Ophiopogon Japonicus:
Researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, and the Uluberia Botanical Institute Herbarium recorded the Ophiopogon japonicus in the wild in Arunachal Pradesh for the first time.
- Ophiopogon Japonicus is an evergreen perennial herb that grows in dense clumps.
- Commonly known as dwarf lilyturf or mondo grass.
- It is a perennial and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.
- It has narrow, grass-like leaves with retroserrulate margin, small white to pale-purple flowers, and blue, berry-like fruits.
- The plant is native to East Asia and is found in China, Japan, Korea and Nepal, generally at elevations between 200 and 2,800 m.
- Its tuberous roots are known as Ophiopogonis Radix or Maidong in Chinese and have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine.
- It is reported that japonicus polysaccharides (OJPs) have a variety of biological activities, including anti-diabetes, anti-inflammatory, kidney protection, hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory activity.
