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

Saturday, 27 October 2018

Purple Carrot, the Functional Veggie Which Protects Us Against the Onset of Metabolic Syndrome

By Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrition

Scientists may have found a juice which processes a potential effect in reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome, the major cause of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, some studies found.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of at least three of the five following medical conditions including high blood pressure and sugar, central obesity, abnormally high levels of blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels.

In the US, approximately, a quarter of the adult population has metabolic syndrome.

Some researchers suggested, metabolic syndrome is likely associated with a genetic preposition

However, Dr. Stančáková A, the lead author at the University of Eastern Finland in the research of the linkage of genetics in risk of metabolic syndrome, said, "GWA studies for the individual components of the MetS have reported several loci having pleiotropic effects on multiple MetS-related traits" and "Genetic studies have provided only limited evidence for a common genetic background of the MetS".

Other risk factors such as an unhealthy diet and lifestyle, increases with age, with racial and ethnic minorities are also associated with the onset of the condition.

Truly, in the study conducted by the joint study lead by the Leighton Hospital, wrote, "... there was a high prevalence of poor diet, smoking, and inadequate exercise. Many did not follow national recommendations for dietary intake of fruit and vegetables and daily exercise. These factors probably contribute to the high prevalence of metabolic syndrome".

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

In the differentiation of the effect of purple vegetable in the risk of metabolic syndrome in the animal model, the University of Guelph conducted an evaluation to examine the effect of substitution of the majority of carbohydrate in a high-fat diet with purple potatoes (PP) or purple carrot (PC), for 8 weeks in obese Zucker rats.

After 8 weeks, according to the assay used in the studies, the substitution of PC improved insulin resistance and hypertension, major components of metabolic syndrome, compared to the control.

Dr, the lead author said, "incorporation of purple vegetables in functional food products may provide metabolic/cardiovascular benefits in the background of a high-fat diet that promotes obesity" However, "The bioactives in the vegetables responsible for blood pressure and glucose homeostasis could be different, and their effects could be independent of each other. The specific bioactives of each vegetable and their molecular targets remain to be identified".

This bioactive compound was found to be anthocyanins, a major component in the purple carrot juice.

In the evaluate whether anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and carotenoids, the predominant phytochemicals presented in purple carrots may be used in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome, researchers at the The University of Queensland launched an investigation to examine the activity of anthocyanins in rats fed a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet as a model of the metabolic syndrome induced by diet.

Before injection with carrots juice, high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats were found to develop many conditions associated the similarity to those of metabolic syndrome, including hypertension, cardiac fibrosis, increased cardiac stiffness, endothelial dysfunction, impaired glucose tolerance, increased abdominal fat deposition, altered plasma lipid profile, liver fibrosis and increased plasma liver enzymes together with increased plasma markers of oxidative stress and inflammation as well as increased inflammatory cell infiltration.

Application of purple juice at the end of the experiment attenuated or reversed all the changes while β-carotene isolated from the juice did not reduce oxidative stress, cardiac stiffness or hepatic fat deposition.

Further analysis of the concentration of the purple carrot juice, researchers wrote, "the juice itself contained low concentrations of carotenoids, it is likely that the anthocyanins are responsible for the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of purple carrot juice to improve glucose tolerance as well as the cardiovascular and hepatic structure and function".

These result suggested that anti-metabolic syndrome of purple carrot juice was attributed to the effect of a single bioactive compound, namely, anthocyanins.

Taken altogether, purple carrot juice containing a high amount of anthocyanins may be considered a functional food and secondary therapy for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome without inducing any side effects

Sources
(1) Comparison of purple carrot juice and β-carotene in a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rat model of the metabolic syndrome by Poudyal H1, Panchal S, Brown L.(PubMed)
(2) The Effect of Anthocyanin-Rich Purple Vegetable Diets on Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Zucker Rats by Ayoub HM1, McDonald MR2, Sullivan JA2, Tsao R3, Platt M1, Simpson J1, Meckling KA1.(PubMed)
(3) Genetics of metabolic syndrome by Stančáková A1, Laakso M.(PubMed)
(4) Lifestyle factors and the metabolic syndrome in Schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study by Adrian Heald,1,2 John Pendlebury,3 Simon Anderson,4 Vinesh Narayan,3 Mark Guy,5Martin Gibson,2 Peter Haddad,3 and Mark Livingston. (PMC)

@Herbal Chamomile, The Potential Anti Acute and Chronic Dermatitis Remedy With No Side Effects

By Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrition

Scientists may have found a herbal medicine in the treatment of dermatitis, without inducing any side effects, some studies suggested.

Dermatitis or eczema is a group of diseases characterized by the inflammation of the skin.

There is no single cause of eczema, anything that we face every day can trigger a dermatitis flare, including stress, irritants, climate change, and sweating. However, infection and allergens.are considered the most common causes of the disease.

In the study "Diet and Dermatitis: Food Triggers, Dr. Rajani Katta, and colleagues at the Baylor College of Medicine, wrote, "Research has found that dietary factors can indeed exacerbate atopic dermatitis or cause dermatitis due to systemic contact dermatitis. In atopic dermatitis, dietary factors are more likely to cause an exacerbation among infants or children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis relative to other".

This statement indicated a significant effect of foods that can trigger rapidly the immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity reactions, leading to the late eczematous reaction.

The symptoms of the disease include itchiness, red skin, and a rash. However, long-term dermatitis can cause skin thickening

Chamomile is also known as camomile, the common name of many species daisy-like plants in the family Asteraceae.

The herb has been used in traditional medicine as antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory constituents and to treat menstrual cramps and sleep disorders, reduce cramping and spastic pain in the bowels, relieve excessive gas and bloating in the intestine, etc.

In the study to reaffirm the traditional use of German chamomile (GC) oil for the treatment of skin disorders, researchers at the Howon University launched an investigation of BALB/c mice sensitized twice a week with 100 microL of 1% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and challenged twice the following week with 100 microL of 0.2% DNCB for atopic dermatitis induction before applying 3% GC oil daily (70 microL, 6 times week) on the dorsal skin for 4 weeks.

Saline or jojoba oil was used for the control mice.

Blood examples collected at 2 and 4 weeks after initiating oil application, researchers found that
* Serum IgE levels were significantly lowered in the GC oil application group at the end of the 4-week application period compared to control groups.

* The GC oil application for 4 weeks results in serum IgG1 level compared with that after 2-week application.

* The GC oil application group showed a significantly lower serum histamine level than the control group 2 weeks after oil application.

* Symptoms of scratching frequency of the GC oil application group was significantly lower than either control groups.

These results suggested that GC oil's immunoregulatory potential for alleviating atopic dermatitis through the influencing of Th2 cell in the inflammatory response.

Additionally, in the examination of concomitant desire to use natural products to treat skin conditions, researchers launched an investigation to review the scientific and clinical studies in the evaluating composition and clinical usefulness of natural products in the treatment of inflammatory skin dermatoses.

Chamomile is found to process a significant effect in erythema induced by ultraviolet light, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, sensitive and irritated skin, drug-induced skin eruptions, and psoriasis, compared to
colloidal oatmeal, feverfew, licorice, aloe vera, chamomile, and turmeric

Dr. Wu at the final report, said, "These products may be particularly well suited as alternatives to pharmacologic therapies in chronic conditions for which long-term use is required".

Taken altogether, Chamomile processed anti-inflammatory activity may be particularly well suited as alternatives to pharmacologic therapies in chronic dermatitis for which long-term use is required

and Megan Schlichte, BSc(PMC)

Herbal Catnip, the Herbal Remedy Which Improves Memory Naturally

By Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrition

Herbal Catnip (Nepeta cataria) may process a significant effect in improving memory, some scientists suggested.

Memory is the faculty in which information is stored and processed.

About 90% of all the brain’s neurons are located in the cerebral cortex, mainly in the "grey matter", including the prefrontal cortex, which plays an important role in processing short-term memories and retaining longer term memories.

Short-term memory is a capacity to hold a short information in mind in an active, ready to be used for a short period of time.

Longer term memories are held in the brain indefinitely.

The most causes of memory loss are associated with physical injury to the brain and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's or Huntington's disease.

Catnip is also known as catswort, or catmint, a plant of Nepeta, belonging to the family of Lamiaceae, native to Europe and Asia.

The herb has been used in herbal medicine as an insect repellant and to treat digestive disorders, children restlessness and nervousness, fevers, cold and flu, skin irritation stimulates sweating, promote menstruation, etc..

In the aim to reaffirm the statement that plants and vegetables with antioxidant activity can reduce oxidative damages in the brain and improve cognitive functions, researchers at the Qom University of Medical Sciences conducted an examination of the effects of Nepeta (Catnip) menthoides aqueous extract on memory retention and retrieval of mice by using passive avoidance apparatus.

By doses: 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg kg(-1), Nepeta menthoides aqueous extract significantly increased memory retention and retrieval.

The best response to memory retention and retrieval was achieved by a dose of 800 mg kg(-1) of Nepeta extract,

Further analysis suggested that the effects of Nepeta extract, in enhancing memory were attributed to the antioxidant activity of its components such as rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and phenolic acids.

Additionally, in the study to evaluate the nootropic activity of essential oil of Nepeta cataria (EONC) in scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) induced amnesia in mice, using elevated plus maze and passive avoidance paradigm to observe the learning and memory parameters, researchers found that

* Application of the essential oil (1gm/kg) significantly attenuated memory deficits induced by scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) and natural aging.

* Also, treated aging mice exhibited a decreased transfer latencies and increased step down latencies significantly.

* The anti memory deficits effect of Nepeta cataria were attributed to the influence on central cholinergic activity, including arousal, attention, memory, and motivation, by estimating the whole brain acetylcholinesterase activity in the breakdown of acetylcholine and of some other choline esters that function as neurotransmitters.

Dr. Sease. Satish S. at the final report said, " essential oil of Nepeta cataria might prove to be a useful memory restorative agent in the treatment of dementia seen in elderly".

Taken altogether, herbal Catnip and its essential oil may be considered a secondary therapy for improvement of memory or combined with conventional medicine for prevention of the progressive loss of memory in elderly with neurodegenerative disease.

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

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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.
References
(2) Effects of Nepeta menthoides aqueous extract on retention and retrieval of memory in mice by Sarahroodi S, Jafari-Najafi R, Nasri S, Rohampour K, Maleki-Jamshid A, Esmaeili S.(PubMed)
(3) Studies on Therapeutic Potential of Essential Oils of Nepeta Cataria in Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease by Satish S. (Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science)

Friday, 26 October 2018

Herbal Calendula (Calendula officinalis), May Process the Potency for Chronic Blepharitis

By Kyle J. Norton

Herbal Calendula may have a potential effect in reducing risk and treatment of chronic blepharitis, some scientists suggested.

Blepharitis is a condition caused by the eye inflammation of the eyelids or parts of the eyelids as a result of clogging of tiny oil glands located near the base of the eyelashes, affecting people of all ages.

Blepharitis can be classified into 2 types

1. Acute blepharitis is referred to eyelid infection by bacterial, viral, or parasitic pathogens.

2. Chronic blepharitis or lid inflammation is caused by staphylococcal, seborrheic, and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) that lasts more than 3 months.

According to researchers, chronic blepharitis is difficult to treat due to persistently low-grade inflammation.

The most common causes of blepharitis are the bacterial infection. However, the condition also can be caused by a skin condition, such as scalp dandruff or rosacea.

If you experience symptoms of itchiness, redness, flaking, and crusting of the eyelids, burning sensation, irritation, tearing, and red eyes, you may have acute blepharitis, please check with your doctor.

Untreated chronic blepharitis can lead to permanent alterations to the eyelid margin or vision loss from superficial keratopathy (abnormality of the cornea), corneal neovascularization, and ulceration.

Calendula is also known as pot marigold, annual or perennial herbaceous plants of about 12–20 species of genus Calendula, belonging to the family Asteraceae, native to Southern Europe.

The herb has been used in herbal medicine as spasmolytic, spasmogenic, inflammatory effects and to treat abdominal cramps, wound healing, skin diseases, colitis, constipation, etc.

Chemical ingredients
Besides major chemical constituents of triterpenoids, flavonoids, coumarines, quinones, volatile oil, carotenoids, and amino acids, the herb also contains loliolide (calendin), calendulin and n-paraffins.

In the findings of the natural ingredient with a potential for treatment of chronic blepharitis without inducing any adverse effects, Dr. Prozornaia LP and Dr. Brzhevskiĭ VV.launched an investigation to examine the herbal Calendula anti chronic blepharitis activity.

In the total of 110 patients aged from 3 to 42 years old were examined to estimate the efficacy of chronic blepharitis treatment, 50 patients are with chronic blepharitis and dry eye syndrome (DES), 28 are with DES due to computer vision syndrome and 32 are with isolated chronic blepharitis.

All patients received eyelid massage and a complex of hygienic procedures was performed using phytoproducts ("Geltec-Medika", Russia): blepharoshampoo, blepharolotion, blepharogel 1 and 2.

After all the procedures were finished, moist warm pads (with blepharolotion and calendula extraction) were applied on the eyelids in 25 patients.

In compared to massage, moist warm pads treatment exerts a significant effect in the improved efficacy of background therapy in patients with meibomian gland hypofunction but the insignificant effect in patients with excessive meibomian gland secretion.

These result suggested that Herbal Calendula may be effective in the treatment of chronic blepharitis caused by meibomian gland hypofunction if it is used in conjunction with eyelid hygiene.

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.

References
(1) [Efficacy of physiotherapy and hygienic procedures in the treatment of adults and children with chronic blepharitis and dry eye syndrome].[Article in Russian] by Prozornaia LP, Brzhevskiĭ VV.(PubMed)
(2) Interventions for chronic blepharitis by Kristina Lindsley,1 Sueko Matsumura,1 Elham Hatef,2 and Esen K Akpek. (PubMed)

Green Tea Polyphenols (GrTPs), the Bioactive Ingredient Which Protects Sperm Quality and Integrity Against Infertility, Scientists Find

By Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrition

Scientists may have found a beverage bioactive compound that protects the sperm quality and integrity, without inducing any side effects, some studies found,

Infertility is a condition characterized by the inability to get pregnant after 12 months of frequent and unprotected sex of a couple. Women who cannot carry the pregnancy to term are also considered as infertile.

According to the statistic, approximately 10% of women in their reproductive years are having the difficulty of conceiving or carrying the pregnancy to term.

Most common causes of infertility in men are low sperm count, sperm motility and abnormal sperm.

What causes the abnormal sperm production is unknown. Researchers do not know why people with the same health conditions and family history, some are having abnormal sperm production while others do not.

However, researchers do not that certain prevalent risk factors including physical and medical condition, such as undescended testicle and diabetes long-term intakes of a certain medicine, such as anti-inflammatory drug and hormone imbalance such as testosterone deficiency are associated with abnormal sperm production.

Genetic preposition such as chromosomal conditions that affect sperm production also plays a major role in elevating the onset of abnormal sperm production.

Age, obesity, use of the illicit drug, excessive alcohol drinking and long-term exposure to chemicals are the common causes of abnormal sperm production.

In term of diet, researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the study "Diet and men's fertility: does diet affect sperm quality?" wrote, "men may be encouraged to use antioxidant supplements and to follow dietary patterns favoring the consumption of seafood, poultry, nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Evidence is strongest for recommending the use of antioxidant supplements to men in couples undergoing infertility treatment-although the specific antioxidants and doses remain unclear-and increasing consumption of omega-3 fatty acids from fish and nuts".

These results suggested that men who follow the diet with high in saturated and trans fat, intake of a large amount of red meat and processed food and less in fruits, nuts and vegetables are at the higher risk of sperm abnormality.

In the concerns of highly sensitive of sperm cells to reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are produced during cellular oxidation, researchers at the joint study led by the Anhui Agricultural University launched an investigation to examine the green tea polyphenols (GrTPs) effect in the protection of the integrity of the sperm.

Before application of green tea s (GrTPs) researchers found that oxidative stress has numerous effects, in the increased apoptosis, reduced motion parameters, and sperm integrity in the tested subjects with overexpression of free radicals.

The increased ROS levels probably are the results of antioxidants enzymes produced by the tested subjects being suppressed due to some unknown mechanisms.

Oral administered green tea polyphenols (GrTPs), showed to restore and increase the quality of male gametes, mostly via the capability of catechins in the reduction of ROS production.

Further analysis also suggested that GrTPs processed antioxidant properties that not only restores the abnormal sperm production caused by overexpression of ROS but also improves major semen parameters, such as sperm concentration, motility, morphology, DNA damage, fertility rate, and gamete quality.

These unique properties of green tea catechins in improving the male reproductive health suggested green tea polyphenols (GrTPs) may be considered a functional food in reducing the risk of abnormal sperm quality in many parameters.

Dr, Rahman SU, the lead scientist at the final report, said, "the therapeutic effects of GrTPs against infertility, their possible mechanisms of action, and recommended supportive therapy for improving fertility in humans and in animals".

Additionally, in the concerns of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) presented in high concentrations in the genital tracts of males that affects compromised vitality, increased morphological defects and decreased sperm motility, researchers launched an investigation to examine whether green tea catechins protect the sperm quality and integrity over the expression of ROS.

After taking into account levels of oxidative stress before and after application of green tea catechin, researchers wrote,

* Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major bioactive compound in green tea inhibited the expression of ROS through its strong antioxidant activity.

* Green tea catechins potentially improve the sperm quality and integrity.

Dr. Roychoudhury S, the lead author said, " (These results furtherly confirmed) the potential roles of green tea catechins on oxidative stress in male and female reproduction and fertility".

Taken altogether, Green tea polyphenols (GrTPs) may be considered an adjunct therapy in the protection of the male reproductive sperm quality and integrity against the onset of infertility.

Sources

(1) Diet and men's fertility: does diet affect sperm quality? by Nassan FL1, Chavarro JE2, Tanrikut C. (PubMed)

(2) Therapeutic Role of Green Tea Polyphenols in Improving Fertility: A Review by Rahman SU1, Huang Y2, Zhu L3, Feng S4, Khan IM5, Wu J6, Li Y7, Wang X8.(PubMed)

(3) Potential role of green tea catechins in the management of oxidative stress-associated infertility by Roychoudhury S1, Agarwal A2, Virk G3, Cho CL. (PubMed)

Thursday, 25 October 2018

Green Tea Polyphenols (GrTPs), the Anti Female Infertility Bioactive Ingredient, Scientists Find

By Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrition

Scientists may have found a beverage bioactive compound in improving the chance of fertility in female without inducing any side effects, some studies found,

Infertility is a condition characterized by the inability to get pregnant after 12 months of frequent and unprotected sex of a couple. Women who can carry the term of pregnancy are also considered as infertile.

According to the statistic, approximately 8 to 12 percent of couples worldwide experience fertility problems. Between 45 and 50 percent of cases of infertility are attributed to male reproductive problems.

Most common causes of infertility in the female in the US. are aging, medical condition of endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which have a strong interruption of the female menstrual cycle, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and obesity.

Other prevalent risk factors including physical and medical condition, such as blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, and physical problems with the uterus and diabetes, long-term intakes of a certain medicine, such as anti-inflammatory drug and hormone imbalance that affect the menstrual cycle

Genetic preposition such as The HOXA13 gene. The only one single gene disorder has been shown to affect uterine development in infertile females.

Age, smoking, use of the illicit drug, excessive alcohol drinking and long-term exposure to chemicals are the common causes of female infertility.

In term of diet, researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the study "Diet and female fertility: doctor, what should I eat?" wrote, "According to existing data, women trying to achieve pregnancy are encouraged to increase consumption of whole grains, omega-3 fatty acids, fish, and soy and to reduce consumption of trans fats and red meat. In addition, a daily multivitamin that contains folic acid before and during pregnancy may not only prevent birth defects but also improve the chance of achieving and maintaining a pregnancy".

These results suggested that women who follow the diet with high in saturated and trans fat, intake of a large amount of red meat and processed food and less in fruits, nuts and vegetables are at the higher risk of infertility or of carrying the pregnancy to full term.

In the concerns of oxygen species (ROS), which are produced during cellular oxidation may reduce the chance of conception, researchers at the joint study led by the Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi. launched an investigation to examine whether increased production of reactive oxygen species is an important factor in the etiopathogenesis of pregnancy and affects female reproduction.

Before application of green tea s (GrTPs) researchers found that oxidative stress caused by overexpression of free radicals may damage the oocytes and may impair their fertilization capacity.

The increased ROS levels probably are the results of antioxidants enzymes produced by the tested subjects being suppressed due to some unknown mechanisms.

Oxidative stress may also lead to embryo fragmentation and formation of numerous developmental abnormalities and is regarded to be one of the important reasons for spontaneous and recurrent miscarriage

Oral administered green tea polyphenols (GrTPs) inhibits the overexpression of ROS showed to restore the embryo fragmentation and formation of numerous developmental abnormalities and increase the quality of female gametes, mostly via the capability of catechins to reduce ROS production.

Further analysis also suggested that GrTPs processed antioxidant properties that only restores the health of oocytes caused by overexpression of ROS but also improves age-related decline in female fertility rate, and gamete quality.

These unique properties of green tea catechins in improving the female reproductive health suggested green tea polyphenols (GrTPs) may be considered a functional food in protecting against the damage of the oocytes and their fertilization capacity and the integrity of embryo.

Additionally, in the concerns of the Reactive oxygen species (ROS) that may increase the risk of female infertility, researchers launched an investigation to examine whether green tea catechins protect the female gametes over the expression of ROS.

After taking into account levels of oxidative stress before and after application of green tea catechin, researchers wrote,

* Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major bioactive compound in green tea inhibited the expression of ROS in facilitating the damage of female gametes through to its strong antioxidant activity.

* Green tea catechins potentially improves the oocyte maturation and may inhibit in-vitro maturation of the oocyte

Dr. Roychoudhury S, the lead author said, " (These results furtherly confirmed) the potential roles of green tea catechins on oxidative stress in male and female reproduction and fertility".

Taken altogether, Green tea polyphenols (GrTPs) may be considered an adjunct therapy in the protection of the female gametes and oocyte maturation against the onset of infertility.

Sources

(1) Diet and female fertility: doctor, what should I eat? by Chiu YH1, Chavarro JE2, Souter I. (PubMed)

(2) Potential role of green tea catechins in the management of oxidative stress-associated infertility by Roychoudhury S1, Agarwal A2, Virk G3, Cho CL. (PubMed)

Herbal Chickweed, the Natural and Novel Antimicrobial Remedy

By Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrition

Chickweed may have a profound effect in the inhibition of micro-pathogens before they can cause infection and damage to the body, some scientists suggested

Antimicrobial effects are the natural reaction of the immune system in the response to protect our body against damage during the acute phase of infection.

After sensing the danger of micro infection, the immune macrophages activated the proteins which are responsible for the production of proinflammatory cytokines to the location with an aim to kill off the foreign microorganisms.

However, in most cases, overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines can also induce damage and death to the nearby healthy cells, leading to abnormal healing with the formation of irreversible scars.

In facts, out of millions of bacteria that live in our body, most of them help us to digest food, kill or inhibit the overproduction of harmful bacteria, and protect us by creating environments in which harmful organisms cannot survive, only a few hundred which have been known to cause diseases.

Bad micro-pathogens can cause infection in some different ways, including airborne carried in the air, vector-borne, carried by a live carrier, such as a mosquito, flea, rat, or tick. vehicle-borne transmitted through food, water, and blood.

Chickweed is a cool-season annual plant often eaten by chickens., genus S. media, belonging to the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Europe.

The herb has been used in herbal medicine to treat skin conditions, indigestion, eczema, cough, rashes, etc. and as astringent, carminative, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, refrigerant, vulnerary agent.

In the study to examine the antimicrobial activity of Chickweed researchers at the Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Science conducted an experiment to test the efficacy of the Stellarmedin A, purified from the herbal medicine against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).

At an IC50 of 13.18 µg/ml, exerted a significant inhibitory activity by preventing the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) to replicate and affecting the initial stage of HSV-2 in the initiation of infection.

Furthermore, application of the purified compound also inhibits the proliferation of promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 and colon carcinoma LoVo cells with an IC50 of 9.09 and 12.32 µM, respectively.

The findings suggested Chickweed may process an anti-HSV-2 protein which exerts antiproliferative and peroxidase activities against microbial infection.

Moreover, in the comparison of the antimicrobial effect of Sm-AMP-D1 and Sm-AMP-D2, isolated from seeds of common chickweed, researchers found that both novel compounds display an strong inhibitory activity against phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes in the micromolar range (IC(50)≤1μM).

The efficacy of both compounds in the inhibition of microbial infection was attributed to the genomic DNA in engineering pathogen resistance.

Interestingly, in the study of plant defense peptides, small polypeptide molecules that present antimicrobial properties, scientists at the Vavilov Institute of General Genetics launched an experiment o examine the antibacterial activity using a novel antifungal peptide named Sm-AMP-X (33 residues) from the common chickweed.

Sm-AMP-X exhibits high broad-spectrum activity against fungal phytopathogens and the antifungal activity was associated with the truncated variants Sm-AMP-X1 compared to Sm-AMP-X2.

Taken all together, the results indicated that Chickweed may be considered a functional food and an adjunct therapy due to its novel components and phytochemicals in the protection against microbial infection.

However, due to the limitation of the above studies, additional data collection large example size and multi-centers studies performed with human consumption of the whole food or its bioactive compounds during the course of the disease will be necessary to complete the picture of Chickweed anti-microbial possibilities.

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.References
(1) Purification and characterization of a novel anti-HSV-2 protein with antiproliferative and peroxidase activities from Stellaria media by Shan Y1, Zheng Y, Guan F, Zhou J, Zhao H, Xia B, Feng X.(PubMed)
(2) Isolation, molecular cloning and antimicrobial activity of novel defensins from common chickweed (Stellaria media L.) seeds by Slavokhotova AA1, Odintsova TI, Rogozhin EA, Musolyamov AK, Andreev YA, Grishin EV, Egorov TA. (PubMed)
(3) Novel antifungal α-hairpinin peptide from Stellaria media seeds: structure, biosynthesis, gene structure and evolution by Slavokhotova AA1, Rogozhin EA, Musolyamov AK, Andreev YA, Oparin PB, Berkut AA, Vassilevski AA, Egorov TA, Grishin EV, Odintsova TI. (PubMed)
(4) Human genes involved in hepatitis B virus infection by Zheng Zeng. (PMC)
(5) Risk factors for hepatitis A, B and C virus infection among Swedish expatriates by Struve J1, Norrbohm O, Stenbeck J, Giesecke J, Weiland O. (PubMed)