Juicy Discovery: Can Japanese Plum Juice Beat Hypertension?

The humble Japanese plum may be a superfood hero in the battle against hypertension. Explore how its juice concentrate, bainiku-ekisu, is stirring up the medical field.

Quick Summary

• The Japanese plum (Prunus mume), or specifically its juice concentrate, bainiku-ekisu, might hold significant potential in managing hypertension and reducing cardiovascular disease risk.
• The infused juice concentrate bainiku-ekisu was found to protect against hypertension in mice by mitigating harmful metabolic changes tied to hypertrophy and inflammation.
• Future research aims to identify the specific compounds within bainiku-ekisu that lead to these protective effects, suggesting its potential for use as a natural supplement in hypertension treatment.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a silent killer affecting over 122 million Americans.

Despite advances in medicine, the search for more effective treatment strategies continues.

This article explores the unexpected potential of a humble fruit, the Japanese plum (Prunus mume).

We’ll delve into research from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, unveiling how a juice concentrate derived from this Asian superfood, bainiku-ekisu, may hold the key to managing hypertension and reducing cardiovascular disease risk.

Unveiling A Potential Remedy: The Japanese Plum

Researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University may have stumbled upon a promising alternative in the humble Japanese plum, scientifically known as Prunus mume.

These researchers unveiled findings suggesting that cardiovascular disease risk may be curtailed by consuming a juice concentrate derived from this fruit, widely eaten in Asian nations and considered a health food in Japan.

These intriguing findings are published in the journal Hypertension Research.

Professor Satoru Eguchi, a senior investigator of the study, commented:

“We became interested in a supplement that could potentially decrease cardiovascular disease risk and began investigating the effects of bainiku-ekisu, an infused juice concentrate of the Japanese plum. Drugs alone are not enough to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in hypertension patients.”

Read also: New Study Shows Link Between Hypertensive Pregnancy Disorders And Future Cardiovascular Risks

The Potential Of Bainiku-Ekisu

The raw Japanese plum, traditionally called “Ume” in Japan, carries toxins, which necessitate processing into safe consumables like juices or wine.

Bainiku-ekisu, the infused juice concentrate of this fruit, has a long history of consumption as a health supplement in Japan, tracing back to the 18th century.

While numerous claims about the health benefits of bainiku-ekisu, including heart disease prevention, have been made, limited but promising evidence from previous studies provides support.

Among these benefits, experiments have shown that bainiku-ekisu can reduce growth-promoting signals triggered by angiotensin II, a hormone crucial in hypertension development, in the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels.

In-Depth Examination: The Anti-Hypertensive Effects Of Bainiku-Ekisu

To fully understand bainiku-ekisu’s potential anti-hypertensive effects, Dr. Eguchi and Dr. Hirotoshi Utsunomiya employed a mouse model.

In this model, mice received angiotensin II infusions to induce hypertension and were then given either plain water or water containing bainiku-ekisu.

The results were startling: mice receiving bainiku-ekisu did not develop hypertension, and tissue analysis suggested that the juice concentrate protected the vasculature from angiotensin II’s harmful effects.

Hypertrophy (growth and enlargement) of the aorta was minimal in mice given bainiku-ekisu, while control animals experienced significant aortic hypertrophy.

Additionally, the juice concentrate diminished the infiltration of immune cells, thereby reducing inflammation associated with hypertension.

Read also: Navigating The Keto-like Diet: Is It A Risk To Cardiovascular Health?

Underlying Mechanisms: How Does Bainiku-Ekisu Work?

The next step in Dr. Eguchi’s research was to explore the potential mechanisms through which bainiku-ekisu prevents hypertension.

His team focused on molecular pathways involved in glycolysis, a process where cells breakdown glucose, and which is a key feature of hypertension-induced hypertrophy.

“In hypertension, cells shift from aerobic metabolism to glycolysis because there is less oxygen available in the cellular environment. This switch results in high levels of oxidative stress, leading to more inflammation, vascular stiffness, and eventually, severe cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Eguchi explained.

The team found that bainiku-ekisu prevents this metabolic switch, suggesting that it protects against hypertension by mitigating harmful metabolic changes linked to hypertrophy and inflammation.

Conclusion: The Future Of Bainiku-Ekisu

The next phase of Dr. Eguchi’s research intends to pinpoint the specific compounds in bainiku-ekisu responsible for its protective effects.

He suggested that there might be two or three compounds acting in concert, resulting in additive or synergistic effects potentially lost in a pharmaceutical preparation.

This research, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and a research gift fund from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Japan, might be an important step forward in managing hypertension and preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Time will reveal whether the humble Japanese plum, through its juice concentrate, bainiku-ekisu, may be part of the solution in our ongoing battle against these conditions.

Read also: High Fitness Levels Reduce Cardiovascular Risk In Men With High Blood Pressure