Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals

Wednesday, 2 August 2017

Herbal Therapy: Andrographis Paniculata, a Neuroprotective Whole Herb Medicine

Good news for aging people with neurodegenerative diseases, Andrographis paniculata possesses potent anti-inflammatory activity in expression of neurodegenration a study of renowned institute suggested.

Andrographis paniculata, also known as Andrographis is a herbaceous plant, genus Andrographis, belonging to the family Acanthaceae, native to India and Sri Lanka, used in traditional Siddha and Ayurvedic in treating the common cold, flu, upper respiratory infections, infectious diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, pneumonia,......

Andrographolide, a major phytochemical isolated from Andrographis paniculata, exerted a significant anti neuro deficits in reduced infarct volume with a maximum reduction of approximately 50% at dose of 0.1 mg·kg(-1).

According to the National University of Singapore, the efficacy of the chemical compound in neuroprotective effects is the result of suppression of NF-κB, a protein in regulated cell survival and function of microglia in activated in response to brain injuries and immunological stimuli together with the reduction in the production of inflammatory cytokines.

Dr. Chan SJ, the lead research said, "Andrographolide, given i.p. 1 h after pMCAO, reduced infarct volume with a maximum reduction of approximately 50% obtained at 0.1 mg·kg(-1)".

Octodon degus (degu) is the only wild-type South American rodent that develops Alzheimer's-like pathology with age. the progression of AD in these animals is associated with aging on the loss of cognitive function, causing a decrease in the synaptic functions and an increase in the main hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Natural product (Andrographolide, ANDRO), administered to aged degus (56-month old) for 3 months, in compared 2 control groups (young degus: 12-month old and aged degus: 56-month old), showed a recovery of spatial memory and learning performance, synaptic basal transmission; and enhancing the neuroprotective effect,through reduced phosphorylated tau protein and reduced amyloid beta aggregate maturation in involving neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Andrographolide, ANDRO treated subjects.

Taking together, Andrographis could be used as a functional food in potential therapy for AD associated to neural damage due to aging processes and neuropathological hallmarks of aging-related diseases such as AD.

Back to Kyle J. Norton Home page http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca

Sources
(1) Neuroprotective effects of andrographolide in a rat model of permanent cerebral ischaemia by Chan SJ1, Wong WS, Wong PT, Bian JS(PubMed)
(2) Andrographolide recovers cognitive impairment in a natural model of Alzheimer's disease (Octodon degus) by Rivera DS1, Lindsay C2, Codocedo JF2, Morel I3, Pinto C2, Cisternas P4, Bozinovic F5, Inestrosa NC6.(PubMed)

Herbal Therapy: Green tea, the Best Anti Depression Functional Whole Food

Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrients
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published on line, including world wide health, ezine articles, article base, healthblogs, selfgrowth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bio science, ISSN 0975-6299.

The use of plants for healing purposes have been predated long before the existence of modern medicine. Herbal plants have formed a fundamental source for conventional medicine in discovery of single ingredient medication, including aspirin (from willow bark), quinine (from cinchona bark), and morphine (from the opium poppy)......

Green tea is found to consist a psychological effect in patients with depression, a renowned institute study suggested

Depression is a normal response as part of our daily lives such as the loss of s job, the death of a love one, and illness, affecting the way you eat, sleep, and the way you feel about yourself. Over 30 million Americans suffer from depression and the amount is increasing in an alarming rate.

Green tea, a precious drink processes numbers of health benefit known to almost everyone in Asia and Western world. However, as yin in nature herbal medicine or food, long term injection of large amounts may obstruct the balance of yin-yang, induced "yin excessive syndrome" or "yang vacuity syndrome" including weaken immunity and painful case of GERD,... according to traditional Chinese medicine's Yin-Yang theory.

In a cross-sectional study of consumption of green tea and coffee ascertained with a validated dietary questionnaire and the amount of caffeine intake estimated from these beverages, green tea consumption is associated to reduce symptoms of depression, depending to amount of intake.

In comparison to amount intake of participants, the study also found that participants consumed ≥4 cups green tea/d had a 51% significantly lower prevalence odds of having depressive symptoms than those consumed less than 1 cup/d.

Dr. Pham NM, the lead author in the study said, "higher consumption of green tea, coffee and caffeine may confer protection against depression".

In vivo, green tea(GT) and GABA green tea (GGT) also expressed a protective activity of against post-stroke depression (PSD), a common consequence of stroke, according to joint study lead by the Pavia University.

In a mouse model of post-stroke depression, GGT and GT enhance the activity in the modulation of depressive symptoms through decrease oxidative stress, increased antioxidant endogenous defenses, including polyphenol, theanine, glutamine, etc......

Furthermore, in the review of Embase, PubMed, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases from their inception through August 2014, tea consumption of more than 3 cups a day showed a significant decrease in the risk of depression of 37% (RR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.55-0.71), in compared to individuals with lower tea consumption and those with higher tea consumption.

Taking together, there is no doubt, green tea may be used as a functional food in reduced symptoms and risk of depression if consumes daily. However, oral administration of large amount daily should be taken with care, particular to people with yin constituent.

Back to Kyle J. Norton Home page http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca

Sources
(1) Green tea and coffee consumption is inversely associated with depressivesymptoms in a Japanese working population by Pham NM1, Nanri A1, Kurotani K1, Kuwahara K1, Kume A1, Sato M2, Hayabuchi H3, Mizoue T1.(PubMed)
(2) Antidepressive-like effects and antioxidant activity of green tea and GABA green tea in a mouse model of post-stroke depression by Di Lorenzo A1, Nabavi SF2, Sureda A3, Moghaddam AH4, Khanjani S4, Arcidiaco P5, Nabavi SM2, Daglia M1.(PubMed)
(3) Effect of green tea on reward learning in healthy individuals: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study by Zhang Q1, Yang H, Wang J, Li A, Zhang W, Cui X, Wang K.(PubMed)

Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Food Therapy: Kidney beans ( Phaseolus), The Whole Food in Reduced Risk and Treatment of Diabetes

Diabetes is a medical condition caused by insufficient insulin entering the bloodstream to regulate the glucose, as the result of cells in pancreas dying off or receptor sites clogged up by fat and cholesterol. In some cases, diabetes is also caused by allergic reactions of cells in the immune system.

Kidney beans with kidney shape, strong flavor and color of reddish brown in nature are often the excellent dietary selection with no cholesterol, but a good source of protein and minerals.

According to the Research and Graduate Studies in Food Science, School of Chemistry, although cooking induced a significant decrease of total phenolic, tannins and anthocyanins content, group fed with common bean not only showed a protection of pancreatic ß-cells but also displayed a significant reduction of blood glucose (22.8 %), triglycerides (21.9 %), total cholesterol (29.9 %) and LDL (56.1 %).

Dr. Hernández-Saavedra D, the lead author said, "The preventive-treatment group did not inhibit the increase of TNF-α(In relation of inflammation) and IL-1β(the inflammatory cytokins) whereas the treatment group did, compared to the diabetic control".

Other study in the support of bean species such as pinto, black, navy or kidney in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, suggested that intake of bean showed a potential health effects in reduced glycaemic stress in expression of hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia, the early stage of diabetes.

In a total of 17 men and women with type 2 diabetes controlled by metformin (n = 14) or diet/exercise (n = 3) aged 35-70 years participated in the randomized 4 × 4 crossover trial, in testing of the effect of white long grain rice control, pinto beans/rice, black beans/rice, red kidney beans/rice test meals, matched for 50 grams of available carbohydrate, after a 12 hour fasting, group treated with dark red kidney showed a attenuated glycemic response compared to rice alone.

Taking together, consumption of kidney beans as traditional foods may provide non-pharmaceutical management and treatment of type 2 diabetes and improve dietary adherence with cultural groups.

Back to Kyle J. Norton Home page http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca

Sources
(1) Cooked common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) protect against β-cell damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by Hernández-Saavedra D1, Mendoza-Sánchez M, Hernández-Montiel HL, Guzmán-Maldonado HS, Loarca-Piña GF, Salgado LM, Reynoso-Camacho R.(PubMed)
(2) Phaseolus beans: impact on glycaemic response and chronic disease risk in human subjects by Hutchins AM1, Winham DM, Thompson SV(PubMed)
(3) Bean and rice meals reduce postprandial glycemic response in adults with type 2 diabetes: a cross-over study by Thompson SV1, Winham DM, Hutchins AM.(PubMed)

Food Therapy: Celery, the Natural Whole Food for Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism?

Celery induced the decrease of thyroid hormone level may be used as a whole food medicine in balance thyroid hormone in patients with hyperthyroidism, a renowned institute study suggested.

According to a experimental study of 40 male rats divided into 5 groups of eight rats each, rats received celery leaf extract with doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg showed a serum levels of T3 (0.95±0.04 and 0.95±0.06, respectively) and T4 (5.42±0.85 and 5.87±0.89, respectively) hormones decreased in compared to control group.

Celery is a species of Apium graveolens, belonging to the family Apiaceae, cultivated all around the globe as a vegetable. Celery can grow to 1/2 m tall with stalks (leaf on the top) arranging in a conical shape joined at a common base.

Unfortunately, according to the joint research paper lead by Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, intake of celery may induce hyperthyroifdism, as a report indicated that a 48-year-old, with no history of any thyroid diseases, was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism due to daily consumption of 4 g of dried celery leaves for 45 days.

Dr. Rouhi-Boroujeni H, the lead author said, " Hyperthyroidism may be induced by consumption celery" and " Therefore, it can be assumed that celery induces hyperthyroidism as a side effect of this herb if it is used for a long term"

Furtherore, celery have showed to interacted with conventional medicine used to regulate thyroid hormone in patient with hypothyroidism. According to study, in a report of a 55-year-old woman showed no improve of hypothyroidism with daily dose of thyroxine 100 microgram after injecting celery seed tablets.

Due to conflict results, it is up to readers to consult with their herbalist, before consumption of large amount of celery seeds supplement daily in a long term for amelioration of hyperthyroid or hypothyroidism.

Arthritis Is Curable
You Can Eliminate Osteoarthritis
By addressing the Underlying Causes through Clinical Trials and Studies

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Super foods Library, Eat Yourself Healthy With The Best of the Best Nature Has to Offer recommended by Kyle J. Norton

Back to Kyle J. Norton Home page http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca

Sources
(1) Effect of Apium Graveolens Leaf Extract on Serum Level of Thyroid Hormones in Male Rat by
wassam Kooti, akram Ahangarpoor, maryam Ghasemiboroon, sahar Sadeghnezhadi, zahra Abbasi, ziba Shanaki, zahra Hasanzadeh-Noohi, majid Asadi-Samani(Journal of Bahol University of Medical Science)
(2) Is herbal therapy safe in obesity? A case of Apium graveolens (Celery) induced hyperthyroidism.
Rouhi-Boroujeni H1, Hosseini M2, Gharipour M3, Rouhi-Boroujeni H4.(PubMed)

(3) Thyroxine interacts with celery seed tablets? by Geraldine Moses(NPS Medicinewise)

Food Therapy: Asparagus, the Antioxidant Natural Whole Food

Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrients
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published on line, including world wide health, ezine articles, article base, healthblogs, selfgrowth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bio science, ISSN 0975-6299.

Whole food(herbal medicine) used as medical treatment, linking health benefits in prevention, management and treatment of diseases has induced much interests in today renowned scientists.
But many researchers have raised question of herbal quality, because geographic differences, time of grown and harvest, etc. may effect their's potency. I do believe, these questions can only be answered by experience herbalists.

Asparagus, one the miracle food is found to process significant antioxidant effects in enhancing immune system fighting against forming of free radicals and foreign invasion.

Antioxidant is a molecule inhibited oxidative free radicals before they can cause any damage to the host, through domino's activities.

According to the joint study lead by the National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, extracts of Asparagus cochinchinensis (AC) exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by inhibited H2O2-induced cell death in cultured cortical neurons in protection against the free radical causes of depressant and neuro cells apoptosis.

Asparagus is a flowering plant belong to species the genus Asparagus, native to the western coasts of northern Spain, north to Ireland, Great Britain, and northwest Germany, northern Africa and western Asia, used from early times as a vegetable and medicine, because of its delicate flavour and diuretic properties.

Dr. Lee JW1, the lead researcher suggested, these effects appear to be associated with activation of the Shp-2, antibody and ErK1/2 Akt and Akt pathways involved the cell apoptosis, cell proliferation.

The study of four fractions viz. methanol (MF), ethyl acetate (EF), n-Butanol (BF), and precipitated aqueous (PAF) of A.racemosus root also found that the constituents exerted significantly antioxidant properties in inhibition of free radicals by raising serum antioxidant enzymes such as. superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione and catalase.

The 4 faction also induced hepaprotective activity through inhibition of the formation of lipid peroxides in the liver of rats pretreated with the extracts.

Furthermore, in a total of 80 Kun Ming mice randomly divided into four groups (20/group), the mice in the control group received a daily subcutaneous injection of saline; A daily injection of D-galactose administered to the aging model group, the vitamin C (Vc) group (positive control group), and the extract treatment group, group with extract treatment, the aqueous extract of A. cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. increased antioxidant effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and reduced the MDA content, a marker for oxidative stress (p < 0.05), in compared with other groups.

In vivo and in vitro, Dr, Lei L the lead author of the study said, " The aqueous extract of A. cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. shoot, had a strong radical scavenging capability in vivo and in vitro, and might be used to diminish radicals in the body and consequently prevent aging".

In fact, the efficacy of asparagus, probably is due to the presence of abundant phytichemicals flavonoids, phenolics and best antioxidant potential among different fractions of crude methanol extract such as catechin, caffeic acid, rutin, myricetin and quercetin, according to the Quaid-i-Azam University.

There is no doubt that asparagus may be the best antioxidant whole food used to improve immune system against the free radical cause of diseases. People with weaken immunity due to aging should add a portion of asparagus into their diet.

Arthritis Is Curable
You Can Eliminate Osteoarthritis
By addressing the Underlying Causes through Clinical Trials and Studies

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Super foods Library, Eat Yourself Healthy With The Best of the Best Nature Has to Offer recommended by Kyle J. Norton

Back to Kyle J. Norton Home page http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca

Sources
(1) Bioactive compounds, antioxidant and binding activities and spear yield of Asparagus officinalis L. by Lee JW1, Lee JH, Yu IH, Gorinstein S, Bae JH, Ku YG.(PubMed)
(2) Antioxidant and hepatoprotective action of Asparagus racemosus Willd. root extracts by Acharya SR1, Acharya NS, Bhangale JO, Shah SK, Pandya SS.(PubMed)
(3) The antioxidant effect of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. shoot in D-galactose induced mice aging model and in vitro by Lei L1, Ou L2, Yu X3.(PubMed)
(4) HPLC-DAD analysis, antioxidant potential and anti-urease activity of Asparagusgracilis collected from District Islamabad by Shah NA, Khan MR1, Sattar S, Ahmad B, Mirza B.(PubMed)

Monday, 31 July 2017

Food Therapy: Kidney Beans Uncooked May Induce Gastrointestinal Dysfunction

Kidney bean is popular food, with kidney shape, strong flavor and color in reddish brown in nature, used often as an excellent dietary selection because of enormous health benefits with a good source of protein and minerals.

Raw or undercooked kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) may cause chronic indigestion inducing functional permutation in various gastrointestinal tissues, a study by renowned institutes suggested.

In 20 young male rats randomly divided into two groups of 10 rats, the first group served as the control and gavaged with 300 mg of a rodent pellet flour suspension (RPFS)anf the second experimental group challenged with 300 mg of a Beldia bean flour suspension (BBFS) for 10 days, group fed with white kidney bead suspension demonstrated intestinal alterations characterized by abnormal of shaggy hair. tiny hairlike folds in the plasma membrane that extend from the surface of many absorptive or secretory cells with short and dense or long and slender features.

Dr. Nciri N the lead author also found that group fed with 300 mg of a Beldia bean flour suspension (BBFS) also experience the distorted function of jejunum and disturbed hydroelectrolytic balancing.
Also in the same study groups, oral intake of beldia bean flour suspension (BBFS) group exhibited increased levels of phytohemagglutinins (PHAs), a toxic protein found in extracted from the kidney bean in interaction with a mucous membrane in the small intestine.

The presence of immunogenic intraluminal PHAs was found within 3-4 h after the oral intake of the BBFS.

The interaction of the toxic compound with a mucous membrane in the small intestine, may be potentially resulting in an inflammatory response, inducing digestive dysfunction.

Dr. Torres-Pinedo R. not the researcher in the above study said, "Lectins( found abaundantly in kidney bean) are contained in significant amounts in a great variety of products ingested in the human diet. This, and the demonstration of their harmful effects on intestinal epithelium in rodents, indicate a need for investigation of potential adverse actions of lectins on human intestine".

Truly, there is no doubt that raw and under-cooked kidney bean can contain certain toxic chemical compounds, which interfere with the digestive function, causing chronic digestion and in some cases serve intoxication.

Back to Kyle J. Norton Home page http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca

Sources
(1) Effect of White Kidney Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Beldia) on Small Intestine Morphology and Function in Wistar Rats BY Nciri N1,2,3, Cho N3, Bergaoui N1, El Mhamdi F1, Ben Ammar A4, Trabelsi N5, Zekri S1, Guémira F5, Ben Mansour A1, Sassi FH1, Ben Aissa-Fennira F1.(PubMed)
(2) Identification and Characterization of Phytohemagglutinins from White Kidney Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L., var. Beldia) in the Rat Small Intestine by Nciri N1,2,3, Cho N3, El Mhamdi F1, Ben Mansour A1, Haj Sassi F1, Ben Aissa-Fennira F1.(PubMed)
(4) Lectins and the intestine by Torres-Pinedo R.(PubMed)

Herbal Therapy, Chaste tree berry, The Whole Herb Medicine for Treatment of Hyperprolactinemia Associated to Premenstrual Syndrome

Chaste tree berry is a species of Vitex agnus-castus, genus Vitex, belonging to the family Lamiaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, used in herbal medicine for thousands of year as anaphrodisiac herb and considered as Queen herb in treating menstrual problems and discomforts.

Hyperprolactinemia is a condition of elevated serum of prolactine which is the hormone in regulated
breast development and lactation during puberty and pregnancy, respectively.

High levels of procltine has been found to associate to elevated symptoms in premenstrual syndrome women. Administration of herbal Chaste tree berry may ease the symptoms and treatment of in mild and serve cases of PMS.

According to the Second Military Medical University, in the induced hyperprolactinemia SD rat models by administration of metoclopramide dihydrochloride (50 mg/kg, tid, ip, for 10 d), injection of casticin, a flavonoid isolated from Vitex rotundifolia in treatment group, exhibited the reduction of (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, ip, for 7 d) serum prolactin levels by 33.9%, 54.3%, and 64.7%,.compared untreated control group.

Dr. YE Q, the lead author in the study said, casticin ameliorated the stimulation of pituitary cells with 17β-Estradiol (E2), a female sex hormone in prolactin secretion..

The study also found that casticin at doses of 0.1, 1, and 10 micromol/L, significantly inhibited the prolactin release stimulated by 17β-Estradiol (E2) in a concentration-dependent manner., through regulating the DNA expression of estrogen receptors in activated sex hormone for secretion of porclatin.

In the review of pharmacology and clinical indications of the effectiveness of chaste tree berry in PMS women. the University of Göttingen found that

1. The herbal extract consisted a beneficially influence in most common premenstrual symptoms, indicated by a double-blind placebo-controlled studies.
2. Numerous less rigidly controlled studies indicated that AC extracts reduced premenstrual mastodynia through inhibiting levels of proclatin through suppressed the stimulation of the mammary gland in response to stressful situations and during deep sleep phases.

Dr. Wuttke W said" The search for the chemical identity of the dopaminergic compounds resulted in isolation of a number of diterpenes of which some clerodadienols were most important for the prolactin-suppressive effects" and "dopaminergic compounds present in Vitex agnus castus are clinically the important compounds which improve premenstrual mastodynia and possibly also other symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome".

Taking together, Chaste tree berry may be beneficiary in reduced symptoms for women with PMS during the menstrual cycle, especially in hyperprolactinemia induced premenstrual breast pain and discomfort.

Back to Kyle J. Norton Home page http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca

Sources
(1) Casticin, a flavonoid isolated from Vitex rotundifolia, inhibits prolactin release in vivo and in vitro by YE Q1, ZHANG QY, ZHENG CJ, WANG Y, QIN LP.(PubMed)
(2) Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)--pharmacology and clinical indications by Wuttke W1, Jarry H, Christoffel V, Spengler B, Seidlová-Wuttke D.(PubMed)