Kawakawa, a native New Zealand plant, boosts immune health by modulating cytokines and chemokines involved in inflammation.

Kawakawa (macropiper excelsum) is a herbaceous shrub with knobbly joints and branching stems native to New Zealand. It has large heart shaped leaves that are a dark green, and sometimes slightly glossy. It lowers pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6, aiding in chronic inflammation. Kawakawa also affects chemokines like CCL2, recruiting immune cells to infection sites. Its anti-inflammatory properties regulate immune responses and enhance overall wellness, especially beneficial with ageing.

Jayaprakash, R.; Ramzan, F.; Miles-Chan, J.L.; Foster, M.; Mithen, R.F.; Pook, C. “Exploring the Chemical Space of Kawakawa Leaf (Piper excelsum).”,
Nutrients 2022, 14, 5168. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14235168

Ramzan, F.; Jayaprakash, R.; Pook, C.; Foster, M.; Miles-Chan, J.L.; Mithen, R. “Acute Effects of Kawakawa (Piper excelsum) Intake on Postprandial Glycemic and Insulinaemic Response in a Healthy Population.”, Nutrients 2022, 14, 1638. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081638

Ramzan, F.; Jayaprakash, R.; Pook, C.; Foster, M.; Miles-Chan, J.L.; Mithen, R. “Acute Effects of Kawakawa (Piper excelsum) Intake on Postprandial Glycemic and Insulinaemic Response in a Healthy Population.”, Nutrients 2022, 14, 1638. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081638