Herbal Supplement from Geum japonicum Helps the Heart Grow New Blood Vessels
Heart disease remains a leading health threat worldwide, often caused by clogged arteries that starve the heart of blood. In chronic coronary heart disease (cCHD) – a long-term form of heart disease – arteries gradually narrow and reduce blood flow, leaving portions of the heart muscle oxygen-deprived 1 . Traditional treatments like stents or bypass surgery focus on opening large arteries, but these options don’t help when small vessels are diseased or an artery is completely blocked.
In fact, patients with small artery blockages or untreatable obstructions currently have no drug or therapy that can spur new blood vessels to reroute blood around the blockage 2 . This is why researchers have been searching for a new approach that addresses the root problem: restoring blood flow by growing new vessels to bypass clogged arteries 3 .
Nature’s Heart-Healing Herb: Geum japonicum
Geum japonicum, also known as Asian herb bennet, is a yellow-flowering herb long used in traditional medicine for ailments like dizziness and headaches 4 . Modern studies have revealed a surprising range of benefits from this plant – from anti-viral properties to cardiovascular effects 4 . Now, scientists are harnessing Geum japonicum in a new way: to heal the heart. An extract from this herb has shown remarkable heart health benefits in research, potentially acting as a natural therapy for improving blood flow and heart function.
How does it work? The secret lies in an “active fraction” isolated from Geum japonicum (scientifically termed AFGJ). This purified herbal fraction is rich in natural polyphenols (health-promoting plant compounds) 5 and is designed to stimulate angiogenesis – the growth of new blood vessels – within the heart. By encouraging the heart to sprout new tiny blood vessels (called collateral vessels) in areas with poor circulation, the supplement aims to create a natural bypass around narrowed or blocked arteries. In essence, it helps the heart heal itself by rebuilding its own microvascular network.
Benefits of Geum japonicum Supplement for Heart Health
- GrowsNew Coronary Vessels (Angiogenesis): Stimulates the formation of new capillaries and
small arteries, improving blood supply to heart muscle 6 . In studies, AFGJ prompted growth of new coronary collaterals ranging from 21–210 µm in diameter – essentially helping create new pathways for blood flow 6 .
- ImprovesMicrovascular Circulation:By increasing these tiny vessels, the extract restores oxygen and nutrient delivery to starved heart tissue 7 . This enhanced microcirculation revitalizes areas that were previously ischemic (blood-deprived), supporting tissue recovery.
- RestoresHeartFunction: With better blood flow, the heart can pump more effectively. Treated
hearts showed significantly stronger pumping ability (ejection fraction improved from ~60% to ~74% in research models) 8 . Even ECG readings – specifically the S-T segment, an indicator of heart
muscle oxygenation 一 returned toward normal in treated subjects, a sign that the heart muscle was receiving blood again 9 . In contrast, untreated hearts remained weak and oxygen-starved.
- Natural “Bypass” AroundBlockages: The new vessels act like tiny bypass routes around clogged
arteries, offering an alternative path for blood to reach heart muscle 10 . This is especially promising for patients who aren’t candidates for stents or bypass surgery due to the location of their
blockages 10 . AFGJ’s vessel-growing effect addresses the root cause of the problem (lack of blood flow), rather than just relieving symptoms.
- ComplementtoConventional Therapy: As a plant-derived supplement, this approach could work alongside standard medications. Current drugs for cCHD (like beta-blockers, nitrates, or statins)
mainly manage symptoms or prevent worsening, but none can actually grow new arteries in the heart 2 . Geum japonicum’s active extract offers a novel, biological way to repair the heart by
building new infrastructure (blood vessels), potentially boosting the effectiveness of existing
treatments.
Scientific Evidence: New Vessels, Better Blood Flow
A breakthrough study published in Scientific Reports demonstrated the heart-healing power of Geum japonicum extract in a preclinical model of chronic heart disease 6 . Researchers gave AFGJ to rats with cCHD (simulating chronically narrowed coronary arteries) to see if it could encourage the heart to grow new vessels. The results were striking. Treated hearts grew a dense network of new microvessels and small arteries, almost restoring the blood vessel coverage to that of a healthy heart 11 . This surge in new vessels provided direct evidence of angiogenesis and formed the physical basis for improving blood flow in the diseased hearts 12 .
Microscopic images of heart tissue show the difference: hearts treated with the Geum japonicum fraction sprouted far more small blood vessels (blue arrows) in the once-ischemic region, nearly reaching normal vessel density, whereas untreated hearts had very few vessels. 13 This robust growth of new capillaries and arterioles dramatically increased blood supply to the affected heart muscle, allowing oxygen and nutrients to fuel recovery
.
With blood flow restored, heart function rebounded. Treated animals’hearts pumped stronger and more efficiently than the untreated group. In fact, two weeks after receiving the Geum japonicum extract, measures of cardiac performance showed major improvement: the left ventricular ejection fraction (a key indicator of pumping capacity) jumped significantly in the treated group (as noted, around 74% vs 60% in controls) 8 . The treated hearts also had near-normal ECG patterns, whereas the control hearts still showed signs of ischemia (poor blood flow) 9 . In simple terms, the herbal supplement helped the heart beat more normally again by curing the “silent starvation” of the heart muscle. Researchers observed these benefits with oral administration of the extract, meaning it was effective as a supplement given by mouth 14 一 a convenient route for potential therapy.
A New Hope for Patients with Heart Disease
The implications of this herbal supplement are exciting. By effectively re-growing coronary microvessels, AFGJ could offer a new therapeutic avenue for chronic coronary heart disease 6 . Importantly, this approach targets patients who have limited options today 一 for example, those with diffuse small artery disease or completely blocked arteries that surgeons and cardiologists cannot easily bypass or stent 15 . In such cases, helping the heart develop its own bypass network of vessels could be life-changing. As the study
authors noted, AFGJ’s ability to stimulate new collateral arteries is “critically important” for treating patients with small-vessel blockages, providing a solution where conventional procedures fail 11 .
Because it’s derived from a natural source, this supplement might be used as a complementary therapy alongside standard care. Patients on medications for angina or heart failure could potentially take the Geum japonicum extract to actively improve their coronary circulation over time, addressing the root cause (poor blood perfusion) rather than just managing symptoms. This dual strategy – standard care plus vessel- growing supplement – could enhance overall heart health and possibly reduce episodes of chest pain by truly rehabilitating the heart’s blood supply network.
Looking Ahead
While these findings are based on preclinical research, they pave the way for future clinical trials to test the supplement’s benefits in people. The prospect of an herbal supplement that helps “rebuild” the heart’s microvasculature is a novel and promising concept in cardiovascular medicine. It represents a shift from merely treating symptoms to actively regenerating the heart’s own plumbing system. For patients with chronic coronary heart disease, this could mean improved exercise capacity, less chest discomfort, and a better quality of life – all from a natural product.
In summary, the active fraction of Geum japonicum (AFGJ) has emerged as a bright new candidate in heart health. By promoting angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth) in the ischemic heart, it boosts microvascular circulation and helps restore cardiac function 6 . This unique mechanism offers hope as an alternative or complementary treatment for heart disease, potentially achieving what current drugs cannot – healing the heart from within. As research progresses, we may soon see this traditional herb-based supplement becoming a modern heart therapy, giving patients a safe and natural way to strengthen their hearts and reclaim cardiovascular well-being 16 .
Sources: Scientific research findings from Scientific Reports and others on Geum japonicum 6 10 , highlighting the supplement’s angiogenic effects, improved heart function, and its role as a potential therapy for coronary heart disease.
1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Reconstitution of coronary vasculature by an active fraction of Geum japonicum in ischemic hearts | Scientific Reports
4 Frontiers | Geum japonicum Thunb. exhibits anti-platelet activity via the regulation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1538417/full