Bernama.com (Malaysian National News Agency), 18 March, 2007
Tongkat Ali, Kacip Fatimah, Misai Kucing Popular In Japan
By Alan Ting
TOKYO, March 18 (Bernama) -- Names like tongkat ali, kacip fatimah and misai kucing may not be familiar to the Japanese.
But these herbs with their scientific names, Eurycoma longifolia (tongkat ali), Labisia pumila (kacip fatimah) and Orthosiphon stamineus (misai kucing) are among those that have penetrated the highly competitive Japanese market.
"The three herbs are popular here. They are mainly marketed in the capsule or natural form," said the Tokyo director of the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz.
He said the three herbal products were introduced to the Japanese market some years ago in different forms by a number of importers.
"This was because they were not categorised as herbal products as Japan has very tight regulations for the products to be termed as such.
"The process of getting approval for herbal products is very stringent," he said, adding that products categorised as herbal had to go through costly scientific studies and analyses.
"Hence, the easier way is by marketing these herbal items as natural products for health.
"This is because the Japanese tend to favour natural products while placing much importance on health. Thus, herbs like tongkat ali, kacip fatimah and misai kucing have great potential in Japan."
He said Matrade was making efforts to find new markets for more Malaysian health products to be sold in this land of the rising sun.
Tongkat ali is well-known in the Southeast-Asian region for its testosterone-enhancing ability to improve desire and sexual initiation.
Currently, several local and international research institutes and higher learning institutions are actively conducting clinical studies on these products.
A study by Universiti Sains Malaysia has discovered that these herbs could be used to treat various ailments.
Tongkat Ali is also being researched for its possibility as an anti-cancer supplement.
A study by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Fukuyama University in Japan a few years ago found that anti-hypertensive substance in the leaves of the misai kucing could reduce high blood pressure.
-- BERNAMA
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