Japanese Apricot
OTHER NAME(S): Abricotier du Japon, Abricotier Japonais, Albaricoque de Flores Japonesas, Albaricoque Japonés, Albaricoquero del Japón, Albaricoquero Japonés, Apricot Tree, Árbol de Chabacano, Bainiku-ekisu, Beni Chidori, Chidori Beni, Chinese Green Plum, Ciruela China, Japanese Flowering Apricot, Japanese Plum, Japanese Ume, Jugo de Wu-Mei, Mae-Sil-Na-Moo, Mei, Mume, Omae, Oumae, Pickled Ume, Smoke-Dried Ume, Ubai, Ume, Umeboshi, Umezu Polyphenols, Umé, Ume Brandy, Ume en Escabeche, Wu-Mei Juice, Prunus mume, Armeniaca mume, Beni-chidori, Mae sil na moo, Wu Mei, Chabacano Japonés, Abricotier Du Japon
Overview
Japanese apricot is a small fruit tree. The fruit, branches, and flowers are used to make medicine.
People take Japanese apricot for colds, stomach and intestinal disorders, to prevent heart disease, sunburn, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
In manufacturing, Japanese apricot is added to cosmetic lotions.
Japanese apricot fruit juice is a traditional Japanese beverage.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Persistent heartburn. People who eat Japanese apricot every day might be less likely to have persistent heartburn than those who don't eat Japanese apricot.
- A digestive tract infection that can lead to ulcers (Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori). Drinking diluted concentrate of Japanese apricot juice doesn't seem to help treat H. pylori infections. Also, most people who eat Japanese apricot fruit don't seem to have a lower chance of developing an H. pylori infection compared to those who don't eat Japanese apricot.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (hepatitis C). Early research shows that taking Japanese apricot improves markers of liver injury in people with hepatitis C. But it's unclear if taking Japanese apricot reduces the risk of complications of hepatitis C.
- High blood pressure. Early research shows that taking Japanese apricot doesn't reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.
- Build up of fat in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD). Early research shows that taking Japanese apricot improves markers of livery injury in people with NAFLD. But it's unclear if taking Japanese apricot reduces the risk of complications of NAFLD.
- Fever.
- Cough.
- Stomach disorders.
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia).
- Menopausal symptoms.
- Cancer.
- Prevention of heart disease.
- Fatigue.
- Gout.
- Sunburn, when applied to the skin.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of Japanese apricot for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Dried or pickled Japanese apricot is LIKELY SAFE when eaten in food amounts. An extract of dried Japanese apricot is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth short-term. Side effects might include upset stomach or constipation. In rare cases, allergic reactions might occur. Raw Japanese apricot is POSSIBLY UNSAFE to eat. The raw fruit contains toxic chemicals. Only processed fruit products should be used.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Japanese apricot is safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Dried or pickled Japanese apricot is LIKELY SAFE when eaten in food amounts. An extract of dried Japanese apricot is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth short-term. Side effects might include upset stomach or constipation. In rare cases, allergic reactions might occur. Raw Japanese apricot is POSSIBLY UNSAFE to eat. The raw fruit contains toxic chemicals. Only processed fruit products should be used.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Japanese apricot is safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Japanese apricot is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Diabetes: Japanese apricot might lower blood sugar. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use Japanese apricot.
Surgery: Japanese apricot might slow blood clotting or affect blood sugar levels. There is some concern that it might increase the risk of bleeding or interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using Japanese apricot at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with Japanese ApricotJapanese apricot might lower blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking Japanese apricot along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed. Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
- Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with Japanese ApricotJapanese apricot flower extract might slow blood clotting. Taking Japanese apricot flower extracts along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of Japanese apricot depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Japanese apricot. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Ninomiya K, Tanaka S, Kawata S, Makisumi S. Purification and properties of an aminopeptidase from seeds of Japanese apricot. J Biochem (Tokyo) 1981;89:193-201..
- Chuda Y, Ono H, Ohnishi-Kameyama M, et al. Mumefural, citric acid derivative improving blood fluidity from fruit-juice concentrate of Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc).J Agric Food Chem 1999;47:828-31. .
- Matsuda H, Morikawa T, Ishiwada T, et al. Medicinal flowers. VIII. Radical scavenging constituents from the flowers of Prunus mume: structure of prunose III. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2003;51:440-3..
- Ina H, Yamada K, Matsumoto K, Miyazaki T. Effects of benzyl glucoside and chlorogenic acid from Prunus mume on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and catecholamine levels in plasma of experimental menopausal model rats. Biol Pharm Bull 2004;27:136-7..
- Kim S, Park SH, Lee HN, Park T. Prunus mume extract ameliorates exercise-induced fatigue in trained rats. J Med Food. 2008;11(3):460-8.
- Yi LT, Li J, Su DX, Dong JF, Li CF. Hypouricemic effect of the methanol extract from Prunus mume fruit in mice. Pharm Biol. 2012;50(11):1423-7.
- Na JR, Oh KN, Park SU, et al. The laxative effects of Maesil (Prunus mume Siebold & Zucc.) on constipation induced by a low-fibre diet in a rat model. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2013;64(3):333-45.
- Go MR, Kim HJ, Yu J, Choi SJ. Toxicity and toxicokinetics of amygdalin in maesil (Prunus mume) syrup: Protective effect of maesil against amygdalin toxicity. J Agric Food Chem. 2018;66(43):11432-11440.
- Khan A, Pan JH, Cho S, Lee S, Kim YJ, Park YH. Investigation of the hepatoprotective effect of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc extract in a mouse model of alcoholic liver injury through high-resolution metabolomics. J Med Food. 2017;20(8):734-743.
- Maekita T, Kato J, Enomoto S, et al. Japanese apricot improves symptoms of gastrointestinal dysmotility associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(26):8170-7.
- Takemura S, Yoshimasu K, Fukumoto J, et al. Safety and adherence of Umezu polyphenols in the Japanese plum (Prunus mume) in a 12-week double-blind randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial to evaluate antihypertensive effects. Environ Health Prev Med. 2014;19(6):444-51.
- Shin EJ, Hur HJ, Sung MJ, et al. Ethanol extract of the Prunus mume fruits stimulates glucose uptake by regulating PPAR-γ in C2C12 myotubes and ameliorates glucose intolerance and fat accumulation in mice fed a high-fat diet. Food Chem. 2013;141(4):4115-21.
- Hokari A, Ishikawa T, Tajiri H, et al. Efficacy of MK615 for the treatment of patients with liver disorders. World J Gastroenterol. 2012;18(31):4118-26.
- Al-Jahdari WS, Sakurai H, Yoshida Y, Mobaraki A, Suzuki Y, Nakano T. MK615, a prospective anti-proliferative agent, enhances CD4/CD8 ratio after exposure to irradiation. Int J Radiat Biol. 2011;87(1):81-90.
- Enomoto S, Yanaoka K, Utsunomiya H, et al. Inhibitory effects of Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Siebold et Zucc.; Ume) on Helicobacter pylori-related chronic gastritis. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010;64(7):714-9.
- Beretta A, Accinni R, Dellanoce C, Tonini A, Cardot JM, Bussiére A. Efficacy of a standardized extract of Prunus mume in liver protection and redox homeostasis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Phytother Res. 2016;30(6):949-55.
- Iijima S, Ito M, Makabe K, Murakami Y, Yokooji T, Matsuo H. Case of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis due to Japanese apricot and peach: Detection of causative antigens. J Dermatol. 2015;42(9):916-7.
- Nakajima S, Fujita K, Inoue Y, Nishio M, Seto Y. Effect of the folk remedy, Bainiku-ekisu, a concentrate of Prunus mume juice, on Helicobacter pylori infection in humans. Helicobacter. 2006;11(6):589-91.