Akebia Fruit
- Chinese
- 预知子
- Pinyin
- Yu Zhi Zi
- Latin
- Fructus Akebiae
Known in TCM as Yu Zhi Zi (预知子), this sweet and bitter, neutral herb enters the Liver, Spleen, and Kidney. Traditionally, it soothes Liver Qi and relieves stagnation, most often applied for liver qi stagnation, depression, and urinary tract infection. Modern research has identified Hederagenin among its active constituents.
Part used: Fruit
Also Known As
Latin: Fructus Akebiae | Pinyin: Yu Zhi Zi | Chinese: 预知子
TCM Properties
- Taste
- sweet, bitter
- Temperature
- neutral
- Channels
- Liver, Spleen, Kidney
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Soothes Liver Qi and relieves stagnation … used for liver constraint, chest tightness, irritability, and hypochondriac pain from Liver Qi stagnation
- Dissipates masses and resolves phlegm nodules … used for abdominal masses, nodules, cysts, and accumulations from phlegm-qi stagnation
Secondary Actions
- Activates blood circulation and relieves pain … addresses pain from blood stasis combined with Qi stagnation
- Promotes urination and treats Lin syndrome … for urinary difficulty and heat in the Lower Jiao
- Kills intestinal parasites … secondary anthelmintic action
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Hederagenin … primary triterpenoid aglycone; constitutes ~90% of the active extract; serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine reuptake inhibitor
- Triterpenoid saponins … 85 distinct types identified including akebonoic acid and arjunolic acid glycosides; anti-inflammatory and antitumor
- Chlorogenic acids … 9 mono and di-forms; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
- Oleanolic acid … anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antitumor triterpenoid
Studied Effects
- Antidepressant … hederagenin-rich extract inhibits serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine reuptake transporters in dose-dependent manner; increases extracellular monoamines in rat frontal cortex (PMID 22005599)
- Anti-inflammatory and analgesic … saponin and sapogenin fractions demonstrate antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in preclinical models
- Comprehensive phytochemical profiling … 94 compounds identified (85 triterpenoid saponins, 9 chlorogenic acids); 50 newly identified constituents (PMID 31074056)
- Antitumor … triterpenoid saponin fractions show cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines in vitro
PubMed References
- The extracts of Fructus Akebiae, a preparation containing 90% of the active ingredient hederagenin: serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (2012)
- A four-step filtering strategy based on UHPLC-QTOF-MS for comprehensive profiling the major chemical constituents of Akebiae Fructus (2019)
Safety & Interactions
Cautions
- MSK page not found … drug interaction data not available from Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine database
Conditions
- Liver Qi Stagnation Traditional ★★★★☆ JSON
- Depression Preclinical ★★☆☆☆ JSON
- Urinary Tract Infection Traditional ★★☆☆☆ JSON
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Akebia Fruit used for?
Akebia Fruit is traditionally used to Soothes Liver Qi and relieves stagnation … used for liver constraint, chest tightness, irritability, and hypochondriac pain from Liver Qi stagnation, Dissipates masses and resolves phlegm nodules … used for abdominal masses, nodules, cysts, and accumulations from phlegm-qi stagnation. Research has investigated its effects on: Antidepressant … hederagenin-rich extract inhibits serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine reuptake transporters in dose-dependent manner; increases extracellular monoamines in rat frontal cortex (PMID 22005599); Anti-inflammatory and analgesic … saponin and sapogenin fractions demonstrate antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in preclinical models.
What are other names for Akebia Fruit?
Akebia Fruit is also known as Akebia. In TCM: 预知子 (Yu Zhi Zi); Fructus Akebiae.
Is Akebia Fruit safe during pregnancy?
The safety of Akebia Fruit during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.