Cordyceps Potent Liver Protective

Clinical studies have shown that cordyceps sinensis can decrease fibrosis and boost liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Cordyceps sinensis has a potential enhancing property on the immunological function of people suffering from chronic hepatitis B and from posthepatic cirrhosis.

Cordyceps and Liver Health

Cordyceps sinensis stimulates the liver, supports the immune system in fighting liver infections.Various research findings show that Cordyceps sinensis has a protecting property in liver patients, including those with chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, hepatic fibrosis. It enhances organic cell immunological function, reverts HBeAg-positive to HBeAgnegative, improves liver function, inhibits hepatic fibrosis.

Cordyceps sinensis is commonly used as an adjunct in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C. In a study where a mixture of medicinal mushrooms such as Cordyceps sinensis were used to measure effectiveness of the antiviral medication lamivudine in the therapy of hepatitis B, it helped substantially. The group receiving C. sinensis along with other medicinal mushroom extracts had much better results in a shorter period of time than the group who received just lamivudine.

C. sinensis  may assist with the cure of hepatitis B by increasing serum gamma globulin levels and bolstering the immune system.  Research clinical studies on 33 patients with Hepatitis B and on another 8 patients with cirrhosis taking cordyceps extract showed 71.9% improvement on Thymol Turbidity  Test and 78.6% improvement in SGPT. Test both of these are enzyme test showing improving functions of the liver. One study using 3g/day Cordyceps sinensis  biomass to treat alcohol-induced liver steatosis in 14 patients demonstrated reductions of 70% in AST levels, 63% in ALT levels and 64% in GGT levels over a 90 day period. In 1990, a study was undertaken in which 32 hepatitis B sufferers were given 3750 mg of Cordyceps sinensis a day for one month. Positive antibodies to the virus changed to negative in 21 people. In 23 participant, tests demonstrated that liver function has improved. In one study, 83 participant, 2 to 15 years old, who carried the hepatitis B virus but demonstrated no symptoms were given Cordyceps sinensis for 3 months. A complete conversion of antibodies to the virus was found in 33 of the test participant, which indicates that the infection had been completely resolved and the virus was no longer contagious.

A study performed in China in 1994 with 70 patients diagnosed with chronic Hepatitis B and post hepatic cirrhosis were treated with either Cordyceps sinensis or other medicinal mushroom, Gandoerma applanatum. In this  study, 57% of the Ganoderma patients demonstrated important health effect, compared to 68% of the Cordyceps group. In a study using 22 people who were diagnosed with posthepatic cirrhosis, after 3 months of consuming 6–9 g of  C. sinensis per day, each patient demonstrated improvement in liver function tests. Cirrhotic cells had disappeared in 15 people and had decreased substantially in other 6 patients. In a new study, performed at the “Capital Medical University in Beijing“, scientists set to find out if cordyceps could cure liver problems naturally. 60 patient with chronic hepatitis B were evaluated. Cordyceps sinensis reduced serum AST and ALT levels, serum HA, PC-II and LN levels. 81% of the participants, who consumed Cordyceps sinensis, decreased liver inflammation one grade or more, and 52% decreased fibrosis stage one or more levels. The researchers, concluded that cordyceps can improve liver function, reduce liver inflammation and fight hepatic fibrosis.

Use of Reishi in Treating Liver Disease

Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma Lucidum) is a basidiomycete, lamellaless fungus belonging to the family of polyporaceae. Although there are more than 2000 known species of reishi mushroom, just 6 kinds have been investigated in greater detail to uncover probable health benefits black, red, white, blue purple and yellow reishi.  Of these 6 types, red and black reishi have showed the most important health-enhancing effects.

Reishi Mushroom Liver Benefits

Reishi mushroom has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for to treat liver disorders. Nowadays, the available findings from human trials together with evidence from animal studies demonstrate that reishi mushroom may have some positive effects for liver disease patients. Polysaccharides Ganoderma Lucidum extract reduced viral activity, improve immune parameters, enhance the production of its own interferon, which prevents the virus from replicating. Extract of  Ganoderma improves blood biochemical parameters that reflect the degree of  liver damage. Ganoderma Lucidum limit the activity of beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme that is elevated in many liver problems, including inflammation, jaundice and cirrhosis.

Reishi mushroom protects the liver from harm by chemical toxins such as carbon tetrachloride. Reishi extract demonstrated anti-hepatotoxic effect with administration of the extract to mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. Researches done in Japan have shown that Reishi mushroom protects the liver from damage due to toxic chemicals, including pharmaceutical metabolites. Reishi mushroom may help prevent human hepatoma from spreading. Scientists at the National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan have discovered that Ganoderma Lucidum may help with liver cancer. Researchers found that a dose-response inhibition of  metastasis could be accomplished by giving mice Ganoderma Lucidum extract. The average size, volume and weight of tumors, as well as the number of affected organs, were suppressed with the reishi mushroom  extract. The findings of the study suggest that reishi mushroom could be a strong chemopreventive agent for the tumorigenesis and metastasis of highly invasive hepatoma cells.

Reishi mushroom increases immune-protective T cells and macrophages. The mushroom demonstrates anti-viral activity, and accelerates recovery time from infectious hepatitis. A study reported in 2005 in Food Reviews International found that reishi mushroom decreased the levels of serum hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis B antigens. Twenty-one hepatitis patients were treated with reishi extract. For 19 patients the major symptoms were gone within 10 days after reishi mushroom therapy and the hepatitis marker enzyme serum glutamic-pyruvic tansaminase value was returned to normal 45 days after the reishi mushroom therapy. A clinical study using Ganopoly® or placebo was conducted in chronic hepatitis B patients. Ganopoly therapy decreased the level of  hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. Polysaccharide Ganopoly treatment for six months resulted in normalization of aminotransferase levels in 33% and cleared serum hepatitis B surface antigen in 13% of  patients compared with control. Reishi mushroom  is a traditionally used in the cure of hepatitis and in a clinical study of 355 cases of hepatitis B treated with Wulingdan Pill, of which reishi is the main component, 92.4% of patients were reported to have favorable results. An experimental study of patients suffering from hepatitis B and high liver enzymes and bilirubin, patients were given reishi for 3 months. After one month, pronounced reduction in SGPT and SGOT were seen, and 3 months later all values were within a normal range.

Reishi Help Fight Cancer

Red Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma Lucidum) is a type of mushroom found in the coastal regions of China. In nature, it grows in densely wooded forests of high humidity and dim lighting. Reishi mushroom occurs in 6 different colors, but the red variety is most commonly used and commercially cultivated in East Asia and North America. Various researches have shown that red reishi mushroom modulate many components of the immune system such as the antigen-presenting cells, Natural killer cells, T and B lymphocytes.

Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Ganoderma lucidum is a proven powerful activator of  interferon, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, natural killer cells, T lymphocytes, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and lymphokine activated killer cells. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that the anti-tumor activities of  Ganoderma lucidum  polysaccharide are mediated by its immunomodulatory, anti-angiogenic, and cytotoxic effects. The experts of  Chinese Academy of  Sciences confirmed that the polysaccharides and triterpenes in Ganoderma lucidum are the critical ingredients to maintaining a physiological balance within the human body.

According to a study Bellarmine University; Ganoderma lucidum contain polysaccharides, strong compounds that may aid in the recovery of cancer tumors by inducing apoptosis, or programmed cell death. A 1999 test tube study found that reishi mushroom stimulated lymphocyte production in the immune system and had anti-tumor effects. The water extract and the polysaccharides fraction of reishi exhibited important anti-tumor activity in several tumor-bearing animals mainly through its immunoenhancing effect. A study reported in 2003 in Food Reviews International found that mice given reishi mushroom demonstrated signs of suppressed cancerous tumor growth. One study demonstrated that Ganoderma lucidum strongly inhibited the growth of sarcoma 180, with an inhibition rate of 95 to 98% at an interperitonial dosage of 20 mg/kg for ten days in mice.

Ganoderma Lucidum polysaccharides have high molecular weights of up to 1,050,000, which makes absorption by the intestines difficult. Vitamin C breaks down the high molecular weight polysaccharides to a molecular weight of around 30,000, in this way that they are much more easily absorbed by the intestines. As these are chain like molecules, the shorter sections of the chain have all the same properties as longer segments, however are much more easily absorbed through the stomach and intestines.

The dried powder of  Ganoderma lucidum alters the expression of a number of genes, especially transcription factors, such as nuclear factor kappa B, and activator protein-1, according to a 2003 study reported in the Integrative Cancer Treatments. A study published in August 2003 in the Immunological Investigations, reported a important increase in NK (natural killer) cell activity in 34 cancer patients given reishi extract for 12 weeks. Evidence from an animal-based study reported in the July 2007 of  Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry found that Ganoderma Lucidum compounds might suppress cell signaling processes involved in the development of prostate cancer. The complex interaction of anti-cancerous substances in Ganoderma lucidum has been shown to suppress progression and invasiveness of metastatic breast cancers, according to a study done at the “Cancer Research Laboratory, Methodist Research Institute“. Researchers reporting in the “International Journal of  Oncology” stated that reishi is a “suitable herb for chemoprevention and chemotherapy of  breast cancer.” According to scientists at the “National Cancer Center” in Japan, there was complete tumor elimination in approximately 80% of cancer-induced animals fed extracts from reishi, maitake and shiitake mushrooms. Compounds in each of these mushrooms enhance the tumor-fighting activity of Natural Killer Cells and improve antibody responses, but maitake mushroom seems to have the strongest and most consistent effect.

New studies in New Zealand show that a combination of  Cordyceps and Ganoderma lucidum extracts had useful effects on the quality of  life for some advanced cancer patients. Scientists believe that a mixture of  the active components from different mushrooms maximizes the immune response by providing multiple stimuli to the body’s natural defenses. The active component in RSE (Reishi Spore Extract), Ganoderma lucidum is collected from just the spores of the plant; just 1g of spores can be collected from 1kg of the Ganoderma lucidum plant making RSE 75 times more potent compared with other reishi products. RSE stimulates IL-2, NK cell, interferon, may reduces radiation adverse effects and improves phagocytosis function. In one study performed in Japan and China, RSE was found to kill tumor cells by 83 %. A study at the “Fujian Hospital” was performed on 52 cancer patients with low levels of white blood cells. Results demonstrated an improvement rate of 1028/cc with an efficiency rate of 84 %. Also, Guangdong He Yuan Hospital treated 60 cancer patients with low white blood cell count.After therapy, levels improved up to 1428/cc with an efficiency rate of 81 %.

Can Goji Berry Help to Beat Cancer?

The goji berry (Lycium barbarum), has long been recognised in Traditional Chinese Medicine for various medicinal effects  based on its antioxidant and immune-modulating activities. A polysaccharide isolated from lycium was shown to have immune enhancing, antitumor and, hepatoprotective activities in vitro.

Immune Booster and Anticancer Researches

Goji, rich in polysaccharides, strengthen the immune system. In some study groups with elderly people  the goji berry was given once a day for 3 weeks, very effective results were experienced and 67% of the  patients T cell transformation functions tripled and the activity of the patients white cell interleukin-2 doubled. In a 1988 report published by the “State Scientific and Technological Commission of  China“, scientists discovered that after eating 50 g of goji berry, participants demonstrated an  increase in white blood cell count and a 75% increase in the antibody immunoglobulin A. A Chinese study  reported in the Chinese Journal of Oncology in 1994 found that 79 people with cancer responded better to treatment when goji juice was added to their regimen. 79 patients in advanced stages of cancer were treated with the drug LAK/IL-2 combined with Lycium Barbarum polysaccharides. Regression of the several cancers was observed. The response rate of patients treated with LAK/IL-2 and LBP was 40 percent while that of patients treated only with LAK/IL-2 was 16 percent study.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) are major functional constituents in red-colored fruits of L. barbarum. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide has potential anticancer activity. A lab study reported in 2001 found that these polysaccharides appear to prevent human leukemia cell growth. According to a study published in 2010 in  Medical Oncology demonstrated Lycium barbarum polysaccharide, stopped the growth cycle of colon cancer and human gastric cells in the laboratory. Scientists administered 100 to 1000 mg/L of goji polysaccharides to 2 types of human colon cancer cells for 1 to 8 days. The polysaccharides inhibited cell growth in both colon cancer cell lines.

2-O-β-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2βG) is a natural derivative of  vitamin C isolated from goji fruit. Researchers investigated the activities of AA-2BG against cervical cancer cells. They showed that AA-2BG selectively induced cell death and repressed the spread of cervical cancer cells by stabilizing a specific protein. One of the compounds found in goji juice that is highly effective in the fight against cancer and other ailments in the human body is germanium. It is an oxygen catalyst, and since all forms of cancer are anaerobic, this compound has been demonstrated in research to potentially retard and even reverse the proliferation of cancer cells. Japanese studies indicate that organic germanium is effective in treating lung cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer, uterine cancer, and testicular cancer when combined with other drugs. Lewis Lung cancer cells were transplanted in C57 BL mice, and the anticancer activities of both goji berry polysaccharides and radiation were measured. Following the experiment it was concluded that goji berry enhanced the effects of radiation in combating Lewis Lung cancer.

Pycnogenol Antioxidant Activities

Pycnogenol® is the extract of the bark of the French pine tree (Pinus pinaster). It is a strong antioxidant and a potent free-radical scavenger. Pycnogenol contains approximately 85% proanthocyanidins (OPC’s). Oligomeric Proanthocyanidin is the major active ingredient in Pycnogenol and Grape seed extract. In vitro and animal-based studies demonstrate that pycnogenol has antioxidant, immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities.

Pycnogenol Antioxidant Benefits

Pycnogenol is a unmatched blend of bioflavonoids not found in any other supplement. It has been found to be much more powerful than vitamin C and E, grape seed extract, Coenzyme Q10 and lipoic acid. Pycnogenol decreases free radical production, enhances cells’ natural antioxidant systems, and scavenges free radicals, preventing the development of oxidant-related diseases. Pycnogenol decreases DNA damage by its antioxidant activity and probably other mechanisms.

Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from oxidative damage caused by molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that attack normal cells and damage membranes. Cell death caused by free radicals contributes to a variety of diseases, including heart disease, some forms of cancer and nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Elevated antioxidant amounts in the body may protect against damage to cells and cellular components, thus helping to reduce the risk of many chronic degenerative diseases. Pycnogenol is a powerful antioxidant which consists of a highly bioavailable flavonoid called proanthocyanidin. Pycnogenol, acts  as an antioxidant by scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and suppressing production of peroxides. It increases the activities of antioxidant enzymes by increasing the intracellular glutathione amount.  Pycnogenol also, it recycles vitamin C, regenerates vitamin E and increases the endogenous antioxidant enzyme system.

Pycnogenol may guard against the formation of tumors or another cell mutations caused by free radicals and may help protect against degenerative diseases like cancer. Pycnogenol has been recognized as an anti-oxidant and for its ability to prevent activation of  NFkappaB, a transcription factor that is generally overactive in cancer cells. New research by Dr. Stewart Brown of the “University of  Nottingham” shows that its radical scavenging effect slows cancer mutagenesis. Dr. D. White of the University of Nottingham explained that it inhibits the enzyme monooxygenase, thereby preventing the formation of highly carcinogenic diole epoxide of benzopyrene.

Pyncogenol gets quickly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract due to its excellent water solubility. The compound fixes rapidly to cell membranes in veins and capillaries and connective tissue where it exerts a stabilizing effect  on cellular membranes of all types. Outside and inside the membranes it counteracts destructive oxidation by free radicals from this solubility property. This super antioxidant; It can be retained for as 72 hours while it neutralizes free radicals and prevents oxidation. An in vivo study showed a 40 percent increase in antioxidant potency in blood following 3 weeks supplementation with 150 mg pycnogenol a day.

Experiment has showed that Pycnogenol flavonoids exhibited an anti-enzyme property which prevented the breakdown of collagen and elastin, the very compounds which keep skin firm and inhibit the formation of wrinkles. Also, pycnogenol lightens up dark spots on the skin that are due to over-pigmentation.

Pycnogenol helps to protect capillaries by binding to blood vessels walls and reducing permeability. Pine Bark Extract contains substances that might improve blood flow. Has been shown to improve endothelial function and blood flow. Pycnogenol, inhibits superoxide radical in blood flow, and protects blood vessel walls. Double blind placebo controlled studies have indicated that participants suffering from circulatory insufficiencies and diseases of the lymph system demonstrated important improvement in pain control and vessel elasticity after taking these flavonoids.