Ashitaba possesses remarkable vitality, to the extent that it is often said, "if you pluck Ashitaba leaves today, new ones will emerge by tomorrow." This plant, a member of the Apiaceae family, has been a staple in both culinary and medicinal applications since ancient times. Native to Japan, it predominantly thrives in Hachijo Island. What sets it apart from other flora is its distinctive yellow sap. Ashitaba is a reservoir of numerous nutrients, making it a beneficial vegetable especially for individuals grappling with lifestyle diseases, metabolic syndrome, or those simply keen on maintaining their health. Our establishment takes pride in being at the forefront of discovering Ashitaba's benefits and spearheading the development of its cultivation techniques.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF ASHITABA (ANGELICA KEISKEI)
The product, known as "Ashitaba Powder Organic", is a premium food ingredient derived from the Ashitaba plant, a specialty cultivated with utmost care in the fertile lands of Indonesia. For the past 12 years, Japanese manufacturer have been pioneer in pesticide-free organic farming, a commitment that culminated last year when became the first company to receive JAS certification. The organic fields and processing plant, both JAS-certified, are strategically situated near Surabaya, East Java, a region renowned for its rich natural environment.
Currently, a robust production of 500-600 tonnes of fresh leaves annually, a figure that is set to escalate with the planned expansion of cultivation, particularly during the onset of the rainy season from December to March. This strategic expansion allows for harvesting to commence six months later, ensuring a steady supply of this remarkable product.
Our diverse product portfolio encompasses dried flakes, powder, and the highly sought-after chalcone powder, among others. These offerings have witnessed a surge in demand, with sales projected to soar by 150% year-on-year. Major manufacturers continue to favor Ashitaba Powder as a vital ingredient in supplements for green juices and grains, a testament to its burgeoning popularity and proven health benefits.
Rich in essential nutrients such as various minerals, vitamins, and proteins, our Ashitaba Powder serves as a beacon of balanced nutrition, fostering optimal health. It is particularly noted for its high content of potassium, calcium, carotin, and dietary fiber, making it a powerhouse of nourishment.
A defining characteristic of the Ashitaba plant is the yellow juice that emanates from its leaves and stems when cut. This juice harbors the unique polyphenol "chalcone", renowned for its potent anti-acid properties. This remarkable component not only underscores the health benefits of Ashitaba but also holds promising potential for development into anti-engineering products in the future.
Embrace the goodness of Organic Ashitaba Powder, a product steeped in tradition and backed by modern science, ready to revolutionize the health and wellness industry.
Ashitaba is rich in β-carotene, B vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as minerals such as calcium, potassium and iron, and dietary fibre, all of which have excellent working properties.
Ashitaba contains almost all the B vitamins except vitamin B₁₂. Among these, it contains particularly high levels of vitamin B₂, which is involved in cell regeneration and is essential for healthy skin and nails.
As β-carotene is converted into vitamin A only to the extent required by the body, it can be safely consumed without the risk of overdose.
The pale yellow juice that comes out when the leaves and stems of tomorrow leaves are cut is rich in the flavonoids chalcones and coumarins, which are a type of polyphenol unique to tomorrow leaves. Chalcones not only have very strong antioxidant power, but are also recognised for their various beneficial effects, such as preventing arteriosclerosis and diabetes.
In addition, the luteolin contained in the leaves of tomorrow is well known as a diuretic. This diuretic effect reduces swelling.
As Ashitaba is rich in β-carotene, B vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin E, minerals such as calcium, potassium and iron, dietary fibre and active ingredients such as chalcone, coumarin and luteolin, a type of flavonoid, it is expected to have the following effects.
Obesity is said to be the cause of all diseases. When visceral fat accumulates and visceral obesity occurs, adipocytokines* are secreted abnormally, increasing the risk of complications such as high blood sugar and high blood pressure. Experiments using mice have proven that chalcones, a flavonoid unique to Ashitaba, have the ability to reduce visceral fat. Chalcones have the function of stimulating the secretion of the good hormone adiponectin** by reducing visceral fat. Adiponectin has various functions such as increasing insulin sensitivity***, inhibiting arteriosclerosis and anti-inflammation, so it is thought that chalconium intake leads to a reduction in blood cholesterol. Reducing cholesterol in the blood reduces the risk of arteriosclerosis. In addition, active oxygen**** generated in the body in daily life oxidises lipids in the blood, which causes arteriosclerosis. The β-carotene and chalcone contained in Ashitaba have a strong antioxidant effect, preventing the oxidation of fat in the blood and keeping blood vessels young, and are said to be effective in preventing arteriosclerosis.
When there is too much sodium in the blood due to excessive salt intake and other factors, water does not move normally in the body, resulting in high blood pressure. The potassium contained in the leaves of tomorrow leaf helps to expel excess sodium from the body, which can be expected to lower blood pressure and prevent hypertension.
In addition, chalcones, which are flavonoids unique to the leaves of tomorrow leaf, help to reduce visceral fat and stimulate the secretion of the good hormone adiponectin. The normal functioning of adiponectin improves insulin sensitivity. This function is expected to have a preventive effect on high blood pressure.
It has been confirmed that chalcone contained in Ashitaba reduces visceral fat and induces the differentiation of precursor fat cells***** into mature fat cells******. This function activates the secretion of the good hormone adiponectin, increases insulin sensitivity and normalises insulin function.
Experiments have also proven that the components contained in the leaves have the same effect as insulin in the body.
Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the chalcones in Ashitaba promote glucose uptake in mature fat cells and lower blood glucose levels.
These actions suggest that chalcones, which are abundant in the leaves of tomorrow leaf, may be effective in improving diabetes, and to demonstrate this, experiments were conducted using mice that naturally develop diabetes and chalcones from the leaves of tomorrow leaf. The results showed that chalcone suppressed the rise in blood glucose levels and also improved symptoms of polydipsia, one of the symptoms of diabetes.
Vitamin A converted from β-carotene contained in the leaves of tomorrow leaf has the function of maintaining normal mucous membranes such as the skin and throat. In addition, the vitamins C and E contained in the leaves of tomorrow leaf have the function of boosting the immune system, so it is said that tomorrow leaf is effective in preventing mouth ulcers and colds.
In addition to high quality dietary fibre, as it contains vitamin B₁, which regulates the autonomic nervous system and promotes the voluntary movement, and vitamin C, which improves the function of dietary fibre, it is expected to be effective in relieving constipation.
Ashitaba is rich in β-carotene.
Vitamin A converted from β-carotene helps to maintain the strength of the skin and mucous membranes, and is therefore expected to be effective in improving rough skin and cracked skin.
β-carotene works to nullify active oxygen produced by ultraviolet rays, and is effective in inhibiting the production of melanin pigment.
In addition, tomorrow leaves also contain vitamin E, which is known as the vitamin of rejuvenation. Furthermore, the abundant vitamin C promotes collagen production and keeps the skin firm, which helps prevent and improve wrinkles.
The synergistic effect of the various nutrients in Ashitaba is said to have the effect of making the skin beautiful.
It is said that approximately 7.8-11 million people in Japan currently suffer from osteoporosis.
In healthy bones, the formation of new bone and the decomposition of old bone are carried out in good balance. When this balance is disrupted for various reasons and bone degradation exceeds bone formation, osteoporosis occurs, making it easier to suffer fractures and other injuries.
Bone formation is carried out by osteoblasts. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is a protein that acts on undifferentiated cells in the bone marrow and promotes their differentiation into osteoblasts. Experiments have confirmed that ingestion of Ashitaba promotes the production of BMP-2.
As a result, it is believed that tomorrow leaf has the effect of preventing osteoporosis.
It has been proven that Ashitaba has the ability to stimulate the production of nerve growth factor. Increased nerve growth factor can be expected to promote the differentiation of nerve cells, maintain nerve cells, repair cranial nerve damage and restore nerve cell function when the brain ages. It is therefore thought to be effective in the prevention and treatment of peripheral neuropathy caused by Alzheimer's dementia and diabetic complications.
The coumarin and luteolin contained in Ashitaba are well known for their diuretic effects. This action reduces swelling.
RECOMMENDED FOR:
* The adipokines, or adipocytokines are cytokines (cell signaling proteins) secreted by adipose tissue. Some contribute to an obesity-related low-grade state of inflammation or to the development of metabolic syndrome, a constellation of diseases including, but not limited to, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.
** Adiponectin is a type of hormone secreted from fat cells that has functions such as increasing insulin sensitivity, suppressing arteriosclerosis, and having anti-inflammatory effects.
*** Insulin sensitivity is a condition in which tissues in the body become resistant to the action of insulin. When insulin sensitivity decreases, insulin receptors do not work properly, which causes cells to not absorb glucose properly, resulting in a failure to lower blood sugar levels.
**** Active oxygen is oxygen that has strong oxidizing power due to its significantly increased reactivity compared to ordinary oxygen. When it occurs in excess in the body, it affects lipids, proteins, DNA, etc., and is said to cause aging.
***** Preadipocytes are precursor cells of adipocytes that are separated from subcutaneous fat and visceral fat.
****** Mature adipocytes are cells that contain neutral fat. Various hormones are secreted from these cells.
1] Ashitaba has recently attracted attention as a health food with anti-tumour, antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity. Xangerol extracted from Ashitaba inhibited the production of TNFα-induced plasminogen-1 (PA-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). This indicates that Ashitaba has an anti-aggregatory effect by suppressing PA-1 during inflammation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22038782
2] Addition of six chalcone components extracted from Ashitaba to osteosarcoma cells (MG-63 cells), in which inflammation is induced by TNFα induction, suppressed inflammation. This indicates that Ashitaba has anti-inflammatory properties.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21547675
3] Administration of xanthangelol and 4-hydroxyderricin extracted from Ashitaba to spontaneously diabetic type II mice showed a therapeutic effect in reducing blood glucose levels, polydipsia and obesity in mice with severe diabetic conditions. This suggests that Ashitaba has a diabetes suppressing effect.
