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| "Ashitaba (also known as Angelica Keiskei)" is a native Japanese apiaceous plant that has been eaten as a healthy vegetable and used as a medicinal herb for a long time in Hachijojima, Japan. It is often discussed that one of the major reasons why people in Hachijojima live longer and healthy is because they eat and use Ashitaba a lot.
Ashitaba’s name, in Japanese (in English: Tomorrow's Leaf or Earth Growth), refers to an interesting botanical fact. If its leaves are picked in the morning, new leaves will be in place by the next morning.
Why Ashitaba is an ideal food for vegans and vegetarians
It is not difficult to ascertain why Ashitaba exerts so many positive effects on health when you consider the broad range of nutrients it contains - including 11 different types of vitamins and 13 minerals.
Nutritional analysis reveals that 100 grams of Ashitaba powder contains the beta-carotene content equivalent to four carrots, the vitamin B2 content equivalent to 28 cloves of garlic, the vitamin C content equivalent to 4 lemons, and nine times the amount of iron found in spinach. It also contains vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, biotin, folic acid, and the minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, copper, manganese, sulphur and silicon.
Most plants are devoid of vitamin B12, which is normally only obtainable through meat, fish and eggs. However, Ashitaba is a good source of this nutrient, making it an ideal supplement for strict vegetarians and vegans, who omit these foods from their diets and are at risk of suffering from a deficiency. A shortage of B12 can cause serious cognitive and nervous system problems, in addition to increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and pernicious anaemia.
Active ingredient - Chalcones
Unique to Ashitaba is a class of flavonoid compounds called chalcones. Research has shown that they are potent antioxidants, protecting cells from free radical damage, which is associated with accelerating the ageing process and with many degenerative diseases, including cancer.
They also suppress the excessive secretion of gastric juice in the stomach, which is often caused by stress and can lead to stomach ulcers. In addition they help strengthen the immune system, regulate blood pressure and cholesterol, and exhibit anti-viral and anti-bacterial activities.
Chalcones have also been found to stimulate the production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which is synthesised in minute amounts in the body and is essential in the development and survival of certain neurons (nerve cells) in the peripheral and central nervous system. NGF is believed to have the potential to alleviate Alzheimer's disease and peripheral neuropathy (a common neurological disorder resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves, which originate from the brain and spinal cord). In an animal study conducted by the Biomedical Group, in Takara, Japan, there was a 20 per cent increase in NGF concentration after taking Ashitaba for just four days.
Research published in the September 2002 issue of Nutraceuticals World, showed that Ashitaba out-performed a range of herbs including sage, St. John's Wort, camomile, dandelion, fennel, black tea and green tea for its antioxidant potential.
There is also mounting data to suggest that Ashitaba has a regulating effect on blood sugar levels. In reviewing Ashitaba, Dr Kevin Lance Jones, a licensed acupuncturist and orthomolecular medical doctor (OMD) from California, in the US, says: 'There is a patient in Texas that has insulin-dependent (Type 1) diabetes who is currently taking the herb. He says that he now has to use less insulin because his blood sugar no longer spikes with attacks of hyperglycaemia. Another diabetes patient in Japan took Ashitaba for six months and his blood sugar level dropped from 400 mg/dl to 150 mg/dl.'
Ashitaba scientifically proven in:
- enhance immune system
- prevent and cure alzheimer
- regulate blood pressure and blood sugar
- anti cancer and anti tumor effects
- anti-bacteria activity against Helicobacter Pylori
Scientific report on Ashitaba and Chalcone:
1) Anti-tumorigenic chalcones
Abstract:
On the basis of our recent findings that licochalcone A isolated from Xin-jiang licorice showed anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic activities, we synthesized more than 40 chalcone derivatives to examine their anti-tumorigenic activities. In vitro inhibitory activity against phosphorylation of phospholipids promoted by tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in HeLa cells was adopted as a screening test for anti-tumor-promoting effect. In vivo experimental mouse skin tumors initiated by dimethylbenz[a]-anthracene (DMBA) and promoted by TPA were used to test the anti-tumor-promoting effect of chalcones. In the results, 3- and 4-methyl-3-hydroxychalcone showed the highest potency in inhibiting tumorigenesis. They also showed a remarkable inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HGC-27 cells derived from human gastric cancer. We discuss the structure-activity relationship, including stereo-chemical phototransformation, of some chalcone derivatives with reference to their ultraviolet (UV) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data.
2) Chalcones from Angelica keiskei Induce Apoptosis in Stomach Cancer Cells
Authors: Shinsaku Takaokaa; Hiroshige Hibasamib; Kazuya Ogasawaraa; Nami Imaib
Published in Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, Volume 14, Issue 3 & 4 December 2008 , pages 166 - 174
Abstract
Apoptosis was observed in human stomach cancer KATO III cells exposed to two chalcones isolated from the stems of ashitaba (Umbelliferae, Angelica keiskei). Exposure of the KATO III cells to the chalcones, identified by mass spectrometry (MS) and 1H-NMR to be xanthoangelol
and 4-hydroxyderricin, produced oligonucreosomal-sized fragments, a characteristic of apoptosis. The DNA fragmentation of the KATO III cells could be observed at concentration of 10 μg L-1 at 2 days after the addition of the chalcones to a culture of KATO III cells, fragmented DNA
of human stomach cancer KATO III cells. These findings suggest that growth inhibition by xanthoangelol and 4-hydroxyderricin results from the induction of apoptosis by these chalcones.
3) Chalcones, coumarins, and flavanones from the exudate of Angelica keiskei and their chemopreventive effects
Abstract
From an ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the exudate obtained from the stems of Angelica keiskei (Umbelliferae), 17 compounds, viz. five chalcones (1–5), seven coumarins (6–12), three flavanones (13–15), one diacetylene (16), and one 5-alkylresorcinol (17), were isolated. These compounds were evaluated with respect to their inhibitory effects on the induction of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in Raji cells, which is known to be a primary screening test for antitumor-promoters. With the exception of three compounds (10, 16, and 17), all other compounds tested showed potent inhibitory effects on EBV-EA induction (92–100% inhibition at 1×103 mol ratio/TPA). In addition, upon evaluation of these compounds for the inhibitory effects against activation of (±)-(E)-methyl-2-[(E)-hydroxy-imino]-5-nitro-6-methoxy-3-hexemide (NOR 1), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, as a primary screening test for antitumor-initiators, two chalcones (2 and 3) and six coumarins (6-11) exhibited potent inhibitory effects.
Full Text here
Press Release:
Ashitaba Chalcones Show Efficacy in Battling Visceral Fat
2010-04-07 - Japan Bio Science Laboratory
In the randomized, double-blind, parallel group study, 26 slightly obese male and female patients with BMI between 25 and 30 took 200 mg day of Ashitaba Chalcone as an active ingredient after dinner for eight weeks. Read more
Why choose Nutra Choice Organic Ashitaba?
- JAS Organic certified
- 100% pure without filler and excipient (air dried powder)
How to take?
Take ½ spoon (3g) to mix with juices, milk, soymilk, honey, plain water, etc, best take early in the morning. 1-2 times a day.
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