Ligustrum japonicum, also known as Japanese privet or wax leaf privet, is an evergreen shrub native to Japan and Korea where the plant is used as herbal medicine. It has white flowers that bloom in early summer. The purple black berries are oval drupes that ripe in early winter. The species is closely related to L. lucidum, known as Chinese privet, differing in its smaller size and elongated oval fruits. The dried berries of both species are used as tonic for kidney and liver in Traditional Oriental Medicine in East Asian countries. They are known to have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-tumor and anti-aging activities. Several secoiridoid glucosides including ligulucidumosides , nuezhenide , and oleuropein from the fruits were isolated. Recent studies

demonstrated that the fruits of L. japonicum have anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkle activities as well as anti-oxidant activity.