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Java Tea | | |
Java Tea (Orthosiphon spicatus/Orthosiphon aristatus) is found throughout
Southeast Asia and tropical Australia. The fragmented dried leaves and
stem tips are used medicinally. Java Tea leaves have a dry, salty and
bitter taste. The plant can grow up to three feet and has blue to light
violet flowers. Java tea has been used for kidney and bladder stones,
liver and gallbladder problems, urinary tract infections, and rheumatism.
While it's not exactly clear how java tea works, it has been customarily
thought that some or all of the active compounds within java tea help to
open the ureters - the tubes leading from the kidneys to the bladder -
allowing small stones to be passed. It is for this reason that java tea is
recommended for improved urinary flow and irrigation of the urinary tract.
In vitro and animal studies demonstrate the diuretic,
antihypertensive, and hypoglycemic effects of java tea. However,
comprehensive and conclusive clinical trials are required, and certainly
warranted, for this herb to be confidently prescribed.
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| Common Name | | | Java Tea
| | | Botanical Latin Name / Classification | | | Orthosiphon stamineus
| | | Parts Used | | | Fragmented dried leaves, tops of stems
| | | Other Names | | | Orthosiphon aristatus, Orthosiphon spicatus, Orthosiphon stamineus,
Orthosiphon blaetter, Javatee, Indischer Nierentee, Feuilles de
Barbiflore, de Java, Kidney Tea Plant, The' de Java, Kumis Kucing, Remuk
Jung, Balbas-Pusa, Kabling-Gubat, Ya Nuat Maeo, Rau Meo, Cay Bong Bac., e.
i. kidney, orthosiphon
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| | | Description | | | Found throughout Southeast Asia and tropical Australia, the java tea plant
grows to a height of no more than 3 feet, producing blue to light violet
flowers. Although it looks similar to peppermint, the plant has a dry,
salty, bitter taste. The leaves and stem tips have both been traditionally
used for medicinal purposes.
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| | | Traditional Internal Uses | | | Java tea has been used for its mild diuretic action, useful for flushing
the kidneys and urinary tract.
It has also been used to remove
kidney stones (hard mineral and crystalline materials that form within the
kidney or urinary tract) and to relieve spasms of the smooth muscle in the
walls of the internal organs. This effect may provide relief in problems
associated with the gallbladder and liver.
In addition to flushing
(irrigation) of the urinary system, java tea has also been traditionally
used for internal swelling or inflammation, diabetes, hypertension, and
therosclerosis as well as many other disorders.
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| | | Indications | | | Primary Indications: Urinary Tract Infections and Inflammation, Bladder Infections (Cystitis), Kidney Disorders, Kidney Stones
Secondary Indications: Liver Disorders, Gallbladder Disorders, Gallstones
Other Indications: Hypoglycemia, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Arteriosclerosis / Atherosclerosis, Hypercholesterolemia, Rheumatism, Gout
Primary Indications: Swelling / Inflammation
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| | | Actions | | | Anti-Inflammatory, Anticholesterolemic, Antimicrobial, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Hypotensive (Anti-Hypertensive)
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| | | Constituents / Nutrients | | | Benzochromenes: Orthochromene A,(1) methylripariochromene
A(2) and acetovanillochromene.(1)
Diterpenes:
Isopimarane-type diterpenes (orthosiphonones A and B,(1) orthosiphols A
and B,(3) orthosiphols F, G, H and I(4)), pimarane-type diterpenes
(neoorthosiphols A and B)(5) and staminol A.(4)
Essential
Oil: 0.02-0.7%. Various compounds including Beta-elemene,
Beta-caryophyllene, Alpha-humulene, Beta-caryophyllene oxide, can-2-one
and palmitic acid.(6)
Flavonoids: Sinensetin,
tetramethylscutellarein and other tetramethoxyflavones, eupatorin,
salvigenin, cirsimaritin, pilloin, rhamnazin, trimethylapigenin and
tetramethylluteolin.(7-11) These lipophilic flavonoids are present in
concentrations of approximately 0.2-0.3%;(10) flavonoid glycosides are
also present.
Other Constituents: Caffeic acid and
derivatives (e.g. rosmarinic acid), inositol, phytosterols (e.g.
Beta-sitosterol)(11,12) and potassium salts.
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| | | Pharmacological Summary | | | The reported pharmacological activities of java tea are mainly associated
with the lipophilic flavonoids, benzochromene and, to a lesser extent,
diterpene constituents.
While it's not exactly clear how java tea
works, it has been customarily thought that some or all of these active
compounds within java tea help to open the ureters - the tubes leading
from the kidneys to the bladder - allowing small stones to be
passed.
Although documented scientific evidence from in vitro and
animal studies provides some supportive evidence for some of the
traditional uses of java tea, studies investigating the active principles
responsible for specific pharmacological activities and their mechanisms
of action are necessary.
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| | | Scientific Research and Pharmacologicial Actions | | | In Vitro and Animal Studies
Diuretic
Effects
Several studies in rats have reported diuretic
activity of extracts of O. stamineus and O. aristatus(14-16) and of
flavonoids (sinensetin and a tetramethoxyflavone) isolated from O.
aristatus.(17) Intraperitoneal administration of a hydroalcoholic extract
of O. stamineus to rats caused a significant diuresis over the following
2-24 hours compared with controls.(14) The effect was similar to that
observed following intraperitoneal administration of hydrochlorothiazide
(10 mg/kg).(14) Oral administration of an aqueous extract of O. aristatus
increased ion excretion to a similar extent as did furosemide, although no
diuretic action was noted.(16)
Oral administration of
methylripariochromene A (100 mg/kg) has been shown to increase urinary
volume in fasted rats for three hours after oral administration; the
increase in urine volume was similar to that observed with oral
administration of hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg/kg).(13) Sodium, potassium
and chloride ion excretion was increased with methyl ripariochromene A
(100 mg/kg), although urinary sodium ion excretion did not increase. A
mechanism for the diuretic action of methylripariochromene A has not yet
been elucidated, although it appears to have a different mode of action to
that of hydro chlorothiazide.(13)
Hypoglycaemic
Effects
In normoglycaemic rats, oral administration of an
aqueous extract of O. stamineus (0.5 g/kg) had no significant effect on
fasting blood glucose concentrations over a 7-hour period, although
administration of 1 g/kg produced a significant decrease in blood glucose
concentration compared with that in a control group.(18) A hypoglycaemic
effect was also observed following administration of O. stamineus extract
(1 g/kg) to rats loaded with glucose (1.5 g/kg) and in
streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats; the effect of O. stamineus extract
in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was similar to that observed with
glibenclamide (10 mg/kg).(18)
Antihypertensive
Effects
Methylripariochromene A has been reported to have
several pharmacological actions related to antihypertensive
activity.
In stroke-prone, spontaneously hypertensive rats,
subcutaneous administration of methylripariochromene A (100 mg/kg)
produced a continuous reduction in systolic blood pressure and a decrease
in heart rate. Methylripariochromene A also suppressed agonist-induced
contractions in the rat thoracic aorta and decreased the contractile force
in isolated guinea-pig atria without significantly affecting the beating
(heart) rate. The mechanism of action for these antihypertensive effects
of methylripariochromene A is, however, unclear.(13)
Migrated
pimarane-type diterpenes (neoorthosiphols A and B), isopimarane-type
diterpenes (orthosiphols A and B, orthosiphonones A and B), benzochromenes
(methylripariochromene, aceto vanillochromene, orthochromene A) and
flavones (tetramethylscutellarein, sinensetin) isolated from O. aristatus
have been reported to exhibit a suppressive effect on contractile
responses in the rat thoracic aorta.(19)
Cytostatic
Effects
Sinensetin and tetramethylscutellarein have been
reported to demonstrate in vitro cytostatic activity towards Ehrlich
ascites tumour cells.(10) Growth inhibition appears to be dose dependent,
with 50% inhibition occurring at concentrations of approximately 30 and 15
micrograms/mL for sinensetin and tetramethylscutellarein, respectively.
Orthosiphols A and B have been reported to inhibit inflammation induced by
the tumour promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on mouse
ears.(3)
Fractions of O. stamineus leaves have been reported to
have activity against a melanoma cell line in
vitro.(20)
Antimicrobial Effects
An
aqueous extract of O. aristatus has demonstrated antibacterial activity
against two serotypes of Streptococcus mutans (MIC 7.8-23.4 mg/mL).(21)
Other in vitro studies have reported a lack of antibacterial activity for
flavonoids (sinensetin, tetramethylscutellarein and a tetramethoxyflavone
in concentrations of 10 and 100 micrograms/mL) isolated from O. aristatus
leaves against Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus.(17)
O.
stamineus extract has also been shown to inhibit spore germination in six
out of nine fungal species tested: Saccharomyces pastorianus, Candida
albicans, Rhizopus nigricans, Penicillium digitatum, Fusarium oxysporum
and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.(22)
Other
Effects
In vitro, O. spicatus has been shown to
inhibit 15-lipoxygenase, an enzyme thought to be involved in the
development of atherosclerosis.(11) Furthermore, the flavonoids sinensetin
and tetramethylscutellarein demonstrate dose-dependent inhibition with
IC50 values of 114 +/- 5 and 110 +/- 3 micromoles/L, respectively,
although other flavonoids from O. spicatus appear to be less efficient
inhibitors of 15-lipoxygenase. The inhibitory activity of the whole
extract was greater than could be expected from the activities of each of
its flavonoid constituents, and it has been suggested that synergism may
be occurring.(11) More recent in vitro studies have shown that flavonoids
from O. spicatus prevent oxidative inactivation of 15-lipoxygenase, with
trimethylapigenin, eupatorin and tetramethylluteolin showing the strongest
enzyme-stabilising effects.(23) However, there was no correlation between
enzyme stabilisation and enzyme inhibition.(23)
Clinical
Studies
Early studies reported increases in diuresis in
subjects following the oral administration of extracts of
Orthosiphon.(G52) A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
crossover study reported no effect on 12- and 24-hour urine output or on
sodium excretion in 40 healthy volunteers who received 600 mL of an
infusion of Orthosiphon leaves daily (equivalent to 10 g dried leaves) for
four days.(24) A study involving six healthy volunteers who drank
Orthosiphon tea (250 mL) every 6 hours for one day reported an increase in
urine acidity 6 hours after ingestion.(25)
A study involving 67
patients with uratic diathesis who received java tea for three months
reported that no effects were observed on diuresis, glomerular filtration,
osmotic concentration, urinary pH, plasma content and excretion of
calcium, inorganic phosphorus and uric acid.(26)
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| | | Precautions / Contraindications | | | None known. In view of the lack of clinical data on the use of java tea,
excessive or long-term use should be avoided. Adequate fluid intake (2 L
or more per day) should be ensured whilst using java
tea.
Pregnancy and Lactation
There are no data
available on the use of java tea in pregnancy and lactation. In view of
the lack of toxicity data, use java tea during pregnancy and lactation
should be avoided.
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| | | Interaction with Medications | | | None documented.
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| | | Possible Side Effects | | | Stop taking your medicine right away and talk to your doctor if you have
any of the following side effects. Your medicine may be causing these
symptoms which may mean you are allergic to it.- Breathing problems
or tightness in your throat or chest
- Chest pain
- Skin
hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin
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| | | Dosage | | | Dried material: 2-3 g in 5 fl oz (150 mL) water two to three times
daily as an infusion.
Dried Extract: Java tea capsules
are generally available in strengths that range from 200 to 500 mg. Within
herbal blends, quantities of java tea are significantly smaller.
Typically, a capsule strength of 300 to 500 mg is recommended to be taken
3 times daily.
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| | | References | | | 1. Shibuya H et al. Indonesian medicinal plants. XXII. 1) Chemical
structures of two new isopimarane-type diterpenes, orthosiphonones A
and B, and a new benzochromene, orthochromene A from the leaves of
Orthosiphon aristatus (Lamiaceae). Chem Pharm Bull 1999; 47:
695-698.
2. Guerin J-C, Reveillere H-P. Orthosiphon stamineus as a potent
source of methylripariochromene A. J Nat Prod 1989; 52: 171-173.
3. Masuda T et al. Orthosiphol A and B, novel diterpenoid
inhibitors of TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate)-induced
inflammation, from Orthosiphon stamineus. Tetrahedron 1992; 48:
6787-6792.
4. Stampoulis P et al. Staminol A, a novel diterpene from
Orthosiphon stamineus. Tetrahedron Lett 1999; 40: 4239-4242.
5. Shibuya H et al. Two novel migrated pimarane-type diterpenes,
neoorthosiphols A and B, from the leaves of Orthosiphon aristatus
(Lamiaceae). Chem Pharm Bull 1999; 47: 911-912.
6. Schut G, Zwaving JH. Content and composition of the essential
oil of Orthosiphon aristatus. Planta Med 1986; 52: 240-241.
7. Bombardelli E et al. Flavonoid constituents of Orthosiphon
stamineus. Fitoterapia 1972; 43: 35.
8. Schneider G, Tan HS. Die lipophilen Flavone von Folia
Orthosiphonis. Dtsch Apoth Ztg 1973; 113: 201.
9. Wollenweber E, Mann K. Weitere Flavonoide aus Orthosiphon
spicatus. Planta Med 1985; 51: 459-460.
10. Malterud KE et al. Flavonoids from Orthosiphon spicatus. Planta
Med 1989; 55: 569-570.(PubMed)
11. Lyckander IM, Malterud KE. Lipophilic flavonoids from
Orthosiphon spicatus as inhibitors of 15-lipoxygenase. Acta Pharm
Nord 1992; 4: 159-166.
12. Sumaryono W et al. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the
phenolic constituents from Orthosiphon aristatus. Planta Med 1991;
57: 176-180.
13. Matsubara T et al. Antihypertensive actions of
methylripariochromene A from Orthosiphon aristatus, an Indonesian
traditional medicinal plant. Biol Pharm Bull 1999; 22:
1083-1088.(PubMed)
14. Beaux D et al. Effect of extracts of Orthosiphon stamineus
Benth, Hieracium pilosella L., Sambucus nigra L., and Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. in rats. Phytother Res 1998; 12: 498-501.
15. Casadebaig-Lafon J. Elaboration d'extraits v‚g‚taux adsorb‚s,
r‚alisation d'extraits secs d'Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. Pharm
Acta Helv 1989; 64: 220-224.(PubMed)
16. Englert J, Harnischfeger G. Diuretic action of aqueous
Orthosiphon extract in rats. Planta Med 1992; 58: 237-238.(PubMed)
17. Schut GA, Zwaving JH. Pharmacological investigation of some
lipophilic flavonoids from Orthosiphon aristatus. Fitoterapia 1993;
64: 99-102.
18. Mariam A et al. Hypoglycaemic activity of the aqueous extract of
Orthosiphon stamineus. Fitoterapia 1996; 67: 465-468.
19. Ohashi K et al. Indonesian medicinal plants. XXIII. 1) Chemical
structures of two new migrated pimarane-type diterpenes,
neoorthosiphols A and B, and suppressive effects on rat thoracic
aorta of chemical constituents isolated from the leaves of
Orthosiphon aristatus (Lamiaceae). Chem Pharm Bull 2000; 48:
433-435.(PubMed)
20. Estevez NA. Fractions of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. leaves
with antitumour activity. Preliminary results. Rev Cuba Farm 1980;
14: 21.
21. Chen C-P et al. Screening of Taiwanese drugs for antibacterial
activity against Steptococcus mutans. J Ethnopharmacol 1989; 27:
285-295.(PubMed)
22. Guerin J-C, Reveillere H-P. Antifungal activity of plant
extracts used in therapy. II. Study of 40 plant extracts against 9
fungi species. Ann Pharm Franc 1985; 43: 77-81.
23. Lyckander IM, Malterud KE. Lipophilic flavonoids from
Orthosiphon spicatus prevent oxidative inactivation of
15-lipoxygenase. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1996; 54:
239-246.
24. Du Dat D et al. Studies on the individual and combined diuretic
effects of four Vietnamese traditional herbal remedies (Zea mays,
Imperata cylindrica, Plantago major and Orthosiphon stamineus). J
Ethnopharmacol 1992; 36: 225-231.(PubMed)
25. Nirdnoy M, Muangman V. Effects of Folia orthosiphonis on urinary
stone promoters and inhibitors. J Med Assoc Thailand 1991; 74:
319-321.
26. Tiktinsky OL, Bablumyan YA. The therapeutic effect of Java Tea
and Equisetum arvense in patients with uratic diathesis. Urol Nefrol
1983; 48: 47-50.
27. Schier W, Schultze W. Current falsifications of drugs. Part 5:
Betulae folium, Orthosiphonis folium, Sarothamni scoparii flos,
Chenopodii ambrosiodis herba and Lichen islandicus. Dtsch Apoth Ztg
1994; 134: 25-26, 29-32.
28. Van Eijk JL. Eupatorium riparii as a falsification for
Orthosiphon stamineus. Pharm Week 1980; 115:
13.
Our thanks to the following information resources:
MedicinesComplete.com and Healthtouch.com.
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| | 18 total products | | | Java Tea (Read all about Java Tea.)
Botanical Latin Name: Orthosiphon stamineus
Plant Part: Fragmented dried leaves, tops of stems | |
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Java Tea - Health - Java Tea (Orthosiphon) Powder
4 oz / 114 g
20.67 US
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Java Tea - Health - Java Tea (Orthosiphon) Powder
1 oz / 28 g
10.34 US
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Java Tea - Health - Extra Strength Java Tea (Orthosiphon) 4:1 Extract Powder
4 oz / 114 g
55.22 US
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Java Tea - Health - Extra Strength Java Tea (Orthosiphon) 4:1 Extract Powder
1 oz / 28 g
19.71 US
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Java Tea - Health - Diuretic Formula Powder - Java Tea & Horsetail
4 oz / 114 g
17.42 US
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Java Tea - Health - Diuretic Formula Powder - Java Tea & Horsetail
1 oz / 28 g
9.45 US
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Java Tea - Health - Diuretic Formula Tea - Java Tea & Horsetail
25 tea bags
11.61 US
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Java Tea - Health - Diuretic Formula Tea - Java Tea & Horsetail
50 tea bags
17.61 US
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Java Tea - Health - Extra Strength Java Tea 4:1 Extract Cream
2 oz / 57 g
26.72 US
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Java Tea - Health - Extra Strength Java Tea 4:1 Extract Salve / Ointment
2 oz / 57 g
23.12 US
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Java Tea - Health - Fat Burning Complex - Java Tea & Garcinia Cambogia - Powder
4 oz / 114 g
19.91 US
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Java Tea - Health - Fat Burning Complex - Java Tea & Garcinia Cambogia - Powder
1 oz / 28 g
10.13 US
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
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