Botanical name: Polygonum cuspidatum
Binomial name: Fallopia japonica
Synonyms: Japanese knotweed or Japanese honeysuckle
Family: Polygonaceae
Description: perennial herbaceous plant
Part of the plant used: root
Physiological and health purposes: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, vasorelaxant
Active constituents: resveretrol, emodin, polydatina
The plant Polygonum cuspidatum it is native to eastern Asia, and is currently widespread in North America and Europe, where it is classified as an invasive species in several countries (it was introduced in the list of the 100 worst invasive species drawn up by the World Conservation Union). The successful colonization of the species has been attributed in part to its tolerance to a "wide range of soil types, pH and salinity.
Botanical Description
The Polygonum cuspidatum (Fallopia japonica) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Polygonaceae family.
The plant has vigorous and hairless stems, which can reach a maximum height of 3-4 meters. Polygonum cuspidatum it produces long and robust underground stems (rhizomes), capable of developing in depth.
The leaves are alternate and oval, with 7-14 cm of length and 5-12 cm of width, truncated at the base and provided with an internal margin. The flowers are small, creamy white, produced in late summer and early autumn in 6-15 cm long, erect racemes (clusters).
The Polygonum cuspidatum it is also called "false bamboo", as a member of the Polygonaceae family has hollow stems with several knots in relief which give it an appearance similar to the original, even if they are not closely linked.
Therapeutic indications of Polygonum cuspidatum
Due to its presence in China, the Polygonum cuspidatum it has historically been used in traditional Chinese medicine, especially as a laxative herb and, occasionally, as a food in Asian cultures.
Different therapeutic applications of the Polygonum cuspidatum are known, as the derived extract is indicated for the treatment of various pathologies. Currently, this plant has assumed considerable importance in relation to the high concentration of resveretrol in its rhizomes.
In fact, the peculiarity of the dry extract of the root of the plant lies in the content of resveretrol, 400 times higher than that of grapes and its derivatives; the Polygonum cuspidatum represents the major natural source of this phyto-component, which it contains in the most active biological form.
An additional advantage in taking the Polygonum cuspidatum consists in the use of a natural extract, which in addition to the properties of resveretrol, allows to exploit the benefits of the other active components present (phytocomplex), which complete the functional activity of the extract, as well as favoring its bioavailability.
The extract derived from the root of the Polygonum cuspidatum is indicated for the treatment of:
- hypertension
- prevention of cardiovascular diseases
- hypercholesterolemia (excess cholesterol in the blood)
- hyperlipidemia (elevated plasma lipoprotein levels)
- cancer prevention
- gastrointestinal pathologies
Active principles
In the dry extract deriving from the root of the plant, the main bioactive constituent is resveretrol, a phenolic derivative responsible for various therapeutic properties: it is capable of carrying out antioxidant and cardioprotective activity. The biological activity of resveretrol is supported and enhanced by the presence of other components present in the Polygonum cuspidatum : emodin and polydatin.
Properties of Resveratrol
1) Cardioprotective activity:
- Antioxidant properties: it has a protective action on the cardiovascular system
- Anti-thrombotic function: inhibits platelet aggregation by intervening on the synthesis of eicosanoids (derivatives of fatty acids) and the modulation of the metabolism of arachidonic acid
- Estrogen-like action (phytoestrogenic): resveretrol has a chemical structure similar to diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic molecule with an estrogen-like action. Similarly, resveretrol is able to competitively activate the receptors for estrogen. Considering that the action connected to this hormone provides for the influence on cholesterol levels and blood flow, this alternative mechanism of action can aid prevention. of cardiovascular diseases.
- Decrease in arterial pressure: induces vasodilation due to the hypotensive action of resveretrol, due to its intervention on the metabolism of nitric oxide.
- Reduction of cholesterol and triglyceride levels: protects LDL (low density lipoproteins, responsible for transporting cholesterol to the cells of the body) from the oxidative process that degrades them. It lowers total cholesterol levels and reduces circulating fats. in particular, there is a lowering of blood levels of VLDL involved in the "onset of" arteriosclerosis (tissue hardening of the arterial wall).
2) Anti-inflammatory activity
3) Cancer prevention:
- The resveretrol contained in the Polygonum cuspidatum it promotes prevention by carrying out antineoplastic activity: it exhibits an antioxidant and antimutagenic action.
- Regulates mitogenesis: inhibits a specific tyrosine kinase, an enzyme that intervenes in the translation of the cellular signal (antiproliferative, inhibitory action in tumor promotion and progression).
Properties of Emodin
The Polygonum cuspidatum it is a concentrated source of emodin (it is an anthraquinone derivative); for this reason, the extract of the root of the plant is used as a nutritional supplement to regulate intestinal motility.
The emodin, contained in the extract of Polygonum cuspidatum , has a mild laxative effect in doses of 20 to 50 mg per day.
In addition to its laxative properties, emodin also has the following effects:
- Antineoplastic activity
- Antimutagenic activity
- Anti-inflammatory activity
Properties of Polydatin
- It inhibits platelet aggregation
- It protects myocardial cells from oxygen and glucose depletion
The assumption of Polygonum cuspidatum it also determines other effects:
- stimulates the immune system: increases the production of interleukin 2 (promotes the differentiation of T lymphocytes) and antibodies
- protects the gastric mucosa, slightly inhibiting gastric secretion
- modulates antipyretic action
- it carries out an analgesic action
Pharmaceutical form
The dry extract of the root of Polygonum cuspidatum it can be used for the preparation of capsules, tablets or syrups. The concentration of resveretrol in the dry extract can vary from 5% to 95%. The use of only the extract of Polygonum cuspidatum or its combination with other nutraceutical components, allows to obtain potentially very effective preparations intended for food supplementation.
Doses of intake
It has not been identified to date an ideal dosage of use for the extract of Polygonum cuspidatum , but the recommended daily intake is 25-200 mg (1-2 times a day).
Contraindications and Side Effects
There are no data relating to acute toxicity regarding the intake of extracts of Polygonum cuspidatum . In some cases, high doses (2-5 grams per day) have caused transient intestinal problems in humans. No drug interactions are known.
