Amyloid β (Aβ) induces the production of neuroinflammatory molecules, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, suppression of neuroinflammatory molecules could be developed as a therapeutic method. Aromatic (ar)-turmerone, turmeric oil isolated from Curcuma longa, has long been used in Southeast Asia as both a remedy and a food. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of ar-turmerone in BV2 microglial cells. Aβ-stimulated microglial cells were tested for the expression and activation of MMP-9, iNOS, and COX-2, the production of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and ROS, as well as the underlying signaling pathways. Ar-turmerone significantly suppressed Aβ-induced expression and activation of MMP-9, iNOS, and COX-2, but not MMP-2. Ar-turmerone also reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1 production in Aβ-stimulated microglial cells. Further, ar-turmerone markedly inhibited the production of ROS. Impaired translocation and activation of NF-κB were observed in Aβ-stimulated microglial cells exposed to ar-turmerone. Furthermore, ar-turmerone inhibited the phosphorylation and degradation of IκB-α as well as the phosphorylation of JNK and p38 MAPK. These results suggest that ar-turmerone impaired the Aβ-induced inflammatory response of microglial cells by inhibiting the NF-κB, JNK, and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. Lastly, ar-turmerone protected hippocampal HT-22 cells from indirect neuronal toxicity induced by activated microglial cells. These novel findings provide new insights into the development of ar-turmerone as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
Source: Park SY, Jin ML, Kim YH, Kim Y, Lee SJ. Int Immunopharmacol. 2012 Sep;14(1):13-20.
WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU:
Turmerones from turmeric essential oil are rising stars in research. These components of the oil have already been used to enhance the absorption of curcumin, the primary compound from turmeric, but have strong anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties of their own. In fact, studies are figuring out that that turmerones are as potent as curcuminoids.
One of the turmerones in particular, aromatic turmerone, (better known as “ar-turmerone”) may help preserve cognition. This study found that ar-turmerone suppressed amyloid beta, which is considered responsible for the plaques and tangles in the brain that stop neural connections and ultimately lead to Alzheimer’s disease. It also inhibited inflammatory cytokines that begin the spiral of cognitive decline in the brain.
If you have a family history of susceptibility to Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, incorporating turmerones from turmeric essential oil into your daily regimen may be one of the best—and simplest—ways to keep your mind clear for years to come.
Hintonia Stops High Blood Sugar
The Study Abstract: Hintonia concentrate – for the dietary treatment of increased blood sugar values: Results of a multicentric, prospective, non-interventional study with a defined dry concentrate of hintonia latiflora.
Background: Preparations from the bark of hintonia latiflora are used to regulate the blood sugar levels. The objective of this study was to prove the nutritional benefit within the framework of a dietary treatment of increased blood sugar values with pre-diabetes and slight diabetes type 2 as well as the assessment of the tolerance and application safety.
Method: In an open, prospective, multicentric and non-interventional application study, the effects of a dry concentrate from the bark of hintonia latiflora in the form of capsules were examined for the laboratory parameters of the blood sugar levels (HbA1c, fasting and postprandial glucose) as well as for the development of diabetic accompanying symptoms (sweating, gastrointestinal symptoms, paraesthesiae, itching and neuropathies). Particular attention was also given to the tolerance and (if available) further clinical (laboratory) parameters (blood pressure, liver values and blood lipids). An eight-month treatment was documented in 178 test persons with type 2 diabetes/pre-diabetes, who were treated with oral antidiabetics and / or insulin or only with a diet.
Results: At the end of the study, 177 data records were available. The HbA1c values improved over the course of the study with a high level of clinical relevance and significance from 7.2 ± 0.4% to 6.4 ± 0.5%, in accordance with a relative improvement by 10.4% (p < 0.0001). In parallel, the values of fasting and postprandial glucose also improved by an average of 23.3 ± 12.5% (from 152.1 ± 27.4 mmol/l to 114.4 ± 18.2 mmol/l) and 24.9 ± 11.4% (from 189.5 ± 34.1 mmol/l to 140.1 ± 22.3 mmol/l). The sum score of the diabetic accompanying symptoms improved from initially 4.8 points to 1.3 points at the end of the study. Improvements were also determined in blood pressure, blood fats and liver values. The tolerance was excellent, no unwanted effects occurred, in particular no hypoglycaemic episodes. In 55 of 114 patients with antidiabetic medication (39.5%), the substance could be reduced (n = 45) or stopped entirely (n = 10).
Conclusions: The study confirms the positive effects of the dry concentrate from the bark of hintonia latiflora on the main parameters of the blood sugar levels and the diabetic accompanying symptoms. In the event of pre-diabetes or minor cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus, this can contribute towards stabilizing the blood sugar homoeostasis in particular, achieving a lower load from accompanying medication and deferring the necessity of using oral antidiabetic drugs and/or insulin.
Source: Schmidt M, Hladikova M. Naturheilpraxis. Feb. 2014. (Translated article).
WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU:
As the rates of prediabetes and diabetes escalate and people begin lifestyle interventions to overcome it, Hintonia latiflora—a botanical from Mexico and Central America with a history of traditional use—may become a primary herbal fix.
Hintonia has been clinically studied in Germany for over 60 years, but has been largely unknown in the United States. If you have even moderately high blood sugar, you’re setting up conditions for other serious concerns, including weight gain, neuropathy, and heart disease. Getting blood sugar under control is imperative for your health.
Fortunately, this study points to a solution. Hintonia improved HbA1C levels (also known as “A1C levels”), the measure of glucose carried by hemoglobin, by an average of over 10 percent. Even reducing those levels by one percent means reducing the risk of cataracts, heart failure, and amputation or death from peripheral vascular disease by 19, 16, and 43 percent, respectively. Because Hintonia also improved fasting and postprandial glucose levels, as well as reducing the need for diabetes medications, it may be the botanical medicine that is long overdue for adoption in America at large, and your personal supplemental regimen.
Ginger – For More Than Upset Stomachs
The Study Abstract: Gingerols and shogaols: Important nutraceutical principles from ginger.
Gingerols are the major pungent compounds present in the rhizomes of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and are renowned for their contribution to human health and nutrition. Medicinal properties of ginger, including the alleviation of nausea, arthritis and pain, have been associated with the gingerols. Gingerol analogues are thermally labile and easily undergo dehydration reactions to form the corresponding shogaols, which impart the characteristic pungent taste to dried ginger. Both gingerols and shogaols exhibit a host of biological activities, ranging from anticancer, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic to various central nervous system activities. Shogaols are important biomarkers used for the quality control of many ginger-containing products, due to their diverse biological activities. In this review, a large body of available knowledge on the biosynthesis, chemical synthesis and pharmacological activities, as well as on the structure-activity relationships of various gingerols and shogaols, have been collated, coherently summarized and discussed. The manuscript highlights convincing evidence indicating that these phenolic compounds could serve as important lead molecules for the development of therapeutic agents to treat various life-threatening human diseases, particularly cancer. Inclusion of ginger or ginger extracts in nutraceutical formulations could provide valuable protection against diabetes, cardiac and hepatic disorders.
Source: Semwal RB, Semwal DK, Combrinck S, Viljoen AM. Phytochemistry. 2015 Jul 27.
WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU:
Ginger is experiencing a revival in the natural health world recently, for good reason. This review showed that this common botanical has wider-ranging abilities than we may have realized—fighting bacteria, allergies, tumors, and free radical damage. Ginger oils—the focus of many ginger studies and this review—provide compounds that interrupt the inflammatory triggers that can cause the development, growth, and spread of tumors. Two of the main compounds responsible are gingerols and shogaols, which also provide its characteristic scent and taste.
The authors of the paper also state that including ginger in more nutraceuticals would create a powerful intervention for fighting liver disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems as well.
Ginger is readily available—you may even have ginger root in your kitchen pantry. These stand-by botanicals are only just beginning to reveal their many benefits to science. The upside? If you use ginger to control motion sickness or other digestive ailments, you’re getting a lot of positive side effects, too. If you’re not already using ginger, there are even more good reasons to start.
Ginger is a relative to turmeric, well known for its cancer-fighting compound, curcumin, and for supplying turmerones from essential oil in the rhizome. For strong results, consider bringing these two together in your regular meals and in your supplemental regimen.