Petasites japonicus
| Giant Butterbur | |
|---|---|
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| Adult Fuki | |
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| Fuki Shoot | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Petasites |
| Species: | P. japonicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Petasites japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim. |
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Petasites japonicus, (Japanese: 菜蕗) also known as Fuki, bog rhubarb, or giant butterbur, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Japan, where the spring growth is relished as a vegetable. It has also been introduced to southern British Columbia by Japanese immigrants.[1]
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[edit] Uses
The traditional preparation method for this vegetable involves pre-treating with ash or baking soda and soaking in water to remove harshness, which is a technique known as Aku-nuki. The shoot can be chopped and stir fried with miso to make Fuki-miso which is eaten as a relish thinly spread over hot rice at meals.
The bulb-like shoots are also picked fresh and fried as tempura.
[edit] Toxicity
Like other Petasites species, fuki contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which have been associated with cumulative damage to the liver and tumor formation.[2][3] The concentration of potentially hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids are below the detection limits in modern butterbur extracts.[4]
[edit] Biological effects
Petasites japonicus has activity in a mouse model of asthma.[5] Based on additional studies in mice, the plant may contain plasma and hepatic lipid-lowering and antioxidant compounds.[6]The patented,pyrrolizidine alkaloid free,standardized CO2, rhizome/root extract of Petasities is known as “Petadolex”
[edit] References
- ^ Pojar, Jim; MacKinnon, Andy. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing, 1994, p. 294, ISBN: 978-1551050409
- ^ Fu, P.P., Yang, Y.C., Xia, Q., Chou, M.C., Cui, Y.Y., Lin G. (2002). "Pyrrolizidine alkaloids-tumorigenic components in Chinese herbal medicines and dietary supplements". Journal of Food and Drug Analysis 10 (4): 198–211. http://66.102.1.104/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=cache:Rpy0OFYQGecJ:www.nlfd.gov.tw/en/ch/MultiMedia_FileDownload.ashx%3Fguid%3D304d1580-c6aa-4502-900e-cab744c31985+author:%22Fu%22+intitle:%22Pyrrolizidine+alkaloids-tumorigenic+components+in+...%22+.
- ^ Maxim Hirono I., Mori H., Yamada K. (1977). "Carcinogenic activity of petasitenine, a new pyrrolizidine alkaloid isolated from Petasites japonicus". Journal of the National Cancer Institute 58 (4): 1155–1157.
- ^ Kalin P., Buel E.S.,"The common butterbur - Petasites hybridus. Portrait of a medicinal herb: History, pharmacology, clinical applications". Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur GanzheitsMedizin. 14 (5) (pp 267-274),
- ^ Lee J.-S., Yang E.J., Yun C.-Y., Kim D.-H., Kim I.S. "Suppressive effect of Petasites japonicus extract on ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation in an asthmatic mouse model" Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2011 133:2 (551-557)
- ^ Park C.H., Kim M.Y., Sok D.-E., Kim J.H., Lee J.H., Kim M.R. "Butterbur (Petasites japonicus Max.) extract improves lipid profiles and antioxidant activities in monosodium L-glutamate-challenged mice" Journal of Medicinal Food 2010 13:5 (1216-1223)
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Petasites japonicus |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Petasites japonicus |
- Recipes from Yasuko-san's Home Cooking
- Traditional itazuri technique
- Journal of the National Cancer Institute abstract on the P. japonicus alkaloid, petasitenine
