| Ingredients
Research
Achyranthes Bidentata
Ingredients
Achyranthes Bidentata contains a variety of chemicals such
as triterpenoid saponins, sitosterol (synonymous
with ‘beta-sitosterol’- which is actually a
super-charged combination of beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol,
campesterol and brassicasterol), polysaccharides
and alkaloids, rubrosterone, etc.
Research
Effect of alcoholic extract of Achyranthes bidentata
Blume on acute and sub-acute inflammation, Indian Journal
of Pharmacology 34, 2, 115-118. Vetrichelvan, T and M. Jegadeesan
(2000b)
Achyranthes bidentata possesses anti-inflammatory
effects in both acute and sub acute inflammation. The
alcoholic extract (375 and 500 mg/kg) showed maximum inhibition
of oedema by 63.52% and 79.73% at the end of 3 h in acute
model of inflammation, respectively.
The research on analgestic and anti-inflammatory action
of different processed products of Achyranthes bidentata.
Lu T, Mao C, Zhang L, Xu W. Zhong Yao Cai. 1997 Oct;20(10):507-9.
[Article in Chinese] Nanjin University of Traditional Chinese
Medicine, Nanjin 210029.
Analgestic effect of different processed products of Achyranthes
bidentata in mice was observed in hot plate and acetic acid
induced writhing test. The experiment results showed that
water extract of Achyranthes bidentata and its processed
products could inhibit the pain. Effect of Achyranthes bidentata
polysaccharides (ABP) on antitumor activity and immune function
of S180-bearing mice. Zhon ghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi. 1995 Jul;17(4):275-8.
Yu S, Zhang Y. Department of Macrobiology, Shanghai University
of TCM.
Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides (ABP), extracted from
the root of Achyranthes bidentata Blume, 25-100mg.kg-1.d-1
x 7 could inhibit tumor growth by 31%-40%.
Alisma Plantago
Ingredients
Alisma Plantago contains chemicals such as Alisol A,Alisol
B, and Alisol C, aliso A monoacetate, alisol B monoacetate,
alisol C monoacetate,Alismol,Epialisol A, 24- acetyl alisol
A, 23-acetyl alisol B, 23- acetyl alisol C,Tricosane; Stearic
acid; Glyceryl-1-stearate; Daucosterol-6'-O-stearate; Alisol
B monoacetate; Emodin; Alisol C monoacetate.
Research
An experimental study of effect of different extracts
of Alisma orientalis on urinary calcium oxalate stones formation
in rats: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2003 Nov;28(11):1072-5.Cao
ZG, Liu JH, Radman AM, Wu JZ, Ying CP, Zhou SW.Department
of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong
University of Science and Technology, Wuhan430030, Hubei,
China.
The ethyl acetate elution of ethyl acetate fraction extract
of Alisma orientalis can significantly inhibit urinary calcium
oxalate stone formation in rats and be the most
effective constituent of Alisma orientalis.
The effects of the active constituents of Alisma orientalis
on renal stone formation and bikunin expression in rat urolithiasis
model: Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2004 Aug 2;84(15):1276-9.Cao
ZG, Liu JH, Zhou SW, Wu W, Yin CP, Wu JZ.Department of Urology,
Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University
of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
The active constituents of Alisma orientalis can down-regulate
the bikunin mRNA expression, decrease the calcium
oxalate formation in rat kidney, and inhibit
the renal stone formation in rat urolithiasis model.
Alisol B acetate, a triterpene from Alismatis rhizoma,
induces Bax nuclear translocation and apoptosis in human
hormone-resistant prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Cancer Lett.
2006 Jan 18;231(2):270-8.Huang YT, Huang DM, Chueh SC, Teng
CM, Guh JH.Pharmacological Institute, College of Medicine,
National Taiwan University, No. 1, Jen-AiRoad, Sect. 1,
Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
The anti-tumor potential of components from Chinese herbal
medicines has been greatly concerned. Alisol B acetate,
a triterpene from Alismatis rhizoma, induced apoptotic
cell death in human hormone-resistant prostate cancer PC-3
cells in a time-and concentration-dependent manner.
He Shou Wu
Ingredients
The herb contains nine compounds including emodin, chrysophanol,
rhein, 6-OH-emodin, emodin-8-_-d-glucoside, polygonimitin
B, 2,3,5,4_-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-_-d-glucoside, gallic
acid and lecithin. The herb contains several derivatives
of tetrahydroxystilbene that are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
compounds investigated for their effects on neurons. The
red wine component resveratrol is a similar compound; it
is a trihydroxystilbene. An abundant natural source
of resveratrol, fo-ti or he-shou-wu is grown commercially
in China for production of resveratrol in dietary supplements.
Resveratrol is a polyphenol found in such foods as peanuts,
grapes (and consequently, wine), and mulberries. Resveratrol
acts as a potent estrogen antagonist (while also
acting as an agonist in some tissues, similar to the drugs
clomiphene and tamoxifen). Resveratrol is the potent
anti-aging compound found in red wine and tha thas been
found to cut a man's risk of prostate cancer in half!
Not only that but the protective effect appears to be strongest
against the most aggressive forms of the disease, according
to a new study led by investigators at Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center. The findings, by Janet L. Stanford, Ph.D.,
and colleagues in Fred Hutchinson's Public Health Sciences
Division, appear online in The International Journal of
Cancer.
-As an antioxidant, it helps sweep dangerous, cancer-causing
free radicals from the body.
-The compound also reduces cell proliferation, curtailing
the number of cell divisions that could lead to cancer or
the continued growth of cancer cells.
-It also enhances apoptosis, or programmed cell death, which
helps rid the body of cancerous cells.
-It may act as an estrogen, reducing levels of circulating
male hormones such as DHT that fuel the growth of prostate
cancer.
Studies with resveratrol indicate that this polyphenol inhibits
the activity of aromatase in breast cancer cells, a particularly
important fact considering aromatase is expressed at a higher
level in breast cancer tissue than in surrounding healthy
tissue. In fact, resveratrol inhibits the conversion
of estrogen and decreases the synthesis of the aromatase
enzyme, thus indicating that it may support the health of
individuals concerned about breast cancer.
Sarkar FH, Li Y. Indole-3-carbinol and prostate cancer.
J Nutr. 2004 Dec;134(12 Suppl):3493S-3498S.
Research indicates that resveratrol also is effective
at preventing several stages of carcinogenesis.
It decreases tumor initiation, promotion, and progression,
and induces apoptosis in many types of cancer cells.Eng
ET, Williams D, Mandava U, Kirma N, Tekmal RR, Chen S. Anti-aromatase
chemicals in red wine. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Jun;963:239-46.Research
Resveratrol Suppresses Prostate Cancer Progression in
Transgenic Mice
Curt E. Harper1, Brijesh B. Patel1, Jun Wang1, Alireza Arabshahi1,
Isam A. Eltoum2,3 and Coral A. Lamartiniere1,2,*
1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham,Alabama
2 UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama
at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
3 Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham,
Birmingham, Alabama
To whom requests for reprints should be addressed: Dr. Coral
A. Lamartiniere, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 1670 University Blvd., Volker
Hall 124, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0019. Email: Coral@uab.edu.
Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic phytochemical, has been
reported to act as an antioxidant and provide anti-cancer
activities. We hypothesized that resveratrol would exert
a chemopreventive effect against prostate cancer via regulation
of sex steroid receptor and growth factor signaling pathways.
In the current study, Transgenic Adenocarcinoma Mouse Prostate
(TRAMP) males were fed resveratrol (625 mg resveratrol/kg
AIN-76A diet) or phytoestrogen-free, control diet (AIN-76A)
starting at five weeks of age. Mechanisms of action and
histopathology studies were conducted at 12 and 28 weeks
of age, respectively. Resveratrol in the diet significantly
reduced the incidence of poorly differentiated prostatic
adenocarcinoma by 7.7-fold. In the dorsolateral prostate
(DLP), resveratrol significantly inhibited cell proliferation,
increased androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor-ß
(ER-ß), and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor
(IGF-1R), and significantly decreased IGF-1, and phospho-extracellular
regulating kinase 1 (phospho-ERK 1). In the ventral prostate
(VP), resveratrol significantly reduced cell proliferation
and phospho-ERKs 1 and 2, but did not significantly alter
IGF-1R and IGF-1. Serum total testosterone, free testosterone,
estradiol, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and sex hormone binding
globulin (SHBG) concentrations and SV-40 Tag expression
in the prostate were not altered in resveratrol-treated
mice. Total resveratrol concentration in the blood serum
of 12 week old mice treated for three weeks with 625 mg
resveratrol/kg diet was 52 ± 18 nM. The decrease
in cell proliferation and the potent growth factor, IGF-1,
the down-regulation of downstream effectors, phospho-ERKs
1 and 2, and the increase in the putative tumor suppressor,
ER-ß, provide a biochemical basis for resveratrol
suppressing prostate cancer development.
Received October 25, 2006; revised June 11, 2007; accepted
June 11, 2007.
Estrogen Balancing for Women and Men: Why Females and
Males Should Consider Phytonutrient Support By Nieske Zabriskie,
ND
Estrogen is a hormone typically associated with female health.
Estrogen, however, also plays a lesser-known role in male
health. The increasing level of environmental estrogens
such as estrogen-mimicking pesticides along with a tendency
for males to convert testosterone into estrogen, indicates
that a discussion about balancing estrogen levels in the
body is equally important to both sexes.
In men, the conversion of testosterone to estrogen plays
a role in the development of prostate cancer. This tendency
was demonstrated in animal models, where the addition of
estrogen to testosterone significantly increased the incidence
of prostate cancer. In addition, testosterone and other
androgens may increase prostate cancer progression. This
evidence suggests that it is the conversion of androgens
to estrogens by aromatase that may be a causal factor in
cancer initiation and that testosterone induces tumor promotion
after the initial insult. This same study also showed that
estrogen caused DNA damage in prostate cells, which can
lead to the development of cancer at the exact location
of the damage.1 Furthermore, the active testosterone metabolite
5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone, which cannot be aromatized
to estrogen, is not known to induce prostate cancer, supporting
a critical role of estrogen in prostate carcinogenesis.1
In women, a substantial amount of research has shown that
estrogen metabolism is strongly associated with hormone-related
cancers such as breast cancer. Estrogen, via its binding
to the estrogen receptor, plays an important role in breast
cancer cell proliferation and tumor development.
Estrogen can be metabolized through either beneficial or
harmful biochemical pathways. The optimal pathway breaks
down estrogen into 2-hydroxyestrone. Metabolizing estrogen
via this pathway decreases hormone related cancer risk.
The other pathway metabolizes estrogen to the carcinogenic
products 16-hydroxyestrone and to a lesser extent 4-hydroxyestrone.
An elevated ratio of these metabolites to the preferential
2-hydroxyestrone metabolites in women is associated with
increased risk of invasive breast cancer.2
In both men and women, hormone balance is also related to
the function of the aromatase enzyme. This enzyme is found
in adipose tissue, muscle, breast tissue, ovaries, brain,
the prostate and malignant breast tumors. Aromatase is the
rate-limiting step in estrogen metabolism. This enzyme converts
the androgens testosterone and androstenedione to theestrogens
estradiol and estrone. In post-menopausal women, aromatase
in adipose tissue is the primary source of circulating estrogens.
Modulation of hormone levels and activity is an important
avenue for overall health. Therefore, in this article, I
will discuss select phytonutrients that research indicates
can favorably affect estrogen and androgen metabolism.
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