This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Akebia quinata contains saponins, particularly hederagenin, which are believed to increase urine output by irritating the renal tubules and promoting fluid excretion. The herb also contains alkaloids and tannins that may contribute to its anti-inflammatory effects on the urinary tract. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Akebia is classified as having a bitter, cold nature that drains damp-heat from the body. Evidence level: C (preclinical and traditional use data).
Does Akebia interact with any medications?
Akebia may interact with diuretic medications, potentially enhancing their effects and increasing the risk of dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Due to potential nephrotoxicity concerns from aristolochic acid contamination, Akebia should not be combined with other kidney-affecting drugs such as NSAIDs, certain antibiotics, or ACE inhibitors. Patients taking lithium should avoid Akebia, as increased urination can alter lithium clearance. Always consult a healthcare provider before combining with prescription medications.
What is the correct dosage for Akebia (Mu Tong)?
The traditional dosage for Akebia stem (Mu Tong) is 3–6 grams of dried herb prepared as a decoction or tea. Standardized extracts are typically taken at 300–500 mg daily. Akebia is most commonly used in combination formulas like Ba Zheng San rather than as a single herb. Due to safety concerns, use should be limited to 2–3 weeks under professional supervision. Evidence level: Traditional use guidelines.
Is Akebia safe to take during pregnancy?
No, Akebia is contraindicated during pregnancy and should be strictly avoided. The herb has traditionally been used to promote lactation and stimulate uterine contractions, which poses a risk of miscarriage. Additionally, the potential presence of aristolochic acid from contamination with Aristolochia species presents serious safety concerns including nephrotoxicity and carcinogenic risks. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use Akebia under any circumstances.
Does Akebia contain aristolochic acid?
True Akebia quinata does not naturally contain aristolochic acid. However, historical cases of nephrotoxicity occurred because Akebia was sometimes substituted with or adulterated by Aristolochia species, which do contain aristolochic acid. This dangerous compound can cause kidney failure and urinary tract cancers. To ensure safety, purchase Akebia only from reputable suppliers who test for aristolochic acid contamination. Evidence level: C based on case reports and botanical analysis.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Akebia quinata is a medicinal plant used in traditional oriental medicine, recognized for its antioxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-inflammatory properties [PMID:33458042, 36364945, 35889504].
Background
Akebia quinata, also known as chocolate vine, is a species of the Lardizabalaceae family widespread in China, Japan, and Korea [PMID:38197008, 36364945]. It is utilized as a medicinal herb and a fruit crop [PMID:38197008].
Traditional uses
The dry ripe fruit is used as an analgesic, antiphlogistic, and diuretic in traditional medicine [PMID:25835369]. It has been used in Korea to treat obesity [PMID:25835369] and in traditional herbal medicine for stress- and fatigue-related depression, improvement of fatigue, and mental relaxation [PMID:29630998]. The fruit extract has also been used to treat urinary tract inflammatory disease in traditional Korean and Chinese medicines [PMID:26569300].
Active compounds
Active compounds include phytosterol glucosides (stigmasterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside), triterpenoids (maslinic acid, scutellaric acid, hederagenin), and triterpenoidal saponins (akebia saponins A, B, C, D, E, G, PK, and hederacoside C, hederacolchiside F) [PMID:32847055, 37453188, 41547071]. Other identified components include megastigmane glycosides (akequintoside D) and phenolic compounds in the leaves [PMID:24687258, 35889504].
Mechanism of action
Akebia quinata leaf extract suppresses LPS-induced phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB p65 and attenuates protein expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 [PMID:35889504]. Akebia saponin D (ASD) targets ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 4 (USP4) to promote deubiquitination of PPAR-gamma, activating brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via UCP1-dependent pathways [PMID:41104164]. Fruit extracts may increase phosphorylation of AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase [PMID:25835369].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DObesity
Fruit extracts reduced body weight gain, adipose tissue weight, and serum lipid levels in high-fat diet-fed mice [PMID:25835369]; bioconverted fruit extracts showed stronger anti-obesity effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and obese rats [PMID:36364945].
Evidence DAlcoholic Hangover
Beverages containing fermented A. quinata leaf or fruit extracts decreased plasma alanine transaminase (ALT) activity 5 hours after alcohol consumption in healthy young men [PMID:27069900].
Evidence DChronic Restraint Stress/Fatigue
Aqueous extract acted as an anti-fatigue agent in mice, improving behavioral outcomes in open field and forced swimming tests [PMID:29630998].
Evidence DSkin Aging
Fruit extract protects human dermal fibroblasts from oxidative stress and inhibits glycation reactions between BSA and glucose [PMID:26569300].
Evidence DNon-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Seed extract exhibited cytotoxic effects and induced apoptosis in A549 and H460 cell lines [PMID:41977302].
Safety & adverse effects
In a 28-day repeated oral toxicity study in mice, Akebia quinata showed no significant changes in clinical signs, body weights, serum biochemistry, organ weights, or histopathology [PMID:18582552].
Evidence summary
The current evidence consists primarily of in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), with one small-scale human study on alcoholic hangover. There are no high-level clinical trials (RCTs or Meta-analyses) provided for the herb itself.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 36364945 (2022) — Bioconverted Fruit Extract of Akebia Quinata Exhibits Anti-Obesity Effects in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats. · Nutrients
2.PMID: 38197008 (2023) — Germplasm resources and genetic improvement of Akebia: A new fruit crop in China. · Plant diversity
3.PMID: 35889504 (2022) — Phenolic Profile and Fingerprint Analysis of Akebia quinata Leaves Extract with Endothelial Protective Activity. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5.PMID: 37453188 (2023) — The unique activity of saponin: Induction of cytotoxicity in HTLV-1 infected cells. · Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 33458042 (2020) — The complete chloroplast genome of Akebia quinata (Lardizabalaceae) and phylogenetic analysis. · Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources
7.PMID: 25835369 (2015) — Akebia quinata extract exerts anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects in high-fat diet-fed mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
8.PMID: 18582552 (2008) — Comparative 28-day repeated oral toxicity of Longdan Xieganwan, Akebia trifoliate (Thunb.) koidz., Akebia quinata (Thunb.) Decne. and Caulis aristolochiae manshuriensis in mice. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
9.PMID: 27069900 (2016) — Effect of Beverage Containing Fermented Akebia quinata Extracts on Alcoholic Hangover. · Preventive nutrition and food science
10.PMID: 41547071 (2026) — Akebia saponin D attenuates ulcerative colitis via targeting EGFR and remodeling gut microbiota homeostasis. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
11.PMID: 26569300 (2015) — Ameliorating Effect of Akebia quinata Fruit Extracts on Skin Aging Induced by Advanced Glycation End Products. · Nutrients
12.PMID: 29630998 (2018) — Akebia quinata Decaisne aqueous extract acts as a novel anti-fatigue agent in mice exposed to chronic restraint stress. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
13.PMID: 41104164 (2025) — Akebia Saponin D Targeting Ubiquitin Carboxyl-Terminal Hydrolase 4 Promotes Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Deubiquitination and Activation of Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis in Obesity. · MedComm
14.PMID: 24687258 (2015) — A new megastigmane glycoside from Akebia quinata. · Archives of pharmacal research
15.PMID: 41977302 (2026) — Therapeutic Effects of Akebia quinata Seeds Through Apoptosis and Immunogenic Cell Death in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. · International journal of molecular sciences