Angelica, Angelica keiskei, Ashitaba du Japon, Herbe de la Longévité, Japanese Ashitaba, Kenso, Leaves of Tomorrow.
Ashitaba is a large herb that grows primarily in the central region of Japan. Its root, leaf, and stem are used to make medicine.
Ashitaba is used for “heartburn” (gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD), stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gout, constipation, and hay fever. It is also used for cancer, smallpox, fluid retention, blood clots, and food poisoning. Women use it to increase the flow of breast milk.
The fresh leaves and dried powder are used as food.
How does it work?
There is not enough information to know how ashitaba might work. Some chemicals in ashitaba seem to work as antioxidants. Other chemicals might block secretions of stomach acid. But most research has been done on animals or in test tubes, not people.
QUESTION
Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See AnswerInsufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- “Heartburn” (gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD).
- Stomach ulcers.
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol.
- Gout.
- Constipation.
- Allergies.
- Cancer.
- Smallpox.
- Food poisoning.
- Other conditions.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
SLIDESHOW
Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See SlideshowThe appropriate dose of ashitaba depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for ashitaba. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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Inamori Y, Baba K, Tsujibo H, et al. Antibacterial activity of two chalcones, xanthoangelol and 4-hydroxyderricin, isolated from the root of Angelica keiskei KOIDZUMI. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1991;39:1604-5. View abstract.
Kang MH, Park YK, Kim HY, Kim TS. Green vegetable drink consumption protects peripheral lymphocytes DNA damage in Korean smokers. Biofactors 2004;22:245-7. View abstract.
Murakami S, Kijima H, Isobe Y, et al. Inhibition of gastric H+, K(+)-ATPase by chalcone derivatives, xanthoangelol and 4-hydroxyderricin, from Angelica keiskei Koidzumi. J Pharm Pharmacol 1990;42:723-6. View abstract.
Ogawa H, Nakashima S, Baba K. Effects of dietary Angelica keiskei on lipid metabolism in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2003;30:284-8. View abstract.
Ogawa H, Ohno M, Baba K. Hypotensive and lipid regulatory actions of 4-hydroxyderricin, a chalcone from Angelica keiskei, in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2005;32:19-23. View abstract.
Sugii M, Ohkita M, Taniguchi M, et al. Xanthoangelol D isolated from the roots of Angelica keiskei inhibits endothelin-1 production through the suppression of nuclear factor-kappaB. Biol Pharm Bull 2005;28:607-10. View abstract.
Tabata K, Motani K, Takayanagi N, et al. Xanthoangelol, a major chalcone constituent of Angelica keiskei, induces apoptosis in neuroblastoma and leukemia cells. Biol Pharm Bull 2005;28:1404-7. View abstract.