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

Friday 3 May 2019

Bioactive Compound Alliin Protects Liver Cells Integrity and Viability Against Liver cancer

By Kyle J. Norton

The liver is the largest internal organ and plays a critical role in filtering blood coming from the intestine before passing to the heart and other parts of the body.

The liver also produces bile that aids the digestive function in digesting lipids and absorbing the nutrients from food and cholesterol that is essential to build a strong cell membrane, production of steroid hormones, vitamin D.

However, overexpression of cholesterol in the blood has been found to induce plaque accumulated on the arterial wall, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Primary liver cancer is a medical condition caused by irregular cell growth in the liver tissue as a result of the alternation of cell DNA.

According to the statistics, in 2019, approximately, 42,030 adults (29,480 men and 12,550 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with primary liver cancer.

Believe it or not, since 1980, the incidence of liver cancer has tripled. Between 2006 and 2015, the number of people diagnosed with primary liver cancer is increased by approximately 3% annually.

Most cases of primary liver cancer begin in the cell on the surface of the inner lining of the liver tissue, before penetrating into the deeper layers and spreading to other nearby tissues and organs.

Epidemiologically, primary liver cancer has been found metastasizing to lung (median 44%), portal vein (35%), and portal lymph node(s) (27%). Furthermore, the most common causes of liver cancer death are a liver failure (34%), bleeding (30%), and advanced cancer (24%).

Interestingly, the pattern of metastasis of primary liver cancer caused by the cirrhotic liver is somewhat different from that of the noncirrhotic.

Out of many risk factors associated with the onset of primary liver cancer, some researchers suggested accessive alcohol consumption may be the main culprit that causes the rise of liver cancer incidence in the Western world.

Dr. F. Turati, the lead scientist wrote, "Compared with non-drinking, the pooled RRs were 0.91 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.81–1.02) for moderate drinking (<3 drinks per day) and 1.16 (95% CI, 1.01–1.34) for heavy drinking (≥3 drinks per day), with significant heterogeneity among studies".

And, "The dose–risk curve suggested a linear relationship with increasing alcohol intake in drinkers, with an estimated excess risk of 46% for 5g of ethanol per day and 66% for 10g per day. This systematic review suggests a moderate detrimental role of consumption of 3 or more alcoholic drinks per day on liver cancer and a lack of association with moderate drinking".

Alliin (S-allyl-L-cysteine-S-oxide) is a phytochemical compound sulfoxide, a derivative of the amino acid cysteine, belonging to the class of sulfur compounds, found abundantly in fresh garlic and onion.

With an aim to find a potential compound for the treatment of liver cancer, researchers examined the
protective effects of three garlic powders, obtained from bulbs grown in soils with different levels of sulfur fertilization, against DNA damage in the animal liver.

Believe it or not, increasing fertilization of soil that grows the garlic showed to increase the alliin content of the powders.

According to the tested assays, garlic powders administered to rats for 2 weeks (5% of the diet) demonstrated a 35-60% reduction in DNA damage induced by N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in rat liver.

Furthermore, by increasing the content of alliin in the powders, tested garlic powders exerted strongly a proportional decrease in NDMA induced DNA alteration.

In other words, increasing alliin content, garlic powders protect the integrity and viability of the liver cells against DNA alternation in facilitating the onset of liver cancer.

Moreover, DNA damage induced by aflatoxin B1 in the liver were also decreased strongly by the three garlic powders regardless of the content of alliin.

The results suggested that alliin protects the liver cells against DNA alternation and works synergistically with other compounds in the garlic to inhibit the damage of liver cells.

Based on the findings, researchers said, "(There is evidence) that fertilization can have an impact on the protective capacity of garlic bulbs".

In order to reveal more information about alliin anti-liver cancer activity, researchers compared the chemopreventive efficacies of several garlic powders with various levels of alliin, a precursor of active sulfur compounds.

In hepatocarcinogenesis initiated by the administration of 10 i.p. injections of 0.025 mg/kg body weight aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), rats fed diets containing three garlic powders (5% of the diet) with various alliin contents for 3 weeks showed a decreased the appearance and size of hepatic GST-P foci, an early marker of liver cancer.

An increased alliin content showed a strong reduction appearance and size of hepatic GST-P foci compared to lower content in tested rats.

Additionally increased alliin content of the garlic powder was also associated with a proportional decrease in the number and area of preneoplastic foci in the liver.

Garlic powder ingestion in the inhibition was also partly attributed to the stimulation of the increased levels hepatic ethoxyresorufin demethylase, glutathione S-transferase and UDP glucuronosyltransferase, and AFB1 associated with liver detoxification with no affecting the levels nifedipine oxidase involved in C-oxidative metabolism.

Based on the findings, Dr. Bergès R, the lead scientist said, "garlic partly exerts its anticarcinogenic effects through increasing enzymes involved in AFB1 detoxification".

Taken altogether, alliin may be considered supplements for the prevention and treatment of liver cancer with no side effect, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

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

Sources
(1) EGFR gene regulation in colorectal cancer cells by garlic phytocompounds with special emphasis on S-Allyl-L-Cysteine Sulfoxide by Roy N1, Nazeem PA2, Babu TD3, Abida PS2, Narayanankutty A3, Valsalan R2, Valsala PA2, Raghavamenon AC. (PubMed)
(2) Inhibition of carcinogen-induced DNA damage in rat liver and colon by garlic powders with varying alliin content by Singh V1, Belloir C, Siess MH, Le Bon AM. (PubMed)
(3) Primary liver cancer: pattern of metastasis by Lee YT, Geer DA. (PubMed)
(4) Alcohol and liver cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies by F. Turati C. Galeone M. Rota C. Pelucchi E. Negri V. Bagnardi G. Corrao. Boffetta C. La Vecchia. (Oxford Adcamic)

Bromelain, the Natural Prevention and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

By Kyle J. Norton

An inflammatory bowel (IBD) disease is a group of chronic inflammatory diseases associated with the digestive tract, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Ulcerative colitis has been found to induce chronic inflammation and ulcers in the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum.

Crohn's disease is a type of IBD associated with the inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract.

According to the statistics, provided by the CDC in the US, IBD affects over 1.3% or 3 million US adults including Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis in 2015.

Most cases of IBD has been found in older adults in the age of 45 years or older.

Most common symptoms of IBD include diarrhea, fever, and fatigue, abdominal pain and cramping, loss of appetite and unintended weight loss.

In serious cases, some patients may also experience blood in the stool.

If you are experiencing the aforementioned symptoms, please check with your doctor to rule out the possibility.

Conventionally, most cases of IBD are treated with anti-inflammatory medicine, immune suppressor or antibiotics, and drugs that reduce symptoms, depending on the severity of the conditions.

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 a natural compound for the treatment of colitis, researchers examined the bromelain, a mixture of proteinases derived from pineapple stem in an animal model with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The experiment included IL-10-/- mice treated orally with bromelain in vivo for 5 weeks.

During the study, daily treatment with oral bromelain beginning at age 5 weeks exerted a significant effect in decreased the incidence and severity of spontaneous colitis.

In IL-10-/- mice established colitis by administered to piroxicam, the proteolytic enzyme also significantly decreased the clinical and histologic severity of colonic inflammation.

In the examination of the bromelain adverse effect, researchers found that dermatitis, hair loss, and weight loss due to mucositis were rare in a dose-related manner.

In the wild-type mice, there was no adverse effect found in the dose of 1000 mg bromelain/kg/day for 18 weeks orally.

The findings clearly suggested the efficacy of bromelain for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Dr. Hale LP, the lead scientist after taking into account co confounders said, " Although the exact mechanisms by which exogenous proteinases affect bowel inflammation have not yet been determined, the results justify additional studies of this complementary biologically based approach to the treatment of IBD".

Taken altogether, bromelain may be considered supplements for the prevention and treatment of bowel disease (IBD), 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.

Sources
(1) Treatment with oral bromelain decreases colonic inflammation in the IL-10-deficient murine model of inflammatory bowel disease by Hale LP1, Greer PK, Trinh CT, Gottfried MR. (PubMed)

Whole Food Tomato Modulates Hormone Angiotensin Against the Onset of Heart Disease

By Kyle J. Norton

Under normal condition, angiotensin is a type of hormone, belongings to the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), that regulates the constriction of blood vessels and blood pressure.

The hormone also plays a critical role in the retention of sodium by the kidney through its stimulation of the production of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex activated by the nerves (neurological)that is responsible for the desire for salt.

However, overexpression of angiotensin may induce fluid and sodium retention, blood vessels to constrict and increase blood pressure.

Most cases of overproduction of angiotensin have been found in patients with heart failure and an enlarged heart.

On the other hand, underexpression of angiotensin may lead to retention of potassium, reduced levels of sodium and fluid and lower blood pressure.

According to the University of Ferrara, Ferrara, overproduction of angiotensin II the other members of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), seems to be one of the most aggressive, often causing several principal diseases such as arteriosclerosis, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure.

Furthermore, angiotensin II also is found to induce vascular damage mediated by the activation of transcription factors, redox signaling systems, and production of endogenous growth factors that lead to an induced immune response in the production of inflammatory cytokines.

Based on the results, researchers found that by reviewing the complexity of the RAS in pathological processes, RAS blockers may provide some mechanistic responses to the beneficial effects in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Tomato is red, edible fruit, genus Solanum, belonging 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.

With an aim to find the natural ingredient for the treatment of blood vessel constriction, researchers examined the anti-angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) factors in aqueous extract of tomato.

The study included sugar-free tomato extract (TE) which was tested for its anti-ACE activity using human plasma and rabbit lung pure ACE.

In 100 g tomatoes produced 72.2 ± 4.7 mg of TE used in the experiment, researchers found the extract inhibited plasma ACE activity in a dose-dependent manner.

The TE maximum effect in the inhibition of ACE enzyme was found to be at an IC50 value of 1.40 ± 0.04 mg/ml.

Furthermore, the commercially available sugar-free TE, Fruitflow(®)-2 showed similar amounts of catechin also exerted a similar inhibitory potency against plasma ACE activity.

In order to find more information about tomato anti ACE activity, researchers examined the effect of lycopene on angiotensin II-induced oxidative stress in H9c2 cells.

In this study, tested H9c2 cells were divided into 6 groups: control group, Ang II group (1 µmol/L), Ang II (1 µmol/L) + low dose Lyc (3.125 nmol/L) group, Ang II (1 µmol/L) + moderate dose Lyc (6.25 nmol/L) group and Ang II (1 µmol/L) + high dose Lyc (12.5 nmol/L) group and Lyc group (12.5 nnmol/L).

Groups treated with lycopene showed significant improvement of cell survival and reduction of ROS generation in a dose-dependent manner compared to control.

Co-treatment of lycopene also reversed the levels of MDA significantly increased in Ang II-treated cells, in a dose-dependent manner.

Furthermore, the levels of a protein associated with oxidative stress caused by the cascade of free radicals found in Ang II-treated cells also inhibited upon the injection of lycopene.

Based on the finding, researchers said, "Lyc could attenuate Ang II-induced oxidative stress and this effect is linked with its capacity of reducing ROS generation and enhancing cellular ROS scavenging ability in H9c2 cells".

Taken altogether, tomatoes may be considered supplements for the prevention and treatment of angiotensin caused by oxidative stress, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

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

Sources
(1) Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme by aqueous extract of tomato by Biswas D1, Uddin MM, Dizdarevic LL, Jørgensen A, Duttaroy AK. (PubMed)
(2) [Lycopene attenuates angiotensin II induced oxidative stress in H9c2 cells]. [Article in Chinese] by Liu Y1, Tang Q2, Hu Z1, Deng W1, Li L. (PubMed)
(3) Angiotensin II overproduction: enemy of the vessel wall by R. Ferrari1, G. Guardigli1, G. Cicchitelli1, M. Valgimigli1, E Merli1, O. Soukhomorskaia1 and C. Ceconi. (University of Ferrara, Ferrara)
(4) Role of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Vascular Diseases by M. Ruiz-Ortega, O. Lorenzo, M.Rupérez, V. Esteban, Y. Suzuki, S. Mezzano, J.J. Plaza, and J. Egido. (Hypertension)

Cucumber Leaves and It's Cucurbitacins (CuB), the Potential Neuro-Protective Remedies

By Kyle J. Norton

The neuroprotective effect is the process that preserves the neuronal structure and/or function, In other words, it is the action that protects the integrity and viability of the neurons against pathogens associated with the loss and death of neurons in the brain.

Neurodegenerative diseases are a class of disease that involve the loss of neurons over time, leading to multiple neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and ALS, affecting mostly in the older adults over the age of 50.

According to the statistics provided by the Harvard Neurodicover Center, as of today, 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease; 1 million from Parkinson's; 400,000 from multiple sclerosis (MS); 30,000 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), and 30,000 from Huntington's disease.

Believe it or not, by 2030, 1 in 5 people living in the US are over the age of 65.

Neurological disorders are a class of diseases associated with reduced function of the brain, particularly in the autonomic nervous systems.

There is no single cause of the neurological disorder. Certain risk factors such as unhealthy lifestyle with physical inactivity, infections, genetic preposition, and physical injury have been found in patients with the condition.

Most common symptoms of the neurological disorder include muscle weakness, loss of sensation reduced reading and writing skill, poor cognitive abilities and decreased alertness, depending on the location of the neurons that have been affected

In severe cases, patients with a neurological disorder may experience symptoms of depression and anxiety and partial or complete paralysis.

Out of many aforementioned factors associated with neurological disorders, some researchers suggested the increase in age may be one of the major risks that affect millions of older Americans.

Dr. Khan ZU, the lead scientist wrote, "Memory is central to our ability to perform daily life activities and correctly function in society. Improvements in public health and medical treatment for a variety of diseases have resulted in longer life spans; however, age-related memory impairments have been significant sources of morbidity".

And, "Loss in memory function is not only associated with the aging population but is also a feature of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and other psychiatric and neurological disorders".

The cucumber plant is a species of Cucumis Sativus, belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae and native to Western Asia. It is a creeping vine with roots in the ground and grows up with the support of frames.

In the urgency to find a potential compound with neuroprotective activity, researchers in the science team at the Benha University compared the protective effect of Cucumis melo var. flexuosus (C. Melo var. flexuosus) leaf extract on the brains of diabetic rats.

The study included adult male albino rats divided into 5 groups of 6 rats each was assigned into a normal control group and four diabetic groups with diabetes induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg bw).

On diabetic rats, one group was left untreated and was considered as a diabetic control group while the three other groups were treated with C. Melo var. flexuosus leaf extract at the doses of 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg bw for a period of 30 days.

Based on the results of the tested assays, C. Melo var. flexuosus leaf extract group not only showed a significant effect on lowering blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin but also protect the neuron against the facilitation of brain tumor necrosis factor-alpha and production of proinflammatory cytokines.

Furthermore, the brain malondialdehyde content associated with the stress marker and caspase-3 activity associated with neuroapoptosis were also reduced significantly by the injection of C. Melo var. flexuosus leaf extract.

Additional differentiation of the effect of C. Melo var. flexuosus leaf extract group, researchers found that the leaf extract protected the brain cells by markedly increasing the levels of plasma dopamine, melatonin, brain vascular endothelial growth factor-A associated with the formation of blood vessels., brain antioxidants.

In other words, cucumber leaf extract exerted neuroprotective activity by enhancing the levels of antioxidant against oxidative damage in tested diabetics.

In order to reveal more information about cucumber brain protective effects, researchers examined the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of Cucurbitacins (CuB) on TLR 2/4 agonists (amyloid-β, LTA, and LPS)-induced neuroinflammatory response in microglia.

According to the tested results, in TLR 2/4 agonists-stimulated microglia, pretreatment with Cucurbitacins significantly reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and enzymes involved in angiogenesis and neural development (iNOS) in affected neurons and stimulation of inflammation (COX-2).

Futhermore, Cucurbitacins protected the brain cell damage by inhibiting the protein associated with the stress response in the induction of neurons apoptosis and autophagy and in the facilitation of cytokine production.

In other words, Cucurbitacins protected the integrity of the neurons against TLR 2/4 agonists-stimulated microglia involved in oxidative stress-induced cell death and phase II detoxification enzymes activity.

Based on the findings, Dr.Park SY, the lead scientist said, "Cucurbitacins is a potent activator of the Nrf2/ARE pathway and is therapeutically relevant not only to neuroinflammatory responses of microglia but also neuroinflammation mediated neuronal injury".

Taken altogether, cucumber leaf extracts and bioactive compound Cucurbitacins may process a neuroprotective effect, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

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

Sources

(1) Neuroprotective effect of Cucumis melo Var. flexuosus leaf extract on the brains of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes by Ibrahim DS. (PubMed)
(2) Cucurbitacins attenuate microglial activation and protect from neuroinflammatory injury through Nrf2/ARE activation and STAT/NF-κB inhibition by Park SY1, Kim YH1, Park G2. (PubMed)
(3) Memory deficits in aging and neurological diseases by Khan ZU1, Martín-Montañez E2, Navarro-Lobato I1, Muly EC. (PubMed)

Thursday 2 May 2019

Herbal Ginger Protects Your Gum Against Gingivitis, Scientists Say

By Kyle J. Norton

Gingivitis is a highly prevalent periodontal disease resulting from long-term microbial infection and subsequent inflammation.

In severe cases, gingivitis can cause the loss of tooth or teeth.

The most common causes of bacterial are plague-built up the part of your gum around the base of the teeth due to poor hygiene.

Most common symptoms of gingivitis are swollen or puffy gums, tender gums, gums that bleed easily, particularly, bad breath.

If you experience the aforementioned symptoms, please make sure that you check with your dentist to prevent tooth loss and open sores development.

Some researchers suggested that by changing to an oral health optimized diet,, gingivitis is preventable.

Dr. J. P. Woelber, the lead scientist in the study " An oral health optimized diet can reduce gingival and periodontal inflammation in humans" said, "Despite constant plaque values in both groups, all inflammatory parameters decreased in the experimental group (oral health optimized diet group) to approximately half that of the baseline values. This reduction was significantly different compared to that of the control group".

And, "A diet low in carbohydrates, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, rich in vitamins C and D, and rich in fibers can significantly reduce gingival and periodontal inflammation:.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) or ginger root, the second superfood used for thousands of years by mankind, is the genus Zingiber, belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, native to Tamil.

The root has been used in traditional and Chinese medicine for the treatment of dyspepsia, gastroparesis, constipation, edema, difficult urination, colic, etc.

Researchers on finding a natural compound for the treatment of gingivitis with no side effects reviewed the efficacy of herbal preparations in patients with gingivitis reported in some previous studies.

The study compared the herbal preparation, a polyherbal mouthwash containing hydroalcoholic extracts of Zingiber officinale, Rosmarinus officinalis and Calendula officinalis (5% v/w) with chlorhexidine and placebo mouthwashes.

The randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial included 60 participants randomly assigned to the polyherbal mouthwash (n = 20), chlorhexidine mouthwash (n = 20) or placebo mouthwash (n = 20).

Also, participants were instructed to use the mouthwash twice a day (after breakfast and dinner) for 30 s for a period of two weeks.

According to the assays, herbal preparation and chlorhexidine mouthwash exerted a significant improvement of all assessed efficacy measures i.e. MGI, GBI and MQH scores from baseline to the end of the trial, compared to the unchanged in the placebo group.

There was no significant difference between the polyherbal and chlorhexidine groups, on day 7 and day 14 of the trial.

Additionally, the polyherbal mouthwash was safe. There was no report of adverse reactions, or any drop-out during the course of study.

Based on the findings, researchers said, "Polyherbal mouthwash containing hydroalcoholic extracts of Z. officinale, R. officinalis and C. officinalis (5%) was effective in the treatment of gingivitis and its efficacy was comparable to that of chlorhexidine mouthwash".

Take all together, ginger used alone or combined with other herbal remedies may be considered a function alternative for the prevention and treatment of gingivitis with no side effects, pending to the confirmation of large sample size and multicenter human study.

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 ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) Evaluation of the efficacy of a polyherbal mouthwash containing Zingiber officinale, Rosmarinus officinalis and Calendula officinalis extracts in patients with gingivitis: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial by Mahyari S1, Mahyari B2, Emami SA3, Malaekeh-Nikouei B4, Jahanbakhsh SP1, Sahebkar A5, Mohammadpour AH. (PubMed)
(2) An oral health optimized diet can reduce gingival and periodontal inflammation in humans - a randomized controlled pilot study by J. P. Woelber,

1 K. Bremer,1 K. Vach,2 D. König,3 E. Hellwig,1 P. Ratka-Krüger,1A. Al-Ahmad,1 and C. Tennert. (PMC)

Artichoke Protects Your Cells Integrity Against Carcinogens

By Kyle J. Norton

Substances such as radionuclides, or radiation which can cause the onset of cancer with or without changing the cell DNA are considered carcinogens.

Contrast to general belief, unhealthy lifestyle, long term exposure to the sunlight, certain medical treatment such as radiation, and medications such as immune suppressive drugs, chemicals exposure may also be considered carcinogens.

However, most people exposed to the substances have never developed cancer.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), substances that cause cancer in human can be classified into 5 categories.
Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans
Group 2A: Probably carcinogenic to humans
Group 2B: Possibly carcinogenic to humans
Group 3: Unclassifiable as to carcinogenicity in humans
Group 4: Probably not carcinogenic to humans

The most dangerous carcinogens are placed in group 1. Therefore, if you are handling any of the substances in the group 1 (the list can be found here), please make sure you protect yourself according to the standard guidelines.

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 the finding natural therapeutics which block carcinogen in the induction of cancer investigated the antigenotoxic and antioxidant effects of the extract of artichoke Cynara cardunculus L. (CCE).

In the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutagenicity/antimutagenicity assay, CCE significantly reduced the frequency of 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide-induced genetics alternation in the diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae tester strain D7.

In the simultaneous toxicity and clastogenicity/anticlastogenic assay, CCE exerted an anticlastogenic effect against N-nitroso-N'-methyl urea-induced clastogenicity in the plant species.

According to the free radical scavenging assay, CCE also exhibited considerable antioxidant activity against carcinogens.

In order to reveal more information of artichoke, anticarcinogenic activity researchers examined the genotoxicity of C. scolymus L. leaf extract (LE) and the ability to modulate the genetic toxicity of the alkylating agent ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), using the comet assay on Chinese hamster ovary cells.

LE demonstrated strong anti genotoxicity after 1- and 24-h treatments by 4 different doses: 0.62, 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/mL, according to the results from pretreatment, simultaneous treatment, and post-treatment.

All doses also protect the cell against DNA damage induced by the alkylating agent ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), after exposure for 1 and 24 h.

Interestingly, the lowest dose of LE was more protective than higher concentrations.

The genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects were attributed to the bioactive flavonoids and phenolic compounds found abundantly in artichoke.

Taken altogether, artichoke processed bioactive compound flavonoids and phenolic may be considered a functional remedy for the prevention and treatment of carcinogenic toxicity, with no side effects, pending to the validation of larger sample size and multicenter human study.

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) Antigenotoxic effect of extract from Cynara cardunculus L. by Miadokova E1, Nadova S, Vlckova V, Duhova V, Kopaskova M, Cipak L, Rauko P, Mucaji P, Grancai D. (PubMed)
(2) Artichoke induces genetic toxicity and decreases ethyl methanesulfonate-related DNA damage in Chinese hamster ovary cells by Jacociunas LV1, de Andrade HH, Lehmann M, de Abreu BR, Ferraz Ade B, da Silva J, Dihl RR. (PubMed)
(3) Known and Probable Human Carcinogens by the American Cancer Society

Bilberry Protects the Retinal Ganglion Cell Integrity Against Vision Loss

By Kyle J. Norton

Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) is a type of neuron in the innermost cellular layer of the retina of the eye. The neurons receive visual information and pass them to the brain.

Believe or not, the neurons also extract different aspects of the image before passing them to the brain.

According to the biological information from an animal model, retinal ganglion cells distributed evenly across the retina, with the density ranges from ∼3000 cells per mm2 to ∼600 cells per mm2 depending on the areas of distribution.

Certain neurodegenerative diseases have been found to induce the gradual loss of retinal ganglion cells. Alzheimer's' disease and disease associated with multiple system atrophy the loss of retinal ganglion cells showed a pattern resembling glaucoma.

However, in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Huntington’s disease, the loss of RGCs are found to resemble that of mitochondrial optic neuropathies.

Any structural damage of the retinal nerve fiber layer and optic nerve head, or functional damage can affect the RGC integrity.

Symptoms of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss is depended on the level of damage of the retinal nerve fiber layer and optic nerve head in the retina. Symptoms can be severe eye pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting, visual disturbance, blurred vision in patients with glaucoma.

Bilberry is a species of low-growing shrubs in the genus Vaccinium, belongings 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.

In the urgency on finding a plant-based compound for the treatment of retinal damage, researchers evaluated the protective effects of a Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) anthocyanoside (VMA) and/or its main anthocyanidin constituents (cyanidin, delphinidin, and malvidin) on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) against damage.

In vitro, retinal ganglion cells damage induced by free radical activation by injection of 3-(4-morpholinyl) sydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1, a peroxynitrite donor) and in vivo, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-induced retinal damage in mice, researchers showed that VMA and all three anthocyanidins significantly inhibited SIN-1-induced neurotoxicity and radical activation in RGC-5 associated with the initiation of damage of the retinal ganglion cells.

Lipid peroxidation in mouse forebrain homogenates involved the retinal damage was also reduced by all tested compounds in concentration and dose-dependent manner.

Furthermore, intravitreously injected VMA significantly inhibited the NMDA-induced morphological retinal damage and an increase in apoptosis of DNA fragments in the ganglion cell layer.

Based on the findings, researchers suggested that bioactive compounds isolated bilberry process neuroprotective effects through antioxidative properties in vitro and in vivo models of retinal diseases.

In order to obtain more information about bilberry protective property against the damage of retinal ganglion cell, scientists analyzed the bilberry extract anthocyanins on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival after optic nerve crush.

C57BL/6J mice selected to the study were administrated orally with anthocyanins in bilberry extract (100 mg/kg/day or 500 mg/kg/day).

According to the tested assays, all doses of anthocyanins in bilberry extract exhibited the increased significantly levels of Grp78 and Grp94 associated with endoplasmic reticulum integrity and stress-induced autophagy in mice detected in the inner nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer of the retina, surrounding the RGCs.

Gene expression of Chop, Bax, and Atf4 increased associated with cellular stress and the mediation of apoptosis in mice after optic nerve crush was also decreased significantly after oral bilberry extract administration.

In other words, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival was increased substantially after injecting anthocyanins in bilberry extract.

Dr. Nakamura O, the lead scientist after taking into account co and confounders wrote, "bilberry extract has a potential role in neuroprotective treatments for retinal injuries, such as those which occur in glaucoma".

Taken altogether, bilberry processed abundantly bioactive compound anthocyanin may be considered a functional remedy for the protection of retinal damage against retinal diseases, particularly in retinal degeneration, pending to the validation 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) Bilberry extract administration prevents retinal ganglion cell death in mice via the regulation of chaperone molecules under conditions of endoplasmic reticulum stress by Nakamura O1, Moritoh S1,2, Sato K1,3, Maekawa S1, Murayama N1, Himori N1, Omodaka K1,3, Sogon T4, Nakazawa T. (PubMed)
(2) Bilberry and its main constituents have neuroprotective effects against retinalneuronal damage in vitro and in vivo by Matsunaga N1, Imai S, Inokuchi Y, Shimazawa M, Yokota S, Araki Y, Hara H.(PubMed)