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

Friday, 8 March 2019

Ginger, the Herbal Remedy Which Promotes Weight Loss

By Kyle J. Norton

On seeking natural therapy with no side effects, scientists may have a vegetable in the induction of weight loss, according to studies.

Weight loss is a process that intentionally reduces the total body mass, through the decrease of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue or lean mass.

Due to the widespread obesity in North America (over 68% of the US population is either overweight or obese), many weight loss products were created by manufacturers. The weight loss products is a 66 billion business in the US, according to the statistic provided by the Marketdata LLC research firm. And the business continues to grow at a rapid rate.

Is the weight loss products worked? I don't think so. Otherwise, the percentage of the overweight population in the US should be decreased substantially.

In other words, all weight loss products may have a complex structure or a long-term commitment before the results can be seen.

The National Institutes of Health wrote, "You might be surprised to learn that makers of weight-loss supplements rarely carry out studies in people to find out whether their product works and is safe. And when studies are done, they usually involve only small numbers of people who take the supplement for just a few weeks or months. To know whether a weight-loss supplement can help people lose weight safely and keep it off, larger groups of people need to be studied for a longer time.".

In short, most weight products are buy-at your own-risk products.

In fact, everyone knows, the proven ways to lose weight are eating healthful foods, cutting calories, and being physically active.

Dr. Catherine M. Champagne and colleagues in the investigation of healthy diets and weight loss, wrote, "Increased intake of fruits and vegetables was associated with weight loss in Phases I and II: 0.29 kg per 6-months (p<0.0001) and 0.04 kg per 6-months (p=0.0062), respectively, per 1-serving increase. Substitution of carbohydrates for fat and protein for carbohydrates were associated with weight loss during both phases".

And, "Increasing dairy intake was associated with significant weight loss during Phase II (−0.17 kg per 6-months per 1-serving increase, p=0.0002), but not in Phase I. Dietary fiber revealed no significant findings".

The results strongly suggested that if you want to lose weight, you better follow a healthy diet with an increased intake of fruits and vegetables.

The randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial included 50 overweight women satisfied the criteria and guidelines.

Selected candidates were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group A received dietary supplements containing 125 mg green tea, 25 mg capsaicin, and 50 mg ginger extracts (n = 25) group B received placebos (n = 25) twice with lunch and twice with dinner daily for 8 weeks.

Supplement treatment groups showed a significant decrease in weight and body mass index compared to the control.

Women who received the supplement exerted a strong improvement on metabolic profiles including the decreased serum insulin concentrations, insulin resistance (-0.5 ± 0.8 vs. -0.05 ± 0.6, p = 0.01), and increased insulin sensitivity, compared to control.

Futhermore, the antioxidant enzymes produced by the host in the supplement group also was enhanced compared to control.

The results indicated that daily intake of the supplement may have a positive impact on inducing weight loss through improving the body metabolism and antioxidant activity.

Dr, Taghizadeh M and colleagues wrote in the final report, "taking green tea, capsaicin and ginger co-supplements for 8 weeks among overweight women had beneficial effects on weight, BMI, markers of insulin metabolism and plasma GSH levels".

In order to reveal more information about using ginger to lose weight, researchers investigated the effect of ginger intake on weight loss, glycemic control, and lipid profiles among overweight and obese subjects by reaching the medical literature online.

The selection of the quality of the studies is based on guidelines of the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

According to the 14 studies with 473 subjects included in the meta-analysis, supplementation with ginger significantly decreased body weight (BW), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), the hip ratio (HR), fasting glucose, compared to placebo.

Moreover, decreased insulin resistance and significantly increased HDL-cholesterol levels were also observed in the ginger treatment groups.

Surprisingly, ginger supplement showed no effect body mass index (BMI), insulin, triglycerides, total- and LDL-cholesterol.

Dr.Maharlouei N, the lead scientist after taking into account co and confounders said, "Overall, the current meta-analysis demonstrated that ginger intake reduced BW, WHR, HR, fasting glucose and HOMA-IR, and increased HDL-cholesterol, but did not affect insulin, BMI, triglycerides, total- and LDL-cholesterol levels".

Taken altogether, ginger used alone or combined with other supplements may be considered a functional remedy for inducing weight loss in overweight and obese population, pending to the confirmation of larger sample size and multicenter human study.

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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) The Effect of Dietary Supplements Containing Green Tea, Capsaicin and GingerExtracts on Weight Loss and Metabolic Profiles in Overweight Women: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial by Taghizadeh M1, Farzin N, Taheri S, Mahlouji M, Akbari H, Karamali F, Asemi Z. (PubMed)
(2) The effects of ginger intake on weight loss and metabolic profiles among overweight and obese subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by Maharlouei N1, Tabrizi R2, Lankarani KB1, Rezaianzadeh A3, Akbari M2, Kolahdooz F4, Rahimi M5, Keneshlou F6, Asemi Z7. (PubMed)
(3) Dietary intakes associated with successful weight loss and maintenance during the Weight Loss Maintenance Trial by Catherine M. Champagne, PhD, RD, LDN, FADA, Professor-Research, Stephanie T Broyles, PhD, Assistant Professor, Laura D. Moran, MS, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian, Katherine C. Cash, RD, LDN, Research Dietitian/Interventionist, Erma J. Levy, MPH, RD, Research Dietitian/Interventionist, Pao-Hwa Lin, PhD, Associate Research Professor, Bryan C. Batch, MD, Lillian F. Lien, MD, Medical Director, Duke Inpatient Diabetes Management, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Kristine L. Funk, MS, RD, Research Associate III, Arlene Dalcin, RD, LDN, Research Associate, Catherine Loria, PhD, MS, MA, FAHA, Nutritional Epidemiologist, and Valerie H. Myers, PhD. (PMC)

Thursday, 7 March 2019

Phytochemical Sinigrin, the Potential Antioxidants, Scientists Say

By Kyle J. Norton

Sinigrin may be used as a dietary supplement for the improvement of the antioxidant profile in patients with overexpression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), according to studies.

ROS, a phrase used to describe a number of reactive molecules. Free radicals are unstable molecules with unpaired electrons on the outer ring. In order for them to become stable, free radicals are ready to donate or intercept an electron from other stable atoms, leading to a chain reaction that can not be stopped until all electrons are paired or inhibited by antioxidants.

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) have long been known to be a component that impaired the function of the response of immune cells to microbial invasion, and induce cytotoxicity to the healthy cells, leading to the damage of lipid, protein, and alternation of cell DNA.

In other words, overexpression of ROS can cause tissues and DNA damage, causing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and inflammatory disease, cataract, and cancer.

Free radicals can be produced by either cells metabolism or contact with the outside sources, including the food and air we breathe.

In healthy individuals, free radicals are neutralized by the antioxidant enzymes produced by the body defense system. People with low levels of antioxidant enzymes can acquire antioxidants from dietary sources found in fruits and vegetables.

In fact, free radicals play a dual role as both toxic and beneficial compounds, since they can be either harmful or helpful to the body. Free radicals can exert beneficial effects on cellular responses and immune function at low levels. However, at high concentrations, free radicals generate oxidative stress, a deleterious process that can damage all cell structures.

Antioxidants are stable molecules which inhibit free radical.

Sinigrin is a phytochemical glucosinolate, belongs to the family of glucosides found abundantly in Brussels sprouts, broccoli, the seeds of black mustard, etc.

Scientists on the finding a natural compound which processes a strong antioxidant activity against oxidative stress examined by the effect of sinigrin anti-free radicals activity.

Sinigrin enhanced the immune macrophage function, by enhancing the activity of Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) against cell stress.

The chemical compound also inhibited the expression of free radicals on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in a concentration-dependent manner.

Sinigrin also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity against the expression of COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in RAW 264.7 cells and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6.

Treatment with sinigrin decreased pro-inflammatory expression (IL-1β and IL-18) and concurrently suppressed NLRP3, the protein associated with innate immune response and inflammation.

In other words, by blocking the expression of NLRP3, sinigrin inhibited the pro-inflammatory expression (IL-1β and IL-18).

Furthermore, the efficacy of sinigrin immunomodulatory activity was attributed to the decreasing the activation of the signaling in the activation of pro-inflammatory pathways such as the NF-κB/MAPK pathways or NLRP3 inflammasome.

The findings strongly suggested that sinigrin has immunomodulatory effects by suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators.

Taken altogether, sinigrin may be considered an antioxidant supplement for modulatory activity against the oxidative stress in the induction of inflammation.

However, intake of sinigrin should be taken with extreme care to prevent acute liver toxicity.

3,3'-Diindolylmethane Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Cells

By Kyle J. Norton

Scientists may have found a bioactive compound for the treatment of pancreatic cancer with no side effects, according to studies.

Pancreatic cancer is a chronic condition characterized by cell growth irregularly in the tissues of the pancreas.

According to statistics, every year, approximately, over 55,000 adults in the United States are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, accounting to 3% of all cancers and 7% of all cancer deaths.

The survival rate of pancreatic cancer even diagnosed at the early is very low compared to other types of cancer. The 5-year survival rate at stage IA pancreatic cancer is only14%.

Researchers do not know what causes pancreatic cancer. They don't even know why people with the same health conditions in the same family, some are susceptible to pancreatic cancer, while others do not.

Most common risk factors of pancreatic cancer are similar to those of common cancers, including age, family history, gender, ethnicity, smoking, being overweight or obesity and certain medical conditions such as diabetes.

However, some researchers suggested that an unhealthy diet with high animal products such as the Western diet is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Dr. McCarty MF at the Pantox Laboratories, in the investigation of the insulin secretion as a determinant of pancreatic cancer risk, wrote, "In international ecologic epidemiology, pancreatic cancer rates correlate tightly with dietary intake of animal products; this may reflect the fact that vegan diets are associated with low diurnal insulin secretion".

And, "There is also suggestive evidence that macrobiotic vegan diets, which are low in glycemic index, may increase mean survival time in pancreatic cancer. However, other types of diets associated with decreased postprandial insulin response, such as high-protein diets or 'Mediterranean' diets high in oleic acid, may also have the potential for pancreatic cancer prevention".

The results clearly indicated a reduced risk of diets associated with less consumption of animal products and high fruits and vegetables such as traditional and vegan diet.

3,3'-Diindolylmethane or DIM are phytochemicals derived from the digestion of indole-3-carbinol, belonging to the group of Indoles, found abundantly in broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale, etc.

Researchers on finding a natural ingredient for the treatment of pancreatic cancer examined the function of dietary 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) on the molecules of pancreatic cancer through the mechanistic underexpression of Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) in pancreatic cancer.

Where Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc finger transcription factor plays a critical role in the regulation of many cellular functions in both normal and neoplastic (benign or cancer) cells.

Injection of 3,3'-Diindolylmethane inhibited the overexpression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in the promotion of cell cycle division, leading to the decreased KLF4 expression.

In other words, 3,3'-Diindolylmethane increased KLF4 expression in altering pancreatic cancer cells cycle progression by arresting the cells at the G2/M phase.

The findings indicated that DIM treatment caused significant inhibition of cell growth in vitro and tumorigenesis in animal models of pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Xie VK and colleagues said, "dysregulated KLF4 expression associated with poor differentiation of pancreatic cancer" and "dietary DIM causes differentiation and significant growth inhibition of pancreatic cancer cells".

In order to reveal more information about the effect of DIM against the progression pancreatic cancer, researchers investigated the overexpression of miR-221 in pancreatic cancer cell lines and tumor tissues compared to normal pancreatic duct epithelial cells and normal pancreas tissues.

Application of DIM exerted a significant effect in enhancing the transfection of miR-221 inhibitor in suppressing the proliferative capacity of pancreatic cancer cells accompanied by the activation of genes associated with tumor suppression.

Futhermore, injection of DIM alone or combined with isoflavone mixture (G2535), formulated 3,3'-diindolylmethane (BR-DIM), or synthetic curcumin analog (CDF) demonstrated a strong effect against the expression of miR-221 in pancreatic cancer cells, leading to the inhibition of cell proliferation and migration.

Dr. Sarkar S, the lead scientist wrote in the final report, "These results provide experimental evidence in support of the oncogenic role of miR-221 and also demonstrate the role of isoflavone, BR-DIM, and CDF as potential non-toxic agents that are capable of down-regulation of miR-221".

Taken altogether, 3,3'-Diindolylmethane derived from the I3C may be considered a supplement for the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer, pending to the confirmation of larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Intake of 3,3'-Diindolylmethane as a supplement should be taken with exceptional care to prevent acute liver toxicity.

Artichoke, Protects the Liver Cells Against Acute Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury, Studies Found

By Kyle J. Norton

Artichoke may be used as a herbal remedy for the protection liver against acute alcohol-induced liver injury, according to studies.

Acute alcohol-induced liver injury is a condition caused excessive alcohol drinking in a short term.

Acute alcohol binges have been found to induce acute liver toxicity and contribute to the chronicity of alcoholic liver disease (ALD).

The condition has been found increasingly in people aged 18–25, probably, due to severe CNS depression, which slows motor coordination and respiratory rates.

Believe it or not, over 50% of Americans consume alcohol, 23.1% of them participating in heavy and/or binge drinking at least once a month, leading to acute alcoholic liver toxicity in the initiation and progression of alcoholic liver disease.

In fact, heavy and/or binge drinking has been associated with the onset of steatosis or fatty liver caused by alcohol metabolism in the induction of liver fat accumulation.

Dr. Veronica L. Massey, the lead scientists, in the explanation of how alcoholic metabolism induced fatty liver, said, "Concentrations of alcohol can easily reach the mM range in the portal/hepatic circulation during alcohol consumption. In the process of metabolizing ethanol to acetate, two equivalents of reduced NADH are generated per equivalent of ethanol oxidized" and, "This metabolism robustly increases the ratio of NADH:NAD+ within the cell, which then inhibits the β-oxidation of fatty acids in the liver".

In other words, acute excessive alcohol drinking causes liver injury through ethanol pre-exposure in stimulating the immune response in the production of inflammatory cytokines and induction of intoxication.

Other researchers suggested that acute excessive alcohol drinking can also cause liver injury by increasing gut permeability, leading to the translocation of endotoxins into the portal blood that facilitates the intoxication.

Artichoke is a perennial thistle of Cynara cardunculus species of the Cynara genus, belonging to the family Carduoideae native to Southern Europe around the Mediterranean.

The herbal plant has been used in traditional medicine for as liver protective and detoxified agent, and to treat digestive disorders, abdominal pain gas and bloating, etc.

Researchers on finding a natural compound for the treatment of acute alcohol-induced liver damage examined the artichoke(Cynara scolymus L.) used in traditional medicine with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

The study included mice group induced acute alcohol-induced liver injury by 40% alcohol (12 mL/kg body weight) administered orally 1 h after treated with ethanolic extract from artichoke (0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 g/kg body weight) by gavage once daily.

After 10 consecutive days of treatment, artichoke extract significantly prevented elevated levels of oxidative stress and liver damage markers, and triglyceride, total cholesterol.

Artichoke extract also normalized the levels of antioxidants enzymes which was suppressed by the alcohol injection produced by the host.

According to the histopathological assays, artichoke attenuated degeneration, inflammatory infiltration, and necrosis of liver cells.

According to the Immunohistochemical analysis, artichoke also attenuated of receptor and protein associated with the production of proinflammatory cytokines in the liver tissues.

The results clearly supported the use of artichoke extract for the prevention and protection against acute alcohol-induced liver injury.

Dr. Tang X and colleagues said, "This finding is mainly attributed to its ability to attenuate oxidative stress and suppress the TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway".

In order to reveal more information about artichoke anti acute liver damage, researchers examined the results of male albino Wistar rats selected to the study.

Male albino Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups of eight animals each. The first group was assigned as a control. Groups 2-4 were orally administered with ALE (300 mg/kg bw), Cd (CdCl2, 100 mg/L drinking water), and ALE plus Cd, respectively, daily for 4 weeks.

Before the treatment of ALE, Cd treatment rats exerted an increase of liver and kidney oxidative stress compared with the control rats.

The overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines also was found to increase significantly in Cd-treated rats compared to the control accompanied by the suppressed levels of antioxidant enzymes produced by the rats.

Combination treatment, Cd and ALE significantly improved immune response in the production of inflammatory cytokines, antioxidants produced by the host system and hepatorenal function by a significant decline liver injury marker.

Taken altogether, artichoke exerted a significant anti acute liver damage through a series of mechanisms may be considered a functional remedy for the prevention and treatment of acute liver diseases, pending to the confirmation of larger sample size and multicancer human study.

Bilberry May Process Anti Leukemia Potency, Studies Revealed

By Kyle J. Norton

Bilberry may have a strong and positive effect in reducing risk and treatment of leukemia with no side effects, according to studies.

Leukemia is chronic and medical condition arisen by the blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system.

According to the statistic provided by the US Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma cause the deaths of an estimated 58,100 people in the US in 2018, accounting to 9.5 percent of the deaths from all cancers in 2018.

The causes of leukemia are unknown. However, some researchers suggested that family history, smoking habit, genetic disorder syndrome, a blood disorder, exposure to radiation and toxic chemical and previous cancer treatment are some prevalent risks of the cancer onset.

However, most people exposed to some of the aforementioned risk factors have never developed leukemia.

Besides general symptoms of cancer, patients also experience symptoms related to the immune system such as easily bleeding, frequent infection.

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is one of the most common forms of leukemia, affecting both children and adults.

The five-year survival rate for AML is 26.9 percent.

Some researchers suggested that genetic preposition may have a strong implication to induce the onset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as most of the cancer is found in the children.

Dr. Hamerschlak N, in the assessment of the genetics and prognostic factors of leukemia, said, " In chronic myeloid leukemia, clonal evolution is associated with progression to the blast crisis. Patients on imatinib who cease responding may have mutations on their ABL gene. Finally, in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, factors such as hyperdiploidy and t 12:21 are associated with good prognosis, whereas carriers of t 4:11 and t 9:22 are considered high-risk patients".

The results strongly suggested that if you carry any genetic preposition associated with the risk of leukemia, please have blood test annually for preventive measure.

Bilberry is a species of low-growing shrubs in the genus Vaccinium, belonging to the family Ericaceae, native to Northern Europe.

The herbal plant has been used as foods and herbs in traditional medicine for the treatment acute and chronic diarrhea, gastritis, gastric ulcer, and duodenal ulcer, enterocolitis, ulcerative colitis, anemia, cystitis, kidney disease, and psoriasis, diabetes, etc.

Scientists on finding potential and natural compound for the treatment of leukemia evaluated the pro-apoptotic effect of an anthocyanin-rich dietary bilberry extract (Antho 50) on B CLL cells.

The study is to compare the B CLL cells from 30 patients and on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy subjects.

Antho 50 induced concentration- and time-dependent pro-apoptotic effects in B CLL cells but little or no effect in PBMCs.

The main phenolic compounds of the bilberry extract are delphinidin-3-O-glucoside and delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside induced cancer cell death through the pro-apoptotic effect.

The efficacy of Antho 50-induced apoptosis was attributed to activated the protein associated with programming cell death and inhibited the gene associated with cancer proliferation.

Furthermore, Antho 50 significantly induced PEG-catalase-sensitive in the generation of reactive oxygen species in B CLL cells, leading to cytotoxicity.

The findings suggested that bilberry exhibited anti-leukemia activity through several mechanisms, including cell death pathways.

In order to reveal more information about bilberry in the inhibition of leukemia, researchers compared the anticancer effect of ethanol extracts of 10 edible berries.

Bilberry extract was found to be the most effective at inhibiting the growth of HL60 human leukemia cells through apoptotic cell bodies and cell degradation in vitro.

The antileukemia effects of bilberry extract probably were attributed to the contents of phenolic compounds, including anthocyanins, which showed a significant radical scavenging activity which has been found to protect the cells integrity against DNA alternation.

Moreover, pure delphinidin and malvidin isolated from the bilberry extract also found to induce apoptosis in HL60 cells.

Dr. Katsube N and colleagues wrote, " the bilberry extract and the anthocyanins, bearing delphinidin or malvidin as the aglycon, inhibit the growth of HL60 cells through the induction of apoptosis" in the final report.

Taken altogether, bilberry processed a high amount of bioactive compounds may be considered a functional remedy for the prevention and treatment of leukemia, pending to the confirmation of larger sample size and multicenter human study.