GENERAL
Mamaki (Pipturus albidus) grows as a shrub or small tree in Hawaii, more specifically on the Hawaiian islands of Kaua' i, O' ahu, Lani' i, Moloka' i, and Hawai' i [1]. The shrub belongs to the nettle family and is also called "Hawaiian nettle". Only unlike our stinging nettle, mamaki does not have a stinging hairs. Mamaki is often found in marginal areas of moist forests or clearings. The texture of mamaki leaves ranges from thin and limp to firm and leathery. On the underside, the leaf veins are usually green, reddish, or purple (see Krauss 1993: 228).
Mamaki is commercially available as a tea in Hawaii and grows exclusively in Hawaii. The fruits of the "Hawaiian nettle" are said to taste bland to slightly sweet, with the leaves coloring the tea blood red and it tasting sweeter the longer you steep it.
In addition, mamaki is one of the best plants to provide food for the 2 only native butterfly species, namely the Kamehameha butterfly and the Koa butterfly [2].
THE HAWAIIAN KAHUNA
In the past, there were several types of specialists among Hawaiian healers. The Kahuna La' au Lapa' au is the specialist who performs treatments with herbs. Hawaiians used to believe that illnesses were a result of the loss of "mana" (=spiritual power of a person). Reasons for illness could be, among others, the intrusion of malevolent spirits into the body, the displeasure of ancestors, or resentment, hatred and jealousy on the part of other people. For example, it was the job of the Kahuna Kuehu to expel evil spirits. Or the Kahuna Haha was also called to determine the nature of the disease. When these kahunas had done their duty, the kahuna La' au Lapa' au usually began his treatment.
The kahunas who specialized in treatment with herbs and plants often completed a long apprenticeship, usually beginning in adolescence. It was a great honor to be chosen as an apprentice, and sometimes the son of a chief was chosen for this very purpose (see Krauss 1993: 100).
The kahuna La' au Lapa' au usually administered the medicinal herbs in a preparation that almost always included salt and red clay. At the end of the period of medication, it was customary for the Kahuna La' au Lapa' au to give a mild laxative, such as possibly the juice of the kukui fruit (see Krauss 1993: 101).
Since the early 20th century, no traditional Kahuna La' au Lapa' au have been found in Hawaii, as there was no one left to train others. However, some of the knowledge and practices of these kahunas have survived in Hawaiian folk medicine (see Krauss 1993: 103).
TRADITIONAL USES
Among other things, mamaki was given to women to facilitate childbirth (see Kartika et al. 2007: 696). In addition, the fruits of this plant were also given to children as a preventive against a disease called `ea (a type of candidiasis). If the mother was 5 months pregnant, then she ate the mamaki fruit until the 8th or 9th month of pregnancy. After the baby was born, the mother chewed the fruits and gave them to the baby until it could chew the fruits by itself. The child then usually ate the fruit until it was 1 year old.
Tea from mamaki leaves was also used in Hawaii in the past for listlessness. Tea was prepared from fresh leaves and spring water, and hot stones were added to heat the water. The tea was drunk as a tonic against general weakness or lack of strength (see Krauss 2001: 86).
In earlier times, the fruit was also used to help heal abrasions. In addition, the small white fruits were sometimes given to children as a mild laxative [2].
Modern uses of mamaki tea include regulation of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels (see Kartika et al. 2007: 696). Furthermore, a tea made from fresh or dried mamaki leaves is said to help against stomach, intestinal, bladder and liver problems and also against depression [2].
In addition, tapa (or kapa) was also made from the fibrous bark of mamaki. These were traditional garments and blankets, which were very skillfully decorated by hand (see Neich et al. 1997: 91).
SIDE EFFECTS
Under certain circumstances, mamaki tea can cause restlessness and insomnia in some people. It is also possible that excessive consumption could cause diarrhea. For example, the fruits of Hawaiian nettle have been given to children as a mild laxative [2].
PHARMACOLOGY
In one study, anti-viral activity of a mamaki extract against herpes simplex-1 virus was observed. In addition, reduced growth was also observed in vesicular stomatitis virus. Methanol extracts of mamaki leaves also showed some anti-bacterial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, some anti-fungal activity was also observed (see Locher et al. 1995: 27ff).
Methanol and water extracts of Pipturus albidus also showed some inhibition of HIV type 1 growth in another study (see Locher et al. 1996: 260).
In another study, different Mamaki varieties were distinguished and the different amounts of phenolic acids of these varieties were investigated. A distinction was made between: a variety with purple leaf veins and purple leaves, a variety with green veins and green leaves, a hybrid with green leaves and purple veins, and the "Panaewa Variety", with green leaves and light red veins (see Kartika et al. 2011: 44f).
Chlorogenic acid, catechins and rutin were the phenolic acids found mainly in Mamaki tea. The purple variety had the highest content of catechins, while the "Panaewa Variety" had the lowest.
Catechins are also found in green tea, among other things, and are said to have an effect against cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. Chlorogenic acid is found, for example, in certain vegetables and in blueberries. Rutin is found, among other things, in red wine, the skin of tomatoes and buckwheat and, like catechin and chlorogenic acid, has an antioxidant effect (see Kartika et al. 2007: 696).
Sources:
Kartika, H. et al. (2007): Major Phenolic Acids and Total Antioxidant Activity in Mamaki Leaves, Pipturus albidus. In: Journal of Food Science 72 (9): 696-701.
Kartika, H. et al. (2011): Nutrient and mineral composition of dried mamaki leaves (Pipturus albidus) and infusions. In: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 24: 44-48.
Krauss, Beatrice (1993): Plants in Hawaiian Culture. USA: University of Hawaii Press.
Krauss, Beatrice (2001): Plants in Hawaiian Medicine. USA: The Bess Press Inc.
Locher, C.P. et al. (1995): Anti-microbial activity and anti-complement activity of extracts obtained from selected Hawaiian medicinal plants. In: Journal of Ethnopharmacology 49: 23-32.
Locher, C.P. et al. (1996): Antiviral acitivity of Hawaiian medicinal plants against human immunedeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1). In: Phytomedicine 2 (3): 259-264.
Neich, Roger et al. (1997): Traditional tapa textiles of the Pacific. Auckland: David Bateman Ltd.
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