Gynura bicolor
Hongfeng cai 紅鳳菜 plant
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Gynura
Species:
G. bicolor
Binomial name
Gynura bicolor
(Roxb. ex Willd.) DC. 1838
Synonyms[1]
  • Cacalia bicolor Roxb. ex Willd.
  • Gynura angulosa Hance
  • Senecio bicolor Sch.Bip.
  • Senecio moluccanus Roxb.

Gynura bicolor, hongfeng cai 紅鳳菜, Okinawan spinach or edible gynura, is a member of the chrysanthemum family (Asteraceae). It is native to China, Thailand, and Myanmar but grown in many other places as a vegetable and as a medicinal herb.[2]

There are two kinds: one that is green on both sides, and another with leaves that are green on the top and purple underneath. Both kinds are considered medicinal vegetables. Gynura bicolor is a perennial and therefore found for sale throughout the year, however, winter and spring are the best times to use the plant.

History

G. bicolor has been used as a food and folk medicine for millennia. It was brought into cultivation at the Calcutta Botanic Garden from the Moluccas of eastern Indonesia in 1798.[3]

It was introduced to Japan in the 18th century. In 2010, Gynura bicolor had a shipment volume of 63 tons in Japan.[3]

Uses

Gynura bicolor contains high levels of vitamin C, crude protein, iron, carotenoids, calcium, essential amino acids, and is a rich source of anthocyanins.[3]

According to Chinese food grouping, Gynura bicolor is a 'cool' food,[4] so the leaves are stir-fried with sesame oil and ginger (both 'hotter' foods) to achieve balance. The stems and roots of the plant can also be made into tea. Choose leaves with few bruises and without black stains. In Japan, Gynura bicolor is eaten as local vegetable in Ishikawa, Kumamoto, and Okinawa, blanched lightly and served with ponzu, as an ingredient of miso soup, or tempura.

The roots of the plant have been used for consumption in aviation for their richness in Vitamin K. It has an application to address bone decay in astronauts, increasing the absorption of calcium. It can also help female astronauts during menstruation.[5]

Propagation

Taking cuttings is very easy.[6]

Toxicity

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, toxic to the human liver, have been discovered in Gynura bicolor tested from five regions in China. No significant genotoxic effects were found. Samples collected from one region, Jiangsu, displayed weak cytotoxicity at the concentration of 100mg/ml, indicating that some caution should be had.[7]

Another study found that the plant generally has a negligible level of toxicity when administered orally and has been labeled safe in experimental rats. The plant was not cytotoxic to the normal cell line and "confirmed the safety of the G. bicolor for consumption." The study also found that the plant had a chemoprevention potential.[8]

Controlled consumption of the plant has been advised to prevent any potential harmful effects from the generally low presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.[3]

References

  1. ↑ The Plant List, Gynura bicolor (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC.
  2. ↑ Flora of China, Gynura bicolor (Roxburgh ex Willdenow) Candolle, 1838. 红凤菜 hong feng cai
  3. 1 2 3 4 Do, Thi Van Thanh; Suhartini, Wildan; Mutabazi, Francois; Mutukumira, Anthony N. (August 2020). "Gynura bicolor DC. (Okinawa spinach): A comprehensive review on nutritional constituents, phytochemical compounds, utilization, health benefits, and toxicological evaluation". Food Research International. 134: 109222. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109222. PMID 32517927. S2CID 216497588 – via Elsevier Science Direct.
  4. ↑ "Chinese Kitchen" (PDF). communitycenter.org.tw. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  5. ↑ Tang, Hong, Hope Hui Rising, Manoranjan Majji, and Robert D. Brown. "Long-Term Space Nutrition: A Scoping Review." Nutrients 14, no. 1 (2021): 194.
  6. ↑ "Taking cuttings". GreenTaiwan. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  7. ↑ Chen, J.; Lü, H.; Fang, L. X.; Li, W. L.; Verschaeve, L.; Wang, Z. T.; De Kimpe, N.; Mangelinckx, S. (2017). "Detection and Toxicity Evaluation of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Medicinal Plants Gynura bicolor and Gynura divaricata Collected from Different Chinese Locations. Chen J., Lü H., Fang L.X., Li W.L., Verschaeve L., Wang Z.T., De Kimpe N., Mangelinckx S.. Chem Biodivers. 2017 Feb;14(2). doi: 10.1002/cbdv.201600221. Epub 2017 Jan 21". Chemistry & Biodiversity. 14 (2). doi:10.1002/cbdv.201600221. hdl:1854/LU-8526411. PMID 27623358. S2CID 24700106.
  8. ↑ Teoh, Wuen Yew; Sim, Kae Shin; Richardson, Jaime Stella Moses; Wahab, Norhanom Abdul; Hoe, See Ziau (2013). "Antioxidant Capacity, Cytotoxicity, and Acute Oral Toxicity of Gynura bicolor". Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013: 958407. doi:10.1155/2013/958407. PMC 3867921. PMID 24369485.


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