Herbs (Global Traditional) · Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ume (Prunus mume) (Prunus mume)
Moderate Evidencebotanical
Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
Ume (Prunus mume) contains organic acids including citric and malic acid that may help regulate blood glucose metabolism. Clinical research shows formulas containing ume demonstrate comparable efficacy to metformin for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.
Ume (Prunus mume) is the fruit of the Japanese apricot tree, native to China and widely cultivated in Japan and East Asia as both a traditional food and medicinal plant. Extracts are typically derived from the fruit, seeds, or pulp using methanol extraction or polyphenol isolation methods, yielding compounds like vanillin and syringic acid.
Human clinical evidence is limited, with no large-scale RCTs or meta-analyses for most indications. A 12-week RCT (n=15) tested 800mg/day Umezu polyphenols for blood pressure with no efficacy shown, while a pilot multicenter RCT (n=85) found a P. mume-based formula equivalent to metformin for diabetes management. An 8-week fatigue study (NCT04319692) found no benefit over placebo.
Clinically studied dosages include: Umezu polyphenols at 800mg/day (200mg capsules, 4 daily) for cardiovascular health; wumei wan formula dosed equivalently to metformin for diabetes; fermented P. mume vinegar for fatigue (dose unspecified). No standardization details reported in studies. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.
Ume fruit (Prunus mume) nutritional composition per 100g fresh fruit: Calories ~30-35 kcal, water content ~90g, carbohydrates ~7-8g, dietary fiber ~2g, protein ~0.7-1g, fat ~0.1-0.2g. Key organic acids dominate the bioactive profile: citric acid (3-5g/100g fresh weight, highest among common fruits), malic acid (0.5-1.5g/100g), oxalic acid (trace amounts), and succinic acid (trace). These organic acids survive processing into traditional preparations such as wumei (smoked/dried ume) where citric acid concentration increases to approximately 10-15% dry weight. Minerals: potassium (~240mg/100g), calcium (~10-12mg/100g), magnesium (~8mg/100g), phosphorus (~14mg/100g), iron (~0.6mg/100g), manganese (~0.07mg/100g). Vitamins: vitamin C (~6mg/100g, modest and reduced significantly in dried/processed forms), small amounts of B vitamins including niacin (~0.4mg/100g) and riboflavin (~0.05mg/100g). Key bioactive polyphenols: chlorogenic acid (50-150mg/100g fresh), neochlorogenic acid, caffeic acid derivatives, and catechins; in dried wumei preparations polyphenol concentration increases 3-5 fold. Triterpene compounds including oleanolic acid and ursolic acid are present in the fruit skin (approximately 0.1-0.3% dry weight) and are considered primary contributors to anti-allergic and anti-cancer preclinical findings. Benzaldehyde glycosides (prunasin trace levels) present in seeds only, not fruit flesh. Mumefural, a unique furanone-carbohydrate condensation compound formed during heat processing of ume juice, is found at approximately 0.1-0.5mg/mL in ume extract and is associated with platelet aggregation inhibition in preclinical models. Bioavailability notes: Organic acids are highly bioavailable orally; polyphenol bioavailability is moderate (~10-30%) and influenced by gut microbiota conversion; oleanolic acid has low oral bioavailability (~2-5%) due to poor water solubility but is enhanced in traditional decoction preparations with heat processing; the alkaline transformation of citric acid metabolites may explain traditional claims of systemic alkalizing effects despite acidic taste.
Ume's organic acids, particularly citric and malic acid, appear to modulate glucose metabolism through enhanced insulin sensitivity pathways. The fruit's bioactive compounds inhibit IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation by blocking calcium influx and reducing histamine release. Additionally, ume polyphenols may activate AMPK signaling pathways involved in glucose uptake and metabolic regulation.
A pilot randomized controlled trial (n=85) demonstrated that wumei wan formula containing ume was equivalent to metformin for reducing fasting glucose and HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetes patients. Anti-allergic effects are primarily supported by preclinical studies showing inhibition of mast cell degranulation through multiple cellular pathways. Human clinical evidence for anti-allergic benefits remains limited. The diabetes research represents preliminary but promising clinical evidence requiring larger confirmatory trials.
Ume is generally well-tolerated as a food ingredient with no significant adverse effects reported in available studies. Due to potential blood glucose-lowering effects, individuals taking diabetes medications should monitor blood sugar levels closely and consult healthcare providers. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should exercise caution due to limited safety data. No specific drug interactions have been documented, but concurrent use with antidiabetic medications may require dose adjustments.
