Dianella ensifolia

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Asphodelaceae
Subfamilia: Hemerocallidoideae
Genus: Dianella
Species: Dianella ensifolia
Name

Dianella ensifolia (L.) Redouté, Liliac. 1: t. 1. 1802.

Synonyms

Basionym
Dracaena ensifolia L., Mant. Pl. 1: 63. 1767 [1].

Homotypic
Cordyline ensifolia (L.) Planch., Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 6: 132. 1850.
Dianella nemorosa f. ensifolia (L.) Schlittler, Blumea 6: 216. 1948, nom. illeg.
Dianella nemorosa Lam., Encycl. 2: 276. 1786, nom. superfl.
Dracaena nemorosa Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 1: 529. 1840, nom. superfl.

Heterotypic
Charlwoodia ensata (Thunb.) Göpp., Beitr. Dracän.: 17. 1854.
Conanthera forsteri Spreng., Syst. Veg. 2: 91. 1825.
Dianella albiflora Hallier f., Nova Guinea 8: 998. 1914.
Dianella carinata Hallier f., Nova Guinea 8: 999. 1914.
Dianella ensata (Thunb.) R.J.F.Hend., Taxon 26: 136. 1977.
Dianella ensifolia f. albiflora T.S.Liu & S.S.Ying, Fl. Taiwan 5: 49. 1978.
Dianella ensifolia f. racemulifera (Schlittler) T.S.Liu & S.S.Ying, Fl. Taiwan 5: 49. 1978.
Dianella ensifolia f. straminea (Yatabe) Kitam., Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 35: 126. 1984.
Dianella flabellata Hallier f., Nova Guinea 8: 997. 1914.
Dianella forsteri (Spreng.) Endl., Ann. Wiener Mus. Naturgesch. 1: 162, 762. 1836.
Dianella humilis Lodd. ex Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 1: 498. 1840.
Dianella ledermannii K.Krause, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 59: 549. 1925.
Dianella mauritiana Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 1: 12. 1827.
Dianella montana Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 1: 12. 1827.
Dianella monticola K.Krause, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 59: 553. 1925.
Dianella nemorosa f. aspera Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 258. 1940.
Dianella nemorosa f. caeruloides Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 258. 1940.
Dianella nemorosa f. gracilis Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 258. 1940.
Dianella nemorosa f. pallescens Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 258. 1940.
Dianella nemorosa f. robusta (Elmer) Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 258. 1940.
Dianella obscura Kunth, Enum. Pl. 5: 56. 1850.
Dianella odorata f. racemulifera Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 258. 1940.
Dianella parviflora Ridl., J. Fed. Malay States Mus. 6: 186. 1915.
Dianella parviflora Zipp. ex Hallier f., Nova Guinea 8: 998. 1914.
Dianella philippensis Perrier, Mém. Soc. Linn. Paris 3: 112. 1825.
Dianella pullei K.Krause, Nova Guinea 14: 175. 1924.
Dianella robusta Elmer, Leafl. Philipp. Bot. 5: 1806. 1913.
Dianella sparsiflora Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 262. 1940, nom. illeg.
Dianella sparsiflora var. albiflora (Hallier f.) Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 262. 1940.
Dianella sparsiflora var. carinata (Hallier f.) Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 262. 1940.
Dianella sparsiflora var. flabellata (Hallier f.) Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 262. 1940.
Dianella sparsiflora var. ledermannii (K.Krause) Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 262. 1940.
Dianella sparsiflora var. monticola (K.Krause) Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 262. 1940.
Dianella sparsiflora var. parviflora (Zipp. ex Hallier f.) Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 262. 1940.
Dianella sparsiflora var. pullei (K.Krause) Schlittler, Mitt. Bot. Mus. Univ. Zürich 163: 262. 1940.
Dianella straminea Yatabe, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 7: 435. 1893.
Dracaena ensata Thunb., Dracaena: 4. 1808 [2].
Eustrephus javanicus D.Dietr., Syn. Pl. 2: 1117. 1840.
Walleria paniculata Fritsch, Ann. K. K. Naturhist. Hofmus. 5: 493. 1890.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Asie
Assam; Bangladesh; Borneo; Cambodia; China South-Central; China Southeast; East Himalaya; Hainan; Japan; Jawa; Laos; Lesser Sunda Is.; Malaya; Maluku; Myanmar; Nansei-shoto; Nepal; Ogasawara-shoto; Philippines; Solomon Is.; Sri Lanka; Sumatera; Taiwan; Thailand; Vietnam
Continental: Africa
Madagascar; Mauritius; Mozambique; Runion; Seychelles; Sulawesi; Zimbabwe

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition

Dianella ensifolia is a flowering plant, of the family Asphodelaceae. It is native to southern China, India, Japan, Madagascar, Malesia, the Pacific Islands, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and tropical Asia. Its common names include umbrella dracaena, common dianella, siak-siak, and flax lily.[1]

Description

The Dianella ensifolia’s natural habitat is terrestrial, and it can grow in grasslands, or primary rainforests in tropical areas. The plant's anatomy consists of branching rhizomes, and flowering stems, that can reach up to two meters. Its leaf blades are pointed and tapered at both ends. When flowering, it produces a shoot about 60 cm (23.6 in) long. It has white petals, with orange/yellow anthers. Once it is pollinated by insects, it will produce berries that are dark blue/purple, and about 1.5 cm (0.59 in) wide. These berries contain 3-6 seeds, that are often eaten by native birds.[1]
Common names

Other common names for the Dianella ensifolia include umbrella dracaena, common dianella, and flax lily.[1]
Etymology

The Latin name Dianella is after Diana, a goddess in Greek mythology. Further, the Latin ensifolia is used to regard the sword-shaped leaves of the plant. [1]
Phytochemical properties and chemotaxonomic significance

A 2017 study investigated the roots of the Dianella ensifolia, and was able to isolate eleven compounds. These compounds were: methyl orsellinate, rhizinonic acid, 5,7-dihydroxy-2-methylchromome, 5,7-dihydroxy-2,8 dimethylchromone, (-)-4'-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavan, (-)-4'-hydroxy-7-methoxy-8-methylflavan, (2S)-30,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavan, (2R)-7,4'-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-8-methylflavan, tupichinol A, naringenin, and farrerol. When broken into groups, this would constitute two aromatics, two chromones, and 7 flavonoids.[2]

The compounds found in D. ensifolia can be correlated with different taxonomic levels, including the species, genus, and family. The research concluded the structural skeletons of the compounds found in the D. ensifolia, are found within the species of Dianella, and Liliaceae. This would correlate the species to the genus. Further, the aromatics, chromones, and flavonoids were first isolated from the species itself of the genus, and thus, could serve as markers for the identification of Dianella ensifolia.[2]
Chemical composition and medicinal use of essential oil

In 2020 essential oil of the D. ensifolia was chemically analyzed, and tested for its antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties. The main components of the plant essential oil were identified as allo-aromadendrene (7.3%), Geranylacetone (6.2%), Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (4.4%), Longifolene (4.2%), and β-caryophyllene (4.0%).[3]

When examined individually, these compounds exhibit potent antimicrobial activity, cytotoxic activity, the potential to inhibit cell growth and proliferation, and in-vivo protective effects against juglone-induced oxidative stress in roundworm.[3]

The essential oil was investigated further for its antibacterial activity, and it was determined that it effectively inhibited the growth of numerous bacterial strains, including Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. This effect was associated with the compounds geranylacetone, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, longifolene, and β-caryophyllene, found in the essential oil. [3]

The cytotoxicity of the essential oil was also examined against liver hepatocellular cells, and human breast adenocarcinoma cell line. The essential oil of the D. ensifolia displayed a dose-dependent effect on both tumor cell lines. This may be contributed to the reported tumor motility inhibition, and tumor aggression inhibition of β-caryophyllene.[3]
Extract medicinal use

A study conducted in 2010 screened plant extracts for antioxidants, and determined that the extract of Dianella ensifolia was both a strong antioxidant, and an agent that could be used to reduce skin hyperpigmentation. The extract of Dianella ensifolia, 1-(2,4-dihydrophenyl)-3-(2,4- dimethoxy-3-methylphenyl) propane (DP), was found to inhibit a free radical, which is linked to hyperpigmentation, and ultraviolet-C induced lipid oxidation. The extract from the plant was then tested against two pharmaceutical topical treatments. It was concluded that the plant extract, containing DP, had an increased rate of fading compared to the other treatments containing hydroquinone.[4]
References

"Dianella ensifolia (L.) DC". National Parks. Flora Fauna Web. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
Tang, Ben-qin; Chen, Zhen-yang; Sun, Jian-bo; Lee, Simon Ming-yuen; Lu, Jian-lin (2010). "Phytochemical and chemotaxonomic study on Dianella ensifolia (L.) DC". Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 17: 12-14. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
He, Zi-Qian; Shen, Xue-Yuan; Cheng, Xe-Yu; Want, Ruo-Lan; Lai, Peng-Xiang; Xing, Xiang (2020). "Chemical Composition, Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of the Essential Oil of Dianella ensifolia". Records of Natural Products. 14 (2): 160-165. doi:10.25135/rnp.150.19.07.1321. S2CID 204892762. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
Mammone, Thomas; Muizzuddin, Neelam; Declercq, Lieve; Clio, Dominique; Corstjens, Hugo; Sente, Ilse; Van Rillaer, Katrin; Matsui, Mary; Niki, Yoko; Ichihashi, Masamitsu; Paolo, U. Giacomon; Dan, Yarosh (2010). "Modification of skin discoloration by a topical treatment containing an extract of Dianella ensifolia: a potent antioxidant". Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 9 (2): 89–95. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2165.2010.00491.x. PMID 20618553. S2CID 40900725. Retrieved 30 March 2022.