Kingdom Plantae Clade Monocots Subfamily Agavoideae Scientific name Anemarrhena asphodeloides Rank Species | Clade Angiosperms Family Asparagaceae Genus Anemarrhena Higher classification Anemarrhena Order Asparagales | |
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Similar Rehmannia, Ligusticum striatum, Rehmannia glutinosa, Scutellaria baicalensis, Scrophularia ningpoensis | ||
Anemarrhena asphodeloides is a plant species in family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, native to China, Korea, and Mongolia. It is the only species in the genus, and some authors have placed it in its own family, Anemarrhenaceae.
Traditional medicine
The plant name in China is zhi mu (知母, zhī mǔ) and its rhizome is used in traditional medicine. It is cited in Japanese Kampo herb list and is an ingredient in the Dabuyin Wan, Qingfei Yihuo Wan and Biyan Pian pills. It is used as an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and antidepressant in Traditional Chinese medicine. It may assist learning, and may have anti-liver cancer properties. Mangiferin, a natural phenol from Anemarrhena asphodeloides or Mangifera indica, could significantly prevent progression of diabetic nephropathy and improve renal function.
The plant contains the steroidal sapogenin sarsasapogenin and the xanthonoid mangiferin.
