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

Friday 28 June 2019

Bromelain Blocks the Onset and progression of Invasive Glioma in Vitro

By Kyle J. Norton

A glioma is a type of brain and spinal cord tumor characterized by the alternation of DNA of the glial cells.

Believe it or not, gliomas have been found accounting for 30 percent of all brain tumors and central nervous system tumors, and 80 percent of all malignant brain tumors.

Glioma can be classified into 3 types, including

* Astrocytomas are found in glial cells, star-shaped brain cells in the cerebrum called astrocytes. Most astrocytomas are localized.

* Ependymomas are cancers that grow in your brain or any part of the spine, including your neck and upper and lower back starting from the ependymal cells in the middle of your spinal cord and fluid-filled spaces in your brain.

* Oligodendrogliomas are cancers that begin on the oligodendrocytes of the brain or from a glial precursor cell.

The exact cause is unknown. Epidemiologically, age, exposure to radiation and family history are common risk factors that cause the onset of the disease,

Out of many prevalent factors, exposure to ionizing radiation has been found in many patients with glioma.

Dr. Maricruz Rivera, the lead scientist wrote, "Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults with a median survival of 12–15 months with treatment consisting of surgical resection followed by ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapy".

And, "While IR provides the benefit of improved survival, it paradoxically promotes a selection of more malignant cellular phenotypes of GBM".

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.

With an aim to find a potential compound for the treatment of invasive glioma cells, researchers investigated bromelain, an aqueous extract from pineapple stem against anti-invasive gliomas.

According to the tested assays, bromelain significantly and reversibly reduced glioma cell adhesion, migration, and invasion without affecting cell viability.

In other words, bromelain inhibited cancer cell proliferation and spreading without inducing cell apoptosis.

Levels of alpha 3 beta 1 integrin-associated with gliomas cells spreading and CD44 protein associated with cancer cell progression were also inhibited by the administration of bromelain without affecting the gene expression.

In other words, the metabolic pathways for de novo nucleotide synthesis in cancer growth were greatly attenuated by bromelain.

Moreover, according to the transactivating signaling assay, bromelain inhibited the invasive glioma cell was also attributed to the suppression of CRE-mediated signaling processes in stimulating the tumor expansion.

Taken altogether, bromelain may be considered supplements for the prevention and treatment of invasive glioma cells. , 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) Bromelain reversibly inhibits invasive properties of glioma cells by Tysnes BB1, Maurer HR, Porwol T, Probst B, Bjerkvig R, Hoover F. (PubMed)
(2) Ionizing Radiation in Glioblastoma Initiating Cells by Maricruz Rivera,1,2 Kumar Sukhdeo,1,3 and Jennifer Yu. (PMC)

Cucumber's Cucurbitacin B (CuB), Promotes Antimicrobial Activity

By Kyle J. Norton

Antimicrobial activity is the process that either kills or inhibits the microorganisms that induce damage to the body tissues.

In other words, antimicrobial activity is the process of killing or inhibiting the disease-causing microbes, including the use of antibiotics for treatment of infectious disease caused by bacterias and fungi.

Most common diseases associated with microbial infection include

* Diseases caused by bacteria are totally dependent on the types of bacterias, such as pneumonia, caused by Streptococcus and Pseudomonas, and foodborne illnesses caused by bacteria such as Shigella, Campylobacter, and Salmonella.

* Diseases caused by the virus include smallpox. the common cold and different types of flu. measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, and shingles. hepatitis. herpes and cold sores. polio. rabies, Ebola and Hanta fever.

* Diseases caused by parasites are malaria, trichomoniasis, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, and toxoplasmosis.

* Diseases caused by fungi aspergillosis usually occurs in patients with lung diseases or weakened immune systems and Candidiasis is caused by the yeast Candida.

Depending on the types of microbial infection, most common symptoms are fever, diarrhea, fatigue, muscle aches, and coughing

The cucumber plant is a species of Cucumis Sativus, belongings 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.

With an aim to find a natural compound with antibiotic property, researchers investigated extracts purified by dialysis and ion exchange chromatography strategy antibacterial activity against four standard pathogenic bacterial strains.

According to the tested assays, the elute fractions 1 and 3 (370 mg/mL) showed the greatest anti-bacterial activity compared to elute fractions 2 and 4 (340 mg/mL).

Furthermore, among the bacteria utilized, E. coli was clearly the most sensitive compared to other strains.

Additionally, according to the bioassay-guided isolation from the chloroform fraction of the crude methanol extract of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) stems induced (2S,3S,4R,10E)-2-[(2'R)-2-hydroxytetra-cosanoylamino]-1,3,4-octadecanetriol-10-ene (1), 1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(2S,3S,4R,10E)-2-[(2'R)-2-hydroxy-tetracosanoylamino]-1,3,4-octadecanetriol-10-ene (2) and soya-cerebroside I (3), compound 1 showed a relatively low polarity aglycone but exhibited stronger antimicrobial activity than its corresponding glycoside 2.

Dr. Tang J, the lead scientist wrote, "The results indicated that sphingolipids could be the main antimicrobial compounds in the crude methanol extract of cucumber stems".

Taken altogether, cucumber processed a high amount of phytochemicals may be used for the treatment of bacterial infection, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Sources
(1) Purification and MIC analysis of antimicrobial proteins from Cucumis sativus L. seeds by Al Akeel R1, Mateen A1, Alharbi KK1, Alyousef AA1, Al-Mandeel HM2, Syed R. (PubMed)
(2) Antimicrobial activity of sphingolipids isolated from the stems of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) by Tang J1, Meng X, Liu H, Zhao J, Zhou L, Qiu M, Zhang X, Yu Z, Yang F. (PubMed)

Phytochemical Betacyanins Protects the Lipid, Protein and Cell DNA Damage Caused by Oxidative Stress

By Kyle J. Norton

According to the free radical theory, a free radical with a single unpaired electron in an outermost shell and highly reactive to react with other cells, which in turn, causes oxidative damage to the enzymes, other proteins, unsaturated fatty acid, phospholipids, DNA and RNA,..,

The theory also suggested that human aging is a result of widespread skin damage caused by a set of chain reaction auto-catalytically of overexpression of free radical after attacking the lipid bilayers of the cell walls.

Oxidative stress is a condition characterized by a chain reaction of the overexpression of free radical that cannot be stopped.

In other words, oxidative stress is a result of the imbalance of the ratio of free radicals and antioxidant produced by the host that exists in a long period of time.

Free radicals are unstable atoms with an unpaired electron in the outermost ring. Therefore, in order for them to become stable, free radicals must steal or donate an electron from or to other atoms.

Long-term expression oxidative stress has been found to cause damage to the protein, lipid, and cell DNA, leading to an increased risk of chronic disease, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancers.

Antioxidants are stable atoms that inhibit oxidation.

Oxidative stress may be preventable if antioxidants in the body can pair all electrons in the outermost ring.

Overexpression of free radicals is harmful to the human body. However, free radicals in a moderate amount generated from cell metabolism may play a critical role in the synthesis of energy and essential molecules and boosting the immune system.

Normally, antioxidant enzymes by the body are more than enough to counter the expression of free radicals occurred in our body every day. However, in people with a weakened immune system intake of dietary antioxidants such as supplement or fruits may improve levels of antioxidant in the body.

Betacyanins are phytochemicals in the class of red and yellow indole-derived pigments, belonging to the group of Betalains, found abundantly in beets, chard, etc.

On finding a natural pigment for the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress, researchers examined the antioxidant effects of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) juice (BRJ), a good source of betalain (betacyanins and betaxanthin) pigments.

The study included rats with isoproterenol (ISP85 mg/kg injected at 24 h intervals)-induced myocardial ischemia followed by oral administration of BRJ for 28 days at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg.

According to the tested results

* Pretreatment with BRJ (150 and 300 mg/kg) restored the cardiac endogenous antioxidants and reduced levels of oxidative/nitrosative stress, in rats treated by ISP.

* Overexpression of cardiac inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 caused by ISP was inhibited by the pretreatment of BRJ compared to the untreated group.

* Futhermore, hyperlipidemia level induced ISP was significantly reduced by the BRJ pretreatment.

* Moreover, BRJ also protected against the extent of histological damage, myonecrosis, and edema, and maintained the architecture of cardiomyocytes by exhibiting the effects of anti-apoptotic protein such as Bcl-2 and inhibiting the effects of apoptotic proteins.

These results strongly suggested that betacyanins and betaxanthin found in BRJ mitigate cardiac dysfunction and structural damages by decreasing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in cardiac tissues.

Based on the findings, researchers said, "These results further support the use of BRJ in traditional medicine against cardiovascular diseases".

Taken altogether, betacyanins found abundantly in beetroot may be considered a remedy for the prevention and treatment of disease associated with oxidative stress, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

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

Sources
(1) Beetroot juice alleviates isoproterenol-induced myocardial damage by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in rats by Raish M1, Ahmad A2, Ansari MA3, Alkharfy KM2, Ahad A1, Khan A3, Ali N4, Ganaie MA5, Hamidaddin MAA. (PubMed)
(2) Betanin attenuates oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction in kidney of paraquat-treated rat by Tan D1, Wang Y2, Bai B1, Yang X2, Han J. (PubMed)

Turmeric, the Natural Gastro-Protective Functional Food

By Kyle J. Norton

Scientists may have found kitchen spice which processes a gastroprotective bioactive ingredient for the prevention of gastrointestinal disorders with no side effects, according to studies.

Gastroprotection is a process which contributes to the protection of the GI tract against damage and injury.

Gastrointestinal disorders are a class of conditions associated with the gastrointestinal tract, including injury and damage.

Functional gastrointestinal (GI) and motility disorders characterized by persistent and recurring GI symptoms are the most common GI disorders in the general population in the Western world

In order words, any damage, injury that cause improper functioning of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and rectum, and the accessory organs of digestion, the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are considered gastrointestinal disorders.

According to the statistics provided by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, GI disorders affect between 60 -70 million people in the US in 2010. Over 48.3 million (2010) who use ambulatory care are associated with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.

Out of many diseases associated with GI disorders, chronic constipation is one of the most prevalent conditions that affect 63 million Americans in 2000.

Most common symptoms of GI disorders included upset stomach, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea or constipation accompanied by specific symptoms depending on the infected area.

The causes of GI disorders are multiple. Bacterial and viral infection, inflammation, lactase deficiency, conditions associated with GI damage such as ruptured or perforated organs, GI muscle dysfunction, and long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs are some prevalent risk found in patients with GI disorders.

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.

On finding a natural compound with gastroprotective activity, researchers investigated the gastroprotective activity of C. purpurascens rhizome hexane extract (CPRHE) against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in an animal model.

The study included 36 rats (18 males and 18 females) induced acute toxicity treated with a low dose of CPRHE (1 g/kg), high dose of CPRHE (2 g/kg) and vehicle (5% Tween 20).

CPRHE acute toxicity test on rats did not reveal any signs of mortality and toxicity up to 2 g/kg. However, at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, CPRHE exerted similar protective effects as of those of omeprazole (positive control) at a dose of 20 mg/kg to rats in remarkable attenuation of gastric lesions induced by ethanol.

Furthermore, pre-treatment of rats with CPRHE significantly protected the gastro integrity by replenishing the depletion of mucus content caused by ethanol administration and decreasing the acidity of gastric walls.

Injection of CPRHE also improved the antioxidant profiles and reduced malondialdehyde level in gastric mucosa compared to the lesion control group.

According to the Immunohistochemical staining assays, CPRHE inhibited the production of proteins associated with the production of inflammatory cytokines during stress.

Based on the findings, researchers wrote, " these findings confirmed the gastroprotective effect of Curcuma purpurascens rhizome against gastric damage".

In order to reveal more information of turmeric effect on the digestive system, researchers investigated the herbal gastroprotective effect in the rat's induced gastric ulcer by ethanol.

The study included normal and ulcer control received carboxymethycellulose (5 mL/kg) orally, positive control administered with 20 mg/kg omeprazole (reference drug) and 2 groups received 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of the leaf extract, respectively.

Oral administration of curcumin extract showed significant gastric protection effect observed by the decrease of ulcer areas remarkably.

Histology observation showed less edema and leucocytes infiltration as compared with the ulcer control which exhibited severe gastric mucosa injury.

Furthermore, the leaf extract also enhanced the production of antioxidant enzymes accompanied by t.he proinflammatory cytokines induced by overexpression of free radicals.

The marker of oxidative stress malondialdehyde was also reduced significantly by the extract.

Dr. the lead scientist wrote in the final report, "Results showed leaf extract of Curcuma xanthorrhiza can enhance the gastric protection and sustained the integrity of gastric mucosa structure. Acute toxicity test did not show any sign of toxicity (2 g/kg and 5 g/kg)".

Taken altogether, turmeric may be considered a gastroprotective supplement for the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with the digestive system, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

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

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

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Contrary To Professionals Prediction, Floaters Can Be Cured Naturally

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

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

Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) Evaluation of acute toxicity and gastroprotective activity of curcumapurpurascens BI. rhizome against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats by Rouhollahi E1, Moghadamtousi SZ, Hamdi OA, Fadaeinasab M, Hajrezaie M, Awang K, Looi CY, Abdulla MA, Mohamed Z. (PubMed)
(2) Gastroprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Curcuma xanthorrhiza leaf against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions in Sprague-Dawley rats by Rahim NA1, Hassandarvish P2, Golbabapour S3, Ismail S4, Tayyab S4, Abdulla MA. (PubMed)

Thursday 27 June 2019

Alliin, the Best Anti Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Phytochemical

By Kyle J. Norton

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a medical condition caused by the building up fluids in the tiny, elastic air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs.

In other words, the fluid retention reduced the function of the lung from filling with enough oxygen-rich air and exhaling carbon dioxide, that leads to depriving the organs function.

According to the statistics, the incidence of acute lung injury acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) ranges from 1.3 to 22 per 100,000 people. The condition remains a significant source of morbidity and mortality in the critically ill patient population in the US.

Depending on the severity of the condition, some patients may experience symptoms of severe shortness of breath, unusually rapid breathing, low blood pressure, confusion, and extreme tiredness due to reduced oxygen to reach the target organs.

Medical conditions such as lung injury from various causes, septic, pneumonia, pancreatitis and, massive blood transfusions and burns and inhaling certain toxic chemicals are some common causes of acute lung injury.

Over time, acute lung injury has been found to induce complication of pneumothorax, pulmonary fibrosis, blood clot, and lung infection.

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 ingredient for the prevention of lung injury, researchers examined the protective effects and molecular mechanism of alliin on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)in an animal model.

The investigation included BALB/c mice induced lung injury by intranasal instillation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) followed by the alliin administration intraperitoneal to mice 1 h after the treatment.

According to the tested assays, LPS injection caused the elevated lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and wet/dry (W/D) ratio was inhibited by alliin.

The elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS on tested mice also markedly decreased by the antioxidant activity of the phytochemicals.

Most importantly, lung pathological injury caused by LPS was attenuated by treatment of alliin.

Furthermore, alliin also blocked the NF-κB activation that contributes to the pathogenic processes of various inflammatory diseases.

Additional differentiation of the efficacy of alliin on the effect of LPS, researchers found that alliin protects the lung injury against LPS by stimulating the nuclear receptor ( (PPARγ) in the superfamily of ligand-inducible transcription factors that regulate adipogenesis, lipid metabolism, cell proliferation, inflammation, and insulin sensitization.

Based on the findings, researchers said, " these results suggested that alliin protected against LPS-induced ALI by activating PPARγ, which subsequently inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB activation and inflammatory response".

And, "Alliin might be used as an anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI)".

Taken altogether, alliin may be considered supplements for the protection of the lung against injury, depending on 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.

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

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

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

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

Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) Effects of alliin on LPS-induced acute lung injury by activating PPARγ by Wang YL1, Guo XY1, He W1, Chen RJ1, Zhuang R. (PubMed)

Turmeric Protects the Skin Cell Against Facial Redness

By Kyle J. Norton

Facial redness is a condition of facial damage caused by a number of factors, including sunburn, ance and hot flash.

On your face, facial redness may also be associated with seborrheic dermatitis, a common skin disease that causes a facial red rash.

Believe it or not, the condition is often worsening with aging. In many instances, the condition of facial redness has been shown to induce severe negative psychological effect, leading to reduced self-esteem and self-confidence, particularly in reduced social interaction.

Some skin professionals suggested that by reducing exposure to the sun, keeping your face clean and using topical cream designed for your skin type and treatment of facial redness can be helpful.

If your condition cannot be healed itself in a short period of time, you must seek help from the dermatologist.

Besides acne, sunburn is the most common cause of facial redness in the US due to the prolonged period of sun exposure. Luckily, the condition is reversible but it takes a much longer time for the skin to repair the damage.

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 natural compound for the treatment of skin damage, researchers examined the effects of turmeric and turmeric-containing polyherbal combination tablets versus placebo on facial redness.

The joint a prospective, double-blind, randomized pilot study led by the Drexel University College of Medicine included 33 healthy participants were recruited from the dermatology clinic at the University of California, Davis and nearby community from 2016 to 2017.

Participants were randomized to receive one of three interventions (placebo, turmeric or polyherbal combination tablets) by mouth twice daily for 4 weeks.

Based on the results from the clinical grading and by image-based analysis, facial redness intensity and distribution down trended in the polyherbal combination group after 4 weeks.

More precisely, according to the under photographic image analysis, the polyherbal combination group had a significant decrease in redness of 40% compared to baseline.

Compared to the polyherbal combination group, the placebo and turmeric groups had no statistically significant changes in image analysis-based facial redness.

Furthermore, according to the clinical trials. to evaluate the effect of a hot water extract of C longa (WEC) on skin conditions, the extract not only inhibited the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines but also significantly increased hyaluronan production from nonstimulated keratinocytes.

In other words, WEC protected the skin by improving the water content significantly greater at weeks 4 and 8 in the WEC group, but not in the WEC + curcumin group, than in the placebo group.

After taking other factors into account, researchers wrote, "The cell studies confirmed that WEC has anti-inflammatory effects and augments hyaluronan production in the skin. The results of clinical trials suggest that WEC may be useful for moisturizing facial skin".

Taken altogether, turmeric processed a high amount of bioactive compound curcumin may be considered supplements for the prevention and treatment skin redness induced UVB, 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.

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

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

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

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

Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) Dietary supplementation with turmeric polyherbal formulation decreases facial redness: a randomized double-blind controlled pilot study by Vaughn AR1, Pourang A2, Clark AK2, Burney W2, Sivamani RK. (PubMed)
(2) Effects of hot water extract of Curcuma longa on human epidermal keratinocytes in vitro and skin conditions in healthy participants: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial by Asada K1, Ohara T1, Muroyama K1, Yamamoto Y1, Murosaki S. (PubMed)

Healthy Food Tomato Ameliorates the Risk Of Diabetes

By Kyle J. Norton

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition caused by insufficient insulin entering the bloodstream.

More precisely, insulin was either blocked by the clogging-up of the insulin receptors by fat and cholesterol or the death of beta cells which produce insulin in the pancreas.

In some cases, diabetes can also be associated with autoimmune disease, attacking the beta cells.

There are some major types of diabetes, including the best known, type 1 and 2.

* Type 1 diabetes is a condition that the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are damaged or destroying due to the genetic proposition.

* On the other hand, type 2 diabetes (acquired diabetes), is a condition caused by either the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin, or the insulin does not work properly due to dysfunction of the insulin receptors.

Other types of diabetes are

Type 1.5 diabetes is a form of type 1 diabetes but the condition shares some common feature of that of type 2 diabetes, such as the slow onset. Generally, people with type 1.5 diabetes also require insulin injection similar to that type 1 after onset.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes occurred in pregnant women during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Believe it or not, a woman with gestation diabetes is associated with a substantial risk of diabetic developing sometimes in the future. All cases of gestation diabetes go away after giving birth.

Epidemiologically, obesity, an unhealthy lifestyle with physical inactivity are some of the most common risk factor associated with the slow onset of diabetes.

However, Dr. David Hefner, in the observation of the correlated incidences of in people high-fat diet on patients with type 2 diabetes wrote, "The typical Western diet-red meat, high-fat dairy products, refined grains and desserts-may increase your chances for Type 2 diabetes. That's what researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health has found and reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine".

In other words, if you are the Western diet follower, your risk of type 2 diabetes is many folds higher compared to that of person who follows a traditional diet with higher fruits and vegetable consumption.

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 healthy food for the treatment of diabetes with no side effects, researchers evaluated the effects of various doses of lycopene were studied in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemic rats.

A single dose of STZ (65 mg/kg body weight) not only showed a significant increase (p<0.05) of free radical hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), i.e. by 230% and the index of the lipid peroxidation level by 69% but also reduced the levels of antioxidant enzymes produced by the host by 36%, such as erythrocytes antioxidative enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx).

Furthermore, the injection STZ also increased the total lipid, triglycerides and total cholesterol serum of hyperglycaemic rats were increased by 14%, 65%, and 36%, respectively and decreased levels of HDL-C by 22%.

Lycopene oral administration on hyperglycaemic rats demonstrated a decreased levels of glucose, H(2)O(2) and TBARS levels and increased total antioxidant status with increased antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, and GPx) and improved serum lipid profile.

Based on the findings, researchers wrote, " lycopene acts as an antidiabetic agent through lowering the free radical and has an improving effect on a serum that reaches the normal level; the greatest effect of lycopene was observed at 90 mg/kg body weight".

In other words, the injection of lycopene improved all aspects of diabetics rat associated with the risk of diabetic complications.

Taken altogether, tomatoes containing high levels of lycopene may be considered supplements for the prevention and treatment of diabetes, 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) Amelioration of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus, oxidative stress and dyslipidemia in rats by tomato extract lycopene by Ali MM1, Agha FG. (PubMed)
(2) The consumption of lycopene and tomato-based food products is not associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes in women by Wang L1, Liu S, Manson JE, Gaziano JM, Buring JE, Sesso HD. (PubMed)
(3) Western Diet Linked to Type 2 Diabetes by David Hefner. (J Natl Med Assoc.)