Gen info
- Dianella is a genus of flowering plants in the monocot family Asphodelaceae, commonly known as flax lilies. The genus contains about 40 species. (15)
- The genus name Dianella was first formally published by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1786 in his Encyclopedie Methodique. It was not validly established because it did not include a description of the new genus. In 1789 Antoine Laurent de Jussieu validated it with a published description in the first edition of his Genera Plantarum. (15)
- Etymology:  The genus name Dianella is a reference to the Roman Sylvan goddess Diana, and ella meaning "small in stature". The specific epithet ensifolia refers to the sword shaped leaves.

Botany
• Sword leaf dianella is a perennial with stems 60 to 150 centimeters long. Leaves are grass-like, linear-lanceolate, 30 to 60 centimeters long, and 2 to 4 centimeters wide, growing from a branched and spreading rhizome. Inflorescence is 30 to 60 centimeters long. Flowers are white greenish or bluish, with the segments 6 to 8 millimeters long, and reflexed. Berries are ovoid and bluish.

• Growth form: A perennial herb that consists of creeping, much-branched rhizome (horizontal stem growing at ground level) from which arise at regular intervals, roots and up to 1.8 m-tall clumping, flowering stems. Foliage: Fowering stem bears two rows of alternate, stalkless leaves. The leaves have leathery leaf blades that are sword-shaped, tapered at both ends, and 30–80 x 1–2.5 (–3.0) cm, with sheaths at their bases. Flowers: Flowering shoot is a panicle up to 0.4 m long. It bears flowers up to 0.6 cm wide, with white or bluish-white petals and sepals, and bright yellow-orange anthers. Fruit: Ripe fruits are round, shiny, deep blue berries (4-6 mm wide) and contain 3–6 seeds. Its seeds are ovoid, 3–5 mm long, shiny, and black. (Flora & Fauna Web)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- In light forests at low altitudes in Palawan, Panay, Jolo, Bucas Grande and Mindanao.
- Also native to Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, Japan, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malaya, Maluku, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Guinea, Ogasawara-shoto, Réunion, Seychelles, Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.

Constituents
- Benzenoids: Musizin (dianellidin), methyl 2,4-dihydroxt-3,5,6-trimethylbenzoate, methyl 2.4-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethylbenzoate, methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate (methyl orsellinate), 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methylacetophenone.
- Leaves yielded armandinol, a new dihydronaphtaquinone 2-hexyl-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,3-dihydronaphtaquinone 1-4, together with two known quinones, chrysophanol (2) and isoeugenitol (3). (8)
- Study of roots isolated two new favans, (2S)-2',4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-8-methylflavan (1) and (2S)-2'-hydroxy-4',7-dimethoxy-8-methylflavan (2). (see study below) (11)
- Study of roots isolated a new cycloartane-type triterpenoid, named 22-hydroxy-cyclolaudenol (1), together with two known cycloartane-type triterpenoids. (see study below) (12)
- Phytochemical studies have isolated Four new flavans, (2S)-4’-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavan (1), (2S)-3’,4’-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-8-methylflavan (2), (2S)-2’-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavan (3), and (2S,1′S)-4-hydroxy-4-(7-methoxy-8-methylchroman-2-yl)-cyclohex-2-enone (4), together with 67 known compounds, including 10 flavans (5–14), 5 flavanones (15–19), 3 flavone (20–22), 5 chalcones (23–27), 3 chromones (28–30), 15 aromatics (31–45), 7 phenylpropanoids (46–52), one lignan (53), 7 steroids (54–60), one monoterpene (61), one diterpene (62), 4 triterpenes (63–66), a carotenoid (67), 2 alkaloids (68 and 69), and 2 fatty acids (70 and 71) were isolated from D. ensifolia. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physical and spectroscopic data analyses. Moreover, compounds 1–4, 8, 10–15, 20, 21, and 41 were evaluated for their mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory effect. (see study below)  (16)
- Study of roots isolated 11 known compounds, including two aromatics (1, 2), two  chromones (3, 4), and seven flavonoids (5–11). (18)
- Phytochemical screening ethyl acetate extract (EA) and methanolic extract (ME) yielded coumarin (EA+, ME+++), flavonol (EA+++, ME++), polyphenol (+++), tannin (+), condensed tannin (++), steroid (+), unsatured steroid (EA+, ME++), with absence of leucoanthocyan, flavone, alkaloid, iridoid, triterpene, and saponin.

Properties
- Hard roots have a characteristic smell.
- Vermifuge, vulnerary, tonic.
- Studies suggest antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, tyrosinase inhibitory, anticancer properties.

Parts used
Rhizomes, roots, leaves.

Uses
Folkloric
- Poultices of roots applied to the abdomen as vermifuge.
- Used for dysentery.
- Roots used as postpartum tonic. Also used for leucorrhea and dysuria.
- Ashes of roots and leaves are ingredients in an ointment for herpes.
- Leaves used for poulticing wounds.
- In China, paste of plant applied to swellings.
- In Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, plant used for fatigue. In Indonesia, used for gastrointestinal infections, herpes, urogenital disorders, and skin infections. (5)
- In southern Thailand, roots used for kidney diseases. Preparations from whole plant used to relieve paralysis.
- In Indonesia, dried roots are chewed for deworming.
- Poultice of roots applied externally to the abdomen as vermifuge.
- Ashes of roots and leaves applied as ointment to treat boils, itches, herpetic sores and rheumatism.
- In Thailand, roots used for kidney diseases.
- Dry powdered rhizomes blended with vinegar applied locally for furunculosis and abscesses, lymphangitis, tuberculous lymphadenitis, tinea and traumatic injuries.
- In Malaysia, roots mixed with resin of Styrax and used as incense in healing and other rituals. (13)
- In Madagascar, roots used for abdominal pain. (14)
Others
- Poison: Reported use of roots as rat poison.
- Fumigant: Roots used for fumigation.
- Ceremonial Incense: Used as incense in Torajanese funeral ceremonies in South Central Celebes.
- Cosmetics: An ingredient in skin cream preparations as antioxidant and to reduce hyperpigmentation. Also used in skin whitening preparations.

Poison concerns
- Roots reportedly used as rat poison.
- Berries regarded as poisonous, with reported symptoms of dizziness, hiccups, and difficulty breathing. (No studies found on toxicity or poisoning.)

Studies
• Chemical Constituents / Roots: Study of roots yielded musizin (dianellidin), methyl 2,4-dihydroxt-3,5,6-trimethylbenzoate, methyl 2.4-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethylbenzoate, methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate (methyl orsellinate), 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methylacetophenone. (1)
• Antioxidant / Skin Discoloration Modification: Skin pigmentation has been linked to free radicals, and free radical scavengers and antioxidants can slow pigmentation. D. ensifolia extracts yielded 1-(2,4-dihydrophenyl)-3-(2,4-dimethoxy-3-methylphenyl) propane (DP), which was found to inhibited free radicals DPPH. Cosmetic formula containing DP produced an increase rate of pigmentation fading compared to two pharmaceuticals containing 4% hydroquinone (HQ). (3)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Antibacterial: Study has shown anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities.
• UP302 / Natural Antioxidant: Study isolated novel natural antioxidant, UP302, from Dianella ensifolia. (4)
• Tyrosinase Inhibitor / UP302a and UP302b: Study of the whole plant reported a large-scale isolation of 1-(3-Methyl-2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(2′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-propane (UP302a) and 1-(3-methyl-2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(2′,5′-dihydroxyphenyl)-propane (UP302a). UP302a showed more with potent tyrosinase inhibition at 57%.
• Flavans / Cytotoxic Effects Against Cancer Cell Lines / Roots: Study of roots isolated two new favans, (2S)-2',4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-8-methylflavan (1) and (2S)-2'-hydroxy-4',7-dimethoxy-8-methylflavan (2). Compounds 1 ands 2 exhibited cytotoxic effects against cancer cell lines MDA--MB-231, B16-F10, HCT116, and A549. (11)
• Triterpenoid / Cytotoxic Against Cancer Lines / Roots: Study of roots isolated a new cycloartane-type triterpenoid, named 22-hydroxy-cyclolaudenol (1), together with two known cycloartane-type triterpenoids. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines B16-F10, A549, and MDA-MB-231. (see constituents above) (12)
• Tyrosinase Inhibitor / Roots: Study evaluated the tyrosinase inhibitory effect of some constituents isolated from D. ensifolia. Compounds 1–4, 8, 10–15, 20, 21, and 41 were evaluated for their mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory effect. Compounds 11 and 14 strongly inhibited mushroom tyrosinase activity with IC50 values of 8.6 and 14.5 μM, respectively. (see constituents above) (16)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Ingredient in skin care products for acne, skin lightening.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Chemical constituents of Dianella ensifolia Redoute/ Vitchu Lojanapiwatha, Kovit Chancharoen et al / Jour Sci Soc Thailand 8 (1982)
(2)
Dianella ensifolia/ Vernacular names / GLOBinMED
(3)
Modification of skin discoloration by a topical treatment containing an extract of Dianella ensifolia: a potent antioxidant. / Mammone T, Muizzuddin N, Declercq L, Clio D, Corstjens H, Sente I, Van Rillaer K, Matsui M, Niki Y, Ichihashi M, Giacomoni PU, Yarosh D. / J Cosmet Dermatol. 2010 Jun;9(2):89-95. doi: 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2010.00491.x.
(4)
Quantification of a novel natural antioxidant (UP302) in rat plasma using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry./ Zhang SQ, Zhu L, Wen N, Yu M, Shen YZ, Jia Q, Li ZG, Li B. / J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2011 Dec 1;879(31):3763-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2011.10.002.
(5)
Medicinal Plants of China, Korea, and Japan: Bioresources for Tomorrow's / By Christophe Wiart / Google Books
(6)
Incense and ritual plant use in Southwest China: A case study among the Bai in Shaxi / Peter O Staub, Matthias S Geck and Caroline S Weckerle* / Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2011, 7:43
(7)
Dianella ensifolia / Synonyms / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(8)
A new Dihydronaphtaquinone from Dianella ensifolia L. Redout / Rivoarison Randrianasolo, Armandine Raharinirina, Herilala Léa Rasoanaivo, Hans Christoph Krebs, Amélie Raharisolololao, Andrianambinina Andriamarolahy Razakarivony, Maonja Finaritra Rakotondramanga / Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2015; 3(6): pp 140-144
(9)
Dianella ensifolita / Useful Tropical Plants
(10)
Medicinal Plants of China, Korea, and Japan: Bioresources for Tomorrow’s ... / Christophe Wiart / Google Books
(11)
Two new flavans from the roots of Dianella ensifolia (L.) DC. / Tang BQ, Huang SS, Liang YE, Ma Y, Zeng B, Lee SM, Lu JL / Nat Prod Res., 2017; 31(13): pp 1561-1565 / DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2017.1283501. 
(12)
A new cycloartane-type triterpenoid from the roots of Dianella ensifolia (L.) DC / Ben-qin Tang, Chu-Wen Li, Jian-Bo Sun, Yu Chang, Judy Yuet-Wa Chan, Simon Ming-Yuan Lee / Natural Product Research, 2016; Vol 31, Issue 8: pp 966-971 / https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2016.1258558
(13)
Traditional Knowledge and Usage of Medicinal Plants among the Semai Orang Asli at Kampung Batu 16, Tapah, Perak, Malaysia / Hean Chooi Ong, Elley Lina and Pozi Milow / Ethno Med, 2012; 6(3): pp 207-211
(14)
Ethnobotanical study of the medicinal plants known by men in Ambalabe, Madagascar / Rabearivony et al. / DOI: 10.17348/era.14.0.123-138
(15)
Dianella / Wikipedia
(16)
Tyrosinase Inhibitors Derived from Chemical Constituents of Dianella ensifolia / Yu-Chang Chen, Sheng-Han Su, Jheng-Cian Huang, Che-Yi Chao, Ping-Jyun Sung, Yih-Fung Chen, Horng-Huey Kop / Plants, 2022; 11(16): 2142 / DOI: 10.3390/plants11162142
(17)
Dianella ensifolia / PROSEA: Plant Resources of South East Asia
(18)
Phytochemical and chemotaxonomic study on Dianella ensifolia (L.) DC / Ben-Qin Tang, Zhen-Yang Chen, Jian-Bo Sun, Simon Ming-Yuen, Jian-Lin Lu / Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 2017; Vol 72: pp 12-14 / DOI: 10.1016/j.bse.2017.03.008
(19)
Qualitative Analysis Of Two Medicinal Native Plants Of Madagascar: Smilax Anceps, Dianella Ensifolia / Rova Rakotobe, Rivoarison Randrianasolo / IJPSAT: International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies, 2023; 37(1): pp 226-231

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)