Prunus mume fruit health benefit and review of studies

Prunus mume, commonly known as ume or Japanese apricot, or Chinese plum is a species of Asian plum

Studies on the chemical constituents of flowers of Prunus mume
Zhong Yao Cai. 2008 Nov;  School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
To study the chemical constituents of flowers of Prunus mume. Eight compounds were obtained and identified as benzoic acid (I), isorhamnetin, quercetin, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, isoquercitrin, hypericin and rutin.

Fermented Maesil (Prunus mume) with probiotics inhibits development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.
Vet Dermatol. 2010 Feb 5. Jung BG, Cho SJ, Koh HB, Han DU, Lee BJ. College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea.
Maesil (Prunus mume Siebold & Zucc.), a potential source of free radical scavengers and inhibitor of pro-inflammatory mediators, is used in traditional Korean medical preparations as a remedy for skin disorders as have probiotics. The action of a probiotic fermented Maesil preparation on the development of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions was determined in a NC/Nga mouse model as an initial step towards the development of a therapeutic feed supplement for use in dogs. Continuous ingestion of the experimental feed markedly inhibited the development of the AD-like skin lesions, as evidenced by a marked decrease in skin signs and reduced inflammation within the skin lesions. Efficacy was confirmed by significant decreases in eosinophil ratio and serum IgE concentration, and a reduction in the number of Staphylococcus aureus recovered from the ear. Relative mRNA expression levels of IL-4, interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in the spleens of the experimental animals were also decreased and there was an increased serum concentration of IL-10 with a concurrent decreased IL-4 concentration in comparison to a control group. Taken together, the results indicate that some component(s) of fermented Maesil have the ability to suppress the development of AD-like skin lesions, possibly by stimulation of IL-10. Beneficial effects of fermented Maesil may thus be expected in dogs with AD, although this and the nature of the active pathway remain to be explored.

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