Scientific name: Ornithogalum caudatum
Common Name: Shallot
Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family)
Plant Type: Evergreen Grass
Morphological Features:
Ornithogalum caudatum is a perennial evergreen grass with large bulbs that can reach up to 10 cm in diameter. The bulbs are upright and sit above the soil surface, covered by dry, papery scales on the outside. Inside, they have fleshy, tender green scales that are bright in color. These fleshy scales often produce multiple small bulbs. The leaves emerge from the bulb, are long and strap-like, with a cylindrical tip that tapers to a tail-like shape. Fully grown leaves can reach over 1 meter in length. The flowering stalks can grow up to 50–80 cm tall and bear numerous small white flowers, each about 1 cm in size, with a single green stripe on each petal. The seeds are black, and the plant typically flowers between March and May, though it may also bloom in autumn. The fruiting period occurs from May to July.
Native Habitat:
This plant is native to South Africa and is widely cultivated as a potted plant throughout China, both in the north and south.
Growth Requirements:
It thrives in warm climates and can survive winter at temperatures above 5°C. It prefers bright light but should be protected from direct sunlight during the summer. It is drought-tolerant and can withstand occasional waterlogging. It grows best in humus-rich, well-drained loamy soil.
Uses:
Tiger-eye evergreen is traditionally used as a folk medicine to treat liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, and other related conditions. In recent years, its potential health benefits have attracted significant scientific interest. Researchers around the world are studying its medicinal properties, and there have been frequent reports of new discoveries regarding its therapeutic effects.
In 2003, under the support of the Jilin Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Changchun Yinghua initiated a research project titled “Research and Development of New Anti-cancer Chinese Medicines.†As part of this initiative, tiger-eye evergreen was selected as a key research subject. Over two years, researchers focused on isolating and analyzing the active compounds in the plant. They optimized the extraction process using water extraction and alcohol precipitation techniques, achieving a polysaccharide content of over 50%. A standardized quality control system was also established.
Experimental results showed that the total polysaccharides from Ornithogalum caudatum significantly inhibited the growth of hepatoma H22 and sarcoma S180 tumors. In mice with ascites hepatocellular carcinoma (HepA), the survival time was notably extended. Additionally, the compound improved the nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems in normal experimental animals without causing any major toxic side effects.
Recently, the project successfully passed expert evaluation organized by the Jilin Provincial Department of Science and Technology.
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