Common Name: Ashitaba

General Information

Angelica keiskei is a herbaceous, biennial to perennial plant with a stout stem 80 - 120cm tall[].
The plant has long been used in Japan as a food that is a healthy addition to the diet and also as a medicine. Recent research (up to 2015) has confirmed many of the traditional uses of this plant and it is currently widely available over the Internet as a medicine, food supplement and as seeds for growing the plant.

Known Hazards

All members of this genus contain furocoumarins, which increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and may cause dermatitis[].

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - central Japan

Habitat

Damp habitats by the sea coast[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Biennial/Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow best in a deep moist fertile soil in dappled shade or full sun[].
Plants are reliably perennial if they are prevented from setting seed[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, , ]. Often eaten in Japan, where they are seen as a food that has a range of health benefits whilst also having an acceptable flavour. The plant is said to be a source of vitamin B12. Both the fresh leaves and the dried and powdered leaves are used as a health food and supplement[].
The leaves are often used to make a tea[].

Root - cooked[]. It is often pickled[]. The root is short and thick[].

Medicinal

Angelica keiskei is a popular herbal medicine in Japan and China, that is becoming more widely known in the West. It is said to have a range of health benefits. It is said to improve the body’s natural immunity, and to treat a range of ailments including gastro-intestinal tract disorders; acute and chronic gastritis; stomach cancer; duodenal ulcers; gastric atonia; chronic enteritis; carcinomas and melanomas; chronic hepatitis, diabetes and insulin-dependent diabetes; hyperglycaemia; asthma; common colds; high blood pressure; anaemia; chronic fatigue syndrome; infertility, shoulder stiffness; neurosis; haemorrhoids; to relieve the symptoms of the menopause and PMS. It is also said to retard the ageing of the skin and improve its complexion.
The plant is antidiabetic, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, blood purifier, diuretic and laxative[].

The plant contains the chalcones 4-hydroxyderricin and xanthoangelol, which are considered to be the main medicinally active compounds[]. They are said to have antitumour activity, to be antioxidant, diuretc, laxative and a good general aid for the metabolism. They have been shown to modulate lipid metabolism and to help prevent adiposity[].
The plant also contains coumarins and flavanones[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe since the seed only has a short viability[]. Seed can also be sown in the spring, though germination rates will be lower. It requires light for germination[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in the spring.
The seed can also be sow in situ as soon as it is ripe.