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

Wednesday, 21 August 2019

Cranberry Inhibits the Risk and Onset of Oral Cancer

By Kyle J. Norton

The mouth formed part of the digestive system is an oval-shaped cavity inside the skull that processes 2 main functions of eating and speaking.

Cancer is a group of chronic diseases characterized by cell growth disorderly that starts on the surface of the inner lining tissue of the mouth.

Oral cancer is any malignant cell growth in the tissue located in the oral cavity, including the tissue of the lips or the tongue, cheek lining, floor of the mouth, gums (gingiva) and the roof of the mouth (palate).

According to the statistics provided by the Canadian Cancer Society, in 2017, 4,700 Canadians were diagnosed with oral cancer, including 3,250 men and 1,450 women. In the same year, the disease also caused the death of 1,250 Canadians.

The exact causes of oral cancer are unknown. Epidemiologically, aging, smoking, excessive alcohol drinking, chewing tobacco and betel nut, long-term use of mouth wash, male ganders are some of the most prevalent factors found in patients with the disease.

Some researchers suggested that poor hygiene that leads to advanced gingivitis may be a major culprit that causes the onset of oral cancer.

Dr. Roshni Ramesh, the lead scientist wrote, "Gingival enlargements are frequently encountered in dental practice. There are different types of gingival enlargements and they vary according to the etiologic factors and pathologic processes that produce them".

And, "Oral cancers especially squamous cell carcinomas present with variations in clinical presentation and the sites affected".

Cranberry is an evergreen dwarf shrub, genus Vaccinium, belongings to the family Ericaceae, native to Northern America and Southern Asia. Because of its health benefits, cranberry has been cultivated in some parts of the world for commercial profit and used in traditional and herbal medicine to treat wounds, urinary disorders, diarrhea, diabetes, stomach ailments, and liver problems.

On finding a potential compound for the treatment of cancer, researchers examined the effect of proanthocyanidins, compounds highly concentrated in dietary cranberries and grapes on oral cancer.

The oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, CAL27 and SCC25 were used to compare the effects of cranberry and grape seed extract on phenotypic behaviors of these oral cancers.

According to the tested analysis, administration of cranberry and grape seed extracts, in a dose-dependent manner showed significant inhibition of the proliferation of both oral cancer cell lines.

Proteins associated with the promotion of cancer cell apoptosis were significantly stimulated by the injection of cranberry and grape seed extracts.

The pathways associated with cancer cell adhesion, cell morphology, and cell cycle division were also inhibited by both extracts.

Based on the findings, researchers said, "This study represents one of the first comparative investigations of cranberry and grape seed extracts and their anti-proliferative effects on oral cancers".

And, "cranberry and grape seed extract not only inhibit oral cancer proliferation but also that the mechanism of this inhibition may function by triggering key apoptotic regulators in these cell lines".

Taken altogether, cranberry may be considered a remedy for the prevention and treatment of oral cancer, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

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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) Cranberry and grape seed extracts inhibit the proliferative phenotype of oral squamous cell carcinomas by Chatelain K1, Phippen S, McCabe J, Teeters CA, O'Malley S, Kingsley K. (PubMed)
(2) Oral squamous cell carcinoma masquerading as gingival overgrowth by Roshni Ramesh1 and Arun Sadasivan. (PMC)

Bromelin Inhibits Symptoms in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia

By Kyle J. Norton

Functional dyspepsia, also known as indigestion, is a symptom in the stomach associated with difficulty in digesting food.

Most common symptoms of indigestion are pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen (dyspepsia) or burning pain behind the breastbone (heartburn) soon after eating.

Some patients may also experience symptoms of feeling full or bloated with no signs of relief.

In serious cases, patients may also experience symptoms of vomiting blood, dark, tarry stools due to damage of the lining of the stomach, shortness of breath, and unexplained weight loss.

If you have some of the aforementioned symptoms, please check with the doctor immediately

There exact causes of indigestion are multiple. Epidemiologically, female gender, aging, long-term use of pain relievers, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, smoking and people with long-term psychological problems such as anxiety or depression are some most common factors found in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Conventionally, treatment of functional dyspepsia is totally depending on the condition, including antibiotics for H. pylori infection and medication to reduce pain.

Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme found in pineapples (Ananas comosus) has been used in traditional medicine as an inflammatory agent and to treat pains, strains, and muscle aches and pains and ease back pain and chronic joint pain, skin diseases, etc.

On finding potential and natural compound for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, researchers examined a dietary integrator composed by sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate, bromelin and essential oils on patients affected by functional dyspepsia.

The study included a study of a total of 100 patients with functional dyspepsia diagnosed primarily on the basis of typical symptoms and the exclusion of non-functional gastrointestinal diseases.

According to the symptom classification, All patients were assigned to either dysmotility-like dyspepsia (N.=60) or reflux-like dyspepsia (N.=40).

All patients were treated with TUBES Gastro (0.80 g oral tablets bid after main meals) for 4 weeks, on top of their current treatment with proton pump inhibitors or not.

According to the results from the experiment, TUBES Gastro showed a high statistically significant reduction of the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores at 14 and 28 days: -1.5 (-26.3%) and -3.4 (-59.6%), respectively compared to the baseline in patients with dysmotility-like dyspepsia.

In patients with reflux-like dyspepsia, TUBES Gastro demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of the NRS score at 14 and 28 days: -2.8 (-41.2%) and -4.8 (70.6%), respectively (P<0.0001).

Futhermore, there were no side effects found during the study duration.

Based on the findings, researchers wrote, "TUBES Gastro treatment was effective and well tolerated in reducing the symptomatology of patients affected by functional dysmotility-like and reflux-like dyspepsia".

In order to reveal additional information of TUBES Gastro anti-functional dyspepsia, researchers at the Molinette Hospital conducted a study to examine the preparation efficacy on a total of 53 consecutive patients (22 males, 31 females; mean age, 54+/-2.5 years) with functional dyspepsia and negative for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Patients classified to four subgroups according to predominant symptom: ulcer-like dyspepsia, Motility-like dyspepsia, reflux-like dyspepsia, and nonspecific dyspepsia, were received TUBES gastro (0.80 g oral tablets bid) for a minimum of 3 months (range, 3-11).

According to the results of patients completed the study, the preparation showed a strong effect on the improvement in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). score.

Compared to the based line, the difference in scores between the initial and the final visit was -1.9+/-2.1 cm (range, -6 to +3), or 23.8+/-40.8% (range, -150% to 100%).

Dr. Pellicano R, the lead scientists wrote, "The study results indicate that in the short term TUBES gastro can significantly improve dyspeptic symptoms in dyspeptic patients negative for H. pylori infection".

Taken altogether, bromelain used alone or combined with other remedies may be considered supplements for the prevention and treatment of functional dyspepsia, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Intake of bromelain in the form of supplement should be taken with extreme care to prevent overdose acute liver toxicity.

Sources
(1) Can dietary integrators provide a clinical benefit in the treatment of functionaldyspepsia? results from a prospective study with TUBES Gastro by Molteni M. (PubMed)
(2) Benefit of dietary integrators for treating functional dyspepsia: a prospective pilot study.[Article in English, Italian] by Pellicano R1, Strona S, Simondi D, Reggiani S, Pallavicino F, Sguazzini C, Bonagura AG, Rizzetto M, Astegiano M. (PubMed)

Healthy Food Turmeric, a Natural Prevention and Treatment of Endometriosis, According to Studies

By Kyle J. Norton

Endometriosis is a medical condition characterized by the growth of endometrial cells somewhere else instead of the inside of the uterus.

More precisely, instead of a layer of endometriosis lining on the inside of the uterus expelled, known as menstruation blood on the last stage of the menstrual cycle, some of the endometriosis tissues grow somewhere else in the body.

Most common endometriosis tissues are diagnosed within the pelvic region, on the lining of peritoneum, in the ovaries, and on the surface of the uterus's an outside wall. However, endometriosis has also been found in the fallopian tubes, the cervix, the vagina, and even the vulva.

According to the statistics, 20% of reproductive age women with endometriosis present without symptoms, 55% of women who have developed the new onset of severe menstrual cramps.

Additonally, endometriosis also induce sub-fertility (less fertile than a normal couple) in 25% of women.

There are a number of theories that hypotheses the onset of endometriosis, including

* Retrograde menstruation
The retrograde menstruation theory suggests that during menstruation the blood flows backward instead of outward, causing menstrual blood to go through the fallopian tubes to the pelvic and abdominal cavity

* Weakened immune system
Normally, the immune will destroy endometrial cells which are located outside the uterus. If the immune system is weakened, it will allow the endometrial cells that shed to attach and grow elsewhere in the body.

* Stress and emotion
During stress and emotion, the adrenal glands produce cortisol which affects the function of the body to cleanse toxins resulting in stimulating the growth of endometriosis.

* Embryonic theory
This theory suggests during the embryonic stage, some endometrial cells which normally grow in the womb instead develop in the abdomen.

* Hormone imbalance
Any imbalance of hormones during the menstrual cycle causes conversion of estrogen into bad estrogen and over-production of prostaglandin, leading to the cervix to contract in facilitating the onset of endometriosis. Nutritional deficiency is also one of the causes of hormone imbalance.

* Hereditary
Endometriosis may be genetics passing through from generation to generation or it may result from genetic errors, causing some women to become more likely than others to develop the condition.

* Toxic environment
Study shows that exposing our body to toxins found in pesticides and some harmful waste products may cause hormonal imbalance induced endometriosis developing.

* Xenoestrogen
Interaction of our body with certain chemicals causes a disruption of the body's hormones leading to over-production of estrogen converting to xenoestrogen that stimulates the growth of endometriosis.

Turmeric is a perennial plant in the genus Curcuma, belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, native to tropical South Asia.

The herb has been used in traditional medicine as anti-oxidant, hypoglycemic, colorant, antiseptic, wound healing agent, and to treat flatulence, bloating, and appetite loss, ulcers, eczema, inflammations, etc.

On finding a potential ingredient for the treatment of endometriosis, researchers examined the effect of curcumin, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities.

In mice induced endometriosis by peritoneal implantation of uterine fragments, researchers showed that

* Curcumin administered either post- or pre-endometriosis exerted a significantly arrested endometriosis in a dose-dependent manner.

* Injection of curcumin inhibited both MMP-9 activity and its expression at the level of secretion to initiate cytokines and chemokines that regulate tissue remodeling, during regression of the endometriotic lesion.

* Furthermore, curcumin attenuated the activity of MMP-9 was associated with decreased expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) involved in cell apoptosis during healing, In other words, curcumin induced anti-inflammatory activity against the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines of TNF-alpha

* Most importantly, curcumin pretreatment prevented lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in normal endometriotic tissue.

Based on the findings, researchers said, "... the anti-endometriotic property of curcumin via MMP-9 dependent pathway (that) may lead to a new therapeutic intervention".

Taken altogether, turmeric processed abundantly bioactive compound curcumin may be considered supplements for the prevention and treatment of endometriosis, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Intake of turmeric in the form of supplement should be taken with extreme care to prevent overdose acute liver toxicity.

Tuesday, 20 August 2019

Healthy Food Tomato, the Natural and Potential Anti-Inflammatory Remedy

By Kyle J. Norton

Inflammation is a natural response by the immune system to protect the body against the invasion of stimuli or foreign pathogens.

In other words, the white blood cells on the first line of defense of the immune system after sensing the danger of an infection in the body through a message from the brain stimulate the production of palette to cover the site of injury or damage and inflammatory cytokines to kill off all pathogens before they can cause harm to the body.

Most cases on infection are stopped at the acute phase. The wound or injury are slowly recovered.

However, in severe cases, particularly in people with the weakened immune system, the inflammatory progression cannot be stopped due to the inability of the immune system to destroy all invaders, leading to low-grade chronic inflammation.

Diseases associated with low-grade inflammation include diabetes and cardiovascular.

Believe it or not, worldwide, 3 of 5 death are results from chronic inflammatory diseases like stroke, chronic respiratory diseases, heart disorders, cancer, obesity, and diabetes.

In the US, chronic inflammatory diseases affect more than 50 million Americans each year.

Dr. Roma Pahwa in the classification of chronic inflammation wrote, "Chronic inflammation is also referred to as slow, long-term inflammation lasting for prolonged periods of several months to years. Generally, the extent and effects of chronic inflammation vary with the cause of the injury and the ability of the body to repair and overcome the damage".

And, "(The causes of chronic inflammation are) Failure of eliminating the agent causing acute inflammation, ..., Exposure to a low level of a particular irritant or foreign materials,...An autoimmune disorder,... Recurrent episodes of acute inflammation,... Inflammatory and biochemical inducers"

Tomato is red, edible fruit, genus Solanum, belongs to family Solanaceae, native to South America. Because of its health benefits, the tomato is grown worldwide for the commercial purpose
and often in the greenhouse.

On finding a potential compound for the treatment of inflammatory diseases researchers examined the effect of tomato ketchup extracts and bioactives from tomato ketchup on human monocytes and vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC).

HUVEC selected to the study were pre-treated for 1 h with either individual bioactives (7.5 µM lycopene, 1.4 µM α-tocopherol or 55 µM ascorbic acid) or a combination of these three compounds, or with the hydrophilic or lipophilic tomato ketchup extracts or with the two extracts combined.

According to the tested assays, tomato ketchup extracts significantly reduced gene expression and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-8 in HUVEC after inducing inflammation.

Furthermore, levels of anti-inflammatory release were increased observed by the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.

The effects were correlated with the reduction of IL-8 production in the presence of the test compounds and extracts.

In other words, lycopene found in the tomato extract is one of the major bioactive compounds that induce the anti-inflammatory effect and α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid appeared to strengthen the anti-inflammatory effect of lycopene.

In order to obtain more information about tomato anti-inflammatory activity, researchers analyzed the potential protective effects of phytochemicals in tomatoes on inflammation.

According to the nitric oxide (NO) assay, tomato extract exhibited anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264 macrophages.

Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased after injection of tomatoes.

The efficacy of tomato was attributed to the bioactive compound RF52 in the inhibition of the production of these proinflammatory mediators.

Dr. Kim YI, the lead scientist said, "These results suggest that RF52 from tomatoes may have the potential to suppress inflammation by inhibiting the production of NO or proinflammatory cytokines during the interaction between adipocytes and macrophages".

Taken altogether, tomatoes may be considered functional food for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Sources
(1) Protection against chemotaxis in the anti-inflammatory effect of bioactives from tomato ketchup by Hazewindus M1, Haenen GR1, Weseler AR1, Bast A. (PubMed)
(2) Tomato extract suppresses the production of proinflammatory mediators induced by interaction between adipocytes and macrophages by Kim YI1, Mohri S, Hirai S, Lin S, Goto T, Ohyane C, Sakamoto T, Takahashi H, Shibata D, Takahashi N, Kawada T. (PubMed)
(3) Chronic Inflammation by Roma Pahwa; Ishwarlal Jialal. (NCBI)

Healthy Kitchen Spice Turmeric, a Natural Prevention and Treatment of Tropical Pancreatitis,

By Kyle J. Norton

Tropical pancreatitis is a special medical condition of chronic pancreatitis found mainly in tropical countries.

According to the Indian statistics, the prevalence of tropical pancreatitis is about 126/100,000 population in southern India involved mostly in the pancreatic duct in the younger population.

Recently, the disease has been found to increase at an alarming rate in the older population in Southern Indian, due to excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.

Some researchers suggested that dietetic, environmental and socioeconomic factors change over the years, that cause the environment-gene interactions may increase the risk of the onset of the disease.

In other words, diet change from a traditional diet to a high-fat diet, malnutrition, medical condition such as infection and weakened immunity and excessive alcoholism and smoking has been found to facilitate the gene mutation such as SPINK1 in older adults with tropical pancreatitis in the tropical region.

Clinically, symptoms of patients with tropical pancreatitis are severe abdominal pain, leading to the onset of diabetes in 25% of patients who require daily insulin injection.

As of today, there is no cure for the disease. Conventional medicines used for the treatment are focusing on reduced symptoms of pain and improve quality of life.

Dr. Tandon RK, the lead scientist said, " Endotherapy coupled with stone fragmentation by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is an effective therapy for those who fail to respond to medical therapy".

And, "Surgical decompression of the main pancreatic duct by lateral pancreaticojejunostomy is reserved for patients with severe pain non-responsive to other forms of therapy".

Turmeric is a perennial plant in the genus Curcuma, belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, native to tropical South Asia.

The herb has been used in traditional medicine as anti-oxidant, hypoglycemic, colorant, antiseptic, wound healing agent, and for the treatment of flatulence, bloating, and appetite loss, ulcers, eczema, inflammations, etc.

In the urgency to discover a new compound for the treatment of pancreatitis, scientists examined the effect of oral curcumin with piperine on the pain and the markers of oxidative stress in patients with tropical pancreatitis (TP).

The experiment included 20 consecutive patients with tropical pancreatitis randomized to receive 500 mg of curcumin with 5 mg of piperine or placebo for 6 weeks.

The pattern of pain, and on red blood cell levels of malonyldialdehyde (MDA), oxidative stress marker and glutathione (GSH), the antioxidant enzymes produced by the patients were assessed before and after at the end of the study.

Compared to the placebo, patients received 500 mg of curcumin with 5 mg of piperine displayed a significant reduction in oxidative stress observed by the erythrocyte MDA and increased GSH levels.

However, injection of 500 mg of curcumin with 5 mg of piperine did not reduce the pain score.

In other words, oral curcumin with piperine reversed lipid peroxidation in patients with tropical pancreatitis by increasing the production of antioxidant enzymes and inhibiting free radical expression.

Based on the findings, researchers suggested before the composite is used for the treatment of tropical pancreatitis, the effect on the pain and other manifestations of tropical pancreatitis must be reassessed.

Taken altogether, turmeric combined with piperine may be considered supplements for the prevention and treatment of tropical pancreatitis, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Intake of turmeric in the form of supplement should be taken with extreme care to prevent overdose acute liver toxicity.

Navy Bean Inhibits the Onset and Progression of Diseases Associated with Acute-Inflammation in Vivo

By Kyle J. Norton

Inflammation is a natural response by the immune system to protect the body against the invasion of stimuli or foreign pathogens.

Acute inflammation is a short-term condition caused by tissue injury, leading to pain, redness, swelling, and heat to the affected area. depending on the size of the injury. Some patients with acute inflammation may also experience the symptom of loss of function.

In acute inflammation, the white blood cells on the first line of defense of the immune system after sensing the danger of an infection in the body through a message from the brain stimulate the production of platelets to cover the site of injury or damage and inflammatory cytokines to kill off all pathogens before they can cause harm to the body.

Most cases on infection are stopped at the acute phase. The wound or injury are slowly recovered.

However, people with the weakened immune system, acute inflammatory progression cannot be stopped due to the inability of the immune system to destroy all invaders, that may lead to low-grade chronic inflammation.

Anti-inflammation is the process that inhibits inflammation or swelling without affecting the immune property to curb foreign pathogens.

Conventionally, the most common use of anti-inflammatory medicines is over counter aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin) and other prescription NSAIDs.

Holistically, according to the Medical University Innsbruck, the top 5 anti-inflammatory foods are
* Garlic
Recent studies also showed that garlic exhibits its anti-inflammatory effects against chronic inflammatory disease through phytochemical allicin and other mechanisms.

* Ginger
Strong evidence in Western studies suggested that ginger processes anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune-modulatory effects.

* Turmeric
Epidemiological studies also found that the efficacy of turmeric for the treatment of diabetes, microbial infection gastrointestinal diseases and irregular cell growth such as cancer through its anti-inflammatory antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities.

* Green tea
Epidemiological studies suggested that green tea consists of many pharmaceutical properties, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, anti-allergy, anti-micro-organisms infection, through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune modulatory activities.

* Shiitake mushrooms
Recent studies showed that Shiitake mushrooms process the properties of anti-cancer, anti-HIV and hepatitis virus, enhanced immune system against inflammation.

The small, white navy bean, also called pea bean or haricot, popular in both dry and green forms, is very popular in Britain and the US, native to Peru. It is now grown and consumed across the world, due to their numerous health benefits.

With an aim to find a potential ingredient for diseases associated with acute inflammation, researchers examined the enriched levels of nondigestible fermentable carbohydrates and phenolic compounds found in black and navy beans immunomodulatory effects on severity of colitis-associated inflammatory pathology.

In an animal model, C57Bl/6 mice were pre-fed isocaloric 20% cooked navy bean (NB) or black bean (BB) diets for 3 weeks and switched to control basal diet (BD) 24 h prior to colitis induction via 5-day exposure to dextran sodium sulfate (2% w/v in drinking water)+3 days of fresh water, researchers found that

* The severity of the acute colitis phenotype associated with inflammation was inhibited by bean prefeeding, observed by reduced colon tissue inflammatory transcription factor activation such as NFκB, STAT3) and inflammatory mediator levels such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18 and MCP-1 compared to control.

* Black and navy beans also stimulated the biomarkers that enhance wound repair responses. including colon tissue protein levels of IL-22, IL-27.

* Furthermore, black and navy beans diet also increase the mRNA expressions of genes involved in the normal colonic epithelial function and the promotion of epithelial barrier integrity, defense and/or restitution and wound closure in acute colonic inflammation.

Based on the findings, researchers concluded, " bean supplementation prior to colitis induction (i.e., mimicking disease relapse) primes the colonic microenvironment to attenuate the severity of the colitis inflammatory phenotype and maintain aspects of epithelial barrier function".

Taken altogether, navy bean may be considered a remedy for the prevention and treatment of acute inflamation, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Sources
(1) (1) Navy and black bean supplementation attenuates colitis-associated inflammation and colonic epithelial damage by Monk JM1, Wu W2, Hutchinson AL3, Pauls P4, Robinson LE3, Power KA. (PMC)
(2) Cooked navy and black bean diets improve biomarkers of colon health and reduce inflammation during colitis by Zhang C1, Monk JM1, Lu JT1, Zarepoor L1, Wu W1, Liu R1, Pauls KP2, Wood GA3, Robinson L4, Tsao R1, Power KA. (PubMed)

Herbal Bilberry Protects the Kidney Against Damage

By Kyle J. Norton

Kideys are one of the main detoxed organs which filter the blood before passing the clear blood back to the circulatory system, located on either side of the spine.

In other words, kidneys remove wastes and extra water from the blood to form urine.

Most wastes in the blood are the results of from normal breakdown of active muscle and the foods you eat.

Believe it or not,1 in 3 adults in the United States are at risk of getting kidney disease. According to the statistics provided by the CDC, approximately, 30 million people or 15% of US adults have chronic kidney disease (CKD), including 48% of those with severely reduced kidney function but not on dialysis are not aware of having CKD.

Nephrotoxicity caused by overdose or longterm used medication and exposed to toxins is one of the most common kidney problems, leading to acute and chronic kidney damage.

Other risk factors associated with kidney damage include diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.

Some researchers suggested the rise of kidney disease in the US adults may be influenced by the increase of obesity, the condition of excess fat accumulation, particularly on the waist.

Dr. Csaba P. Kovesdy, the lead scientist wrote, "Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic, and its prevalence has been projected to grow by 40% in the next decade".

And "In individuals affected by obesity, a compensatory hyperfiltration occurs to meet the heightened metabolic demands of the increased body weight. The increase in intraglomerular pressure can damage the kidneys and raise the risk of developing CKD in the long term. The incidence of obesity-related glomerulopathy has increased 10-fold in recent years. Obesity has also been shown to be a risk factor for nephrolithiasis, and for a number of malignancies including kidney cancer".

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

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

With an aim to find a potent compound which protects the kidney against damage, researchers examined the anti nephrotoxic activity of bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus L.).

In an experimental model, induced serious kidney damage by a single intraperitoneal administration of 200 mg/kg KBrO3 induction of the increase in serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels, researchers compared the effects of five-day oral administration of bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg.

All doses normalized the levels of creatinine and reversed serum BUN.

In other words, bilberry extracts protect the kidney by inhibiting the toxicity caused by the injection of 200 mg/kg KBrO3.

The efficacy of bilberry extracts was attributed also to decreased kidney stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA), expression of free radicals associated with nitric oxide (NO), and xanthine oxidase (XOD) levels.

Futhermore, bilberry extract improved oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) levels in kidney tissue against the overexpression of ROS and NOS.

The results strongly suggested that bilberry protects the kidney by reducing the degree of oxidative stress and kidney damage induced by KBrO3.

Dr. Bao L, the lead scientist wrote in the final report, "These findings demonstrate that the protective effect of bilberry extract is attributed to its free radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibitory effect".

Taken altogether, bilberry may be considered a functional remedy for the prevention and treatment of diseases involved kidney damage, pending to the validation of larger sample size and multicenter human study.