Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Japan for various health purposes, and recent scientific studies have begun to explore its effects on metabolic health, including triglyceride levels. The primary compounds of interest in ashitaba are chalcones, such as 4-hydroxyderricin and xanthoangelol, which possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Several animal studies have demonstrated that ashitaba extract can reduce serum triglyceride levels. For example, research published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology (2013) showed that mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with ashitaba chalcones exhibited significantly lower plasma triglyceride levels compared to controls. The proposed mechanisms include enhancement of lipid metabolism and suppression of lipogenesis. Another study in Phytotherapy Research (2015) indicated that ashitaba chalcones activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a regulator of energy and lipid metabolism, which may contribute to lowering triglycerides.

However, clinical evidence in humans is limited. While some small pilot studies and case reports suggest a possible triglyceride-lowering effect, large-scale, well-controlled human trials are lacking. Therefore, the support for ashitaba’s use in reducing high triglycerides is mostly preclinical, with promising mechanisms and effects seen in laboratory and animal models, but insufficient human data to make firm recommendations.