Actinidia polygama | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Actinidiaceae |
Genus: | Actinidia |
Species: | A. polygama |
Binomial name | |
Actinidia polygama |
Actinidia polygama (also known as Silver Vine and Cat Powder) is a non-toxic[1] plant in the Actinidiaceae family. It grows in the mountainous areas of Japan and China at elevations between 500–1900 meters.
Silver Vine is a vine that can reach up to 5–6 meters in maturity. It is a deciduous climber and is frost tender. The petiole leaves are silver and white in color and between 6–13 cm long and 4–9 cm wide. These colorful markings make the plant identifiable from afar, until the flowering season when the leaves turn completely green.
The flowering season lasts from late June to early July, in which the plant bears white flowers about 2.5 cm in diameter. The longevity of an individual flower is 2–3 days. At this time, the plant also starts to develop small, yellow to yellow-red, egg-shaped, fleshy, and multi-seeded fruits, which mature in September to October. The fruit is approximately 1.5 cm wide and 3.0–4.0 cm long. The inside of the fruit resembles the common Kiwifruit, but it is orange in color rather than green.
The Silver Vine plant requires moist, well drained soil, and partial shade to full sun. It is a fast growing vine that makes for good cover on a fence or trellis. It is becoming increasingly popular as an edible fruit crop.
Contents |
Silver Vine has been used for its medicinal benefits for centuries,[2][3] In Traditional Chinese and Japanese Medicine, Silver Vine has been used for a wide range of health problems, including:
Heart tonic | Rheumatism[4] | Circulatory stimulant |
Cystitis | Arthritic pain[4] | Hypertension |
Diuretic | Sciatic pain | Abdominal pain |
Cholesterol reduction | Liver protection[5] | Kidney disease |
Cardiac Ailments[6] | Stroke | Cancer,[3][6] |
Neuralgia | Back pain | Fatigue |
Gout | Various symptoms of menopause | Poor circulation |
Silver Vine also has immunological stimulating activities:
In Korean Buddhism, Silver Vine was soaked in tradition Korean sauces and used to treat diuresis, alleviation of pain, hypertension, genital troubles, and bronchitis.[8]
It is said that:
“Old, weary travelers, (come) back to life to eat the fruit of (Silver Vine) and then continue their journey”.[9]
The fruit when in the “acorn” shape can either be salted and eaten raw, fried in oil, added to rice, or mixed with sesame seeds and mayonnaise to top salads. The fruits may also be fermented to make Matatabi sake and miso, a fruit wine, or used to extract the juice. The leaves, buds, and stems can also be ground into a powder or cut, steamed and seeped to make tea. The tea is drunk to help prevent colds[10] Adding mint or sugar can give variations in the tea.
Grinding the leaves and stems into a coarser grind than needed for the tea makes Matatabi grass, which is used as bath salts. The vine is used as material for folk crafts and the sap is collected to make lotions. Silver Vine inhibits carbonylation in the skin, which promotes skin translucency and brightness.[11]
Silver Vine has long been known to elicit euphoric response in cats. It is the most popular cat treat in Asia, particularly in Japan and China . The reaction to Silver Vine is similar to the catnip response, but appears to be more intense. Typical behaviors include rolling, chin and cheek rubbing, drooling, and licking. The effect usually lasts between 5 and 30 minutes and cats will usually visit Silver Vine again after about 20–30 minutes .
Silver Vine has been used for centuries in Asia as a preventative health aid and is still commonly used as an alternative therapy for hypertension, arthritic pain,[4] and now is being investigated as treatment for cancer.[3] Documenting their investigations of Silver Vine as a health booster, researchers have claimed, ”Silver vine should find applications in various fields of foods and medicals and will be increasingly regarded as a health-promoting food”.[12]
Silver Vine leaves also have a high content of ascorbic acid, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins,[6] and beta-carotene.[13] This powerful plant is also rich in alkaloids.[6] Research has found that Silver Vine’s vitamin C content is 10 times the amount of green tea and was “much higher than those of fruit species such as garden strawberry, kiwi berry, haskap [berry], blueberry, and lemon”,.[12] The high amount of vitamin C in this plant makes it an excellent source of antioxidants. Silver Vine also has as much vitamin E as found in soybeans.
The health benefits of Silver Vine are not limited to its natural vitamins and minerals. Researchers have found that Silver Vine may be an effective treatment of hyperlipidemia,[6] and has explored the viability of Silver Vine as an anticancer drug. When the leaf powder was given orally, it was found to inhibit the spread of cancer in small animals and reduced tumor weight (Sarcoma 180, S-180) by more than 72% after day 32. Further, a lemon juice extract powder of Silver Vine tea showed hepatoprotection in rats which is attributed to antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of Silver Vine which alleviated liver.[5]
The anti-inflammatory properties of this amazing plant which have been used in the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis and to alleviate arthritis pain, were put to the test against inflammation in the lungs. Research found the fruit extract from the plant had deep inhibitory effects on airway inflammation caused by allergic inflammation and asthma.[7]