Asian plum (latin Prunus mume), also known as Japanese apricot, is a widely consumed food in southeast Asia used for reducing fever, cough and upset stomach. Other names for Asian plum may go by include Ume in Japan, Mei in China, and Oumae in Korea.
The Asian plum has been reported in many scientific journals to have the following properties:
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Hepatoprotective (i.e. protect the liver)
A clinical trial was recently completed in Italy and published in the journal Phytotherapy Research to determine the potential for Asian pl
um to protect the liver in health volunteers. The human subjects in this study were considered ‘healthy’ as they were not diagnosed with viral hepatitis, alcohol hepatitis or diabetes.
This clinical trial was designed as a randomized, double blind placebo controlled study. A total of 45 human subjects were enrolled in the study in three different groups (15 subjects in each group) receiving either:
- 150 mg of Asian plum extract
- 300 mg of Asian plum extract
- Placebo
Two capsules were taken each day with breakfast for three months during the study. The capsules were standardized ‘by a titration of specific triterpenoid content’. The percent of triterpenes were not reported in the manuscript. At 1, 2, and 3 months the participants returned to the clinical to have laboratory tests performed.
These were the results from the low dose group:
- Aspartate amino transferase (AST) was decreased by 47%
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was decreased by 7%
- Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) was decreased by 15%
- Triglycerides decreased by 8%
These results are significant because high levels of these enzymes (i.e. AST, ALT, gamma-GT) are associated with an unhealthy liver. Interestingly, the high dose group did not observe changes in liver enzymes.
These were the results from the high dose group:
- Blood sugar levels decreased by 11% (Elevated blood sugar levels left uncontrolled are associated with diabetes)
- HDL, the protective form of cholesterol, increased by 13%
- LDL did not change
- Triglycerides decreased by 7%
After three months of discontinuing the Asian plum extract supplement all laboratory values returned to baseline values that were observed prior to the study.
Take away message: This study showed that over three months an Asian plum extract could improve liver function, improve HDL, and decrease blood sugar levels. Everyday we are exposed to environmental toxins and under ideal conditions the liver will filter these out of our systems to keep us healthy. Over time the liver can be overwhelemed which is why we want to make sure we take steps to support healthy liver function.
Phytotherapy Research. 2016 June; Volume 30 (Issue 6): pages 949-55.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Blood sugar, Cholesterol, Detoxification