Japanese Knotweed

Generic name: Polygonum Cuspidatum Siebold & Zucc.
Brand names: Fleeceflower, Huzhang, Japanese Bamboo, Japanese Knotweed, Mexican Bamboo

Usage of Japanese Knotweed

Research reveals no clinical data regarding the use of Japanese knotweed for antioxidant effect.

Anti-inflammatory effects

Animal data

Reductions in inflammation and improvements in wound-healing rates were demonstrated with topical application of P. cuspidatum extract in studies in mice.Bralley 2008, Peng 2013, Wu 2012 With oral extract reductions in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL-6) and C-Reactive protein were found in animals with experimentally induced arthritis.Han 2012 An analgesic effect was also demonstrated in rodents.Han 2012

Clinical data

Limited clinical studies have been conducted. A study among healthy volunteers found a decreased expression of modulators of inflammation in mononuclear cells following 6 weeks of P. cuspidatum extract daily containing resveratrol 40 mg.Ghanim 2010 A small study (N = 20) found decreased plasma TNF-alpha and IL-6 versus placebo.Zahedi 2013

Antimicrobial activity

Animal data

In vitro studies have shown broad antibacterial and antifungal activity of P. cuspidatum extracts.Peng 2013, Piotrowska 2012, Song 2006 Activity against Streptococcus mUTAns has been investigated in oral health.Ban 2010, Pandit 2012 An ethanol extract showed inhibitory activity against HIV-1 in vitro.Lin 2010, Peng 2013

Clinical data

There are no clinical data regarding the use of P. cuspidatum as an antimicrobial agent.

Antioxidant effects

Animal data

Studies in rats and mice have shown antioxidant properties of P. cuspidatum that are generally attributed to the chemical constituents of resveratrol, polydatin, piceatannol, and anthraquinones and stilbenes.Kim 2010, Peng 2013, Piotrowska 2012, Zhang 2012 Carbon tetrachloride–induced liver injury and induced acute cerebral ischemia were reduced by oral extracts of P. cuspidatum.Kim 2010, Zhang 2012 In models of vascular dementia and Parkinson disease in rats, P. cuspidatum extract and polydatin administered orally resulted in improved cognitive and behavioral measures and increased antioxidant capacity in the relevant tissues.Li 2012, Wang 2011

Clinical data

There are no clinical data regarding the use of P. cuspidatum for antioxidant effect.

Cancer

Animal data

In vitro studies using oral, lung, and prostate cancer cells, and in hepatocarcinoma, glioma, and leukemia have been conducted. Ethanol, methanol and aqueous P. cuspidatum extracts show pro-apoptotic activity and inhibition of angiogenesis, as well as direct cytotoxicity.Hu 2012, Jeong 2010, Lin 2010, Shin 2011 Mice with Ehrlich carcinoma HAD an increased lifespan when given P. cuspidatum extract.Peng 2013

Clinical data

Research reveals no clinical data for the use of P. cuspidatum regarding cancer.

Hyperlipidemia

Animal data

Studies conducted in the 1980s and 1990s in rodent models of hyperlipidemia showed decreased total cholesterol, as well as decreased triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein.Peng 2013 Oral polydatin from P. cuspidatum showed similar results in rabbits and hamsters.Du 2009, Xing 2009

Clinical data

There are no clinical data regarding the use of P. cuspidatum in hyperlipidemia.

Japanese Knotweed side effects

Clinical evidence on which to base guidance is limited. A study conducted in basketball players over 6 weeks did not report adverse events.Zahedi 2013

Before taking Japanese Knotweed

Do not use in pregnancy. Huzhang is listed as an abortifacient in traditional Chinese medicine texts.Peng 2013

Avoid use during lactation; information regarding use during lactation is lacking.

How to use Japanese Knotweed

Clinical evidence on which to base dosing guidelines is lacking. One study used an oral extract of P. cuspidatum 200 mg over 6 weeks. The preparation was standardized to contain resveratrol 40 mg.Zahedi 2013

Topical application of P. cuspidatum extract has been studied in mice for anti-inflammatory effects.Bralley 2008, Wu 2012

Warnings

Information is limited.Du 2013, Peng 2013 The oral median lethal dose (LD50) of anthraquinones in mice is approximately 9 g/kg body weight. The LD50 of Emodin and polydatin is 250 and 1,000 mg/kg, respectively. Parenteral polydatin caused peritonitis in a subacute toxicity test in animals. No hemolysis, agglutination reaction, or systemic anaphylaxis/skin allergy was found in tests conducted in rabbits.Peng 2013

What other drugs will affect Japanese Knotweed

The area under the curve of Carbamazepine and its active metabolite were increased in rats fed P. cuspidatum, suggesting an increased risk of carbamazepine toxicity.Chi 2012

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