rounded at apex, 4.5–5 mm long, 2–2.3 mm wide, outer segments slightly longer than the inner ones, externally pale violet, internally whitish. Stamens 6, located at base of each perianth segment, separate; anthers 6, light green, shortly stalked, introrse, narrowly conical, 2.5‒3 mm long, 0.5‒0.6 mm wide, apically acute; filaments shortly conoid, fleshy, 0.6–0.8 mm long and wide, white. Ovary inferior, 3-locular, almost flat or slightly convex at apex, 2–3 ovules on basal placenta in each locule. Style purely white, 4.5–5 mm long, 0.6–0.8 mm in diam. at base, exceeding anthers, narrowing distally, distinctly curved near the middle, 3-sulcate; stigma indistinctly minutely 3-lobed. Mature seeds suborbicular, 7‒8 mm long, 6‒7 mm in diam., glossy bluish-green. Paratype:— CHINA. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hechi city, Donglan county, Sannong town, Shuangsu village, primary evergreen broad-leaved forest near the top of a limestone mountain, alt. 527 m, rare, 2 November 2019, H . Z. Lü et al. 451224191102026LY (GXMG!); the same locality, 21 November 2022, D. X. Nong 451224221121001 (GXMG!) Etymology:— The specific epithet is derived from the thickly leathery leaf blade of the species. Chinese name is proposed here as “üfiffiĸạ”. Ecology, phenology and conservation status:— This new species grows on limestone slopes along the Hongshui River (Fig.1), under primary evergreen broad-leaved forest at elevations 500–527 m a.s.l., in shady places, rare. Flowering in cultivation in May–June. Since our current knowledge on the distribution is very limited, the conservation status of O. sclerophyllus is assessed here as Data Deficient (DD), following the guidelines in the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ver. 14 (IUCN 2019). Distribution:— Ophiopogon sclerophyllus is known only from the type locality. Although we have been conducting fieldwork in its surrounding areas for more than 3 years, no other population had been found in similar habitats. Presumably it is a local endemic of limestone areas in Guangxi, China. Similar species:— Ophiopogon sclerophyllus is morphologically similar to O. pseudotonkinensis, but differs the latter markedly by its thickly leathery leaf blade (vs. papery leaf blade), longer and slender inflorescence exceeding or as long as the leaves, raceme with more flowers, smaller flowers with more strongly expanded, recurved perianth segments, free anthers (vs. connate anthers), 3-sulcate styles (vs. fine cone style), and flowering (in cultivation) in May (vs. September). It is also resembles O. petraeus Averyanov & N. Tanaka in Averyanov et al. (2015a: 30) described from northern Vietnam by having linear-oblanceolate leaf blade, but is distinguishable chiefly by the shorter pedicel (4–5 mm vs. 6–16 mm), oblong, recurved perianth segments (vs. ovate, distally slightly recurved perianth segments), and flowers under cultivation in May (vs. September–October). In addition, Ophiopogon sclerophyllus differs from the similar species by its roots with tubercles. Details of the morphological differences amongst O. sclerophyllus, O. pseudotonkinensis and O. petraeus are presented in Table 1., Published as part of Nong, Dong-Xin, Lü, Hui-Zhen, Huang, Xue-Yan & Huang, Bao-You, 2023, Ophiopogon sclerophyllus, a new species of Ophiopogon (Asparagaceae) from Guangxi, China, pp. 207-212 in Phytotaxa 578 (2) on pages 208-210, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.578.2.7, http://zenodo.org/record/7517899, {"references":["Averyanov, L. V., Tanaka, N., Nguyen, K. S., Nguyen, H. T. & Konstantinov, E. L. (2015 a) New species of Ophiopogon Ker Gawl., Peliosanthes Andrews and Tupistra Ker Gawl. (Asparagaceae) in the flora of Laos and Vietnam. Adansonia Ser. 3, 37: 25 - 45. https: // doi. org / 10.5252 / a 2015 n 1 a 4"]}

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a fatal pathogen threatening global crustacean industry with no commercially available drugs to control. Herbal medicines have been widely used to treat a number of viral infections, which could offer a rich reserve for antiviral drug discovery. Here, we evaluated the inhibition activities of 30 herbal medicines against WSSV in Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. A WSSV infection model in E. sinensis was firstly established in order to determine the antiviral effects of the plant extracts and to explore the potential action mechanisms. Results showed that the highest anti-WSSV activity was obtained by the treatment of Ophiopogon japonicus extract (93.03%, 100 mg/kg). O. japonicus treatment decreased viral loads in a dose-dependent manner and significantly improved the survival of WSSV-challenged crabs. O. japonicus reduced the expression of vital genes in viral life cycle in vivo, particularly for the immediate-early stage gene ie1. Further results indicated that O. japonicus could repress the JAK-STAT signaling pathway to block ie1 transcription. Moreover, O. japonicus could modulate certain immune genes such as the myosin, toll-like receptor, crustin, and prophenoloxidase in the interactions between WSSV and crabs. The up-regulated expression of pro-autophagic factors (Gabarap and Atg7) and elevated levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GSH) suggested that O. japonicus may induce autophagy and attenuate WSSV-induced oxidative stress. Taken together, O. japonicus could inhibit WSSV proliferation and improve the survival of WSSV-challenged crabs. Thus, O. japonicus may have the potential to be developed as a preventive or therapeutic agent against WSSV, and its effective compounds merit further isolation and identification.

This study is to investigate the effect of microRNA-1338 (miR-1338) on the activity of Kupffer cells (KCs) and its mechanism regulated by ophiopogon polysaccharide liposome (OPL). KCs was treated with different OPL after transfected with miR-1338 mimic and miR-1338 inhibitor. The secretion of NO and iNOS, the expression of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), the phagocytic activity, the expression of CD14 and MHC II, the apoptosis and the secretion of ROS were measured. In addition, the expressions of key signal factors TLR4, IKKβ, MyD88 and NF-κB in NF-κB signaling pathway were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot (WB). The results showed that OPL could promote the secretion of iNOS, the expression of POD, the phagocytosis, the mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, IKKβ and NF-κB, the protein expression of TLR4 and NF-κB, and inhibit the cell apoptosis and ROS secretion after transfected with miR-1338 mimic. After transfected with miR-1338 inhibitor, OPL could promote the secretion of NO and iNOS, the expression of POD, cell migration, phagocytosis, and inhibit cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, the mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, IKKβ and NF-κB and the protein expression of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB were promoted. These results suggested that OPL could activate TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway and thereby improve the activity of KCs by regulating miR-1338.

Ophiopogon elatior from south-eastern Yunnan Province of China is described here as new to science. This species is morphologically similar to O. grandis, but differs from the latter species by leaf size (60–80 cm × 5–6 mm vs 25–55 cm × 7–11 mm), scape size (80–100 cm vs 15–20 cm), and flower color (purple-dotted vs white). Moreover, the new species can be easily distinguished from all known species of Ophiopogon with its erect and very tall scape highly overtopping the basal grass-like foliage.

iOphiopogon japonicus/iis widely used as a tonic herb in China. According to the origins, MaiDong of Chinese materia medica can be classified asiZhe MaiDong/i(iOphiopogon japonicus/iin Zhejiang),iChuan MaiDong/i(iOphiopogon japonicus/iin Sichuan),iDuanting Shan MaiDong/i(iLiriope muscari/i), andiHubei MaiDong/i(iLiriope spicata/i). In terms of quality control, polysaccharides-based evaluations have not yet been conducted. In this study, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was used for the preparation of polysaccharides from 29 batches ofiMaiDong/i. HPSEC-MALLS-RID and HPAEC-PAD were employed to investigate their molecular parameters and compositional monosaccharides, respectively. The ability to scavenge ABTS radicals and immune promotion abilities, in terms of nitric oxide releasing and phagocytosis on RAW 264.7 macrophages, were also compared. The results showed that polysaccharides in differentiMaiDong/ivaried in molecular parameters. All polysaccharides mainly contained fructose and glucose with small amounts of arabinose, mannose, galactose, and xylose. For polysaccharides ofiZhe MaiDong/iandiChuan MaiDong/i, the molar ratio of Fru to Glc was roughly 15:1 and 14:1, respectively.iZhe MaiDong/iexhibited better antioxidant and immune promotion activity, and so did that of fibrous roots. The pharmacological activity, however, did not account for the variation in growth years. Finally, indicators for quality control based on multivariate statistical analysis included: yield, antioxidant activity, the content of fructose, and RI signal. It was concluded thatiMaiDong/i's fibrous roots had similar components to the root, and their quality was not significantly affected by growth age. This may provide some guidance for the cultivation and use ofiMaiDong/i.

Zhejiang

Methylophiopogonanone A (MOA), an abundant homoisoflavonoid bearing a methylenedioxyphenyl moiety, is one of the major constituents in the Chinese herb Ophiopogon japonicas. This work aims to assess the inhibitory potentials of MOA against cytochrome P450 enzymes and to decipher the molecular mechanisms for P450 inhibition by MOA. The results showed that MOA concentration-dependently inhibited CYP1A, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, and 3A in human liver microsomes (HLMs) in a reversible way, with IC50 values varying from 1.06 to 3.43 μM. By contrast, MOA time-, concentration-, and NADPH-dependently inhibited CYP2D6 and CYP2E1, along with KI and kinact values of 207 µM and 0.07 minute−1 for CYP2D6, as well as 20.9 µM and 0.03 minutes−1 for CYP2E1. Further investigations demonstrated that a quinone metabolite of MOA could be trapped by glutathione in an HLM incubation system, and CYP2D6, 1A2, and 2E1 were the major contributors to catalyze the metabolic activation of MOA to the corresponding O-quinone intermediate. Additionally, the potential risks of herb-drug interactions triggered by MOA or MOA-related products were also predicted. Collectively, our findings verify that MOA is a reversible inhibitor of CYP1A, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, and 3A but acts as an inactivator of CYP2D6 and CYP2E1. Significance Statement Methylophiopogonanone A (MOA), an abundant homoisoflavonoid isolated from the Chinese herb Ophiopogon japonicas, is a reversible inhibitor of CYP1A, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, and 3A but acts as an inactivator of CYP2D6 and CYP2E1. Further investigations demonstrated that a quinone metabolite of MOA could be trapped by glutathione in a human liver microsome incubation system, and CYP2D6, 1A2, and 2E1 were the major contributors to catalyze the metabolic activation of MOA to the corresponding O-quinone intermediate.

In the last decades, the strong increase in the proportion of older people worldwide, and the increased prevalence of age associated degenerative diseases, have put a stronger focus on aging biology. In spite of important progresses in our understanding of the aging process, an integrative view is still lacking and there is still need for efficient anti-aging interventions that could improve healthspan, reduce incidence of age-related disease and, eventually, increase the lifespan. Interestingly, some compounds from traditional medicine have been found to possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting that they could play a role as anti-aging compounds, although in depth in vivo investigations are still scarce. In this study we used one the major aging model organisms, Drosophila melanogaster, to investigate the ability of four herb extracts (HEs: Dendrobium candidum, Ophiopogon japonicum, Ganoderma sinense and Panax notoginseng) widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). to slow down aging and improve healthspan of aged animals. Combining multiple approaches (stress resistance assays, lifespan and metabolic measurements, functional heart characterizations and behavioral assays), we show, that these four HEs provide in vivo protection from various insults, albeit with significant compound-specific differences. Importantly, extracts of P. notoginseng and G. sinense increase the healthspan of aging animals, as shown by increased activity during aging and improved heart function. In addition, these two compounds also provide protection in a Drosophila model of Huntington’s disease (HD), suggesting that, besides their anti-aging properties in normal individuals, they could be also efficient in the protection against age-related diseases. Published version This work was supported by a grant from Infinitus Ltd Guangzhou (China).

6-Formylisoophiopogonone B (7a) and 8-formylophiopogonone B (7b), two natural products isolated from Ophiopogon japonicus, represent a subgroup of rare 6/8-formyl/methyl-homoisoflavonoid skeletons. Herein we report an efficient method for the synthesis of these formyl/methyl-homoisoflavonoids. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their neuroprotective effects on the MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cell injury model and showed marked activity. Exploration of the neuroprotective mechanisms of compound 7b led to an increased expression of autophagy marker LC3-II and down-regulation of autophagy substrate p62/SQSTM1. Molecular docking studies showed that 7b may prevent the inhibition of the classic PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway by interfering with the human HSP90AA1.

Lysosome membrane permeabilization (LMP) has been implicated in cell death. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between cell death and H2O2-/CCl4-induced LMP in hepatocytes in vitro and following acute liver injury in vivo. The key finding was that H2O2 triggered LMP by oxidative stress, as evidenced by a suppression of LAMP1 expression, a reduction in LysoTracker Green and AO staining, and the leakage of proton and cathepsin B/D from the lysosome to the cytoplasm, resulting in cell death. CCl4 also triggered hepatocyte death by decreasing lysosome LAMP1 expression and by inducing the accumulation of products of peroxidative lipids and oxidized proteins. Furthermore, a novel compound 5,8-dimethoxy-6-methyl-7-hydroxy-3-3(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl) chroman-4-one (58-F) was extracted from Ophiopogon japonicus and served as a potential therapeutic drug. In vivo and in vitro results showed that 58-F effectively rescued hepatocytes by decreasing LMP and by inducing lysosomal enzyme translocation to the cytosol.

Peliosanthes oksanae is described and illustrated as a new species from eastern Thailand. It is most similar to P. gracilipes known from northern and southwestern Thailand and northwestern Laos, from which it differs mainly by the shorter flowering stem, flowers borne singly or binately in the axils of the bracts and almost free oblong filaments not forming a typical corona. We briefly discuss taxonomic relationships between P. oksanae and two similar species, P. gracilipes and P. caesia. It is notable that especially P. oksanae and P. gracilipes are close in floral characters to Ophiopogon. We also report P. triandra, which was described from southern Cambodia, as new to Thailand. Both P. triandra and P. oksanae occurred in the same habitat.

The polysaccharides from Ophiopogon japonicus (OJPs) were known to have protective effects against diabetes, and cardiovascular and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, OJPs were poorly absorbed after oral administration, resulting in limited efficacy because of the low bioavailability. In this study, OJPs extracted and fractionated from Ophiopogon japonicus were used to prepare OJPs/chitosan (CS)/whey protein (WP) co-assembled nanoparticles. The OJPs/CS/WP nanoparticles showed high biocompatibility and inhibited the cytotoxicity of RAW264.7 cells induced by nickel. With the assistance of CS and WP, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of OJPs were enhanced because the nanoparticles improved OJPs uptake by RAW264.7 macrophage cells as evidenced by efficient scavenging of DPPH and ABTS free radicals and effective inhibition of NO production and the gene expressions of iNOS, COX2, TNF-α, CCL2, and CXCL2 inflammatory signals. Determining the transepithelial electrical resistance and paracellular permeability of Caco-2 monolayer/macrophage co-cultured system suggested that the OJPs-loaded nanoparticles effectively protected the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity against the damage caused by LPS-stimulated macrophage inflammation and attenuated the defects of intestinal epithelial TJ barrier and permeability. These findings suggest that the OJPs/CS/WP nanoparticles may be potential carriers for oral delivery of OJPs to treat intestinal barrier defects, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The lawn coverings creation in the humid subtropics zone of Russia is one of the topical areas of ornamental horticulture. This is due to the high requirements for year-round decorative plantings, the peculiarities of natural and climatic conditions and the general lack of issue knowledge. This direction is of particular importance in plantations located in shaded areas under the canopy of tree crowns, where, in addition to common for the region unfavourable factors of the hydrothermal regime, insufficient illumination is added, which together limits the possibility of traditional cereal grasses cultivating. Evergreen grass-like ground cover plants can be a complete substitute for lawn grasses in shaded areas. The aim of the research was to determine the degree of drought resistance of Liriope graminifolia (L.) Baker and Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl. and the ability to maintain decorativeness during the period of unfavourable hydrothermal conditions in the summer in the humid subtropics of Russia. The studies were carried out in 2013-2018 on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus in the Sochi region, in plantations (on test plots with an area of 5-10 m2) and in conditions of vegetation experiments (in containers with a volume of 2 liters) on the territory of the Kuban Subtropical Botanical Garden (settlement Uch-Dere), according to generally accepted methods adapted to the studied taxa. It was found that an important mechanism of adaptation of the studied plants to drought is the ability to accumulate and redistribute moisture between vegetative organs, providing a high water content in the leaves. The decorativeness of O. japonicus and L. graminifolia in open ground in the atmospheric moisture absence lasts up to 12-14 days, in a vegetation experiment (container culture) – up to 14-16 days. O. japonicus and L. graminifolia retained the ability to self-regenerate up to 35-37 days of the experiment, and then the plants died. The consequences of summer drought in the studied plants were compensated by active autumn growth. Unlike classic lawns, which require daily watering, lawns from O. japonicus and L. graminifolia should be irrigated with a long (more than 12-14 days) absence of precipitation in the summer months.

Memory loss is a complication of diabetes which requires new approaches to its treatment. Shengmai San (SMS) is a famous traditional Chinese formula containing Panax ginseng, Ophiopogon japonicas, and Schisandra chinensis, whereas Radix puerariae has many reported pharmacological uses. In this study the combination, as Jiawei SMS (J-SMS) was screened for its ability to reverse diabetes-associated cognitive decline in rats. This was assessed behaviorally in diabetic rats (Streptozotocin, 45 mg/kg), with biochemical and western blot analysis (Akt and CREB). Diabetic rats showed fasting blood glucose (FBG) in the range of 13-15 mM throughout the study. J-SMS (0.5, 1.5, 4.5 g/kg) treatment significantly improved learning and memory deficit among diabetic rats as evidenced by preference for novel object, reduced escape latency and increased number of platform crossings (p < .05) in the NORT and MWM tests. Treatment with J-SMS also significantly improved the histopathological changes in the diabetic brain and increased the protein expression of AKT and CREB, required for proper memory function (p < .01). This study highlighted that J-SMS can reverse reference and working memory deficit among diabetic rats by modulating AKT and CREB proteins activation. Thus, J-SMS formulation might be possible candidate for further development.

In the current study, a convenient approach was developed to isolate and purify active ingredients, including total steroidal saponins and total flavonoids, while simultaneously removing the toxic component - paclobutrazol - from the fibrous root of Ophiopogon japonicas. The separation performance of eight macroporous resins (D101, AB-8, DM301, DA201, H103, HPD100, D3520, and HP20) were evaluated using static and dynamic experimentation. The results showed that the D101 resin had the optimal capacity of adsorption and desorption to total steroidal saponins and total flavonoids. The static adsorption of D101 resins to total steroidal saponins and total flavonoids conformed to the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Under optimal purification parameters, the recovery rates of total steroidal saponins and total flavonoids were 86.49% and 87.89%, respectively. The total steroidal saponins and total flavonoids's purities increased from 16.67% to 47.58%, and from 3.82% to 12.29%, respectively. Furthermore, paclobutrazol's content decreased from 16.902mg/kg to 1.106mg/kg with a removal rate of 93.45%.

Osteosarcoma is characterized by early lung metastasis and a high recurrence rate. Research on anti-osteosarcoma drugs is progressing slowly, and patient survival rates have not been improved. Ophiopogon saponin B (OP-B), a steroidal saponin monomer extracted from the ophiopogon japonicus, is effective in the treatment of many cancers. We explored the mechanism underlying the in vitro effects of OP-B on proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in cultured osteosarcoma U2OS cells. We observed significant reductions in optical density, clonal number, and expression of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and POU Class 3 Homeobox 3 (POU3F3) in the presence of OP-B. OP-B also increased the apoptotic rate and malondialdehyde expression. Downregulation of POU3F3 inhibited U2OS proliferation and oxidative stress in osteosarcoma cells and promoted apoptosis. OP-B reduced POU3F3 expression in U2OS cells, and overexpression of POU3F3 reversed the effects of OP-B on proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. We thus conclude that OP-B promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation and the oxidative stress response of osteosarcoma cells by downregulating POU3F3 expression. These results suggest an avenue for the research and development of new drugs for osteosarcoma.

Background Ophiopogonis radix and Liriopes radix are well known for the treatment of dry coughs and phthisis. Liriopes radix is occasionally used as a substitute for Ophiopogonis radix in various prescriptions due to the extremely similar pharmacological activities and clinical efficacies, but they are regarded as two different remedies in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Accordingly, the establishment of a reliable analytical approach for the discrimination and quality evaluation of Ophiopogonis and Liriopes is required. Objective To establish a simple, accurate, and reliable method that can simultaneously determine multiple components in Ophiopogonis radix and Liriopes radix. To comprehensively compare the chemical compositions of the two herbs and find markers for discrimination and quality assessments. Method An HPLC-ESI-triple quadrupole (QQQ)-MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous characterization and quantification of chemical components in the two herbs. The results were further analyzed by PLS discriminant analysis to provide more information about the chemical differences, as well as to evaluate the quality of each sample. Results A total of 23 compounds have been characterized and quantified in 31 batches of herbs from different geographical regions, among which liriopesides B, sprengerinin A, ophiopogonin B, and ophiopogonanone E contribute mostly. The contents of homoisoflavonoids were much higher in Ophiopogonis radix than in Liriopes radix, but the levels of steroidal saponins followed a contrary trend. Conclusions Simultaneous determination of multiple components by HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS coupled with chemometrics analysis is an acceptable strategy to evaluate and control the quality of Ophiopogonis radix and Liriope radix. Highlights Simultaneous determination of 12 steroidal saponins and 11 homoisoflavonoids in both Ophiopogonis radix and Liriope radix by using HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS in positive ion mode, as well as the quality control study.

The polysaccharide (OJP1), extracted from the root of Ophiopogon japonicus, is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine used to treat cardiovascular diseases. The present study was set up to investigate the cardioprotective effect of OJP1 on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial ischemia injury in rats. Results showed that pretreatment with OJP1 (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) significantly reduced ISO-induced ST-segment elevation and the heart index, attenuated the levels of marker enzymes (AST, LDH, CK and CK-MB), along with a significantly enhanced the activities of ATPases. Moreover, pretreatment with OJP1 not only enhanced the activities of SOD, GPx and CAT in serum and myocardium, but also decreased the level of MDA. The biochemical and histopathological analysis also showed that OJP1 can alleviate the myocardial injury induced by ISO. Taken together, our results indicated that oral administration of OJP1 offered significant cardioprotective effect against the damage induced by ISO through enhancement of endogenous antioxidants.

karagulle, onur olgac/0000-0002-1575-5751 WOS:000509485100002 PubMed ID: 31345657 Background/Objective: The present study investigated the potent therapeutic effects of Ruscogenin, main steroid sapogenin of traditional Chinese plant called 'Ophiopogon japonicas', on chronic ulcer model established with acetic acid in rats. Methods: 24 rats were attenuated to the sham (2 ml/kg/day isotonic solution), control (untreated ulcer) and treatment (3 ml/kg/day ruscogenin) groups. After treatment for 2 weeks, gastric tissues were collected and prepared for light microscopic (H&E), immunohistochemical (Collagen I, III and IV) and biochemical analysis [Epidermal growth factor (EGF), Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha), Interleukin 6 and 8 (IL-6 and IL-8), Lipid Peroxidase (LPO), Myeloperoxidase (MPO), Glutathione (GSH) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px)] and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: Macroscopic scoring showed that the ulceration area of ruscogenin-treated group decreased compared with control group. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed ruscogenin ameliorated and restored the levels of Collagen I and IV to the levels of sham group. Tissue levels of EGF and PGE2 enhanced significantly in untreated ulcer group while were higher in treated ulcer group than the control group. TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, LPO, MPO levels increased significantly in control group whereas decreased in treated rats after ruscogenin treatment. However, levels of GSH and GSH-Px increased significantly in treatment group. TEM showed chief cells and parietal cells of ulcer group having degenerated organelles while ruscogenin group had normal ultrastructure of cells. Conclusion: There are potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of ruscogenin on gastric ulcer and may be successfully used as a safe and therapeutic agent in treatment of peptic ulcer. (C) 2019 Asian Surgical Association and Taiwan Robotic Surgery Association. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. Research and Development Expenses Account under Circulating Capital Budget of University of Health Science Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey [2016/12] The present project was supported by Research and Development Expenses Account under Circulating Capital Budget of University of Health Science Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey (Project No: 2016/12).

This paper provides descriptions and photographic illustrations for two new species and one new variety; Ophiopogon brevicaulis from N. Vietnam, Rohdea subcaudata from central Laos, and O. dracaenoides var. pleianthus from N. Vietnam. Five species are recorded as new to the flora of Vietnam; O. peliosanthoides, O. pingbienensis, O. reversus, O. xylorrhizus, and Peliosanthes pachystachya, two of which, O. peliosanthoides and O. pingbienensis, are illustrated. Data on the distribution and illustrations of O. intermedius in Vietnam are also provided, as the species there has not yet been sufficiently known.

MDG-1, a β-D-fructan polysaccharide extracted from the roots of Ophiopogon japonicus, had preventive effect against obesity and hyperlipidemia in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mice. Interestingly, MDG-1, as an inulin-type fructan, is poorly absorbed and its possible mechanism against lipid disturbance remained unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the benefits of MDG-1 treatment on NAFLD model and elucidate mechanism from the perspective of gut-liver axis, especially about gut microbiota, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and hepatic lipid metabolism. In this study, after two months HFD feeding, C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into HFD group and various MDG-1 dose group. Results showed that MDG-1 markedly blocked weight gain, and ameliorated lipid accumulation, liver damage and macrovesicular steatosis. MDG-1 could restore gut microbiota balance and increase relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, especially SCFAs-producing bacteria. After degradation and utilization by the gut microbiota, MDG-1 could increase the contents of acetic acid and valeric acid, thus regulating inflammatory responses and hepatic lipid metabolism. Specifically, MDG-1 enhanced expression of hepatic phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, accompanying by regulating hepatic adipogenesis and adipocyte differentiation, thereby inhibiting progress of NAFLD. Our findings may provide new ways in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and lipid-related metabolic syndrome.

Ophiopogon elatior Q.W.Lin, Zhi Y.Yu, Bing Liu & C.T.Le, sp. nov., Figs. 1 & 2. Type:��� CHINA. Yunnan: Jinping County, Fenshuiling National Nature Reserve, Adebo Township, 103��15��� E, 22��50��� N, alt. 1400 m, 27 June 2009, Yunnan Expedition Team YN-ET 260 (holotype, PE; isotype, PE). Chinese vernacular name: �� "�������� (gao ting yan jie cao). Diagnosis: ���This species is most closely related to O. grandis, but differs from it and any other known species of Ophiopogon in the erect and very tall scape highly overtopping the basal grass-like foliage, and relatively large flowers with purple-dotted patulous perianth lobes more than 1 cm long. Description: ���Herb terrestrial, perennial, glabrous. Rhizome simple, horizontal, stout, elongate, 5���10 cm long, ca. 10 mm in diameter. Roots wiry, ca. 1 mm in diameter. Leaves many, tufted, terminal to subterminal, grass-like, linear, arching, 60���80 cm �� 5���6 mm, apex acuminate, base no tapering, with scarious brown wings, margin minutely serrulate, adaxially green, abaxially pale green, with 10���20 narrow parallel white stripes, main longitudinal veins only 1 distinct at middle part of leaves. Scape erect, slender, ridged, 80���100 cm long, highly overtopping the grass-like foliage, dark purple or green, 2���3 mm in diameter. Peduncle (the lower part of scape without flowers) 50���80 cm long; bracts (without flowers) 3, green, lanceolate, the lowest one ca. 3 cm long, the upper ones smaller. Inflorescence a lax raceme with distant fascicles of 1���3 flowers; rachis 15���30 cm long. Floral bracts smaller than the ones on peduncle, lanceolate, apex acuminate, basal part with narrow scarious wings; inner bracts small, scarious. Pedicels (including basal stalky part of perianth) 9���11 mm long (true pedicels excluding perianth part, 5���6 mm long), ca. 0.5 mm in diameter, arching downwards, terete, minutely ridged, purple, articulate in or around middle part. Flowers drooping, relatively large, perianth ca. 2 cm across in fully opening; flower buds narrowly conical. Perianth lobes 6, patulous in fully opening, white, adaxially distinctly purple-dotted, lanceolate to elliptic, 9���11 mm �� 2���4 mm, apex acuminate, inner ones slightly narrower than outer ones. Stamens 6, separate; filaments free, distinct, white, ca. 1.5 mm long; anthers green, introrse, narrowly hastate-anceolate, 6���7 mm long, broaden at base, acuminate at apex. Pistil 1; ovary inferior, 3-locular, generally flat but somewhat protuberant at terminal part; ovules 1���2 per locule; style 1, white, slender, distinctly curved about 2 times, ca. 11 mm long. Immature seeds oblong-obovoid, green. Flower June���July. Etymology:��� This new species is notably characterized by the erect and very tall scape, which could make the whole plant reaching a height of 1 m or higher. Hence, the epithet elatior, meaning the taller scape in Ophiopogon, was given to the species. Distribution and habitat: ��� Ophiopogon elatior is only known from the type location, Yunnan, China. It grows under forest at 1400 m elevation. Comparison: ��� Ophiopogon elatior can be easily distinguished from all known species of Ophiopogon with its erect and very tall scape highly overtopping the basal grass-like foliage. It seems that this species is most closely related to O. grandis, a distinct species accepted by Chen & Tamura (2000) or a synonym of O. intermedius by Tanaka (2000c). The two taxa share some similar floral and vegetative characters, such as stout elongate rhizome-like stems, tufted grass-like leaves, relatively large flowers and lanceolate anthers, etc. However, they are quite distinct with each other in many aspects, such as leaf size (60���80 cm �� 5���6 mm vs 25���55 cm �� 7���11 mm), scape size (80���100 cm vs 15���20 cm), and flower color (purple-dotted vs white). The flowers of O. megalanthus Wang & Dai (1978: 253) are also somewhat similar to that of O. elatior by the relatively large perianth lobes (9-10 mm long in the later) tinged with purplish, but it is quite different by other characters: tuberous rhizome, purple basal part, shorter and broader leaves (25���60 �� 0.8���1.5 cm and broadest at middle part), and shorter scape (30���35 cm long)., Published as part of Lin, Qin-Wen, Le, Chi-Toan, Yu, Zhi-Yong, Sun, Guo-Feng & Liu, Bing, 2021, Ophiopogon elatior, a new species of Asparagaceae from Yunnan, China, pp. 46-50 in Phytotaxa 525 (1) on page 47, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.525.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/5681826, {"references":["Chen, X. Q. & Tamura, M. N. (2000) Ophiopogon. In: Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H. & Hong, D. Y. (eds.) Flora of China. Vol. 24. Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, pp. 252 - 261.","Tanaka, N. (2000 c) Taxonomic notes on Ophiopogon of South Asia VII. The Journal of Japanese Botany 75: 191 - 212.","Wang, F. T. & Dai, L. K. (1978) Ophiopogon zingiberaceus, p. 252. In: Wang, F. T. & Tang, Ts. (eds.) Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae 15. Science Press, Beijing."]}

Two new species of Ophiopogon, O. dolichocaulis from Son La Province and O. trigonantherus from Cao Bang Province in northern Vietnam, are described and illustrated. The former is similar to O. chingii, while the latter is similar to O. rupestris and O. dracaenoides. This paper not only details their taxonomic features and relationships to similar species but also provides ecological data on their habitats and phenology.

Ophiopogon dolichocaulis K.S.Nguyen, N.Tanaka & Aver., sp. nov. (Figs. 1, 2) Most similar to O. chingii, but distinguished by a combination of several traits such as thick rigid prop roots, numerous acute, often longer leaves with a midrib raised abaxially, comparatively short floral stalks (pedicel and basal stalky part of flower), and slightly larger flowers with greenish narrowly hastate-deltoid anthers. Type: ��� VIETNAM. Son La Province: Muong La District, Muong La Nature Reserve, Ngoc Chien Commune, remnant primary evergreen broad-leaved forest on sandstone mountains, along ridge or on slopes at elevation of 1300 m a.s.l., around point 21.60240��N 104.10882��E, terrestrial erect to suberect perennial herb, 40���60 cm tall, flowers abaxially white with purplish violet smears and dots, adaxially almost white, locally not rare, August 2020, Nguyen Sinh Khang & Lo Van Chieu, NSK 1348 (holotype HN!, isotype HN!). Description: ���Herb terrestrial, glabrous, evergreen, perennial. Stem simple, usually decumbent and flexuous in proximal part, erect to suberect in distal part, (5)10���35(40) cm tall, (0.5)0.6���0.8(1) cm in diameter., densely covered with leaf sheaths, proximally with 3���5 semi-woody prop roots; prop roots rigid, fleshy, greenish to brown, (2.5)3���4(4.5) mm in diameter. Leaves 50���60, spirally, consecutively and densely scattered over aerial part of stem, arching, linear, slightly falcate, attenuate at base and apex, (15)20���35(40) cm long, (7)8���11(13) mm wide, leathery, glabrous, adaxial surface glossy, uniformly light grass-green when young, becoming darker green with age; abaxial longitudinal veins 11���18 (including marginal ones), light pale green, midrib (midvein) somewhat raised, intervein regions paler; leaf margin finely serrulate; proximal part with white scarious wings (3)4���5(6) mm wide and transversely minutely plicate. Flowering stem (including peduncle and rachis) geniculately bent proximally, ascending or horizontally spreading, flexuose, fleshy, somewhat twisted, with 15���20 prominent longitudinal ridges, nearly tetragonal in cross section, green tinged with dirty bluish violet; peduncle (1.5)2���3(3.5) cm long, (3)3.2���3.8(4) mm in diameter, ebracteate; inflorescence a lax raceme with 10���16 distant fascicles of (1)2���3(4) flowers; rachis (5)6���7(8) cm long; pedicels arising from axils of bracts, acroscopic, terete, usually dirty bluish violet, (1.5)2���4(4.5) mm long, (0.4)0.5���0.6(0.7) mm in diameter, distally slightly narrowed, forming a distinct articulation to basal stalky part of perianth; floral bracts fasciculate, outermost bract acroscopic, glabrous, lanceolate to narrowly triangular, (7)9���13(15) mm long, (2.5)3���4(4.5) mm wide, acute, cymbiform, light pale green to dirty bluish violet on both surfaces, margin scarious, more or less irregularly undulate; inner bracts (bracteoles) similar to outermost bract in texture, shape and color, but much smaller, (1.5)2��� 4.5(5) mm long, (0.8)1���1.5(2) mm wide. Flowers cernuous, campanulate, (7.5)8���9(9.5) mm long, (7)7.5���8.5(9) mm across, odorless, enectariferous. Perianth fleshy, glabrous, proximally syntepalous, distally 6-cleft; syntepalous part (including basal stalky part 1���2 mm long) funnel-form, purplish violet, (3)3.2���3.8(4) mm long, (2)2.2���2.8(3) mm in diameter at summit; lobes 6, ovate to narrowly ovate, outer 3 slightly wider than inner 3, (5.2)5.5���6.5(6.8) mm long, (2.3)2.5���3(3.2) mm wide, white tinged with purplish violet, margins entire, somewhat undulate, revolute, apex subacute to obtuse, recurved. Stamens 6, free, inserted at base of each perianth lobe; filaments trapezoidal, 0.3���0.4 mm long, 0.8���1 mm wide, ca. 0.2 mm thick, greenish white to white; anthers slightly connivent distally, dorsi-basifixed, subsessile, narrowly hastate-deltoid (lateral sides somewhat concave and dilated toward base), (2.9)3���3.2(3.3) mm long, (1.2)1.3���1.4(1.5) mm wide at base, 0.6���0.8 mm thick, introrse, apical portion of each theca dehiscing earlier, light pale yellowish green. Pistil 1, tricarpellate, white; ovary inferior, nearly obovoid, apex subtruncate, slightly convex above, but somewhat concave in center around base of style, 3-locular; each locule with 2 ovules on basal part of ovary central axis, obovoid to subglobose; style awl-shaped, erect, straight or slightly curved distally, (5)5.2��� 5.5(5.7) mm long, 0.5���0.7 mm in diameter, longitudinally slightly 3-sulcate; stigma minute, subacute to obtuse. Seeds ellipsoid, (9)10���12(13) mm long, (6)6.5���8(8.5) mm in diameter, sarcotesta externally cobalt blue at maturity, glossy, albumen white. Paratype: ��� VIETNAM. Son La Province: Muong La District, Muong La Nature Reserve, Ngoc Chien Commune, remnant primary evergreen broad-leaved forest on sandstone mountains, from foot to middle of slopes at elevation of 1000���1350 m a.s.l., around point 21.60356��N 104.10543��E, terrestrial perennial herb erect to suberect, 45���60 cm tall, fruits glossy, cobalt blue, locally not rare, March 2019, Nguyen Sinh Khang, Nguyen Phuong Hanh, Tran Duc Binh, Nguyen Duc Thang & Lo Van Chieu, NSK 1155 (HN!). Etymology: ���The specific epithet is a Greek-derived adjectival compound, referring to the comparatively ���long stem��� of the new species. Habitat and conservation status: &horbar; Ophiopogon dolichocaulis grows as undergrowth in the humid or wet locations of the primary evergreen broad-leaved forest covering the foot to middle part of sandstone mountains at elevation of 1000���1350 m a.s.l. It was not rare in the surveyed area; in our estimation, approximately 100 to 200 mature plants occur in the area of about 2000 m 2. The habitat has been protected by regional authorities from any artificial disturbance such as deforestation and exploitation for timber and non-timber forest products. Since several other provinces in northwestern Vietnam, such as Lai Chau, Lao Cai and Yen Bai, also have sandstone mountains, it is highly probable that more populations of the new species are present in other locations similar in habitat condition to the type locality. Ophiopogon dolichocaulis is tentatively assessed here as ���data deficient��� (DD) in accordance with the IUCN Red List categories and criteria (2019). Phenology: ���Flowers in August���September, fruits in February���March. Distribution: &horbar;NW Vietnam (Son La Province, Muong La District, Muong La Nature Reserve). Taxonomic relationships: &horbar;Sharing leaves scattered over an elongate aerial stem, leaf basal wings that are white, scarious and transversely minutely plicate, and campanulate flowers, Ophiopogon dolichocaulis is apparently morphologically closest to O. chingii Wang & Tang (1937: 282). Ophiopogon chingii is distributed widely in Vietnam and southwestern China and morphologically highly variable (Tanaka 2000a). In particular, O. chingii var. glaucifolius F.T.Wang & L.K.Dai in Wang & Tang (1978: 252) with broader glaucous leaves was once segregated, but later it was reduced to a synonym of O. chingii (Chen and Tamura 2000, Tanaka 2000a) due to the existence of intermediate forms. The new species is distinguished from O. chingii by a combination of the following traits: thick (2.5���4.5 vs. often less than 2.5 mm in diameter) rigid (vs. soft) roots, acute (vs. often obtuse or subobtuse) leaves 15���40 (vs. 7���28) cm long with a more prominent midrib raised abaxially, somewhat thicker (nearly tetragonal in cross section vs. complanate), prominently (vs. often scarcely) ridged peduncle and rachis, slightly larger flowers (e.g. perianth lobes 5.2���6.8 �� 2.3���3.2 vs. 4.3���5.8 �� 1.5���2.1 mm), pedicel and basal stalky part of flower up to 6.5 (vs. 9.5) mm long, and narrowly hastate-deltoid (vs. lanceolate) anthers (numerical data on O. chingii is taken from Tanaka 2000a). In its scattered leaves and thick rigid prop roots, the new species is also similar to Ophiopogon fruticulosus Aver., N.Tanaka & K.S.Nguyen in Averyanov et al. (2015: 28) known from Tuyen Quang Province in northern Vietnam, but is readily distinguished mainly by the shorter aerial stem (up to 0.4 vs. 0.6���1.5 m tall), campanulate (vs. sub-urceolate) flowers, thinner perianth lobes and thinner (vs. strongly incrassate) anther connectives., Published as part of Nguyen, Khang Sinh, Tanaka, Noriyuki, Averyanov, Leonid V., Maisak, Tatiana V., Nguyen, Phuong Hanh & Tran, Duc Binh, 2021, Two new species, Ophiopogon dolichocaulis and O. trigonantherus (Asparagaceae), from northern Vietnam, pp. 291-298 in Phytotaxa 523 (4) on pages 291-295, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.523.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/5602458, {"references":["Wang, F. T. & Tang, T. (1937) Notes on Chinese Liliaceae 4. Bulletin of the Fan Memorial Institute of Biology; Botany 7: 281 - 304. Wang, F. T. & Tang, T. (1978) Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae 15. Science Press, Beijing, pp. 253 - 254.","Tanaka, N. (2000 a) Taxonomic notes on Ophiopogon of South Asia VI. Journal of Japanese Botany 75 (3): 127 - 136.","Chen, X. Q. & Tamura, M. N. (2000) Peliosanthes Andrews. In: Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H. & Hong, D. Y. (Eds.) Flora of China 24. Science Press, Beijing, Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, pp. 261 - 263.","Averyanov, L. V., Tanaka, N., Nguyen, K. S., Nguyen, H. T. & Konstantinov, E. L. (2015) New species of Ophiopogon Ker Gawl., Peliosanthes Andrews and Tupistra Ker Gawl. (Asparagaceae) in the flora of Laos and Vietnam. Adansonia Ser. 3, 37: 25 - 45. https: // doi. org / 10.5252 / a 2015 n 1 a 4"]}

Ophiopogon trigonantherus N.Tanaka & Aver., sp. nov. (Fig. 3) Most similar to O. rupestris, but differs chiefly in its longer stem with slightly more distant annual clusters of leaves, leaves with fewer longitudinal veins, larger flowers, broader, more incrassate filaments, larger, more yellowish triangular anthers, and in flowering season. Type: — Holotype (LE 01049699 http://en.herbariumle.ru/?t=occ&ea=edit&id=4195) prepared on 19 April 2019 by L. Averyanov and T. Maisak from cultivated plant CPC 7574 / TM 1198 a (photo - LE 01122879 http://en.herbariumle.ru/?t=occ&id=99499), which was originally collected on 21 November 2014 by L. Averyanov et al. in: VIETNAM. Cao Bang Province: Bao Lac District, Hong An Municipality, Mi Lung Village, around point 22°49’15.4’’N 105°49’53’’E, at elevation 1500–1550 m a.s.l.. Description: —Herb terrestrial, evergreen, perennial. Stem erect, usually unbranched, to 20 cm tall, 1‒1.5(2) cm in diameter, densely imbricately covered with pale brown papyraceous wings of leaf sheath remnants, proximally with few rigid semi-woody prop roots. Leaves borne in several shortly distant clusters along stem, horizontally spreading or slightly arching, shortly petiolate; petiole rigid, thick, recurved, (1.5)2‒2.5(3) cm long, (1.5)2‒2.5(3) mm wide; blade oblong, broadly lanceolate or elliptic, often slightly oblique, acute, shortly acuminate or apiculate at apex, (5)7‒ 12(14) cm long, (1.8)2.2‒2.8(3.2) cm wide, entire, coriaceous, glabrous; adaxial surface uniformly dark green, main longitudinal veins 5‒7, secondary veins indistinct; abaxial surface with many longitudinal parallel narrow green veins (principal veins usually 17‒19, including outermost, marginal ones), intervein portions glaucous, white. Flowering stem slightly curved distally; peduncle erect, straight, 2‒2.5(3) cm long, 2‒2.5 mm in diameter, ebracteate, dark violet; inflorescence a short sublax raceme bearing 2‒3(4)-flowered fascicles in axils of bracts; rachis 2‒2.5(3) cm long, finely ridged. Bracts on rachis narrowly triangular, tapering to apex, (2.5)3‒5(6) mm long, (0.4)0.5–1(1.2) mm wide, green, often with violet tint in basal part; bracteoles subtending pedicel smaller, triangular, (0.4)0.5‒0.8(1) mm long and wide, dull light brownish, scarious along margin. Pedicels terete, (2.5)3‒5(5.5) mm long, (0.8)1(1.2) mm in diameter, slightly arching, white with light violet tint. Flowers cernuous, campanulate, (7)8‒9(10) mm long, (8)10‒ 11(12) mm across, odorless, enectariferous. Perianth proximally syntepalous, distally 6-lobed; basal stalky part of flower cylindric, slightly curved, white tinged with purple-violet; lobes subsimilar (outer 3 somewhat narrower than inner 3), slightly cymbiform, triangular ovate, obtuse to rounded, sometimes shortly apiculate, recurved, (5)5.5‒6.5(7) mm long, (3)3.5‒4(4.5) mm wide, thick, white tipped with violet. Androecium broadly conic; stamens 6, each inserted at base of perianth lobe; filaments short, broad, incrassate, white; anthers strongly connivent, distally often slightly recurved, triangular, subacute, 2.8–3 mm long, 2.4‒2.6 mm wide, introrse, bright greenish yellow (including dorsal connective). Pistil 1, tricarpellate; ovary inferior, obconoid, (5)5.5‒6(6.5) mm long, 4‒4.5 mm wide at top, 3-locular; each locule with 2 ovules at basal portion of ovary central axis; ovary top subtruncate, slightly convex above, but sunken in center around base of style; style erect, straight, cylindric, slightly narrowing toward apex, 5–6 mm long, 0.6–0.8 mm in diameter; stigma small, entire to indistinctly 3-lobed. Fruits (seeds) unknown. Paratype: — VIETNAM. Cao Bang Province: Bao Lac District, Hong An Municipality, Mi Lung Village, primary broad-leaved and mixed humid evergreen forest (with Podocarpus, Pinus, Fokienia and Tsuga) on very steep slopes and along rocky ridge composed of highly eroded, solid crystalline limestone at elevation about 1500–1550 m a.s.l. around point 22.816667°N 105.831389°E, terrestrial herb in shady wet place on rocky mossy mountain slope, not common, 21 November 2014, L. Averyanov, N.T. Hiep, N.S. Khang, T. Maisak, L. Osinovetz, CPC 7574 (Herbarium of Center for Plant Conservation, Hanoi). Etymology: —The specific epithet is a Greek-derived adjectival compound, referring to the ‘triangular anthers’ unique to the new species. Habitat and conservation status: —Occurs usually in shady wet places on very steep mossy slopes near mountain tops at elevations of 1500–1550 m a.s.l., which are composed of crystalline karstic limestone and covered with primary evergreen humid broad-leaved and mixed forest (with Podocarpus, Pinus, Fokienia and Tsuga), not common. Estimated IUCN status – DD. Phenology: —Flowers in cultivation in April–May. Distribution: —Limestone areas in N Vietnam (Cao Bang Province, Bao Lac District). Taxonomic relationships: — Ophiopogon trigonantherus is most closely similar to O. rupestris Aver. & N.Tanaka in Averyanov et al. (2013: 233) known from northern Vietnam (Phu Tho Province), but differs mainly in its stem to 20 (vs. to 10) cm long with slightly more distant annual clusters of leaves, petioles 1.5‒3 (vs. 4‒5) mm wide, leaf blades 5–14 × 1.8–3.2 (vs. 12‒20 × 3‒4.5) cm with 17–19 (vs. to ca. 27) longitudinal veins, flowers 8–12 (vs. 4–7) mm across, perianth lobes 5‒7 × 3‒4.5 (vs. 3‒4.5 × 2‒2.5) mm, more broadly conoid androecium, triangular (vs. narrowly lanceolate) anthers 2.8–3 × 2.4‒2.6 (vs. 2 × 0.5‒0.6) mm, and ovaries 5‒6.5 × 4‒4.5 (vs. 3.5‒4 × 2‒3) mm. In addition, the new species flowers in cultivation in April and May, whereas O. rupestris flowers in nature in September and October. The new species is also close to Ophiopogon dracaenoides (Baker 1874: 174) Hooker (1892: 268), but readily distinguishable mainly by the stem to 20 cm long (vs. 65 cm or longer), shorter intervals between annual clusters of leaves, broader more incrassate filaments, and broader, triangular (vs. lanceolate) anthers (data on O. dracaenoides from Tanaka 2000b).

MDG, a polysaccharide derived from Ophiopogon japonicus, displays a protective effect against obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, there is no definitive evidence proving the specific mechanism of MDG against NAFLD. The results showed MDG supplementation ameliorated lipid accumulation, liver steatosis, and chronic inflammation in high-fat diet-induced NAFLD mice. Besides, MDG increased the abundance and diversity of microbial communities in the gut. These effects were mediated by the colonization of fecal microbiota. Further investigation revealed that Akkermansia muciniphila levels correlated negatively with NAFLD development, and lipid metabolism-related signaling might be the key regulator. Our study suggested that MDG treatment could inhibit obesity and the NAFLD process by modulating lipid-related pathways via altering the structure and diversity of gut microbiota. In addition, Akkermansia miniciphila might be a promising candidate in future research into NAFLD.

Shengmai formula (SMF) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine prescription, which is widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Our previous studies have demonstrated that some components in SMF can interact with each other through breast cancer resistance protein, sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide, organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 and 1B3. Organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) is highly expressed in kidney, mediating the elimination of many endogenous and exogenous substances. However, the interaction between the main active components in SMF and OAT1 is not clear.This study aimed to investigate the interactions of the major bioactive components in SMF mediated by OAT1.Four main fractions, namely, ginseng total saponins (GTS), ophiopogon total saponins (OTS), ophiopogon total flavonoids (OTF), fructus schisandrae total lignans (STL), and 12 active components, namely, ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rd and Rb1, ophiopogonin D and D', methylophiopogonanone A and B, schizandrol A and B, schizandrin A and B, were selected to explore the interactions of SMF with OAT1 using cell and rat models.The above four main fractions in SMF all exhibited inhibitory effects on the uptake of 6-carboxyfluorescein (6-CF), a classic substrate of OAT1. Among the 12 main effective components, only ginsenoside Re, Rd, and methylophiopogonanone A showed inhibition of 6-CF uptake. Additionally, we found that schizandrin B was transported by HEK293-OAT1 cells, and schizandrin B uptake was markedly inhibited by GTS, OTS, OTF, ginsenoside Re, Rd, and methylophiopogonanone A. In rats, ginsenoside Re, Rd, and methylophiopogonanone A jointly increased the AUCGinsenoside Re, Rd, and methylophiopogonanone A were the potential inhibitors of OAT1, and may interact with some drugs serving as OAT1 substrates clinically. Schizandrin B was a potential OAT1 substrate, and its OAT1-mediated transport was inhibited by ginsenoside Re, Rd, and methylophiopogonanone A. OAT1-mediated interactions of the main active components in SMF can be regarded as one of the important compatibility mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine preparations.