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

Sunday, 7 October 2018

Fennel,The Natural Remedy Which Protects the Brain Neurons Against The Onset of Cognitive Impairment, Scientists Suggest

Kyle J. Norton

Fennel may process a sustainable and therapeutic effect in enhancing cognitive functions, some scientists suggested.

Cognitive function is a mental process of the brain, with an aim to acquire knowledge by accumulating information through reasoning, memory, attention, and language, regardless of circumstances.

On the other hand, cognitive impairment, depending on the severity is a condition in which the infected person has trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions that affect the quality of their everyday life.

In the elderly, most cases of cognitive impairment are associated with neurodegenerative diseases and longterm use of medication, including Alzheimer's;s disease.

However, malnutrition, hormone imbalance such as thyroid hormone, mental illness, and substance abuse, particularly, in brain damage or injury are some of the major and prevalent risk factors that can cause the early onset of cognitive impairment.

Some researchers suggested that people who have metabolic syndrome (abnormally high blood pressure, and high blood sugar, obesity and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride level), mental illness and previously disturbed the state of mind due to fever, intoxication are also at a higher risk of the condition develops.

Dr. Fernando Gómez-Pinilla, in the study of the effects of nutrients on brain function, wrote. "diets that are high in saturated fat are becoming notorious for reducing molecular substrates that support cognitive processing and increasing the risk of neurological dysfunction in both humans and animals"

And, Dr. Alan J. Gow, the lead scientist, in the study of the effects of lifestyle in cognitive impairment, said, " Lifestyle factors, particularly those which are malleable across the life course, may be highly informative for the development of interventions to reduce or delay age-related cognitive decline".

These explanations strongly agreed that following a healthy diet plenty of fruits and vegetable and less in saturated and trans fat, processed meat, refined products,...... salt and sugar, and lifestyle with moderate exercise may have a significant effect in protecting the brain neurons against the onset of cognitive impairment.

The initiation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine in case of acute infection is a natural defense of the immune response to protect the injured tissue against the invasion of bacteria and virus. However, overexpression of inflammatory factors may also catalyze tissue damage and cause neuron cell death.

In oxidative perspective, application of anethole in the tested model also demonstrated a strong effect in inhibiting reactive oxygen species ROS which cause the cytotoxicity to neuron through its antioxidant and stimulated the production of the host antioxidant defense.

Injection of anethole also rebalanced the ratio of levels of free radicals and antioxidants, thus reducing the risk in the initiated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the precipitation of the death of brain cell that controls memory or other cognitive functions.

Furthermore, in the evaluated fennel effect in Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder associated with a decline in cognitive abilities, researchers found that fennel intake exerts a strong neuroprotective effect in protecting against the progressive degeneration.

The methanol extract of the whole plant of F. vulgare administered for eight successive days ameliorated the deficit of memory caused by brain damage, disease, or psychological trauma induced by scopolamine and aging-induced memory deficits in mice.

In acetylcholinesterase AChE induced neurotoxicity in mice, application of extract also increased step-down latency and reserved the neuron damage caused by acetylcholinesterase AChE toxicity.

Dr. Preksha Dwivedi, the lead authors, after taking into account of other co and confounders said, "Foeniculum vulgare Linn. The extract used as a nootropic and anticholinesterase agent in mice. F. vulgare extract increased step-down latency and acetylcholinesterase inhibition in mice significantly. F. vulgare is employed in the treatment of cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease".

Taken together, fennel, fennel extracts or its bioactive anethole may be considered a functional food for enhancing the memory or other cognitive functions through its neuroprotective and nootropic activity. However, intake of fennel extracts should be taken with extreme care in the prevention of acute liver toxicity.

Sources
(1) Cholinergic basis of memory-strengthening effect of Foeniculum vulgare Linn by Joshi H1, Parle M.(PubMed)
(2) A TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO HERBAL NOOTROPIC AGENTS: AN OVERVIEW Preksha Dwivedi, Richa Singh, Mohd.Tabish Malik and Talha Jawaid(International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Research)
(5) Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Contemporary Application, and Toxicology by Shamkant B. Badgujar,* Vainav V. Patel, and Atmaram H. Bandivdekar(PubMed)
(4) Anethole and Its Role in Chronic Diseases by Aprotosoaie AC1, Costache II2, Miron A3.(PubMed)
(5) Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function by Fernando Gómez-Pinilla. (PMC)
(6) Lifestyle Factors and Cognitive Ageing: Variation across Ability and Lifestyle Domains by Alan J. Gow, Allison A. M. Bielak, and Denis Gerstorf. (PMC)

Carrot and its Bioactive Compounds In Reducing Risk, Progression and Treatment of Gastric Cancer

Kyle J. Norton

Carrots may have a therapeutic and positive effect in reducing risk, progression, and treatment of gastric/stomach cancer, some scientists suggested.

Gastric (Stomach) cancer is a condition characterized by cell growth disorderly and uncontrollably in breast tissue.

At the later stage, the cancerous cells may infect other healthy tissue and organ a distance away from the original site.

The exact causes of gastric cancer are unknown. Researchers do not know why people with the same health conditions and eating habits in the same family, some are susceptible to the onset of the disease while others do not.

However, scientists do know that certain risk factors such as Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking family history, mutated gene inherited from the parents, some stomach conditions and previous stomach surgery are at the elevated risk of gastric cancer.

Moreover, people who have exposed to ionizing radiation, are smokers with type A blood and eating lots of processed meats are also at a higher risk of gastric cancer.

The American Cancer Association in the article of Can Gastric Cancer Be Prevented? wrote. "A diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables can also lower stomach cancer risk. Citrus fruits (such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruit) may be especially helpful" and ".. eating at least 2½ cups of vegetables and fruits every day. Choosing whole-grain bread, pasta, and cereals instead of refined grains, and eating fish, poultry, or beans instead of processed meat and red meat may also help lower your risk of cancer".

These suggestions strongly agreed that by following a healthy diet and lifestyle with moderate physical activity, the risk of gastric cancers can be reduced substantially and effectively.

Carrot, a root vegetable with an orange color is a subspecies of Daucus carota, belongings to the family Apiaceae, native to Asian and Europe.

In the evaluation of carrot intake and risk of gastric cancer, by searching the database of medical
literature from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Persian databases like Scientific Information Database (SID) and IranMedx, researchers found that out of 81 articles collected with 5 selected to the study, carrot consumption exerts a reduced gastric cancer risk by 26% with an odds ratio of .74 compared to nonconsumers.

Some researchers suggested that lycopene isolated from the carrot and tomato may have a substantial inhibitory effect in reducing the risk of gastric cancer caused by oxidative stress, DNA damage, and Helicobacter pylori infection.

Overproduction of ROS, the reactive oxygen species may induce a chain reaction in stimulating more production of free radicals, causing cells and tissues damage and alternated DNA of healthy cells.

Lycopene, a bioactive compound antioxidant found in carrot showed a strong implication of on iron metabolism, thus reducing iron-mediated oxidative stress in the induction of cancer cells proliferation and initiation.

Furthermore, application of lycopene also expressed an inhibition of iron-catalyzed lipid peroxidation by decreasing the malondialdehyde level and enhancing the production of natural antioxidants superoxide dismutase activities in serum and tissues.

These results indicated that administration of lycopene not only inhibits overproduction of ROS through its antioxidant activity but also stimulates the expression of natural antioxidants in the host body tissue in preventing DNA damage of healthy cell.

With H. pylori-induced chronic inflammation in facilitating risk of gastric cancer, researchers at the Yonsei University found that injection lycopene exerts a significant effect in inhibiting the increase of ROS, apoptosis, alterations in cell-cycle distribution in human gastric carcinoma AGS cells.

The results of above differentiation were supported by the study from the period 1997-1999 with 120 incident and histologically verified cases of stomach cancer, matched on age, sex, residence, and urban/rural status and 360 controls conducted by the Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Research Institute.

According to the study, vitamin A, alpha-carotene and lycopene found in carrot and tomato were associated with strongly inverse relationships with stomach cancer with alpha-carotene scored the highest odds ratio of .34.

The joint exposure to high intakes of alpha-carotene and vitamin C was associated with an even higher reduction of gastric cancer risk with the odds ratio of only 0.11.

The findings strongly suggested that long-term intake of carrot in moderate amounts may have substantial implication in the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer. But Intake of carrot supplement should be taken with care to prevent acute liver toxicity.

Natural Medicine for Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal - The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve Optimal Health And Lose Weight

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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

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

Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, 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 Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) Effect of Carrot Intake in the Prevention of Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis by Fallahzadeh H1, Jalali A2, Momayyezi M1, Bazm S3(PubMed)
(2) Dietary carotenoids and risk of gastric cancer: a case-control study in Uruguay by De Stefani E1, Boffetta P, Brennan P, Deneo-Pellegrini H, Carzoglio JC, Ronco A, Mendilaharsu M.(PubMed)
(3) Anticancer Effect of Lycopene in Gastric Carcinogenesis by Mi Jung Kim and Hyeyoung Kim(PMC)
(4) Protective effects of lycopene on oxidative stress, proliferation, and autophagy in iron supplementation rats by Liu C1, Wang R, Zhang B, Hu C, Zhang H.(PubMed)
(5) Lycopene inhibits Helicobacter pylori-induced ATM/ATR-dependent DNA damage response in gastric epithelial AGS cells by Jang SH1, Lim JW1, Morio T2, Kim H3. (PubMed)

Fennel, The Functional Herb Which Processes Anxiolytic Property Similar to Those of Diazepam with No Adverse Effects, Scientists Find

Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrition

Fennel may have a therapeutic effect in reducing risk and treatment of anxiety, some scientists suggested.

Anxiety is a psychological problem caused by significant feelings of anxiety and fear of present and future events.

In conventional medicine, an anxiolytic also known as antianxiety agent including buspirone (BuSpar), trazodone, venlafaxine and several of the benzodiazepines, is a medication used to reduce physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety disorder.

Anxiety is caused by a combination of several factors. However, stress directly from all sources is considered a major cause of the disease.

Other causes of anxiety include the longterm use of illicit drugs, medication intake and medical condition and diseases associated with reduced lung functioning

Although the medicine may be effective, however, short and long-term use can cause symptoms of nausea. nervousness, dizziness, reduced sexual desire, insomnia.

In severe cases, the medicine can also cause blurred vision. confusion, nightmare, and difficulty thinking or remembering.

If you are taking the above medicine, please make sure that you understand all the side effects.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a plant species of genus, belongings to Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), native to the Mediterranean, used in traditional and herbal medicine as warming, carminative, antispasmodic, antidepressant agent and to stimulate the appetite, ease indigestion, soothe coughing, reduce intestinal spasms, to regulate the menstrual cycle and relieve PMS,...

In the investigate the anxiolytic activity of ethanolic extracts of Foeniculum vulgare fruit by elevated plus maze, rotarod, open field test, and hole board models, researchers found that application of fennel extracts in the does of100-200mg/kg exerts a significant anti-anxiolytic activity, similar to those of standard anxiolytic drugs diazepam (1mg/kg) without inducing intolerable adverse effects.

This result was observed by the increased number of entries and time spent in the open arm in the elevated plus maze apparatus.

And, application the same doses also promoted a number of rearings, assisted rearing and number of square crossed viewed by an open field test.

Further analysis also discovered that of fennel extracts also processes a potent skeletal muscle relaxant effect assessed by rotarod.

Additionally, in the experiment of elevated plus maze, rotarod, open field, and hole board used in the evaluation of the psychomotor performance and emotional aspects of rodents removed from their acclimatized cage and placed in environment express anxiety and fear, application of fennel extract, researchers indicated that
* Fennel injection group decreases anxiety-related behavior to an open area.

* Treated rodents exhibit a significant increase in the number of open arm entries and rearings, time spent in the center and line crossing and head dipping.

* Fennel extract treated group also reduces numbers of time of falling through increased muscle relaxant and improved locomotor function.

These results not only are given the supports to the holistic use of fennel in the treatment of anxiety but also reconfirmed the efficacy of fennel extract in reducing levels of anxiety in tested rodents whose were placed in the environment with an expression of anxiety and fear in the first study.

Truly, the viability of above is also reaffirmed by the study conducted by the Geethanjali College of pharmacy in adult Swiss albino male mice randomly divided into six groups (n = 6).

According to the results of analysis of groups I and II received Tween 80 (5%, v/v) and diazepam (0.5 mg/kg, ip), groups III to VI received orally 50, 100, and 200 and 400 mg/kg doses of the essential oil of F. vulgare, mice groups treated with 50, 100, and 200 and 400 mg/kg displayed a significant reduction of anxiety score through expression of all tests, including elevated plus maze (EPM), staircase test (SCT) and open field test (OFT) and other various parameters in doses dependent manner.

Compared to a higher dose of 400 mg/kg and lower dose treatment group, application of 100 and 200 mg/kg dose of fennel essential oil mice demonstrated a strong decrease of anxiety through increased percent number of entries and time spent in open arms.

Compared to other doses of treatment group, administration of 200 mg/kg dose significantly increased the number of squares crossed at the center in the OFT test.

Furthermore, although the injection of 100 and 200 mg/kg doses of the essential oil-treated mice showed a significant reduction of rearing compared to another group, only the 200 mg/kg dose of the oil expressed statistically significant reduction in rearing compared with diazepam, the conventional medicine used for the treatment of anxiety.

The discovery in the study postulated that fennel essential oil may have a potential effect in reducing anxiety nonlinearly and doses dependently.

"Fennel extract may possess anxiolytic activity supporting its traditional claim about anxiolytic activity", reported in the 19th edition of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics by Sathodkar, Bhandarkar, and Rege.

Taken all together, there is no doubt that fennel extracts and essential oil may be considered a secondary therapeutic treatment compared to standard medicine in the treatment of anxiety.

However, intake of fennel supplement should be taken with extreme care in the prevention of toxicity.

Natural Medicine for Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal - The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve Optimal Health And Lose Weight

How To Get Rid Of Eye Floaters
Contrary To Professionals Prediction, Floaters Can Be Cured Naturally

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

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

Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, 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 Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) EVALUATION OF ANXIOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF FOENICULUM VULGARE IN MICE MODEL Research Article R. NAGA KISHORE by Cheeryal (V), Keesara (M), N. ANJANEYULU, M. NAGA GANESH AND N. SRAVYA(International (Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences)
(2) Evaluation of anxiolytic activity of the essential oil of the aerial part of Foeniculum vulgare Miller in mice by Miraf Mesfin, Kaleab Asres, and Workineh Shibeshi(PubMed)
(3) Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Contemporary Application, and Toxicology by Shamkant B. Badgujar,* Vainav V. Patel, and Atmaram H. Bandivdekar(PubMed)

Green Tea, The Potent Functional Beverage Inhibits the Pathogens That Cause Pneumonia, Scientists Say

By Kyle J. Norton

Green tea may have a therapeutic and positive effect in reducing the risk and progression and treatment of pneumonia, some scientists suggested.

Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Bacterial pneumonia is the most common type in adults.

Researchers do not know why people with the same health condition, some are susceptible to the onset of the disease while others do not.

However, according to the studies, certain groups of people are at a higher prevalent risk, including babies and toddlers, who have an immature immune system, people who have had a recent viral infection and people with chronic lung conditions such as asthma, bronchitis or bronchiectasis.

Additionally, people with suppressed immune systems, excessive alcohol drinking and smoking habit and the elderly are also associated with the increased risk of lung infection.

Most common symptoms of include fever and chill caused overexpression of inflammatory cytokines, shortness of breath and increased breathing rate, caused by reduced lung function.

Some patients with pneumonia also have serious symptoms of persistent coughing with phlegm, that does not disappear itself and chest pain.

If you experience some of the above symptoms, you may have pneumonia. Please check with your doctor to rule out the possibility.

Green tea is a precious drink processed numbers of health benefit and known to almost everyone in Asia and the Western world.

In a population-based cohort study, with the follow-up from 1995 to 2006 conducted by Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine using data of participants in National Health Insurance beneficiaries in Japan (19,079 men and 21,493 women aged 40-79 y), researchers wrote at the end of the experiment,

* Over 12 y of follow-up, 406 deaths from pneumonia, according to the reported documents.

* According to the hazard ratios (HRs), injection of green tea demonstrated a significant reduction of death from pneumonia, (<1 cup/d, HRs

Injection of green tea <1 cup/d, with HRs of 1, 1-2 cups/d with HRs of 0.59, 3-4 cups/d, HRs of 0.55 and > or =5 cups/d with Hrs of .53, respectively in women.

Interestingly, in men, green tea injection regardless of volumes displays no significant association in the risk of death from pneumonia.

These results suggested that green tea intake daily and regularly may have a strong effect in reducing risk, progression, treatment of lung infection, particularly, in the reduced rate of motility in women.

Furthermore, in the evaluate epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) effect in influenza A virus in the induction of pneumonia in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells of BALB/c mice treated with EGCG (10, 20 or 40 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), po) for 5 days. and on the 3rd day of the treatment, the mice were infected with influenza A virus., researcher indicated that

* EGCG treatment group exerts a significant inhibition of the expression of influenza A virus in elevating production of reactive oxygen species.

* EGCG also inhibits the influenza A replication at a concentration-dependent manner (the ED(50) value of 8.71±1.11 nmol/L).

* Importantly, oral administration of green tea EGCG dramatically improves the survival rate, decreases the mean virus yields and mitigates viral pneumonia in the lungs, compared to conventional medicine at oseltamivir (40 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)).

These results were supported by the investigation to examine, whether green tea by-products could function as an alternative to common antivirals in animals, conducted by the Konkuk University.

According to the experiment, both applications demonstrated a significantly inhibited influenza activity with green tea by-products (EC₅₀ = 6.36 µg/mL) to be equivalent to that of original green tea (EC₅₀= 6.72 µg/mL)

In against the H1N1 virus A/NWS/33, anti-influenza activity of green tea by-products (EC₅₀ = 6.36 µg/mL) is equivalent to that of original green tea (EC₅₀= 6.72 µg/mL).

However, in tested mice, oral administration of green tea by-products reduced viral titers in the lungs in the early phase of infection, but they could not protect these animals from disease and death compared to therapeutic administration of green tea by-products via feed or water supplement on a dose-dependent manner and the rate of motility at dose of 10 g/kg of feed.

These result unsurprisingly suggested that green tea bioactive compound as a single ingredient consist of a strong effect in reducing the death of pneumonia pathogens compared to the intake of green tea whole foods.

After taking into account other co and confounders, Dr. Lee HJ said, "Unidentified hexane-soluble fractions of green tea by-products possessed strong anti-influenza activity, in addition to ethyl acetate-soluble fractions, including catechins".

Taken together, green tea and its bioactive polyphenols catechin may be considered as functional foods in reducing risk, progression and treatment of pneumonia, particularly in the decrease of death ratio.

However, intake of green tea supplement should be taken with exceptional care as acute liver toxicity has been reported in numbers of the case.

Natural Medicine for Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal - The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve Optimal Health And Lose Weight

How To Get Rid Of Eye Floaters
Contrary To Professionals Prediction, Floaters Can Be Cured Naturally

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

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

Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, 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 Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.
Sources
(1) Green tea and death from pneumonia in Japan: the Ohsaki cohort study by Watanabe I1, Kuriyama S, Kakizaki M, Sone T, Ohmori-Matsuda K, Nakaya N, Hozawa A, Tsuji I.(PubMed)
(2) Amelioration of influenza virus-induced reactive oxygen species formation by epigallocatechin gallate derived from green tea by Ling JX1, Wei F, Li N, Li JL, Chen LJ, Liu YY, Luo F, Xiong HR, Hou W, Yang ZQ.(PubMed)
(3) Anti-influenza virus activity of green tea by-products in vitro and efficacy against influenza virus infection in chickens by Lee HJ1, Lee YN, Youn HN, Lee DH, Kwak JH, Seong BL, Lee JB, Park SY, Choi IS, Song CS(PubMed).

Green tea, The Beverage Which Processes Anti Viral Activity Against Onset of Pneumonitis

By Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrition

Scientists may have found a beverage processed antivirus property for a cure of pneumonitis, some studies suggested.

Pneumonitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the walls of the alveoli in the lungs, in most cases, it is caused by a virus.

However, irritants, ranging from airborne molds to chemotherapy drugs, have been linked to the onset of the condition.

Most common symptoms of are difficulty breathing, often accompanied by a dry cough.

Green tea, a precious drink processes numbers of health benefit known to almost everyone in Asia and Western world.

In the concerns of the widespread of some virus in the induction of pneumonitis, researchers at the Kobe University conducted an investigation to examine whether green tea Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), the major catechin component of green tea possessed antiviral activities against a wide range of DNA viruses and RNA viruses, that cause pneumonitis.

At the final report of the experiment, researchers suggested that EGCG appears most likely to inhibits the early stage of infections, such as attachment, entry, and membrane fusion, by interfering with viral membrane proteins.

Also, according to the observation of the relationships between structure and antiviral activity of catechin derivatives, researchers found that the 3-galloyl and 5'-OH group of catechin derivatives appears critical to antiviral activities in the early phase of infection.

In addition of fatty acid derivative, the combination also exerts an increase viral and cellular membrane permeability.

These results suggested that EGCG-fatty acid monoesters improved greater antiviral activities against different types of viruses, probably due to their increased affinity for virus and cellular membranes, compared to the use of EGCG alone.

Dr. Kaihatsu K, the lead author said, after taking into account of other co and confounders, "(The) application of EGCG-fatty acid derivatives for the prevention and treatment of viral infections".

Furthermore, a study in the evaluation of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main constituent of green tea, anti-infective properties.launched by the University of Duisburg-Essen, showed that application of EGCG demonstrated a significant activity on orthomyxoviridae and Flaviviridae and other human pathogens like human immunodeficiency virus, influenza A virus and the hepatitis C virus.through interfering with the replication cycle of DNA viruses like hepatitis B virus, herpes simplex virus,.... and adenovirus.

Additionally, in an experimental skin contact model for influenza virus transmission to evaluate the use of a green tea solution as a first-hand disinfectant, researchers strong agreed that green tea displays a strong antiviral effect in inhibiting the infectivity of the virus on the skin cell layer.

This result suggested that green tea may be used as a non-pharmaceutical washing solution in reducing human transmission of viral infection, including the virus that causes pneumonitis.

Taken all together, green tea and its bioactive EGCG may be considered a functional food in protecting the lung tissue against the onset of viral pneumonitis.

Intake of green tea supplement EGCG should be taken with extreme care as acute liver diseases have been reported in many instances.

Sources
(1) Antiviral Mechanism of Action of Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate and Its Fatty Acid Esters by Kaihatsu K1, Yamabe M2, Ebara Y. (PubMed)

(2) Anti-infective properties of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a component of green tea by Steinmann J1, Buer J, Pietschmann T, Steinmann E.(PubMed)

(3) Evaluation of the antiviral activity of a green tea solution as a hand-wash disinfectant by Shin WJ1, Kim YK, Lee KH, Seong BL. (PubMed)

Detoxification: Fennel, The Potent and Functional Food Which Protects the Liver Against Toxicity

Kyle J. Norton

Fennel may be considered a functional food in exhibited liver protective effect against toxicity, some scientists suggested.

Liver protection in an action that prevents injury and damage of the liver, regardless of the causes.

Researchers do not know the exact cause of liver disease. However, they do know that genes inherited from the parents, aging and viral and bacterial infection are associated with the increased risk of liver disease.

Additionally, long-term excessive alcohol drinking and obesity are also some prevalent risk factors for the onset of liver disease.

Untreated liver disease or liver disease that is not treated properly overtime can increase the risk of cirrhosis, a leading cause of liver failure and a life-threatening condition.

Dr. William Nseir, the lead author in the assessment of the role of diet and lifestyle changes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease wrote, "A combination of dietary modifications and increased physical activity remains the mainstay of NAFLD management. It is hard to maintain this mode of management; however, it seems to have significant long-term benefits" and "Furthermore, NAFLD patients, whether obese or not, should be educated that a healthy diet and physical activity have benefits beyond weight reduction".

These results suggested that change of diet and lifestyle with moderate exercise may have a strong effect in the prevention of liver disease.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a plant species of the genus, belonging to Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), native to the Mediterranean.

The herb has been used in traditional and herbal medicine as warming, carminative, antispasmodic, antidepressant agent and to stimulate the appetite, ease indigestion, soothe coughing, reduce intestinal spasms, to regulate the menstrual cycle and relieve PMS,...

In the evaluation of the liver protective effect against acute hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CLL4) in the rat model, researchers found that oral administration of essential oil isolated from the fennel exerts a strong activity in the decrease of levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bilirubin, the potential causes of liver damage through their toxic effects.

Further analysis insisted that the hepatoprotective activity of the essential oil was attributed to the expression of phytochemical constituents d-limonene and β-myrcene in the inhibition of the levels of carbon tetrachloride in catalyzing liver toxicity and initiating liver lesion and liver fibrosis.

Additional differentiation of the hepatic fibrosis model in rats induced by subcutaneous injection with 40% CCl4 olive oil mixture with 94 male SD rats given high lipoid-low protein animal feeds for 5 weeks then randomly divided into six groups, including blank control group (A-group), 8 rats were feed in normal, prevention model control group (B-group), 10 rats given saline solution by intragastric administration during make of hepatic fibrosis model and FVM prevention group (C-group), 10 rats given FVM by intragastric administration during make of hepatic fibrosis model; model control group (D-group), FVM treatment group (E-group) and Fuzhenghuayu treatment group (F-group), after assessing the results from the 5-th weekend, A, B, C- group rats sacrificed at the 6-th, 7-th, 8-th, 9-th weekend and 4-6 rats in D, E, F-group sacrificed., researchers indicated that

* The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin(a-SMA) associated with liver damage and correlated positively in recurrent HCV hepatitis group are significantly higher in the HBV cirrhosis detected by immunohistochemical staining assay.

* Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), an amino acid found in proteins and intermediate in cellular energy production presented in the blood of tested subjects may be an indication of liver damage.

Low levels of ALT are found in the blood profiles of healthy individuals.

* Similar to ALT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme associated with the liver parenchymal cell and presented in low levels in the blood of healthy individual but significantly higher in liver damage tested rats.

* Hyaluronic acid (HA) is distributed widely throughout connective, epithelial, and neural tissues, the prediction of liver damage, particularly in the risk of liver fibrosis.

* Increased levels of Laminin (LN), a protein of the extracellular matrix, is also associated with substantial risk with the development of liver fibrosis.

* Overexpression of levels of 8 - hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is another indication of oxidative stress and also considered as a critical biomarker of carcinogenesis.

The increased levels of above expressions suggested a substantial damage to the liver caused by ingestion of CCL4 in the non-fennel treatment group

However, application of fennel in such groups inhibited the overexpression of toxicity caused by injection of CCL4 by restoring the normal levels of Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN) and 8 - hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG).

Further analysis also showed that oral administration of fennel inhibited the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in precipitated oxidative stress through lipid peroxidation.

Some researchers suggested that levels of MDA may be used as a biomarker in the assessment of oxidative stress status in patients with liver disease or cancer.

Moreover, injection of fennel exerted liver protective and anti-inflammatory effects through its antioxidants overexpression and improved production of natural antioxidants in the host tissue such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase levels in inhibited oxidative stress initiated by CCL4

Precisely, fennel significantly decreased expression serums of ALT, AST, HA, and LN and MDA, 8-OHdG, fiber and a-SMA expression in the FVM group and lowered inflammation grade and fibrosis stage compared to control group.

Dr. Zhang ZG, the lead authors, after taking into account of other co-founders said, "Foeniculum Vulgare Mill declines liver inflammation response, and prevent the hepatic fibrosis progression,, this may be due to its effects of antioxidative results".

The findings suggested that fennel with abundant bioactive anethole may be considered a functional food in exhibited hepatoprotective effect through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidants activities.

Sources
(1) Hepatoprotective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil by Ozbek H1, Uğraş S, Dülger H, Bayram I, Tuncer I, Oztürk G, Oztürk A.(PubMed)
(2) [Antioxidant effects of the Uygur herb, Foeniculum Vulgare Mill, in a rat model of hepatic fibrosis].[Article in Chinese] by Zhang ZG1, Lu XB, Xiao L, Tang L, Zhang LJ, Zhang T, Zhan XY, Ma XM, Zhang YX(PubMed)
(3) Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Contemporary Application, and Toxicology by Shamkant B. Badgujar,* Vainav V. Patel, and Atmaram H. Bandivdekar(PubMed)

Saturday, 6 October 2018

Fennel, The Reliable and Less Expensive Functional Food For Treatment of Hirsutism

Kyle J. Norton

Fennel may have a therapeutic effect in reducing the risk of unwanted hair growth in women, some scientists suggested.

Hirsutism is an unwanted hair growth pattern in women.

The exact causes of Hirsutism are unknown. However, researchers do know certain risk factors are associated to the early onset of the disease, including women who have a persistent hormone imbalance, are obese.

Certain medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, long-term, irregular period, abnormal menstrual conditions and cysts presented in the ovaries, and Cushing's syndrome are also considered the prevalent risk factors of Hirsutism.

Some women with the syndrome may experience symptoms of deepening voice, persistent acne on the facial skin, decreased breast size, increased muscle mass, particularly, unwanted hair growth.

If you have some of the above symptoms, please check with your doctor to rule out the possibility.

In most cases, Hirsutism is treated by androgen inhibitor such as spironolactone(Aldactone). Topical cream. Eflornithine (Vaniqa), a prescription cream is a primary treatment for women with excessive hair growth.

If you use the above medication, please make sure that know all the side effects.

Some researchers suggested due to the complex nature of the syndrome, management is usually a long and troublesome process.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a plant species of the genus, belonging to Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), native to the Mediterranean.

The herb or food has been used in traditional and herbal medicine as warming, carminative, antispasmodic, antidepressant agent and to stimulate the appetite, ease indigestion, soothe coughing, reduce intestinal spasms, to regulate the menstrual cycle and relieve PMS,...

The double-blind study, using an ethanolic extract of Fennel, obtained by a Soxhlet apparatus to test the efficacy against the expression of idiopathic hirsutism of a total of 38 patients, includes women with idiopathic hirsutism, a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle and normal levels of serum androgens but exhibited male growth pattern were selected to participate.

All patients were assigned randomly to receive either topical cream containing 1%, 2% of Fennel extract or placebo.

At the end of the experiment, researchers found that application of fennel cream exerts a significant effect in reducing hair growth diameter compared to placebo.

Fennel cream with 2% concentration displayed a strongly inhibited activity compared to cream with 1%.

Specifically, the mean values of hair diameter reduction were 7.8%, 18.3% and -0.5% for patients receiving the creams containing 1%, 2% and 0% (placebo) respectively, without inducing any untolerated adverse effects.

These results suggested that fennel ethanolic extract in reducing male hair growth pattern may be attributed to estrogenic property in the activation of the molecular pathways involved in the estrogen-mediated induction of hair growth.

Dr. Ozra Akh, the lead author said, "Estrogens harness the making of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the papilla cells of the skin by controlling 5-alfa reductase enzyme or increasing the conversion of testosterone to weaker androgens and decreasing the testosterone available for conversion to DHT".

Truly, in the review of literature of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial carried out from 2009 to 2011, in Sari, Iran with a total of 44 women with mild to moderate idiopathic hirsutism, researchers assigned participants either to the group of 22 treated with fennel gel 3% or the control group received placebo.

The mean age of both groups are not much difference at 26.9±6.7 and 25.6±4.3 years in case and control group, respectively, the researchers after taking into account co and confounders indicated that application of fennel gel 3% demonstrates a significant effect in the reduction of thickness of facial hair in micrometer by microscope compared to placebo, after 24 weeks of treatment.

The results of the score of both groups were compared to the baseline taken before the experiment

Although no severity of side effects was found during the period, 4 patients complained of itching (3 in the case group) and 4 patients complained of irritation and itching (3 in the case group).

In compared to the results of 2 experiments used in the article, both 2% gel and 3% gel exerted a similar efficacy in treating idiopathic hirsutism in patients with mild, moderated and excessive hair growth.

Truly, the property in reduced unwanted hair growth in the study, probably due to the presence of major bioactive phytochemical trans-anethole and di-anethole anti-androgenic effect.

Based on the evidence found, fennel may be considered a reliable and less expensive functional food for treatment of idiopathic hirsutism.

However, due to the limited information provided by the small sample size, short period time of follow-up and the case severity does not include in both studies, Additional studies are necessary to reconfirm fennel anti Hirsutism viability.

Sources
(1) Antihirsutism activity of Fennel (fruits of Foeniculum vulgare) extract. A double-blind placebo controlled study by Javidnia K1, Dastgheib L, Mohammadi Samani S, Nasiri A.(PubMed)
(2) The effect of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) gel 3% in decreasing hair thickness in idiopathic mild to moderate hirsutism, A randomized placebo controlled clinical trial by Ozra Akha, MD,1 Khadijeh Rabiei, MD,*,2 Zahra Kashi, MD,1 Adele Bahar, MD,1 Elham Zaeif-Khorasani, MD,1 Mehrnoush Kosaryan, MD,3 Majid Saeedi, PhD,4 Mohammad Ali Ebrahimzadeh, PhD,5 and Omid Emadian, MD(PubMed)