Disclaimer: The findings discussed are lab based and further studies need to be done.

Have you ever wondered what parts of the maple tree, besides the sap, have amazing health benefits?

With ongoing research into the world of maple products, researchers continuously are amazed at what they are finding. The research initiatives to ‘map’ compounds in each part of the maple plant have found health benefits in places beyond just the sap. For example, researchers are thinking outside the box and asking questions like, “Does the maple stem have any health benefits?” Initially, you might think ‘no’ but the beautiful mystery of maple allows the answer to be ‘yes’!

That is right, researchers at the University of Rhode Island looked into the health benefits of maple stems and the results were full of promise. Analytic research methods were used to isolate and examine the compounds within red maple stems (Acer rubrum). This resulted in the discovery of multiple glucose-regulating and antioxidant compounds.

Specifically, the research compared one of the molecules discovered to a well-known Type II diabetes drug ‘Acarbose’. While the chemical structures are very similar, the maple stems contained 20 times more potency of this chemical than the pharmaceutical drug itself. This finding of a natural, more potent compound could be very favorable in the future of diabetes management.

The study also examined antioxidant activity and found many of these compounds were better than other common antioxidants, such as Vitamin C. This finding could allow these powerful antioxidants to be incorporated into medicines and natural supplements.

Who would have thought that something as ‘simple as the stem’ could hold compounds with an abundance of health advantages!

Reference: Wan C, Yuan T, Li L, Kandhi V, Cech NB, Xie M, Seeram NP. Maplexins, new α-glucosidase inhibitors from red maple (Acer rubrum) stems. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2012 Jan 1;22(1):597-600. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.10.073. Epub 2011 Oct 28. PMID: 22079755.

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