Objective: “Ashitaba” (Angelica keiskei) is a traditional vegetable unique to Japan. Ashitaba contains an abundance of vitamins, dietary fiber and polyphenols such as chalcones. We previously reported anti-diabetic behavior of chalcones from Ashitaba. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of Ashitaba on patients and candidates with MetS.
Methods: Nine adult subjects defined as patients and candidates with MetS ingested Ashitaba green juice (6.2 g/day of granulated powder containing 12.3 mg chalcones) for 8 weeks. For evaluation of efficacy, abdominal fat area, body weight, body fat and blood parameters were measured. For evaluation of safety, blood chemistry analysis, hematological analysis and urinalysis were conducted.
Result: Ingestion of Ashitaba green juice for 8 weeks significantly decreased visceral fat area, body weight, BMI and body fat, respectively. There were no adverse clinical changes in blood analysis and urinary analysis, and no serious symptom was observed.
Conclusion: These results indicate that it is possible that Ashitaba is a useful and safe foodstuff for the prevention of MetS.

We evaluated the safety of Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) in bacterial reverse mutation test as well as single and 13-weeks oral toxicity tests. In the bacterial reverse mutation test, ethanol extract of Ashitaba had no reverse mutation inducing activity on five bacterial strains with or without S9 metabolic activation. In the single oral toxicity test, Ashitaba powder (3,500 mg/kg/day) showed no adverse effects in male and female SD rats. In the 13-week repeated oral toxicity test, Ashitaba powder (875 and 1,750 mg/kg/day) showed no adverse effects on body weight, food consumption, blood biochemistry, hematology, urinalysis, ophthalmoscopy, organ weight and histopathology in male and female SD rats. These results indicate that Ashitaba is very safe foodstuff under the conditions of this study.

Objective: “Ashitaba” (Angelica keiskei) is a traditional vegetable peculiar to Japan. Ashitaba contains vitamins, dietary fiber and polyphenols such as chalcones abundantly. We previously reported anti-diabetic action of Ashitaba in an animal model as well as in diabetics. In this study, we evaluated the safety of Ashitaba green juice in healthy and borderline mildly diabetic subjects.
Methods: Japanese adult subjects (n = 24) ingested Ashitaba green juice (31.5 g granulated powder) for 4 weeks. For evaluation of safety, blood chemistry analysis, hematological analysis and urinalysis were conducted.
Result: On excessive ingestion of Ashitaba green juice for 4 weeks, there were no adverse clinical changes in blood analysis and urinary analysis and no serious symptom was observed.
Conclusion: These results indicate that excessive ingestion of Ashitaba green juice is safe in healthy and borderline mildly diabetic subjects.

Object: Gagome kombu (Kjellmaniella cracciforia) is the edible brown seaweed and contains fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, abundantly. Bunashimeji (Hypsizigus marmoreus) is the popular Japanese mushrooms and contains polyterpenes as the bitter substance. Previously, we investigated the bioactive functions (e.g. anti-tumor action) and the safety of fucoidan from Gagome kombu (GKF) and the extract from Bunashimeji (KTE: Kinoko terpene extract). In this study, we evaluate the influence of GKF and KTE on hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP).
Methods: Male SD rats were divided into three groups (n = 5). 2,000 mg/kg of GKF and KTE were given orally once daily for 4 days.
Result: There were no difference in activities and mRNA expressions of hepatic CYPs (CYP2C11, CYP2D, CYP2E1 and CYP3A1) among all groups.
Conclusion: These results indicated GKF and KTE did not influence the rat hepatic CYPs.