Angelica keiskei (Miq.) Koidz.

Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) is a biennial or perennial herb up to 1.5 meters tall from the Apiaceae family, a plant endemic to Japan known as one of the secrets of Japanese longevity. Its leaves are used in soba, tempura, and herbal tea, rich in vitamins, minerals, and chlorophyll. Research shows ashitaba has anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, and antidiabetic activity.

Ashitaba is a plant that grows wild in barren, rocky, sandy areas, and in humid coastal habitats. In Indonesia, ashitaba plants grow well in cool-climate areas at elevations above 500 m asl. This species prefers deep, fertile, moist, well-drained soil, and can grow in shaded places, but is also able to survive in open areas or exposed to light.

• Roots fibrous and in its development will undergo modification into tuber-shaped roots that make the root appear to have a taproot system. Young roots are whitish-yellowish to light brown and turn dark brown when mature. Rhizome thick and short, with a few elongated roots.
• Stem soft, watery, hairless, round shape, jointed and grooved, green, growing perpendicular, if cut will exude yellow sap.
• Leaves compound, leaflets have 3-7 leaflets, glossy green, leaf shape like celery, deltoid, hairless, base and tip of leaf tapering, leaf margin serrated, pinnate veins. Aromatic like ginseng when the leaf is crushed.
• Flowers hermaphroditic (male and female organs in one flower), small, white petals arranged in a radiating pattern found in a single plane. Inflorescence type is a compound umbel, flower arrangement grows at the stem tip.
• Fruit a schizocarp consisting of 2 mericarps that separate when ripe, oblong shape, hairless, short and somewhat thick dorsal ribs, lateral ribs winged.
• Seeds oblong, pointed at both ends, green and turning brown when old, seed coat fused with the pericarp, endosperm oily.

• Propagation is done generatively using seeds, by soaking them first before sowing. Soaking is done in cold water overnight then drained.
• During the nursery period, the sand is kept moist and after about 15 days, the seeds will germinate. After being about 2 months old, the seedlings can be transplanted to the field.
• Harvesting can be done at 4-6 months of age.

Furocoumarins, psoralen, bergapten, xanthotoxin, angelicin, 1-cerotol, daucosterol, stigmasterol, quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin-7-rhamno-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-α-D-glucopyranoside, steviol-13-O-β-glucopyranoside 19-β-glucopyranosyl ester octaacetate, chalcone compounds (2′,4′,4-trihydroxy-3′-[2-hydroxy-7-methyl-3-methylene-6-octaenyl]chalcone, 2′,4′,4-trihydroxy-3′-geranylchalcone, 2′,4′,4-trihydroxy-3′-[6-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,7-octadienyl]chalcone, 2′,4-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy-3′-[2-hydroperoxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl]chalcone, 2′,4-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy-3′-geranylchalcone, and 2′,4-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy-3′-[3-methyl-3-butenyl]chalcone), chalcones 4-hydroxyderricin, xanthoangelol.

External treatment of smallpox, treats intestinal disorders, dysuria, arthritis, menstrual problems, chronic hepatitis, diabetes, asthma, colds, high blood pressure, anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, infertility, shoulder stiffness, nerve pain, hemorrhoids, increases breast milk, boosts the body's natural immunity, slows skin aging, helps with weight loss, addresses acne. Has diuretic, laxative, analeptic (respiratory stimulant), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, blood-cleansing, anticoagulant, antimutagenic, antibacterial, anticancer, and hepatoprotective properties.

• Prepare fresh ashitaba stem, wash clean with running water.
• Cut the stem into pieces to make drying easier.
• Dry under sunlight or with an oven at 40 °C until moisture content reaches 10%.
• Blend into powder.
• Store in a clean, airtight place.

Seledri jepang.