 Botany
Lilyturf is a perennial stemless plant growing to a height of 0.3 meters. Leaves are tufted, numerous, ensiform, 45 to 70 cm long, and 0.3 to 0.8 cm wide. Inflorescence is solitary, 20 to 33 cm long. Flowers are small, white or purplish, and odorless.
Distribution
- On open slopes at an altitude of about 1,400 meters in Luzon (Ilocos Norte, Rizal, Benguet Provinces) and in Batanes Islands.
- Occurs in Japan to Manchuria and southward to Hongkong and Taiwan.
Constituents
- Rich in mucilage.
- Root contains about 1.6% protein, 0.5% fat, 80% carbohydrates, and 2.3% ash.
Properties
- The drug consists of cylindrical fleshy tubers from 1 to 2 inches in length, and from 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter, tapering at either extremity, pale yellowish-grey in color, translucent, soft and flexible. A central ligneous cord runs longitudinally through each.
- Candied tubers considered tonic, pectoral and aphrodisiac.
- Plant considered refrigerant.
Parts used
Tubers.
Uses
Edibility
Roots, cooked.
Root has a fleshy, tuberous part near its tip.
Folkloric
Tubers considred tonic and aphrodisiac.
In China, decoctionn of tubers used to fortify the lungs, for coughs, fevers and dysentery.
Others
A good drought-tolerant ground cover.
Studies
• Steroidal Saponins / Anti-Tumor Activities: Study isolated two new steroidal saponins - lirigramosides A and B along with four known compounds. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against Hela and SMMC-7721 cells.
• Hemodynamic Effects: Study evaluated the acute hemodynamic effects of water soluble extract of Liriope spicata in anesthetized cats. Results showed the WSEL increased ventricular contractile force and might increase cardiac pump function.
• Antioxidant: Study of methanolic and hot-water extracts from leaves of three cultivars of Mai-men-dong (Liriope spicata L) showed all three hot water extracts to effectively scavenge hydroxyl radical, with dose-dependent anti-DPPH radical activities.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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