Herbs & Botanicals · Chinese tuber root for dry cough

Ophiopogon

Q: What is ophiopogon (mai dong) good for?

Traditionally it is used to moisten the lungs for dry cough and dry throat. The human trials mostly tested injections or formulas for the heart, with low certainty. The plain root has not been tested in trials for these uses.

Q: Does ophiopogon help the heart?

Trials of Shenmai injection and Shengmai formulas report better heart-function measures when added to standard care, but certainty is low and the products contain ginseng or other herbs. It should not replace prescribed treatment.

Q: What is the difference between ophiopogon, Shengmai and Shenmai injection?

Ophiopogon is the root. Shengmai San is a formula of ginseng, ophiopogon and Schisandra. Shenmai injection is a hospital injection of ginseng and ophiopogon. Results for one do not apply to the others.

Q: Is ophiopogon the same as Liriope or lilyturf?

No. Liriope (shan mai dong) is listed as a separate remedy in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and has different chemistry. Garden lilyturf and mondo grass are not covered here.

Q: Can ophiopogon cause allergic reactions?

The injection can. A mouse study found dose-related allergy-like reactions and a review describes first-dose reactions to Chinese medicine injections. We found no human rate for the dried root.

Q: Does it cause loose stools or stomach upset?

Injection trials in diabetes list stomach and bowel reactions. Chinese herb texts commonly caution about loose stools, but we could not verify that in a source we read.

Q: Is ophiopogon safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Not established. We found no human data and no LactMed or EMA record. Ask a doctor or midwife.

Q: Can it affect blood sugar or blood pressure?

Sheng-Mai injection lowered blood sugar on average in diabetes trials, and ranked top for blood pressure in cardiogenic shock trials. Whether the root does the same is unknown, so people on diabetes or blood-pressure medicines should ask a clinician.

Q: Does it interact with blood thinners or other medicines?

No human interaction study was found. Cell tests show root extracts can induce the CYP3A4 enzyme, and a computer study raised an untested idea about chemotherapy. We found no information on blood thinners.

Q: Does it help dry cough?

It is traditionally used for dry cough. One 2025 trial of a multi-herb liquid improved cough scores, but its abstract does not say that ophiopogon is in the liquid, so the evidence for the root is insufficient.

Ophiopogon japonicus · also called Mai dong, maidong, ophiopogon root

Ophiopogon, called mai dong in Chinese medicine, is the small tuber of an East Asian plant, traditionally used to moisten the lungs for dry cough and dry throat. Almost all human trials tested a hospital injection or a formula that also contains ginseng, mainly for heart conditions, so they cannot show what the root does alone. Certainty is low for those trials, and for the root itself the research is mostly in cells and animals. The injection can cause allergy-like reactions, and there are no safety trials of the dried root, so ask a doctor or pharmacist first.

General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update October 25, 2026 · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made

About Ophiopogon

Ophiopogon (mai dong) is the small swollen root of Ophiopogon japonicus, used in Chinese medicine for dry cough, dry throat and as a heart tonic ingredient. Human research is almost entirely of Shenmai or Shengmai injections and multi-herb products given with ginseng and other herbs, mostly in China. Certainty is low. The injection has documented allergy-like reactions, and the plain root has no human safety trials. It is not the same as Liriope (shan mai dong) or garden lilyturf.

What it is

Ophiopogon japonicus is a plant of the asparagus family, widely found in East Asia. The part used is the tuberous root, called mai dong or Ophiopogonis Radix. Traditional Chinese medicine says it nourishes yin, promotes body fluid and moistens the lung.

Keep several things apart. First, the dried root. Second, Shenmai injection, which combines ginseng and ophiopogon and is given into a vein in hospital. Third, formulas and capsules such as Shengmai San and Dengzhan Shengmai capsule, which contain other herbs. Fourth, Liriope (shan mai dong), a different root that is sometimes used as a substitute but is listed as a separate remedy.

The main compounds are steroidal saponins, homoisoflavonoids and polysaccharides. Homoisoflavonoids are much higher in ophiopogon than in Liriope, and steroidal saponins are higher in Liriope.

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How it may work

Reviews list heart-protective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune, cough-relief and anti-diabetic activity of the root's compounds. These are findings from cells and animals, and they do not show that the injection or the root works in the same way in people.

In high-sugar zebrafish, root polysaccharides raised proteins linked to insulin release. In cell tests, root extracts switched on a drug-handling pathway (PXR and CYP3A4), which is why interactions are a concern.

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What the human trials found

Heart: a Cochrane review of Shengmai for heart failure (14 trials, 858 people) found better heart-failure class when added to usual care, with low-quality evidence and no data on death. A 2026 network analysis of 62 trials ranked Shenmai injection top for ejection fraction and BNP, but the authors call it exploratory. A 2025 analysis of a multi-herb capsule found a higher ejection fraction and longer walk. Angina, viral myocarditis and shock trials point the same way with low certainty.

Other uses: 16 trials of Shenmai or Shenfu injection found less thinking trouble after surgery, but all were at high risk of bias. A pooled analysis of 15 trials found small drops in blood sugar when an injection was added to diabetes treatment. The only trial with ophiopogon on its own tested a skin product for eczema.

Dry cough, the main traditional use, has no trial of the plain root. Many trial reports left out side effects: only 3 of 16, 3 of 30 and 14 of 43 trials in three reviews reported them.

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At a glance

Traditional uses history, not proof

Chinese medicine: nourishes yin, moistens the lung and promotes body fluid, used for dry cough and dry throat (as described in a 2016 review)
Said to ease the mind and clear heart fire (traditional idea, not a measurable condition)
A main ingredient in many prescriptions, including Shengmai formulas and Shenmai injection

Studied for research

Heart failure after a heart attack, Shenmai injection (ginseng plus ophiopogon): low (exploratory, indirect)
Chronic heart failure, Shengmai and Dengzhan Shengmai capsule: low (multi-herb)
Angina, Dengzhan Shengmai capsule: low (multi-herb)
Viral myocarditis, Shenmai injection: low
Shock, Shenmai injection: low
Thinking problems after surgery, Shenmai injection: low
Blood sugar, Sheng-Mai injection: very low
Dry cough, traditional use: insufficient (no trial of the plain root)
Eczema, topical oligofructans: low
Cells and animals (heart, inflammation, cancer, blood sugar): lab only

Main compounds

Steroidal saponins: ruscogenin (PubChem CID 441893), ophiopogonin B (CID 46173857), ophiopogonin D (CID 46173859, listed by PubChem as D')
Homoisoflavonoids: methylophiopogonanone A (CID 53466984), ophiopogonanone A (CID 9996586)
Polysaccharides (mostly glucose) and oligofructans (plant sugars)

Common forms

Dried tuber, as a decoction (traditional; not tested alone in the trials read)
Shengmai-type oral formulas and Dengzhan Shengmai capsule (multi-herb)
Shenmai injection, ginseng plus ophiopogon, given into a vein by clinicians
Topical product with root oligofructans (one eczema trial)
Polysaccharide or saponin extracts (lab and animal research only)

Research links: Zhou 2014: Shengmai for heart failure, Cochrane review (PubMed) · Ma 2026: herbal injections for heart failure after a heart attack, network meta-analysis (PubMed) · Lu 2025: Dengzhan Shengmai capsule for chronic heart failure (PubMed) · Yang 2024: Shenmai injection for viral myocarditis (PubMed) · Liu 2026: Shenmai and Shenfu injections for post-operative cognitive dysfunction (PubMed) · Yang 2023: Sheng-Mai injection in diabetes (PubMed) · Zhang 2023: allergy-like reactions to Shenmai injection in mice (PubMed) · Chen 2016: Ophiopogon japonicus review (PubMed) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library

The plant and its history

Accepted scientific name: Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl.
Naming authority: GBIF Backbone: ACCEPTED species, usageKey 2774158, family Asparagaceae (API checked 2026-10-25).
Common names: Mai dong (maidong) (Chinese (pinyin)); Ophiopogon (English)
Botanical family: Asparagaceae (asparagus family)
Classification: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Liliopsida > Asparagales > Ophiopogon japonicus
Native range: A review says it is widely distributed in East Asia, especially China, and used in local medicines of China, Japan and south-eastern Asia.
Habitat: Not described in the sources read.
What the plant looks like: Roots: The small swollen tuberous roots are the part used (Ophiopogonis Radix).; Stems: Not described in sources read.; Leaves: Not described in sources read.; Flowers: Not described in sources read.; Fruit: Not described in sources read.
Cultivation: Two named strains from different regions (Zhe Maidong and Chuan Maidong) are studied; they differ in cell toxicity and CYP3A4 induction in the lab.
Harvest and processing: Not described in the sources read.
Look-alikes and adulterants: Name: Liriope (shan mai dong; Liriope spicata and others); Note: Sometimes used as a substitute but listed as a separate remedy; homoisoflavonoids are much lower and steroidal saponins higher than in ophiopogon.; Name: Ornamental lilyturf and mondo grass; Note: Garden plants; we have no source on their use as medicine. Not covered here.
Sustainability and conservation: Not assessed in the sources read.

Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof

Tradition or era	Documented use	Source
Traditional Chinese medicine	The root nourishes yin, promotes body fluid, moistens the lung, eases the mind and clears away heart fire; used for dry cough and related complaints; a main ingredient in many prescriptions.	p26826325
Chinese Pharmacopoeia (as described in a 2020 abstract)	Ophiopogonis Radix and Liriopes Radix are both known for dry cough, but are listed as two different remedies.	p33241331
Shengmai formulas and Shenmai injection	Maidong is one of the two basic ingredients of Shenmai injection (with ginseng); Shengmai San combines ginseng, ophiopogon and Schisandra. Dates of origin were not found in the sources read.	p26137250

Traditional use shows how a plant was used. It does not show that a supplement works or is safe today.

What is inside, and how it may work

What the plant contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.

Main compounds

Compound	Family	Where it is concentrated	Activity studied	Level of evidence
Ruscogenin (steroidal sapogenin) PubChem 441893	Steroidal saponin aglycone	Tuberous root	Reported lab activity only. ^{14 2}	Laboratory research
Ophiopogonin B PubChem 46173857	Steroidal saponin	Tuberous root	One of the main contributors to chemical differences between ophiopogon and Liriope in the 2020 study. ^{14 10}	Laboratory research
Ophiopogonin D (PubChem title: Ophiopogonin D') PubChem 46173859	Steroidal saponin	Tuberous root	Lab activity only. NOT verified that this CID is exactly ophiopogonin D rather than an isomer. ¹⁴	Laboratory research
Methylophiopogonanone A (homoisoflavonoid) PubChem 53466984	Homoisoflavonoid	Tuberous root	Homoisoflavonoids are much higher in ophiopogon than in Liriope. ^{14 10}	Laboratory research
Ophiopogonanone A (homoisoflavonoid) PubChem 9996586	Homoisoflavonoid	Tuberous root	Ophiopogonanone E (a related compound) is a marker that separates ophiopogon from Liriope; this one was not specifically described in the sources read. ^{14 10}	Laboratory research
Polysaccharides (OJPS)	Polysaccharide	Tuberous root One fraction is about 3.9 kDa and mostly glucose (91.85%) and galacturonic acid (3.41%).	Lowered glucose measures in zebrafish; fish only. ⁷	Animal research
Oligofructans (fructose chains)	Plant sugars	Tuberous root	A topical product from them reduced eczema scores in one trial. ¹²	Human data

Mechanisms, receptors and pathways

Target or pathway	Gene or receptor	What was found	Level
PXR / CYP3A4 (drug-handling enzyme)	NR1I2 (PXR); CYP3A4	Ethanol extracts activated PXR and induced a CYP3A4 reporter in cells; strength depended on the growing region. ⁴	Laboratory research
GLP-1 / cAMP / PKA / CREB (insulin-release pathway)	GLP-1; PKA; CREB	Root polysaccharides raised these proteins in high-sugar zebrafish. ⁷	Animal research
Mast-cell activation and complement (pseudo-allergy)	Not specified	Reviewed as the way Chinese medicine injections cause pseudo-allergic reactions; mouse data show dose-related reactions to Shenmai injection. ^{24 21}	Animal research
Cell-cycle genes (predicted)	CDK1; CHEK1; PLK1	A computer analysis of Shengmai San predicted these targets; untested. ²³	In silico
General activities in cells and animals	Not specified	Heart protection, anti-inflammation, anticancer, antioxidant, immune, cough-relief, antimicrobial and anti-diabetic activity listed in a review. ²	Laboratory research

Absorption, metabolism and elimination

Absorption: Not found in the sources read.
Distribution: Not found.
Metabolism: Possible enzyme induction (CYP3A4) in cells only.
Elimination: Not found.
Bioavailability: Not found.

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Isolated compounds versus whole extracts

Four different things should not be mixed: the dried root; Shenmai injection (ginseng plus ophiopogon, given into a vein); multi-herb formulas and capsules such as Shengmai San and Dengzhan Shengmai capsule; and isolated extracts such as the root polysaccharides or oligofructans. A review notes that most injection trials did not describe the product content. Trial results for one cannot be applied to another.

Nutritional composition

The root is not a source of vitamins or minerals in the sources read. One polysaccharide fraction is mostly glucose, and a review says the root can be used as a food or a medicine.

10benefits and uses looked at

24studies and sources checked

Low certaintybest evidence rating found

8lab markers tracked in trials

7 low certainty1 very low certainty2 not enough evidence

What is Ophiopogon good for?

The studied uses and how strong the human evidence is. Almost all trials tested an injection or a multi-herb product rather than the root alone, so treat every rating as being about that product. The traditional use for dry cough has no trial of the plain root behind it.

Heart failure after a heart attack (Shenmai injection)Low certaintySixty-two trials of eight herbal injections, compared indirectly, report better heart-function numbers when added to standard care. Shenmai injection ranked highest on ejection fraction and BNP. The authors call the findings exploratory and low-certainty. Chronic heart failure (Shengmai and Dengzhan Shengmai capsule)Low certaintyA Cochrane review of 14 small trials found a better heart-failure class when Shengmai was added to usual treatment (low-quality evidence). A 2025 pooled analysis of 15 trials of a multi-herb capsule found higher ejection fraction and a longer walk. The benefit cannot be credited to ophiopogon alone. Angina (Dengzhan Shengmai capsule)Low certaintyIn a network analysis of 24 trials the capsule ranked highest of nine Chinese patent medicines for efficacy when added to Western medicine. It is a multi-herb product and the ranking is indirect. Viral myocarditis (Shenmai injection)Low certaintyEighteen trials (1,661 people) found lower heart-injury enzymes and better response with the injection added. Adverse reactions did not differ significantly, but the range of possible difference was wide. Shock, including cardiogenic shock (Shenmai injection)Low certaintyThirty trials and a later network analysis of 43 trials found fewer deaths in hospital when the injection was added to standard care. Most trials did not report side effects. This is a hospital use of an injection. Thinking problems after surgery (Shenmai and Shenfu injections)Low certaintySixteen trials found higher memory-test scores and less post-operative confusion. Every trial had a high risk of bias, certainty was rated low, and only 3 of 16 reported side effects. Blood sugar in diabetes (Sheng-Mai injection)Very low certaintyFifteen studies in China found small average drops in HbA1c (0.46%) and glucose when an injection was added to usual treatment. No effect on diabetic nerve damage. Zebrafish tests with root sugars are lab only. Dry cough and dry throat (traditional use)Not enough evidenceThe root is traditionally used to moisten the lungs. We found no trial of the plain root for cough. One 2025 trial of a multi-herb liquid improved cough scores, but its abstract does not say that ophiopogon is in the liquid. Eczema flare-ups (skin product made from root sugars)Low certaintyOne single-blind trial in 234 people found lower eczema scores and fewer relapses than placebo with a topical oligofructan product. It is applied to skin, numbers were not in the abstract, and a company link is possible. Heart, inflammation, cancer-cell, immune and blood-sugar effects in cells and animalsNot enough evidenceReviews list many activities in cells and animals. These do not show benefit in people. A computer analysis even suggests a formula might change chemotherapy effect, which is only a hypothesis.

Benefits, one by one

Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.

Heart failure after a heart attack (Shenmai injection added to standard care)

Low certainty

Sixty-two small trials of eight Chinese herbal injections, pooled indirectly, report better heart-function numbers when an injection is added to standard care. Shenmai injection ranked highest on ejection fraction and BNP. The authors call the results exploratory and the certainty low.

2 studiesShenmai injection (ginseng plus ophiopogon) given into a vein with st…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Ma 2026 pooled 62 randomised trials (5,922 people) of eight herbal injections plus standard Western medicine. All eight improved response rate, heart-function and injury markers and lowered inflammation markers, with mild cardiac events and adverse reactions. Shenmai injection obtained the highest ranking for left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, heart rate and B-type natriuretic peptide. The comparison between injections is indirect.

Results

Better heart-function numbers when an injection is added to standard care; Shenmai injection ranked top on four measures.

Effect sizes as reported

Rankings only in the abstract (no pooled numbers for Shenmai injection).

Why this rating

The authors say the evidence is low-certainty: a star-shaped network with no head-to-head trials, small trials, method flaws and large differences between trials. They call the findings exploratory hypotheses.

Form and dose studied

Shenmai injection (ginseng plus ophiopogon) given into a vein with standard care. Doses and durations are not given in the abstract.

Who was studied

Adults with heart failure after a heart attack, in China.

Limits

No direct comparison between injections; small, flawed trials; it is an injection, not the root; no long-term outcomes in the abstract.

Why researchers looked

Heart failure after a heart attack is serious, and Chinese hospitals use herbal injections as add-ons.

Traditional use

In Chinese medicine the root is said to ease the mind and clear heart fire (a traditional idea, not a measurable condition). Ophiopogon is one of the herbs in the Shengmai formulas and in Shenmai injection.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Not established. Lab work lists heart-protective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of ophiopogon extracts, but this does not show the injection works through them.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Allergy-like reactions are documented for Shenmai injection; see the safety file. The abstract reports low rates of adverse reactions but not how many trials checked.

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Chronic heart failure (Shengmai and Dengzhan Shengmai capsule added to usual treatment)

Low certainty

A Cochrane review of 14 small trials found people on Shengmai plus usual treatment more often moved to a better heart-failure class, with low-quality evidence. A 2025 pooled analysis of 15 trials of a multi-herb capsule (Dengzhan Shengmai) found better ejection fraction, lower BNP and a longer walk. Neither shows what ophiopogon alone does.

2 studiesShengmai (form not stated in the abstract) and a multi-herb capsule (…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Cochrane (Zhou 2014, 14 trials, 858 people; the abstract does not say which Shengmai form each trial used): better NYHA class with Shengmai plus usual treatment than usual treatment alone (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.51; 10 trials, 672 people; low-quality evidence), plus better exercise test, ejection fraction and cardiac output. Three trials (106 people) against placebo also reported better NYHA class and stroke volume. No data on death. Lu 2025 pooled 15 trials (1,606 people) of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule plus conventional treatment: ejection fraction up (MD 6.42), NT-proBNP down (MD -88.27), 6-minute walk longer (MD 51.90), adverse events not different (RR 0.70).

Results

Moderate-sized changes in heart measures, with low-quality trials.

Effect sizes as reported

Cochrane NYHA RR 0.37 (0.26 to 0.51); capsule LVEF MD 6.42 (5.57 to 7.27); NT-proBNP MD -88.27 (-108.11 to -68.42); 6-minute walk MD 51.90 (19.08 to 84.72).

Why this rating

Cochrane rated the NYHA evidence low quality and noted high risk of bias, small trials and big differences between trials; the capsule review did not give a certainty rating.

Form and dose studied

Shengmai (form not stated in the abstract) and a multi-herb capsule (Dengzhan Shengmai), always added to usual treatment.

Who was studied

Adults with chronic heart failure, in China.

Limits

Multi-herb products, so benefit cannot be credited to ophiopogon; Cochrane found no information on death; its searches ended in 2013 (a 2016 update exists that we did not read); the capsule review notes that long-term safety is unknown.

Why researchers looked

Heart failure is common and Shengmai formulas are used alongside medicines in China.

Traditional use

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Not established for ophiopogon. Shengmai contains ginseng and other herbs as well.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Cochrane: three of 14 trials reported six mild adverse effects, two people withdrew, rate 1.21%. The capsule review found no significant difference in adverse events.

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Angina (Dengzhan Shengmai capsule added to Western medicine)

Low certainty

A 2026 network analysis of 24 trials of nine Chinese patent medicines found the capsule ranked highest for efficacy as an add-on. The capsule has several herbs, so this says little about ophiopogon itself.

1 studiesDengzhan Shengmai capsule plus Western medicine; dose not given in th…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Sun 2026 pooled 24 trials (2,382 people) and found all nine products added to conventional medicine improved clinical efficacy (OR 3.08, 95% CI 2.46 to 3.85). Dengzhan Shengmai capsule ranked highest (SUCRA 88.99%). The abstract does not give a safety score for it; other products carried higher risk because of liver-toxicity concerns or missing data.

Results

Ranked top for efficacy among nine products; no certainty rating given in the abstract.

Effect sizes as reported

All products pooled OR 3.08 (2.46 to 3.85).

Why this rating

The ranking is indirect and based on trials of a multi-herb capsule in people with a Chinese pattern diagnosis; the abstract gives no certainty grade, so we rate it low.

Form and dose studied

Dengzhan Shengmai capsule plus Western medicine; dose not given in the abstract.

Who was studied

Adults with coronary heart disease angina (qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern), in China.

Limits

Indirect comparison; effect cannot be credited to ophiopogon; adverse events for the capsule not given.

Why researchers looked

Angina is chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart; add-on Chinese patent medicines are widely used in China.

Traditional use

No separate traditional claim for angina was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Not given in the abstract.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Not described for this capsule in the abstract.

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Viral myocarditis (Shenmai injection added to conventional treatment)

Low certainty

Eighteen trials (1,661 people) pooled together found lower heart-injury enzymes and better treatment response when Shenmai injection was added. Side-effect rates did not differ significantly, but the range of possible difference was wide.

1 studiesShenmai injection plus conventional treatment; dose not given in the …

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Yang 2024 pooled 18 randomised trials (2006 to 2024, 1,661 people): better total effective rate (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.28) and ECG efficacy (RR 1.30), lower CK-MB, CK, LDH, TNF-alpha and IL-6. Adverse reactions did not differ significantly (RR 1.56, 95% CI 0.73 to 3.33). Troponin I did not differ significantly.

Results

Better response and lower injury enzymes; adverse reactions not significantly different.

Effect sizes as reported

Total effective rate RR 1.22 (1.16 to 1.28); CK-MB SMD -3.33 (-4.85 to -1.81).

Why this rating

The authors ask for more high-quality trials; the abstract gives no certainty grade and the adverse-reaction interval is wide, so we rate it low.

Form and dose studied

Shenmai injection plus conventional treatment; dose not given in the abstract.

Who was studied

Patients with viral myocarditis, in China.

Limits

Injection, not the root; trial quality not detailed in the abstract; wide interval for adverse reactions.

Why researchers looked

Viral myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle after a virus.

Traditional use

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Not established.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

See the injection allergy-like reaction entries in the safety file.

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Shock, including cardiogenic shock (Shenmai injection added to conventional medicine)

Low certainty

Thirty trials and a later network analysis of 43 trials found fewer deaths in hospital when Shenmai injection was added to standard care for shock. This is a critical-care use of an injection and says nothing about the dried root.

2 studiesShenmai injection given in hospital; doses not given in the abstracts.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Li 2018 pooled 30 trials (2,038 people) with passable methodological quality: better total effective rate (RR 1.25) and lower death rate (risk difference -0.10, 95% CI -0.17 to -0.02). Three trials reported adverse events and none reported serious ones. Yue 2024 compared six injections in cardiogenic shock (43 trials, 2,707 people): Shenmai injection lowered in-hospital death compared with Western medicine alone (MD -1.05, 95% CI -2.10 to -0.09) and also ranked top for cardiac index and urine output; only 14 of 43 studies looked at adverse drug reactions.

Results

Fewer in-hospital deaths with the add-on injection in pooled low-to-moderate quality trials.

Effect sizes as reported

Death rate difference -0.10 (-0.17 to -0.02); in-hospital mortality MD -1.05 (-2.10 to -0.09).

Why this rating

Searches in the older review stop in 2015; the newer analysis is an indirect comparison; most trials did not report side effects.

Form and dose studied

Shenmai injection given in hospital; doses not given in the abstracts.

Who was studied

Patients in shock of several types (older review) and cardiogenic shock (newer review), in China.

Limits

Mixed types of shock; indirect rankings; missing safety data.

Why researchers looked

Shock is a life-threatening emergency, and hospitals in China use Shenmai injection as an add-on.

Traditional use

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Not established.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Almost no safety data: three of 30 and 14 of 43 trials reported adverse events.

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Thinking problems after surgery (Shenmai and Shenfu injections)

Low certainty

Sixteen trials found better memory-test scores and less post-operative confusion with Shenmai or Shenfu injection. Every trial had a high risk of bias and the reviewers rated certainty low.

1 studiesShenmai injection or Shenfu injection around surgery; the injection c…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Liu 2026 pooled 16 randomised trials (1,199 people): higher MMSE scores at several time points and less cognitive dysfunction at 3 days (Shenmai injection RR 0.38) and 7 days (RR 0.26). Recovery of consciousness was shorter (MD -5.67 min, 95% CI -6.46 to -4.87). All trials were at high risk of bias (no allocation concealment or blinding), GRADE was low for all outcomes and only 3 of 16 trials reported adverse events. The authors say causality is unproven.

Results

Fewer cases of post-operative thinking problems in low-certainty trials.

Effect sizes as reported

Cognitive dysfunction at 7 days: Shenmai injection RR 0.26.

Why this rating

The reviewers' own GRADE is low for every outcome and every trial is at high risk of bias; we keep their rating (low).

Form and dose studied

Shenmai injection or Shenfu injection around surgery; the injection content was mostly not described.

Who was studied

Surgical patients, in China.

Limits

No blinding; unknown product content; effect of Shenmai on one brain-protein marker could not be judged; safety data missing.

Why researchers looked

Some patients have lasting thinking problems after surgery and anaesthesia.

Traditional use

No traditional claim for post-operative thinking was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Not given in the abstract.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Only 3 of 16 trials reported adverse events, so no reliable safety conclusion.

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Blood sugar in diabetes (Sheng-Mai injection added to usual treatment)

Very low certainty

A 2023 pooled analysis of 15 studies found modest drops in HbA1c and blood glucose when an injection was added to usual diabetes treatment. It is an injection, all studies were in China, and the abstract does not give certainty. Tests in zebrafish with root sugars (polysaccharides) are lab work only.

2 studiesSheng-Mai injection added to usual diabetes treatment. The root itsel…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Yang 2023 pooled 15 studies (1,273 people, all from China) of Sheng-Mai injection on top of usual treatment: HbA1c lower by 0.46% (95% CI -0.89 to -0.03), fasting glucose lower by 0.83 mmol/L (-1.30 to -0.36), 2-hour glucose lower by 1.27 mmol/L (-1.96 to -0.58), and lower urine protein, urea and creatinine. No effect on nerve function in diabetic nerve damage. Adverse effects listed: stomach and bowel reactions, raised transaminases, low white cells, fever and rash. Li 2026 describes a polysaccharide extract in zebrafish (lab only).

Results

Small average drops in blood sugar numbers when added to usual treatment.

Effect sizes as reported

HbA1c MD -0.46% (-0.89 to -0.03); fasting glucose MD -0.83 mmol/L (-1.30 to -0.36).

Why this rating

The abstract does not report trial quality or a certainty rating; the HbA1c interval nearly reaches zero; injection and all-China trials. We rate very low.

Form and dose studied

Sheng-Mai injection added to usual diabetes treatment. The root itself has not been tested for blood sugar in people.

Who was studied

People with diabetes and related complications, in China.

Limits

Injection; no certainty grade; adverse events listed without rates; a related earlier diabetes meta-analysis was withdrawn and is not used.

Why researchers looked

Diabetes is common, and hospitals in China use herbal injections for diabetes and its complications.

Traditional use

No traditional claim for diabetes was found in the sources read except the general yin-nourishing idea.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In zebrafish with high blood sugar, ophiopogon polysaccharides raised GLP-1, cAMP, PKA and phosphorylated CREB proteins, which promote insulin release. Fish data only.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Possible blood-sugar lowering on top of diabetes medicines is a reason to ask a clinician (see safety file). Listed adverse effects include raised transaminases and low white cells.

^{17 7}

Dry cough and dry throat (traditional lung use)

Not enough evidence

In Chinese medicine the root is used to moisten the lungs for dry cough. We found no trial of the plain root for cough. One 2025 trial of a multi-herb liquid for a throat-type cough with a 'lung yin' pattern improved cough scores, but the abstract does not say that ophiopogon is in the liquid.

2 studiesTraditional decoction of the dried root; a multi-herb oral liquid in …

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Chen 2016 describes the traditional use and lists cough relief among laboratory activities. Yu 2025 randomised 100 people with laryngeal cough (lung yin deficiency) to methoxyphenamine capsules alone or with Yangyin Qingfei Oral Liquid for 10 days; symptom scores and the Leicester Cough Questionnaire improved in both groups, with responders in the herbal group improving more. Ophiopogon is not named in the abstract.

Results

Traditional use only for the root; a multi-herb liquid helped responders more than medicine alone.

Effect sizes as reported

Not given as numbers in the abstract.

Why this rating

No controlled trial of the plain root; the one trial is of a multi-herb liquid whose ingredients were not verified.

Form and dose studied

Traditional decoction of the dried root; a multi-herb oral liquid in the trial.

Who was studied

Adults with laryngeal cough, in China.

Limits

Ingredient content unverified; compares responders only; blinding not stated.

Why researchers looked

Dry cough and dry throat are the central traditional targets of the root.

Traditional use

The root is described as nourishing yin, promoting body fluid and moistening the lung; this is traditional use, not proof (Chen 2016 review).

Proposed mechanism Animal research

A review lists cough-relief activity in laboratory work; not shown in people.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No safety data for the root for cough were found in the sources read.

^{2 19}

Eczema flare-ups (topical Ophiopogon oligofructans)

Low certainty

A skin-cream trial in 234 people with mild-to-moderate eczema found lower eczema scores and fewer relapses than placebo. It is a product made from root sugars applied to the skin, not a swallowed herb, and the study may be linked to the maker.

1 studiesTopical oligofructan product from the tuber, twice daily for 60 days.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Mainzer 2019 randomised 90 children and 144 adults (single-blind, multi-centre) to a topical product containing oligofructans from Ophiopogon japonicus or placebo, applied twice daily for 60 days. SCORAD fell more with the active product, including redness, itch and area affected; quality of life improved and fewer people relapsed. Numbers are not in the abstract.

Results

Lower eczema scores and fewer relapses than placebo in one trial.

Effect sizes as reported

Not given as numbers in the abstract.

Why this rating

One single-blind trial with no numbers in the abstract and a possible ingredient-company link; we rate low.

Form and dose studied

Topical oligofructan product from the tuber, twice daily for 60 days.

Who was studied

Children and adults with mild-to-moderate eczema, white Europeans.

Limits

Single-blind; skin cream only; numbers not seen; possible industry link; not applicable to swallowed root.

Why researchers looked

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) flare-ups are hard to control between treatments.

Traditional use

No traditional skin use was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Not given in the abstract.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Skin safety results are not in the abstract.

¹²

Heart, inflammation, cancer, immune and blood-sugar activities in cells and animals

Not enough evidence

Reviews list many activities of the root's saponins, homoisoflavonoids and polysaccharides in cells and animals. These do not show benefit in people. A computer-only analysis even suggests a Shengmai formula might make chemotherapy work better, which is a hypothesis only.

4 studiesExtracts and isolated compounds in cell and animal models.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Chen 2016 summarises cardiovascular protection, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, immune, cough-relief, antimicrobial and anti-diabetic activity in cells and animals. Zhou 2026 (computer analysis of Shengmai San) predicted cell-cycle targets and raised the hypothesis, untested, that it could enhance chemotherapy effect. A mouse study shows dose-related allergy-like reactions to Shenmai injection (see safety).

Results

Laboratory and computer findings only; no human proof.

Effect sizes as reported

Not applicable

Why this rating

No human data; cells, fish, mice and computer models only.

Form and dose studied

Extracts and isolated compounds in cell and animal models.

Who was studied

Cells, zebrafish, mice and computer models.

Limits

Does not show benefit in people; extract types differ; lab doses are not comparable to products.

Why researchers looked

Researchers look for active compounds in the root.

Traditional use

Traditional use is described under dry cough and heart.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Steroidal saponins (such as ophiopogonin B and D, ruscogenin), homoisoflavonoids and polysaccharides show activity in cells and animals; Shengmai San targets were predicted by computer.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Possible chemotherapy interaction is a hypothesis only; see safety file.

^{2 23 7 21}

Connections to the rest of health

How Ophiopogon connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.

Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes

Kind of connection Connected to Search

A. Wellness goals

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Heart Health	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Heart failure after a heart attack (Shenmai injection added to standard care): Sixty-two small trials of eight Chinese herbal injections, pooled indirectly, report better heart-function numbers when an injection is added to standard care. Shenmai injection ranked highest on ejection fraction and BNP. The authors call the results exploratory and the certainty low. Chronic heart failure (Shengmai and Dengzhan Shengmai capsule added to usual treatment): A Cochrane review of 14 small trials found people on Shengmai plus usual treatment more often moved to a better heart-failure class, with low-quality evidence. A 2025 pooled analysis of 15 trials of a multi-herb capsule (Dengzhan Shengmai) found better ejection fraction, lower BNP and a longer walk. Neither shows what ophiopogon alone does.	^{11 24 22 9 16 18 6 20}
Blood Pressure Support	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Shock, including cardiogenic shock (Shenmai injection added to conventional medicine): Thirty trials and a later network analysis of 43 trials found fewer deaths in hospital when Shenmai injection was added to standard care for shock. This is a critical-care use of an injection and says nothing about the dried root.	^{6 20}
Cognitive Performance	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Thinking problems after surgery (Shenmai and Shenfu injections): Sixteen trials found better memory-test scores and less post-operative confusion with Shenmai or Shenfu injection. Every trial had a high risk of bias and the reviewers rated certainty low.	⁸
Brain Health	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Thinking problems after surgery (Shenmai and Shenfu injections): Sixteen trials found better memory-test scores and less post-operative confusion with Shenmai or Shenfu injection. Every trial had a high risk of bias and the reviewers rated certainty low.	⁸
Blood Sugar Balance	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Blood sugar in diabetes (Sheng-Mai injection added to usual treatment): A 2023 pooled analysis of 15 studies found modest drops in HbA1c and blood glucose when an injection was added to usual diabetes treatment. It is an injection, all studies were in China, and the abstract does not give certainty. Tests in zebrafish with root sugars (polysaccharides) are lab work only.	^{17 7}
Metabolic Health	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Blood sugar in diabetes (Sheng-Mai injection added to usual treatment): A 2023 pooled analysis of 15 studies found modest drops in HbA1c and blood glucose when an injection was added to usual diabetes treatment. It is an injection, all studies were in China, and the abstract does not give certainty. Tests in zebrafish with root sugars (polysaccharides) are lab work only.	^{17 7}
Immune Support	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Dry cough and dry throat (traditional lung use): In Chinese medicine the root is used to moisten the lungs for dry cough. We found no trial of the plain root for cough. One 2025 trial of a multi-herb liquid for a throat-type cough with a 'lung yin' pattern improved cough scores, but the abstract does not say that ophiopogon is in the liquid.	^{2 19}
Healthy Skin	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Eczema flare-ups (topical Ophiopogon oligofructans): A skin-cream trial in 234 people with mild-to-moderate eczema found lower eczema scores and fewer relapses than placebo. It is a product made from root sugars applied to the skin, not a swallowed herb, and the study may be linked to the maker.	¹²
Inflammation Balance	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Eczema flare-ups (topical Ophiopogon oligofructans): A skin-cream trial in 234 people with mild-to-moderate eczema found lower eczema scores and fewer relapses than placebo. It is a product made from root sugars applied to the skin, not a swallowed herb, and the study may be linked to the maker.	¹²
Inflammation Balance	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Heart, inflammation, cancer, immune and blood-sugar activities in cells and animals: Reviews list many activities of the root's saponins, homoisoflavonoids and polysaccharides in cells and animals. These do not show benefit in people. A computer-only analysis even suggests a Shengmai formula might make chemotherapy work better, which is a hypothesis only.	^{2 23 7 21}
Immune Support	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Heart, inflammation, cancer, immune and blood-sugar activities in cells and animals: Reviews list many activities of the root's saponins, homoisoflavonoids and polysaccharides in cells and animals. These do not show benefit in people. A computer-only analysis even suggests a Shengmai formula might make chemotherapy work better, which is a hypothesis only.	^{2 23 7 21}

B. Body systems

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Cardiovascular System	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Heart failure after a heart attack (Shenmai injection added to standard care) Studied for: Chronic heart failure (Shengmai and Dengzhan Shengmai capsule added to usual treatment)	^{11 24 22 9 16 18 6 20}
Nervous System	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Thinking problems after surgery (Shenmai and Shenfu injections)	⁸
Endocrine System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Blood sugar in diabetes (Sheng-Mai injection added to usual treatment)	^{17 7}
Respiratory System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Dry cough and dry throat (traditional lung use)	^{2 19}
Integumentary System	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Eczema flare-ups (topical Ophiopogon oligofructans)	¹²
Immune System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Heart, inflammation, cancer, immune and blood-sugar activities in cells and animals	^{2 23 7 21}

E. Health conditions

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Allergy-like reactions to herbal injections	Adverse effect or risk	Documented	Mouse dose-response data, a review of pseudo-allergic reactions, and a hospital study linking reactions to injection chemistry. Mouse, review and hospital data. Preparation or compound: Shenmai injection	^{21 24 5}
Diabetes treatment	Drug or supplement interaction	Theoretical	Added to usual treatment, lower glucose and HbA1c on average. Preparation or compound: Sheng-Mai injection	¹⁷
Heart failure	Potential benefit	Not enough evidence	Low-certainty add-on trials; not the plain root. Preparation or compound: Shengmai, Shenmai injection, Dengzhan Shengmai capsule	^{22 11 9}
Viral myocarditis	Potential benefit	Not enough evidence	18 trials; low certainty. Preparation or compound: Shenmai injection	¹⁸
Diabetes	Potential benefit	Not enough evidence	Small drops in HbA1c; very low certainty. Preparation or compound: Sheng-Mai injection	¹⁷

I. Biomarkers

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{9 11}
BNP and NT-proBNP	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{9 11}
CK-MB and other heart-injury enzymes	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹⁸
Death in hospital (shock)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{20 6}
HbA1c (average blood sugar over about 3 months)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹⁷
Fasting and after-meal blood glucose	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{17 7}
SCORAD (eczema severity score)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹²
MMSE score (thinking test)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁸

J. Genes, receptors and enzymes

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
CYP3A4	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Cell-based induction by root extracts; interaction concern.	⁴
CDK1, CHEK1, PLK1	Preliminary mechanism	In silico	Computer-predicted targets of Shengmai San.	²³

K. Biological pathways

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
GLP-1 / cAMP / PKA / CREB	Preliminary mechanism	Animal	Zebrafish polysaccharide study.	⁷

L. Active compounds

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Ruscogenin (steroidal sapogenin)	Biological association	In vitro	Reported lab activity only. Preparation or compound: Tuberous root	^{14 2}
Ophiopogonin B	Biological association	In vitro	One of the main contributors to chemical differences between ophiopogon and Liriope in the 2020 study. Preparation or compound: Tuberous root	^{14 10}
Ophiopogonin D (PubChem title: Ophiopogonin D')	Biological association	In vitro	Lab activity only. NOT verified that this CID is exactly ophiopogonin D rather than an isomer. Preparation or compound: Tuberous root	¹⁴
Methylophiopogonanone A (homoisoflavonoid)	Biological association	In vitro	Homoisoflavonoids are much higher in ophiopogon than in Liriope. Preparation or compound: Tuberous root	^{14 10}
Ophiopogonanone A (homoisoflavonoid)	Biological association	In vitro	Ophiopogonanone E (a related compound) is a marker that separates ophiopogon from Liriope; this one was not specifically described in the sources read. Preparation or compound: Tuberous root	^{14 10}
Polysaccharides (OJPS)	Biological association	Animal	Lowered glucose measures in zebrafish; fish only. Preparation or compound: Tuberous root	⁷
Oligofructans (fructose chains)	Biological association	Human	A topical product from them reduced eczema scores in one trial. Preparation or compound: Tuberous root	¹²

Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).

Evidence at a glance: what changed in 8 lab markers

Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.

Metabolic2 Other42

The evidence

The research centre for Ophiopogon. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.

Evidence by outcome

Heart failure after a heart attack (Shenmai injection added to standard care) 2 studies Low certainty Chronic heart failure (Shengmai and Dengzhan Shengmai capsule added to usual treatment) 2 studies Low certainty Angina (Dengzhan Shengmai capsule added to Western medicine) 1 studies Low certainty Viral myocarditis (Shenmai injection added to conventional treatment) 1 studies Low certainty Shock, including cardiogenic shock (Shenmai injection added to conventional medicine) 2 studies Low certainty Thinking problems after surgery (Shenmai and Shenfu injections) 1 studies Low certainty Blood sugar in diabetes (Sheng-Mai injection added to usual treatment) 2 studies Very low certainty Dry cough and dry throat (traditional lung use) 2 studies · 165 people in trials Not enough evidence Eczema flare-ups (topical Ophiopogon oligofructans) 1 studies · 234 people in trials Low certainty Heart, inflammation, cancer, immune and blood-sugar activities in cells and animals 4 studies Not enough evidence

Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).

How we rate evidence

High certainty

Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.

Moderate certainty

Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.

Low certainty

Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.

Very low certainty

Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.

Mixed findings

Trials or reviews disagree with each other.

Not enough evidence

Not enough human research to say either way.

Evidence against

Good research found no benefit, or found harm.

We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We started from our existing ophiopogon summary, read the abstract of every PubMed study cited, and checked the plant name in GBIF and the compounds in PubChem. NCCIH, LiverTox and LactMed entries were not found, and the EMA site could not be searched. One DNA study is summary-only.

Study library: every study we checked 24

Design Research type Plant part Year from Search

Study	Design	People	Product, dose, length	Result
Checked by the editorial team 2026 Regulator and reference checks for ophiopogon (NCCIH, EMA/HMPC, LiverTox, LactMed) Web and NCBI Books checks, 2026-10-25 · Source	Database record not-applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	NCCIH page nccih.nih.gov/health/ophiopogon returned 404. An NCBI Books search for ophiopogon with LiverTox or LactMed and for maidong found no record. The EMA website search could not be read (HTTP 401), so an EMA/HMPC monograph is NOT excluded. WHO and Commission E were not checked; our earlier summary notes no WHO, EMA/HMPC or Memorial Sloan Kettering record was found (summary-only). Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Whether an official monograph exists Limitations: Absence of a hit is not proof that no document exists. Read: web check
Chen 2016 Ophiopogon japonicus--A phytochemical, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological review Journal of Ethnopharmacology · PMID 26826325 · DOI	Narrative review mixed (review)	Review of botany, chemistry, traditional use and pharmacology	Ophiopogonis Radix (root of Ophiopogon japonicus) tuberous root Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Traditional Chinese medicine says the root nourishes yin, promotes body fluid, moistens the lung, eases the mind and clears heart fire. Main components are steroidal saponins, homoisoflavonoids and polysaccharides, with laboratory activity reported for heart protection, inflammation, cancer cells, oxidation, immunity, cough relief, microbes and diabetes. Not applicable (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Chemistry, traditional use, laboratory and clinical findings Limitations: Narrative review; only the abstract was read (full text not available); lab activity does not show benefit in people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
GBIF Secretariat 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl. GBIF API · Source	Database record not-applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	API match checked 2026-10-25: ACCEPTED species, family Asparagaceae, usageKey 2774158. Liriope spicata Lour. is a separate accepted species (key 3685256). Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Accepted name and family Limitations: Database record only. Read: api
Ge 2015 Ophiopogon japonicus strains from different cultivation regions exhibit markedly different properties on cytotoxicity, pregnane X receptor activation and cytochrome P450 3A4 induction Biomedical Reports · PMID 26137250 · DOI	Laboratory research in-vitro	Cell cultures	Ethanol and water extracts of two Maidong strains (Zhe Maidong and Chuan Maidong) tuberous root extract Not given in the abstract Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Ethanol extracts activated the PXR pathway and induced the CYP3A4 reporter gene in cells, and the strength differed by growing region. The authors say this raises concern about herb-drug interactions with medicines cleared by CYP3A4. Not applicable (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Cell toxicity, pregnane X receptor (PXR) activation, CYP3A4 induction Limitations: Cell-culture study only; no human interaction was tested; extract types may not match products. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (not stated in the abstract) Read: abstract
Jiang 2022 Prediction of allergic reaction risk of Shenmai injection based on real-world evidence coupled with UPLC-Q-TOF-MS Biomedical Chromatography · PMID 34612532 · DOI	Observational	Hospital patients at two Chinese hospitals, January 2015 to June 2019	Shenmai injection unspecified (injection) Not given in the abstract Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Allergic reactions to Shenmai injection were recorded in hospital data; high levels of organic acids in the injection might be a risk factor for them. The number of reactions is not given in the abstract. Not given in the abstract (Not given in the abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Allergic reactions linked to the injection chemical profile Limitations: Number of patients and reaction rate not given in the abstract; association with batch chemistry, not proof of cause. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Li 2018 Effectiveness and safety of Shenmai injection in treatment of shock: A Meta-analysis Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine · PMID 32186054	Meta-analysis	2038 Patients with shock of several kinds (30 randomised trials; searches to May 2015)	Shenmai injection (ginseng plus ophiopogon) plus conventional medicine unspecified (injection) Not given in the abstract Not given in the abstract · vs Conventional medicine alone	Better total effective rate (RR 1.25) and lower death rate (risk difference -0.10) with Shenmai injection plus conventional medicine. Three trials reported adverse events and none reported serious ones. RR 1.25 effective rate; risk difference -0.10 for death (Effective rate 1.18 to 1.31; death -0.17 to -0.02) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Total effective rate, death rate, adverse events Limitations: Trial quality described only as generally passable; mixed shock types; searches are old (to 2015); only three trials reported adverse events. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Li 2026 Structural Characterisation of Ophiopogon japonicus Polysaccharides with Hypoglycaemic Activity Molecules · PMID 42588508 · DOI	Animal research animal	Zebrafish with high blood sugar	Ophiopogon japonicus polysaccharides (OJPS), mostly glucose (91.85%) and galacturonic acid (3.41%), about 3.9 kDa tuberous root extract Not given in the abstract Not given in the abstract · vs Untreated high-sugar zebrafish	Treated fish showed better glucose and fat measures, less liver fat and inflammation cells, and higher GLP-1, cAMP, PKA and phosphorylated CREB proteins. Not given in the abstract (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Glucose and fat metabolism, oxidative stress, GLP-1/cAMP/PKA/CREB proteins Limitations: Fish study only; the authors state in-vivo mechanism work is limited. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (per record) Read: abstract
Liu 2026 Efficacy and safety of Shenmai injection and Shenfu injection on postoperative cognitive dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Pharmacology · PMID 42453591 · DOI	Meta-analysis	1199 Surgical patients (16 randomised trials; both Shenmai and Shenfu injections)	Shenmai injection (ginseng plus ophiopogon) or Shenfu injection unspecified (injection) Not given in the abstract Not given in the abstract · vs Control (usual care); blinding was lacking	Higher post-operative MMSE scores and lower cognitive dysfunction at 3 days (Shenmai injection RR 0.38) and 7 days (RR 0.26). Shorter recovery of consciousness (MD -5.67 min). Only 3 of 16 trials reported adverse events. Cognitive dysfunction at 7 days: Shenmai injection RR 0.26 (Consciousness recovery MD -5.67 min, 95% CI -6.46 to -4.87) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Mini-Mental State Examination score, incidence of post-operative cognitive dysfunction, S100 beta protein, time to regain consciousness Limitations: All 16 trials at high risk of bias (no allocation concealment or blinding); GRADE low for all outcomes; most did not describe the injection content; effect of Shenmai on S100 beta could not be judged. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (per record) Registration: INPLASY 202470131 Read: abstract
Lu 2025 Efficacy and safety of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule in the treatment of chronic heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine · PMID 40060965 · DOI	Meta-analysis	1606 Adults with chronic heart failure (15 randomised trials)	Dengzhan Shengmai capsule (a multi-herb capsule that contains ophiopogon among other herbs) plus conventional treatment multi-herb product Not given in the abstract Not given in the abstract · vs Conventional treatment alone	Better clinical effective rate (RR 1.21), lower BNP (MD -112.60) and NT-proBNP (MD -88.27), higher LVEF (MD 6.42), smaller left ventricular size and longer 6-minute walk (MD 51.90) than conventional treatment alone. No significant difference in adverse events (RR 0.70). Clinical effective rate RR 1.21; LVEF MD 6.42; adverse events RR 0.70 (Effective rate 1.16 to 1.26; LVEF 5.57 to 7.27; adverse events 0.42 to 1.17; BNP -212.23 to -12.96) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Clinical effective rate, BNP, NT-proBNP, LVEF, heart size, 6-minute walk, adverse events Limitations: Multi-herb capsule, so effects cannot be credited to ophiopogon. Authors note long-term safety is not known and some outcomes may have publication bias. Risk-of-bias detail not given in the abstract. The abstract does not list the capsule ingredients; the ophiopogon content comes from our earlier summary and was not re-checked. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (per record) Registration: PROSPERO CRD42024507368 Read: abstract
Luo 2020 Chemical Comparison of Ophiopogonis radix and Liriopes radix Based on Quantitative Analysis of Multiple Components by HPLC Coupled with Electrospray Ionization Tandem Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry Journal of AOAC International · PMID 33241331 · DOI	Laboratory research in-vitro	31 31 batches of the two roots from different regions	Ophiopogonis Radix and Liriopes Radix (dried roots) tuberous root Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Homoisoflavonoids were much higher in Ophiopogonis Radix than Liriopes Radix; steroidal saponins were higher in Liriopes Radix. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia treats the two as separate remedies, and Liriopes is sometimes used as a substitute. Not applicable (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Amounts of 12 steroidal saponins and 11 homoisoflavonoids Limitations: Chemical analysis only; no health outcome. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Ma 2026 Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine injections combined with conventional Western medicine for post-AMI heart failure: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of 62 randomized controlled trials Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine · PMID 42688225 · DOI	Meta-analysis	5922 Adults with heart failure after a heart attack (62 randomised trials, 8 Chinese herbal injections)	Shenmai injection (ginseng plus ophiopogon) among 8 herbal injections, added to standard care unspecified (injection) Not given in the abstract Not given in the abstract · vs Standard Western medicine alone (and indirect comparison between injections)	All eight injections plus standard care improved response rate, heart-function and injury measures and lowered inflammation markers, with mild cardiac events and adverse reactions. Shenmai injection had the highest ranking for left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, heart rate and B-type natriuretic peptide. Rankings only (SUCRA); the abstract gives no pooled numbers for Shenmai injection (Not given in the abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Clinical response, heart-function measures, heart-injury markers, inflammation markers, major cardiac events, adverse reactions Limitations: Authors call it low-certainty and exploratory: star-shaped network with no head-to-head trials, small trials, methodological flaws, big differences between trials. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (per record) Registration: PROSPERO CRD420261428750 Read: abstract
Mainzer 2019 Clinical Efficacy of Oligofructans from Ophiopogon japonicus in Reducing Atopic Dermatitis Flare-ups in Caucasian Patients Acta Dermato-Venereologica · PMID 31120541 · DOI	Controlled trial	234 90 children and 144 adults with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis (white European)	Topical product with oligofructans (plant sugars) from Ophiopogon japonicus tuber extract (applied to skin) Not given in the abstract 60 days, twice daily · vs Placebo (single-blind)	SCORAD fell more with the active than placebo in both children and adults, including redness, itch and affected area. Quality of life improved and fewer people relapsed than with placebo. Not given as numbers in the abstract (Not given in the abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: SCORAD skin score, itch, redness, body area, quality of life, relapses Limitations: Single-blind; skin cream, not swallowed; numbers not in the abstract; the corresponding-author contact address belongs to what looks like an ingredient company (Silab), so the study may be industry-linked; funding not stated in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Possible industry link (author contact is a company address); funding not stated Read: abstract
NCBI 2026 NCBI Taxonomy search: Ophiopogon japonicus NCBI Taxonomy (E-utilities search) · Source	Database record not-applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	A search for the name returned the single id 100506 (2026-10-25). The record itself was not opened. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Taxonomy id Limitations: Search hit only; record not opened. Read: api search only
NCBI PubChem 2026 PubChem compound records for ruscogenin, ophiopogonin B, ophiopogonin D, methylophiopogonanone A and ophiopogonanone A PubChem PUG REST · Source	Database record not-applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Name lookups on 2026-10-25 returned: ruscogenin CID 441893 (C27H42O4); ophiopogonin B CID 46173857 (C39H62O12); ophiopogonin D lookup returned CID 46173859 titled Ophiopogonin D' (C44H70O16); methylophiopogonanone A CID 53466984 (C19H18O6); ophiopogonanone A CID 9996586 (C18H16O6). Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: CIDs and formulas Limitations: Name lookup only; stereoisomer identity of ophiopogonin D not checked. Read: api
Not recorded 2025 Application of DNA barcoding for the monitoring of the entire industrial chain of Ophiopogonis Radix Not recorded (Europe PMC record IND609415253) · Source	Laboratory research in-vitro	162 162 samples along the Ophiopogonis Radix supply chain	Ophiopogonis Radix samples tuberous root Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Summary-only, taken from our earlier summary and NOT re-opened: about 88% of 162 samples were genuine Ophiopogon, 16 were Liriope and 2 another Liriope species. Substitution in about 11% of samples (16 of 162 plus 2) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: DNA identity of samples Limitations: Not re-opened in this round; authors, journal and method not verified; one study in one supply chain. Read: summary-only
Sun 2026 Efficacy, safety, and costs of nine Chinese patent medicines for the treatment of angina pectoris in CHD Frontiers in Public Health · PMID 41613065 · DOI	Meta-analysis	2382 Adults with coronary heart disease angina, qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern (24 randomised trials)	Dengzhan Shengmai capsule (multi-herb, contains ophiopogon) among nine Chinese patent medicines, added to Western medicine multi-herb product Not given in the abstract Not given in the abstract · vs Western medicine alone (and indirect comparison between the nine products)	All nine products combined improved clinical efficacy (OR 3.08). Dengzhan Shengmai capsule ranked highest for efficacy (SUCRA 88.99%) and cost about CNY 10.86 a day. The abstract does not give a safety score for it; two other products carried higher risk because of liver-toxicity concerns or data gaps. OR 3.08 for all products pooled (95% CI 2.46 to 3.85) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Clinical efficacy, adverse events graded by a safety score, daily cost Limitations: Indirect rankings; multi-herb capsule; Chinese pattern-based population; adverse events for this capsule not given in the abstract. The abstract does not list the capsule ingredients; the ophiopogon content comes from our earlier summary and was not re-checked. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (per record) Read: abstract
Yang 2023 Effects of Sheng-Mai Injection on Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets · PMID 36705242 · DOI	Meta-analysis	1273 People with diabetes and related complications (15 studies, all in China)	Sheng-Mai injection added to conventional blood-sugar treatment unspecified (injection) Not given in the abstract Not given in the abstract · vs Conventional treatment alone	Lower HbA1c (MD -0.46%), fasting glucose (MD -0.83 mmol/L) and 2-hour glucose (MD -1.27 mmol/L) and lower urine protein, urea and creatinine. No effect on nerve function in diabetic nerve damage. Adverse effects listed: stomach and bowel reactions, raised transaminases, low white cells, fever and rash (frequencies not given in the abstract). HbA1c MD -0.46%; fasting glucose MD -0.83 mmol/L (HbA1c -0.89 to -0.03; fasting glucose -1.30 to -0.36) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: HbA1c, fasting and after-meal glucose, kidney markers, nerve conduction, adverse effects Limitations: Abstract does not report trial quality or certainty; all trials from China; the HbA1c interval nearly touches zero; an injection added to drugs. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Yang 2024 Efficacy and safety of Shenmai injection in the treatment of viral myocarditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Pharmacology · PMID 39525634 · DOI	Meta-analysis	1661 Patients with viral myocarditis (18 randomised trials, 2006 to 2024)	Shenmai injection (ginseng plus ophiopogon) plus conventional treatment unspecified (injection) Not given in the abstract Not given in the abstract · vs Conventional treatment alone	Better total effective rate (RR 1.22) and ECG efficacy (RR 1.30) and lower heart-injury enzymes (CK-MB SMD -3.33; CK SMD -1.74; LDH SMD -1.17) and inflammation markers (TNF-alpha SMD -1.35; IL-6 SMD -1.40). Adverse reactions did not differ significantly (RR 1.56). Troponin I did not differ significantly. Total effective rate RR 1.22 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.28; adverse reactions 0.73 to 3.33) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Total effective rate, heart-injury enzymes, ECG, inflammation markers, adverse reactions Limitations: Authors ask for more high-quality studies; the adverse-reaction interval is wide, so a real difference cannot be ruled out. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (per record) Registration: PROSPERO CRD42024518665 Read: abstract
Yu 2025 Altered upper respiratory tract microbiota in laryngeal cough attributed to lung yin deficiency and the modulatory effects of Yangyin Qingfei Oral Liquid Frontiers in Microbiology · PMID 40641875 · DOI	Controlled trial	165 100 people with laryngeal cough (lung yin deficiency pattern) and 65 healthy people	Yangyin Qingfei Oral Liquid (multi-herb; ophiopogon is not named in the abstract) plus methoxyphenamine multi-herb product Not given in the abstract 10 days · vs Methoxyphenamine capsules alone	Symptom scores and cough questionnaire improved in both groups; responders in the herbal-liquid group improved more than responders in the control group. Throat bacteria changed. Not given as numbers in the abstract (Not given in the abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Throat bacteria, symptom score, Leicester Cough Questionnaire Limitations: The abstract does not say that ophiopogon is in the liquid; multi-herb; comparison is between responders only; blinding not stated. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (per record) Read: abstract (ophiopogon content NOT verified)
Yue 2024 Comparative efficacy of Chinese herbal injections in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS): a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Frontiers in Pharmacology · PMID 38476325 · DOI	Meta-analysis	2707 Patients with cardiogenic shock (43 randomised trials, 6 herbal injections)	Shenmai injection (ginseng plus ophiopogon) and Shengmai injection among six herbal injections, added to Western medicine unspecified (injection) Not given in the abstract Not given in the abstract · vs Western medicine alone (and indirect comparison between injections)	Shenmai injection plus Western medicine ranked first for in-hospital death, cardiac index and hourly urine output, and lowered in-hospital death compared with Western medicine alone (MD -1.05). Only 14 of 43 studies (31.8%) looked at adverse drug reactions. In-hospital mortality MD -1.05 for Shenmai injection versus Western medicine alone (95% CI -2.10 to -0.09) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: In-hospital death, cardiac index, urine output, ejection fraction, blood pressure, adverse drug reactions Limitations: Indirect rankings; most studies did not report adverse reactions; quality assessment results not given in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (per record) Registration: PROSPERO CRD42022347053 Read: abstract
Zhang 2023 Anaphylactoid reactions induced by Shuanghuanglian injection and Shenmai injection and metabolomics analysis Frontiers in Pharmacology · PMID 37484014 · DOI	Animal research animal	ICR mice	Shenmai injection and Shuanghuanglian injection at high doses unspecified (injection) High doses (exact figures not in the abstract) Single exposures · vs Saline and a positive-control drug	Both injections caused dose-related allergy-like (anaphylactoid) reactions in mice; the reaction to Shenmai injection was weaker than to Shuanghuanglian injection. Dose-related reaction (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Behaviour, ear blue staining, Evans Blue leakage, histamine and other blood markers Limitations: Mouse study; high doses; human rate cannot be read from it. Mechanism needs more work (authors). Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (per record) Read: abstract
Zhou 2014 Shengmai (a traditional Chinese herbal medicine) for heart failure Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · PMID 24733159 · DOI	Systematic review	858 People with heart failure (14 randomised trials; 11 add-on to usual treatment, 3 versus placebo)	Shengmai (the abstract does not say which form of Shengmai each trial used) unspecified Not given in the abstract Not given in the abstract · vs Usual treatment alone, or placebo	Better NYHA class with Shengmai plus usual treatment (RR 0.37, 10 trials, 672 people, low-quality evidence). Benefits also seen for exercise test, ejection fraction and cardiac output. Three trials (106 people) against placebo also reported better NYHA class and stroke volume. Three of 14 trials reported six mild adverse effects and two people withdrew; adverse event rate 1.21%. No evidence on mortality. RR 0.37 for NYHA class improvement (10 trials) (95% CI 0.26 to 0.51) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: NYHA heart-failure class, exercise test, ejection fraction, cardiac output, mortality, adverse effects Limitations: High risk of bias (allocation concealment and blinding), small trials, big differences between trials for ejection fraction, cardiac output and stroke volume. Searches ended 2013; a 2016 update exists that was not read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract (2014 edition)
Zhou 2026 Exploring the mechanism of Shengmai San in treating lung adenocarcinoma based on bioinformatics and molecular dynamics simulation Medicine (Baltimore) · PMID 42675738 · DOI	Computational in-silico	Computer analysis of gene databases (no patients, no animals)	Shengmai San (ginseng, Ophiopogon japonicus, Schisandra chinensis) not applicable Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	The computer analysis predicts that some compounds in Shengmai San act on cell-cycle genes; the authors raise the possibility that it could enhance chemotherapy effect, and say this needs formal testing. Not applicable (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Predicted targets and pathways Limitations: Prediction only, not tested; no drug-resistance or combination model examined (authors). Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (per record) Read: abstract
Zou 2023 Pseudo-allergic reactions induced by Chinese medicine injections: a review Chinese Medicine · PMID 37953288 · DOI	Narrative review	Review of Chinese medicine injections in general	Chinese medicine injections (not specific to Shenmai in the abstract) not applicable Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Describes pseudo-allergic reactions as the most significant adverse reactions of Chinese medicine injections, occurring with the first dose and not mediated by IgE antibodies. Mechanisms include direct mast-cell stimulation and complement activation. Standard test models and guidelines do not yet exist. No frequency given in the abstract (Not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Causes and mechanisms of pseudo-allergic reactions Limitations: General review, not about Shenmai injection alone; no rates given in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared (per record) Read: abstract

What we do not know yet

No trial of the plain dried root for any use.
Human evidence is for injections or multi-herb products, mostly from China and at high risk of bias.
Side effects were missing from most trials.
No pregnancy, breastfeeding or child data for the root.
No human interaction study; only cell and computer findings.
No health-agency monograph found; EMA could not be searched.

How new research is added

New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any rating or safety wording.

Lab markers

What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".

Metabolic 2

▼

HbA1c (average blood sugar over about 3 months)

Lowered in trials

A blood test showing average blood sugar over the past two to three months.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

It is the main marker for long-term blood-sugar control.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A small average drop with an interval that nearly reaches zero; no certainty grade in the abstract.

Safety implication

Listed adverse effects of the injection include raised transaminases and low white cells; see safety file.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁷	HbA1c MD -0.46% (95% CI -0.89 to -0.03) with Sheng-Mai injection added to usual treatment	People with diabetes, 15 studies, all in China	Sheng-Mai injection

¹⁷

▼

Fasting and after-meal blood glucose

Lowered in trials

Sugar in the blood measured after fasting and two hours after a meal.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

It shows day-to-day blood-sugar control.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Small average drops; the zebrafish result is lab-only.

Safety implication

If used with diabetes medicines, low blood sugar is a theoretical concern; ask a clinician.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁷	Fasting glucose MD -0.83 mmol/L (-1.30 to -0.36); 2-hour glucose MD -1.27 mmol/L (-1.96 to -0.58)	People with diabetes	Sheng-Mai injection
⁷	Better glucose measures in zebrafish given root polysaccharides (no numbers in the abstract); fish only	Zebrafish	Ophiopogon polysaccharides

^{17 7}

Other 6

▲

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)

Raised in trials

The share of blood the main pumping chamber pushes out with each beat, seen on a heart ultrasound.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

It shows how well the heart pumps in heart failure.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A higher LVEF number is a stand-in marker; it does not prove fewer hospital stays or deaths.

Safety implication

No problem reported for LVEF itself.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁹	LVEF higher by 6.42 percentage points (MD 6.42, 95% CI 5.57 to 7.27) with Dengzhan Shengmai capsule plus conventional treatment	Chronic heart failure, 15 trials	Dengzhan Shengmai capsule (multi-herb)
¹¹	Shenmai injection had the highest ranking for LVEF among eight injections (no pooled number in the abstract)	Heart failure after a heart attack, 62 trials	Shenmai injection plus standard care

^{9 11}

▼

BNP and NT-proBNP

Lowered in trials

Blood hormones that rise when the heart is under strain; doctors use them to track heart failure.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

They are used to follow heart failure.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Lower values suggest less strain but are not a clinical outcome by themselves.

Safety implication

No problem reported.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁹	BNP MD -112.60 (95% CI -212.23 to -12.96); NT-proBNP MD -88.27 (-108.11 to -68.42), units as in the review (not given in the abstract)	Chronic heart failure	Dengzhan Shengmai capsule plus conventional treatment
¹¹	Shenmai injection ranked highest for lowering BNP (no pooled number in the abstract)	Heart failure after a heart attack	Shenmai injection plus standard care

^{9 11}

▼

CK-MB and other heart-injury enzymes

Lowered in trials

Enzymes that leak into blood when heart muscle is injured.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

They show how much heart muscle is injured in myocarditis or after a heart attack.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Standardised differences are large, but the troponin result was not significant, and trial quality is not detailed in the abstract.

Safety implication

No problem reported.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁸	CK-MB SMD -3.33 (95% CI -4.85 to -1.81); CK SMD -1.74 (-2.34 to -1.13); LDH SMD -1.17 (-1.37 to -0.97). Troponin I not significantly different.	Viral myocarditis, 18 trials	Shenmai injection plus conventional treatment

¹⁸

▼

Death in hospital (shock)

Lowered in trials

Whether a patient dies before leaving hospital.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

It is the outcome that matters most in shock.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

This is a real clinical outcome, but the trials are mostly small and the units of the first result are unclear in the abstract.

Safety implication

See the injection reaction entries in the safety file.

Study	Result	People	Product
²⁰	In-hospital mortality MD -1.05 (95% CI -2.10 to -0.09) for Shenmai injection plus Western medicine versus Western medicine alone	Cardiogenic shock, 43 trials	Shenmai injection
⁶	Death rate difference -0.10 (95% CI -0.17 to -0.02)	Shock of several kinds, 30 trials	Shenmai injection plus conventional medicine

^{20 6}

▼

SCORAD (eczema severity score)

Lowered in trials

A doctor-rated score of how much skin is affected, how red and itchy it is.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

It tracks eczema severity.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Direction is clear but size is unknown from the abstract.

Safety implication

Skin tolerance results not in the abstract.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹²	SCORAD fell more with the active topical product than placebo in children and adults; numbers not in the abstract	90 children and 144 adults with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis	Topical oligofructans from Ophiopogon japonicus, 60 days

¹²

▲

MMSE score (thinking test)

Raised in trials

A short test of memory, attention and orientation scored out of 30.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

It is used to track post-operative thinking problems.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

The reviewers' GRADE is low and all trials are at high risk of bias.

Safety implication

Only 3 of 16 trials reported side effects.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁸	Higher MMSE at several time points with Shenmai or Shenfu injection (all P < 0.01); exact differences not in the abstract	Surgical patients, 16 trials	Shenmai or Shenfu injection

⁸

Safety

What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.

Main points to know 5

The injection can cause allergy-like reactions; it is given only by clinicians. A mouse study found dose-related allergy-like (anaphylactoid) reactions to high doses of Shenmai injection, weaker than those from another herbal injection. A review of Chinese medicine injections says the most important adverse reactions are pseudo-allergic reactions that occur with the first dose and are not caused by IgE antibodies. A hospital study of real patients links allergic reactions to Shenmai injection to the injection's chemical profile (high organic acids), but the number of reactions is not given in the abstract. A diabetes meta-analysis lists stomach and bowel reactions, raised transaminases, low white cells, fever and rash for Sheng-Mai injection. Animal research ^{21 24 5 17}
Trials often did not report side effects. Only 3 of 16 trials in a post-operative review, 3 of 30 in a shock review and 14 of 43 (31.8%) in a cardiogenic-shock review reported adverse events or reactions. Without those data, safety conclusions cannot be drawn. Meta-analysis ^{8 6 20}
The plain dried root has no human safety trials. None of the human studies read tested the dried root alone for safety. Do not assume it is safe in pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, kidney or liver disease, or alongside medicines. Authoritative guidance ^{2 1}
Possible blood-sugar lowering. When Sheng-Mai injection was added to usual diabetes treatment, blood sugar fell on average. If this also happens with the root, it could add to diabetes medicines. This is a reasoning from the injection trials, not a tested effect of the root. Pharmacological theory ¹⁷
A look-alike root may be sold in its place. A DNA survey summarised by us (not re-opened) found about 88% of 162 supply-chain samples were genuine ophiopogon and 18 were Liriope. The two roots differ chemically. Other ^{15 10}

Side effects 5

Effect	How often	Severity and recovery	Evidence
Allergy-like (anaphylactoid) reactions to Shenmai injection Mouse data plus a general review and a hospital study. No human rate is given in the abstracts read.	Not established	Can be severe in animals at high doses; severity in people is not given in the abstracts Not stated	Animal research ^{21 24 5}
Stomach and bowel reactions, raised liver enzymes (transaminases), low white blood cells, fever and rash with Sheng-Mai injection in diabetes trials The abstract lists these as adverse effects without rates. Stomach and bowel reactions were described as less frequent.	Not established	Not stated Not stated	Meta-analysis ¹⁷
Mild adverse effects with Shengmai in heart-failure trials The abstract does not say which Shengmai form was used.	Adverse event rate 1.21% (six patients in 3 of 14 trials; two withdrew)	Mild Not stated	Meta-analysis ²²
No significant increase in adverse events with Dengzhan Shengmai capsule or with Shenmai injection in myocarditis Wide intervals mean a real difference cannot be ruled out.	RR 0.70 (95% CI 0.42 to 1.17) for the capsule; RR 1.56 (0.73 to 3.33) for the injection	Not stated Not stated	Meta-analysis ^{9 18}
Loose stools or diarrhoea The only source read that mentions bowel effects is the diabetes injection review (stomach and bowel reactions). A traditional caution about loose stools with cold or weak digestion is commonly cited in Chinese herb texts but was NOT verified in any source we read.	Not established	Not stated Not stated	Traditional use ¹⁷

Liver

No LiverTox record or liver-injury case report for ophiopogon was found. Raised transaminases are listed among adverse effects of Sheng-Mai injection in diabetes trials. In the angina analysis, other Chinese patent medicines (not the Shengmai capsule) were flagged for liver-toxicity concerns. In myocarditis trials, AST was lower with Shenmai injection, not higher. A cell study of two Maidong strains found cytotoxicity differs by growing region. ^{17 16 18 4 1}

How often. No frequency data for liver effects.

Monitoring. No monitoring advice was found. Stop and get care for yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or severe tiredness.

This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Ophiopogon supports liver health.

Medicines and supplements 6

With	Why it matters	Importance	Evidence	What to do
Medicines cleared by the CYP3A4 enzyme (many common drugs) prescription	In cell tests, ethanol extracts of the root switched on the PXR pathway and induced the CYP3A4 reporter gene, which could in theory lower levels of some medicines; strength varied by growing region.	Unknown. No human interaction study was found.	Laboratory research Very low certainty ⁴	Ask a pharmacist before combining a root product with prescription medicines, especially narrow-margin ones.
Diabetes medicines and insulin prescription	Sheng-Mai injection added to usual diabetes treatment lowered HbA1c and glucose on average; the root might add to the effect.	Unknown for the root; the injection trials did not describe low blood sugar in the abstract.	Pharmacological theory Very low certainty ¹⁷	If you treat diabetes, tell your prescriber before using any ophiopogon product and watch blood sugar.
Blood-pressure medicines prescription	In cardiogenic shock trials Sheng-Mai injection ranked first for mean arterial pressure, so a blood-pressure effect of the injection is possible; no oral data.	Unknown for the root.	Pharmacological theory Very low certainty ²⁰	Check blood pressure and ask a clinician if you take blood-pressure medicines.
Blood thinners and anticoagulants prescription	No source read describes an effect of ophiopogon on clotting or bleeding. Not tested.	Unknown.	Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence ¹	Ask your prescriber or pharmacist; no evidence either way was found.
Cancer chemotherapy and targeted treatment prescription	A computer analysis of Shengmai San raised the idea that it could enhance chemotherapy effect. This is a prediction, not tested in cells, animals or people.	Unknown; could be helpful or harmful.	Pharmacological theory Very low certainty ²³	Tell the cancer team before using any formula.
Standard heart-failure, angina and shock treatment prescription	In the trials the injections and capsules were given on top of standard care; trials were not designed to test interactions.	Trials report few serious problems but under-report adverse events.	Controlled trial Low certainty ^{11 22 9}	Never replace prescribed heart treatment with an herbal product.

Who should check first 6

Situation	Advice	Evidence
Known allergy to the herb, to ginseng or to any herbal injection; previous reaction to Shenmai injection	Do not use. The injection is given by clinicians who can treat allergic reactions.	Animal research ^{21 24}
Pregnancy and breastfeeding	No human safety data were found for the root, and no LactMed or EMA/HMPC record was found. Avoid unless a doctor or midwife advises otherwise.	Authoritative guidance ¹
Children	No safety data found for oral use. One topical trial included children aged under 18 with eczema (skin only).	Controlled trial ¹²
Diabetes treated with medicines or insulin	Possible extra blood-sugar lowering; discuss with the prescriber.	Pharmacological theory ¹⁷
Heart failure, angina, myocarditis or shock	These are for doctors to treat; the evidence is for add-on injections in hospital, not for self-treatment with the root.	Meta-analysis ^{11 18 20}
Loose stools or weak digestion	Traditional texts commonly advise caution; this was NOT verified in a source we read.	Traditional use ²

Overdose, product quality and regulators

Summary. No toxicity study of the root in people was found. The injection causes dose-related allergy-like reactions in mice.

Animal. High doses of Shenmai injection caused severe anaphylactoid reactions in mice; the reaction to Shenmai injection was weaker than to another herbal injection.

Human doses studied. Doses were not given in the abstracts read, so none are stated here.

High dose or long term signals. Long-term safety is unknown; the capsule review notes long-term safety needs study.

Overdose response. Not described in the sources read. For any suspected allergic reaction (swelling, breathing trouble) get emergency care.

Genotoxicity. Not found in the sources read.

Toxic plant parts. No toxic plant part was described in the sources read. The tuberous root is the part used.

Substitution with Liriope is documented; heavy metal, pesticide or other contaminant testing of ophiopogon was not found in the sources read.

Substitution with Liriope (shan mai dong). A DNA study, as summarised in our earlier file and NOT re-opened, found about 88% of 162 samples were genuine ophiopogon; 16 were Liriope and 2 another Liriope species. A chemical study of 31 batches found homoisoflavonoids much higher in Ophiopogon and steroidal saponins higher in Liriope. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia treats them as separate remedies. ^{15 10}

Strain and growing-region differences. Two Maidong strains differed in cell toxicity and in CYP3A4 induction. ⁴

Body	Action	Date

When to get medical help

Swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, hives or fainting during or after an injection: call emergency services.
Rash, fever or chills after a herbal injection: tell the care team at once.
Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or severe tiredness: stop and get medical care.
Shakiness, sweating or confusion if you take diabetes medicines: check blood sugar.
Chest pain, worsening breathlessness or swelling in the legs: this is a medical emergency, not for an herb.
Any new serious symptom after starting a product: stop it and ask a doctor or pharmacist.

Stop the supplement and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.

General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is ophiopogon (mai dong) good for?

Traditionally it is used to moisten the lungs for dry cough and dry throat. The human trials mostly tested injections or formulas for the heart, with low certainty. The plain root has not been tested in trials for these uses.

^{2 11 22}

Does ophiopogon help the heart?

Trials of Shenmai injection and Shengmai formulas report better heart-function measures when added to standard care, but certainty is low and the products contain ginseng or other herbs. It should not replace prescribed treatment.

^{22 11 9}

What is the difference between ophiopogon, Shengmai and Shenmai injection?

Ophiopogon is the root. Shengmai San is a formula of ginseng, ophiopogon and Schisandra. Shenmai injection is a hospital injection of ginseng and ophiopogon. Results for one do not apply to the others.

^{23 4}

Is ophiopogon the same as Liriope or lilyturf?

No. Liriope (shan mai dong) is listed as a separate remedy in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and has different chemistry. Garden lilyturf and mondo grass are not covered here.

^{10 3}

Can ophiopogon cause allergic reactions?

The injection can. A mouse study found dose-related allergy-like reactions and a review describes first-dose reactions to Chinese medicine injections. We found no human rate for the dried root.

^{21 24 5}

Does it cause loose stools or stomach upset?

Injection trials in diabetes list stomach and bowel reactions. Chinese herb texts commonly caution about loose stools, but we could not verify that in a source we read.

¹⁷

Is ophiopogon safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Not established. We found no human data and no LactMed or EMA record. Ask a doctor or midwife.

Can it affect blood sugar or blood pressure?

Sheng-Mai injection lowered blood sugar on average in diabetes trials, and ranked top for blood pressure in cardiogenic shock trials. Whether the root does the same is unknown, so people on diabetes or blood-pressure medicines should ask a clinician.

^{17 20}

Does it interact with blood thinners or other medicines?

No human interaction study was found. Cell tests show root extracts can induce the CYP3A4 enzyme, and a computer study raised an untested idea about chemotherapy. We found no information on blood thinners.

^{4 23}

Does it help dry cough?

It is traditionally used for dry cough. One 2025 trial of a multi-herb liquid improved cough scores, but its abstract does not say that ophiopogon is in the liquid, so the evidence for the root is insufficient.

^{2 19}

Does it help diabetes?

Sheng-Mai injection lowered HbA1c by about 0.46% in a pooled analysis of 15 studies in China, with very low certainty. Root sugars lowered glucose in zebrafish. The root itself has not been tested in people.

^{17 7}

Do health agencies recommend ophiopogon?

No. NCCIH has no page, and we found no LiverTox or LactMed record. The EMA website could not be searched, so an EMA monograph is not ruled out.

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Editorial transparency

Written by: AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
Medical review: None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
First published: 2026-10-25
Last substantive update: 2026-10-25
How we research: We started from our existing ophiopogon summary, read the abstract of every PubMed study cited, and checked the plant name in GBIF and the compounds in PubChem. NCCIH, LiverTox and LactMed entries were not found, and the EMA site could not be searched. One DNA study is summary-only.
How we rate evidence: See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
Independence: No product is promoted on this page. One cited skin trial may be linked to an ingredient company.

Sources 24

Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.

Checked by the editorial team. Regulator and reference checks for ophiopogon (NCCIH, EMA/HMPC, LiverTox, LactMed). Web and NCBI Books checks, 2026-10-25. 2026. (web check)
Chen MH, Chen XJ, Wang M, et al.. Ophiopogon japonicus--A phytochemical, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2016. PMID 26826325. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2016.01.037. (abstract)
GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl.. GBIF API. 2026. (api)
Ge LL, Kan LD, Zhuge ZB, et al.. Ophiopogon japonicus strains from different cultivation regions exhibit markedly different properties on cytotoxicity, pregnane X receptor activation and cytochrome P450 3A4 induction. Biomedical Reports. 2015. PMID 26137250. DOI 10.3892/br.2015.443. (abstract)
Jiang C, Zhao L, Xin C, et al.. Prediction of allergic reaction risk of Shenmai injection based on real-world evidence coupled with UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Biomedical Chromatography. 2022. PMID 34612532. DOI 10.1002/bmc.5255. (abstract)
Li X, Shen Y, He F, et al.. Effectiveness and safety of Shenmai injection in treatment of shock: A Meta-analysis. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2018. PMID 32186054. (abstract)
Li J, Zhou Y, Liao Z, et al.. Structural Characterisation of Ophiopogon japonicus Polysaccharides with Hypoglycaemic Activity. Molecules. 2026. PMID 42588508. DOI 10.3390/molecules31152659. (abstract)
Liu Q, Cheng L, Yin Y, et al.. Efficacy and safety of Shenmai injection and Shenfu injection on postoperative cognitive dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2026. PMID 42453591. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2026.1664949. (abstract)
Lu S, Yu Y, Dai S, et al.. Efficacy and safety of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule in the treatment of chronic heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2025. PMID 40060965. DOI 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1385061. (abstract)
Luo H, Ming LS, Tong TT, et al.. Chemical Comparison of Ophiopogonis radix and Liriopes radix Based on Quantitative Analysis of Multiple Components by HPLC Coupled with Electrospray Ionization Tandem Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry. Journal of AOAC International. 2020. PMID 33241331. DOI 10.1093/jaoacint/qsaa010. (abstract)
Ma ZZ, Xu S, Li CC, et al.. Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine injections combined with conventional Western medicine for post-AMI heart failure: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of 62 randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2026. PMID 42688225. DOI 10.3389/fcvm.2026.1921437. (abstract)
Mainzer C, Le Guillou M, Vyumvuhore R, et al.. Clinical Efficacy of Oligofructans from Ophiopogon japonicus in Reducing Atopic Dermatitis Flare-ups in Caucasian Patients. Acta Dermato-Venereologica. 2019. PMID 31120541. DOI 10.2340/00015555-3224. (abstract)
NCBI. NCBI Taxonomy search: Ophiopogon japonicus. NCBI Taxonomy (E-utilities search). 2026. (api search only)
NCBI PubChem. PubChem compound records for ruscogenin, ophiopogonin B, ophiopogonin D, methylophiopogonanone A and ophiopogonanone A. PubChem PUG REST. 2026. (api)
Not recorded. Application of DNA barcoding for the monitoring of the entire industrial chain of Ophiopogonis Radix. Not recorded (Europe PMC record IND609415253). 2025. (summary-only)
Sun J, Li R, Wang Z, et al.. Efficacy, safety, and costs of nine Chinese patent medicines for the treatment of angina pectoris in CHD. Frontiers in Public Health. 2026. PMID 41613065. DOI 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1696072. (abstract)
Yang M, Hu Z, Yue R. Effects of Sheng-Mai Injection on Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets. 2023. PMID 36705242. DOI 10.2174/1871530323666230127121738. (abstract)
Yang Q, Qin J, Li Z, et al.. Efficacy and safety of Shenmai injection in the treatment of viral myocarditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2024. PMID 39525634. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2024.1453946. (abstract)
Yu F, Jin J, Jin X, et al.. Altered upper respiratory tract microbiota in laryngeal cough attributed to lung yin deficiency and the modulatory effects of Yangyin Qingfei Oral Liquid. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2025. PMID 40641875. DOI 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592294. (abstract (ophiopogon content NOT verified))
Yue L, Xiao L, Zhang X, et al.. Comparative efficacy of Chinese herbal injections in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS): a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2024. PMID 38476325. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2024.1348360. (abstract)
Zhang C, Ouyang L, Zhang X, et al.. Anaphylactoid reactions induced by Shuanghuanglian injection and Shenmai injection and metabolomics analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2023. PMID 37484014. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2023.1200199. (abstract)
Zhou Q, Qin WZ, Liu SB, et al.. Shengmai (a traditional Chinese herbal medicine) for heart failure. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014. PMID 24733159. DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD005052.pub5. (abstract (2014 edition))
Zhou X, Wu D, Zhang X, et al.. Exploring the mechanism of Shengmai San in treating lung adenocarcinoma based on bioinformatics and molecular dynamics simulation. Medicine (Baltimore). 2026. PMID 42675738. DOI 10.1097/MD.0000000000050440. (abstract)
Zou F, Du Q, Zhang Y, et al.. Pseudo-allergic reactions induced by Chinese medicine injections: a review. Chinese Medicine. 2023. PMID 37953288. DOI 10.1186/s13020-023-00855-0. (abstract)

Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.