Broussonetia kazinoki

Ethnobotanical Uses

Broussonetia kazinoki is used medicinally in several East Asian traditions, most commonly as an infusion or decoction. In Chinese folk medicine of the Hakka region, a decoction of the leaves and tender stems is taken for intestinal complaints; in Taiwan’s Taiwan Herbal Pharmacopoeia, a related traditional use of the inner bark is as an astringent antidiarrheal; and in regional Japanese herbals, the inner bark is simmered in water to make a bitter decoction taken for cough and other internal conditions (Zhang 2013; Taiwan Herbal Pharmacopoeia 2019; Zhang et al. 2022). Among populations of northern Vietnam, leaves have been consumed as a tea to relieve diarrhea (Nguyen and Nguyen 2016). For skin application, a traditional poultice of the inner bark is applied to wounds or ulcerations in parts of southern China (Zhang 2013).

A practical preparation widely reported is a leaf or young-shoot tea for gastrointestinal upset. Use 5–8 g of fresh leaves (or 3–5 g of dried material) with 200–250 mL water just off the boil. Cover and steep 8–12 minutes, then strain. Drink 1 cup 1–3 times daily for no more than 1 week unless directed by a practitioner. Note that official toxicity data for Broussonetia kazinoki are limited, and the leaf tea is considered traditionally safe in moderate use, though large or prolonged use and use during pregnancy or lactation are not advised without qualified supervision (Zhang 2013; Zhang et al. 2022).

Phytochemistry of the species has been less studied than that of Broussonetia papyrifera, but extracts of the leaves and bark consistently contain flavonoids (for example quercetin and kaempferol derivatives) and lignans (pinoresinol-type compounds), which can provide mild astringent and antioxidant activity consistent with the traditional uses for diarrhea and minor skin care (Li et al. 2021; Zhang et al. 2022).

Modern relevance is modest: B. kazinoki remains available regionally as a simple tea or dried bark and as a cultivated ornamental, and current research focuses on the related B. papyrifera, with ongoing interest in its flavonoids and lignans as sources for antimicrobial and antidiabetic screening (Zhang et al. 2022).

Common products:
The principal product is bast fiber from the phloem used to make paper. In Japan the fiber yields kozo (paper mulberry) papers, often labeled “koyamashi” in the Iwata region, valued for strength, opacity, and absorbency. Small-dimension wood and craft items are also made from the trunk and branches.

Industrial and craft applications:
Bast fiber is processed by retting, decortication, and beating to produce handmade sheets and molds. The fiber’s high alpha-cellulose content, long individual fibers, and low lignin/hemicellulose levels support cohesive sheet formation and wet-web strength; these characteristics also enable thin, translucent papers and papier-mâché-like laminates for craft uses. The wood, with relatively low density and moderate hardness, is suitable for carving and small turned objects.

Wood and fiber:
Fiber bundles are separated into individual fibers by chemical or mechanical methods and formed into sheet structures with interstitial voids that promote capillary flow. The long fiber length distributes tensile stresses across the sheet matrix, enhancing tear resistance. The wood’s moderate hardness and low-to-moderate density allow shaping and joinery suitable for small items and tools.

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