Ophiopogon japonicus and its active compounds: A review of potential anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms

Qiao Liu; Jin-Jian Lu; Hui-Jie Hong; Qi Yang; Yitao Wang; Xiao-Jia Chen

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154718

Ophiopogon japonicus and its active compounds: A review of potential anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms

Phytomedicine. 2023 May:113:154718. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154718. Epub 2023 Feb 16.

Authors

Qiao Liu¹, Jin-Jian Lu², Hui-Jie Hong¹, Qi Yang¹, Yitao Wang¹, Xiao-Jia Chen³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China.
² Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China.
³ Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China; Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai 519031, China. Electronic address: XiaojiaChen@um.edu.mo.

PMID: 36854203
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154718

Abstract

Background: Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl., a well-known Chinese herb, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Extensive in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that O. japonicus and its active compounds exhibit potential anticancer effects in a variety of cancer cells in vitro and suppress tumor growth and metastasis without causing serious toxicity in vivo.

Purpose: This review aims to systemically summarize and discuss the anticancer effects and the underlying mechanisms of O. japonicus extracts and its active compounds.

Methods: The review is prepared following the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Various scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched using the keywords: Ophiopogon japonicus, tumor, cancer, carcinoma, content, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity.

Results: O. japonicus extracts and the active compounds, such as ruscogenin-1-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)][β-d-xylopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-d-fucopyranoside (DT-13), ophiopogonin B, and ophiopogonin D, exert potential anticancer effects, including the induction of cell cycle arrest, activation of apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibition of metastasis and angiogenesis. In addition, the mechanisms underlying these effects, as well as the pharmacokinetics, toxicity and clinical utility of O. japonicus extracts and active compounds are discussed. Furthermore, this review highlights the research and application prospects of these compounds in immunotherapy and combination chemotherapy.

Conclusions: The traditional herb O. japonicus and its phytochemicals could be safe and reliable anticancer drug candidates, alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs. We hope that this review, which highlights the anticancer properties of O. japonicus, will contribute to drug optimization, therapeutic development, and future studies on cancer therapies based on this medicinal plant.

Keywords: Anticancer; Apoptosis; Cell cycle arrest; Mechanism; Metastasis; Ophiopogon japonicus.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / chemistry
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
Ophiopogon* / chemistry
Phytochemicals

Substances

Drugs, Chinese Herbal
Phytochemicals