I believe I have been acquainted with the shell ginger plant for over 15 years now. As such, it is a very familiar plant to me. However, I assume many readers might not be aware of it, so I’ll briefly explain. Its scientific name is Alpinia zerumbet. It’s an evergreen perennial that grows to a height of 2 to 4 meters. It is native to Southeast Asia and Southern India, found across tropical to subtropical Asia, and can be seen in Japan from Okinawa Prefecture to the southern part of Kyushu. It especially thrives in the wild in Okinawa, where it’s also referred to as ‘Sannin’ among other names. It blooms with white flowers, as shown in the photo, around May and June.

Okinawa is one of the “Blue Zones”. The term “Blue Zone” refers to regions with a high concentration of healthy and long-lived individuals. Apart from Okinawa, other Blue Zones include Sardinia in Italy, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Ikaria in Greece, and Loma Linda in California. However, due to rapid changes in diet and lifestyle in modern times, the lifespan of Okinawan men has decreased, and it can no longer be referred to as a Blue Zone. Nevertheless, Okinawa is still famously known worldwide as the “island of longevity”.

Having pursued “anti-aging” and “rejuvenation” as one of my themes, the secrets of Okinawa have always intrigued me. What exactly has contributed to the health and longevity of its inhabitants? One factor I’ve focused on is the shell ginger plant. In Okinawa, its leaves are powdered and mixed with soba noodles, brewed as tea, and recently, due to its improving effects of skin luster, its leaf extract has been used in lotions. It’s being utilized in various ways.

One of my medical themes has been to introduce the world to hidden traditional Japanese herbs and medical techniques, such as osteopathy derived from ancient Japanese martial arts, which are yet to gain global recognition. Shell ginger is a prime example.

However, the world is largely unaware of the health benefits of this plant. Even the “Bencao Gangmu”, a classic Chinese pharmacopeia published in the 16th century, does not mention shell ginger. The plant boasts a rich profile of polyphenols like ferulic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol. In addition, it contains substances like kavalactones — previously believed to be found only in the South Pacific’s kava — and hispidin, which was earlier identified exclusively in mushrooms. Thanks to these diverse health-promoting components, shell ginger has potential benefits against a variety of ailments.

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Now, I have blended this shell ginger with unique Japanese ingredients like wasabi and hizu, creating an enhanced version of a supplement. I will provide brief explanations for each of them.

JIPANG Ginger Proteoglycan

Each capsule of this supplement contains 155mg of shell ginger leaf powder, 25mg of salmon nasal cartilage extract, and 100mg of yuzu seed extract.

Proteoglycan:

Historically, since the Heian period (AD 794 – AD 1185) in Japan, salmon’s nasal cartilage and head were pickled in vinegar and consumed combined with shredded radish and carrots. This dish is called “Hizu Namasu”. Hizu contains a precious protein called proteoglycan, whose benefits have been increasingly revealed in recent studies.

Proteoglycan is a glycoprotein consisting of a core protein to which long, unbranched sugar chains known as glycosaminoglycans, like chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, are covalently attached. It was discovered in 1970. Due to many sulfate and carboxyl groups, glycosaminoglycans are negatively charged and assume an extended shape due to their electrostatic repulsion.

Proteoglycan is a major component of the extracellular matrix found abundantly in skin and cartilage. The extracellular matrix is a diverse tissue supporting cells in multicellular organisms, vital for cellular survival. While outside the cell, proteoglycans play roles in cell-to-cell communication, cell growth, maintenance and repair, and providing a scaffold for cell adhesion. Most cells in multicellular organisms can’t function properly without the presence of proteoglycans.

Thus, for approximately 1200 years, people consumed it unaware of its nutritional value. There was a known experiential understanding that consuming Hizu Namasu improved skin complexion and alleviated joint pain, but the reasons were unclear.

Main effects of Proteoglycan:

1)EGF-like effect:

EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) plays a crucial role in regulating cell growth and proliferation. EGF decreases with aging. It starts declining rapidly from the late 20s and by the age of 70, it’s reported to decrease to about one-sixth of the amount found in a 20-year-old. This reduction in EGF leads to a decline in cell regenerative ability, causing skin aging. The EGF-like effect of salmon nasal cartilage-derived proteoglycan has been confirmed by studies at Hirosaki University. It appears that proteoglycan has one of the strongest EGF-like effects known so far.

2)Promotion of Hyaluronic Acid Production:

Hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin by retaining moisture and plays a vital role in maintaining skin elasticity. However, with age, its production decreases, leading to skin dryness and loss of elasticity. Proteoglycan has been confirmed to promote the production of hyaluronic acid.

3)Type I Collagen Production:

Collagen, mainly type I, forms 70% of the dermis and is crucial for maintaining skin health. As we age and collagen synthesis decreases, the skin loses its firmness leading to wrinkles. Proteoglycan promotes the production of type I collagen in a dose-dependent manner.

4)Melanin Production Inhibitory Effects:

Experiments using B16 mouse melanoma cells showed melanin production inhibitory effects similar to arbutin, a common ingredient in many cosmetics. This  effect has also been confirmed through human monitoring.

In addition to these skin benefits, proteoglycan has also shown significant effects on joint symptoms. Research from Hirosaki University indicated that when proteoglycan was added to collagen gel and cartilage cells were cultured, there was a promotion of cartilage cell proliferation. Proteoglycan also inhibits the rise of HbA1c values, a diagnostic criterion for diabetes.

Yuzu:

Yuzu (Scientific name: Citrus junos) is an evergreen citrus tree, and its fruits have been consumed in Japan since the Heian period. Its juice and peel contain organic acids like citric acid and tartaric acid, as well as vitamin C, which are believed to aid in fatigue recovery, pain relief, and beauty.

However, yuzu seeds have even more diverse effects:

  • Improving effects of skin luster superior to Vitamin C.
  • Promotion of fibroblast proliferation.
  • Inhibition of the expression of genes for enzymes that degrade skin components

This includes hyaluronidases (HYAL2, HYAL3) which degrade hyaluronic acid, ceramidase which degrades ceramides, SM Synthase, and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) which degrades collagen. Inhibiting these genes helps in protecting skin components, and maintaining skin barrier function, moisturization and elasticity. In particular, it shows an exceptionally strong inhibitory effect against matrix metalloproteinase-1.

The above are the effects on the skin, but yuzu seeds also show anti-stress effects, enhance blood flow, and improve metabolic syndrome by increasing HDL cholesterol and reducing triglycerides.