Grape seed extract (GSE) is derived from the ground seeds of red wine grapes. Grape seed extract is especially rich in a very strong flavonoid called OPCs (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins). When taken with bioflavonoids and  OPC the life of vitamin C is greatly extended.

Grape Seed Pharmacological Effects and Benefits

Polyphenols in grape seed extract are primarily flavonoids, including gallic acid, the monomeric flavan-3-ols catechin, epicatechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, and epicatechin 3-O-gallate, and procyanidin dimers, trimers, and more highly polymerized procyanidins. Various researches have shown that proanthocyanidins help to protect the body from sun damage, to develop vision, to improve flexibility in joints, arteries, and body tissues such as the heart, and to increase blood circulation by strengthening capillaries, arteries, and veins.

Antioxidant Activity

Free radicals have been implicated in over a hundred disease conditions in humans, including atherosclerosis, advancing age, ischemia and reperfusion injury of many organs, arthritis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer disease, gastrointestinal dysfunctions, tumor promotion and carcinogenesis, and AIDS. Grape seed contains antioxidants, which help avoid cell damage caused by free radicals. In lab experiments, researchers have showed that grape seed can help fight free radicals.

The antioxidative effects of grape seed extracts are found to be much stronger than vitamin C and vitamin E. A study conducted in 2003, found grape seed extract “provides superior antioxidant efficacy as compared to vitamin C, vitamin E and Beta-carotene.” One of the most bioavailable and strong forms of antioxidant, oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes appear to be synergistic with vitamins, and in especially they protect the free radical scavenging effect of vitamin C. An study, conducted by Boston University of Medicine and USANA Health Sciences, demonstrated that the combination of grape seed extract plus vitamin C improved antioxidant status and vascular function in people with clinically proven cardiovascular disease.

Circulatory System

Grape seed promotes a healthful circulatory system by strengthening capillary walls and reducing leakage. Oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs) avoid capillary leakage in the legs, eyes and skin reducing fluid retention. In a double-blind study, a group of elderly participants with either spontaneous or drug-induced low capillary resistance were treated with 100-150 mg OPCs from GSE (grape seed extract) per day or placebo. 53% of patients in the treated group showed noticeable improvement in capillary resistance after 2 weeks. All patients in this group reached the maximum attainable result after 3 weeks.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Grape seed extract (GSE) strengthens weak and swollen blood vessels in the legs. Several studies have shown that oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes from grape seed can lessen symptoms. In a double-blind study, 71 participant with peripheral venous insufficiency received 300 milligrams OPCs from grape seed per day. A important decrease in functional symptomatology was observed in 75 % of the treated patients compared to 41 % of the patients given a placebo.

Edema

Breast cancer surgery frequently leads to swelling of the arm. In a placebo-controlled study of 63 female breast cancer patients, postsurgical edema of the upper extremities was tested using 300 milligrams per day OPCs in the treated group for 6 months. At 6 months the OPC-treated group’s functional score was important improved. In especially there was a disappearance of pain in 59 % of the treated patients compared to 13 % taking the placebo. Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 32 participant who had received facial surgery, edema disappeared much faster in the group treated with grape seed OPCs.

Eye Diseases

Grape seed extract (GSE) improves blood flow in the eye’s tiny vessels, where some eye diseases can cause blockages and impairments that result in vision damage. Grape seed often recommended to combat macular degeneration, cataracts, and eye strain. Researches have shown that 300 mg daily reduces eye strain from prolonged computer use in 60 days. Also researches have shown that GSE may slow macular degeneration, improve vision stressed by computer screens or glare, and lessen myopia.

Dental Health

GSE helped avoid cavity formation and promoted remineralization of teeth in a laboratory study reported in the July 2012  edition of the Journal of  Contemporary Dental Practice. In a study new  performed at the “University at Buffalo’s Periodontal Research Center“, researchers  demonstrated that smokers who took a supplement containing vitamin C, vitamin E and grape seed extract were able to improve their response to gum disease therapy.

High Blood Pressure

The antioxidants in grape seed extract have a protective effect on blood vessels, which can help avoid high blood pressure. A study published in the Dec 2009 edition of the journal Metabolism reported blood pressure-lowering positive effects of both 150 mg and 300 mg per day for 4 weeks.

Heart

Grape seed helps improve cardiovascular health. Japanese scientists found that proanthocyanidin was able to inhibit thrombus formation in the carotid artery. In a study reported in the Feb 2003 edition of  Mutation Research  found that grape seed extract improved cardiac function including ventricular function, reduced myocardial infarct size, reduced ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia, as indicated by reduction levels of homocysteine.

Chinese scientists proved that grape seed extract directly boosted antioxidant activity in heart cells, ın turn protecting heart cells from free radical induced death. Dr. Kendall, (University of Birmingham), introduced findings from his clinical research using standardized grape seed extract. His study showed measurable changes in serum antioxidant activity in the patients receiving the extract, leading him to conclude antioxidants may play a role in sudden death prevention, referring to the fact that for many patients with coronary artery disease, sudden death may be the first and only indication of the disease.

Researches show that grape seed extract may  have the ability to block PAF (platelet activating factor), thus lengthening the time it takes for the blood to form clots. The inhibitory effect of  Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins on thromboxane biosynthesis may explain the platelet aggregation inhibiting activity. A study demonstrated that grape seed extract significantly reduced the platelet stickiness in male smokers. A new study of 38 smokers indicates that oligomeric proanthocyanidin may function as effectively as aspirin in keeping blood cells from sticking together and forming blood clots. In a study of 22 smokers found that 100 mg of OPCs had an equivalent blood thinning effect as 500 mg of aspirin.

Skin

Extreme sun exposure, especially to UV rays, has a host of unfavorable effects on skin and health in general. The sun light can kill 50% skin cells of human, oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes functions strongly avoid 85% skin cells from this horrible damage. In a study published in “Molecular Nutrition and Food Research” June 2008, showed that the in vitro and in vivo studies of the potential protecting effect of grape seed extract (GSE) proanthocyanidins and the molecular mechanism for these effects in SKH-1 hairless mice produced a decreased UVB-induced skin tumor development in terms of tumor incidence, tumor multiplicity, and a reduce in the malignant transformation of papillomas to carcinomas.

Immune Function

Chemicals in grape seeds known as proanthocyanidins have strong antioxidant and immune-boosting activities. In lab experiments, proanthocyanidins increased the power of natural killer cells, enhanced the production of IL-2, and decreased production of IL-6. In experiment by Zhang et al in 2005 concluded that proanthocyanidins from GSE, in combination with doxorubicin, inhibited tumor-growth by a proposed enhancement of immune function, including lymphocyte stimulation. Oral administration of oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes in an experimental model effectively increased natural killer cell cytotoxicity and modulated ex vivo levels of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 in immune-compromised animals.

Antiviral

Researches of grape seed extract indicate antiviral activity against HIV. According to a study reported in Biological Research in 2002, GSE has anti-HIV effects because it interferes with HIV receptors and co-receptors. A new study found that grape seed extract (GSE) could reduce the infectivity of  Norovirus surrogates. “This provides evidence grape seed extract could effectively damage the (norovirus) capsid protein, which could reduce viral binding ability and infectivity accordingly,” according to the researchers. The research is reported in the Nov 2012 edition of “Applied and Environmental Microbiology”.

Anticancer

Grape seed extract has shown anticancer effect in studies using  breast, stomach, colon, lung, skin and prostate cancer cell lines. 35,239 males were followed over 10 years since 2000 in the VITAL cohort study Men, with “high average use” over 10 years of an individual grape seed extract experienced a 62%  reduced risk of prostate cancer compared to non-users.

In a lab experiment reported in 2004 in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, grape seed extract was effective in blocking division of breast cancer cells in culture, reducing their growth rate by up to 72%. A study reported in 2010 in “Pharmaceutical Research” found that GSE (grape seed extract) stopped tumor growth in mice after clinically induced exposure to UVB radiation.

An article reported on Dec 2012 in the journal “Cancer Letters” reveals a strong effect for grape seed extract against colorectal cancer in experiments involving cultured cancer cells. Colon and intestinal cancer was inhibited in mice fed 0.5 % GSE for 6 weeks, in a 2010 study published in the journal Neoplasia. At the end of the research, observed a 40 % lessen in the total number of intestinal polyps.

A study reported in the journal “Carcinogenesis” shows that in both cell lines and mouse models, grape seed extract  kills head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. A study performed out by Maryam Asargi involving 830 people compared various combinations of vitamins like A, C, E and multivitamins. The group taking grape seed extract (GSE) had an 74 % decrease in squamous cell carcinoma.

In a study published in the March 2005  edition of the Chinese Medical Journal reported that GSE (grape seed extract) promotes the death of human acute myeloid leukemia cells in the lab. An extract from grape seeds effects laboratory leukemia cells to commit cell suicide, according to scientists from the University of Kentucky. In a study, administered varying concentrations of a commercially available grape seed extract (GSE) to leukemia cell cultures. Researchers found that higher doses of the extract resulted in 76% of the leukemia cells undergoing apoptosis within 24 hours following exposure, while healthy cells remained unharmed. “These results could have implications for the incorporation of agents such as grape seed extract into prevention or treatment of hematological malignancies and possibly other cancers,” Dr Xianglin Shi, explained. In a study reported by “Carcinogenesis”, Agarwal (investigator at the University of  Colorado Cancer Center) explained that grape seed creates conditions that are unfavorable to cancer cell growth. The grape seed extract both damages cancer cells’ DNA and stops the pathways that allow cancer cell repair.

Dosage

Grape seed extract (GSE) should contain 90-95% OPC. GSE is used in capsules mostly containing 50 mg or 100 mg. Doses of between 100-300 mg/day have been used in studies and are prescribed in several European countries.

Panax ginseng (the Araliaceae family), also known as Korean Ginseng or Red Ginseng, is an plant famous for its capability to help the body adapt to stress. Generally, starts flowering at its fourth year and the roots take 4 to 6 years to reach maturity. Panax ginseng includes triterpene glycosides, and saponins, known as ginsenosides. Ginsenosides, the saponin glycosides, are thought responsible for Panax ginseng pharmacological activities. There are dozens of ginsenosides (At least 30 ginsenosides have been identified in Panax ginseng). Different ginsenosides appear to have differing effects, and the exact mixture of the ginsenosides in a given ginseng product may play a important role in its efficacy. The root  has higher ginsenoside content. According to Germany Commission E (an official government agency similar to the  FDA), ginseng root contains at least 1.5% ginsenosides, calculated as ginsenoside Rg1.

Panax Ginseng Pharmacological Effects and Benefits

Panax ginseng is used for  concentration, memory, depression, anxiety, loss of appetite, vomiting, physical stamina, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), premature ejaculation, and for boosting the immune system. Animal-based and in vitro studies show that Panax ginseng increases phagocytosis, natural killer cell activity, and the production of interferon. Panax ginseng is widely used as a adaptogen for fighting stress. There is some findings that it might work against stress by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Helps the body modify adrenal and thyroid imbalances and “adapt” to stress.

Adaptogenic

Ginseng is known to be an adaptogen. Adaptogens, that has the ability to bring the body back into a healthy, balanced state. Panax ginseng helps to support the healthy functioning of the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal axis, which may be helpful for the reduce of fatigue and the effects of stress. Saponin triterpenoid glycosides, provide the adaptogenic activities that enable to balance and counter the effects of stress. These steroid-like ingredients appear to act on the adrenal glands, helping to avoid adrenal hypertrophy and excess corticosteroid production in response to physical, chemical or biological stress. Russian researchers report that ginseng normalizes the level of arterial pressure and is effective in the treatment of both hypotension and hypertension.

In a double-blind study, participants taking a daily combination of a multivitamin-mineral supplement with 40 mg of ginseng extract for 12 weeks reported important improvements in quality of  life measured with a questionnaire compared with a group taking just multivitamin-mineral supplement. A study reported in the “Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness” found that korean ginseng can enhance the body’s capacity to cope with physical and mental stress by eliminating symptoms of fatigue. Commission E has approved Panax ginseng for use as a “tonic for invigoration and strengthening at times of fatigue and debility, for declining capacity for work and concentration, also during convalescence.”

Erectile Dysfunction

The vasodilating activities of panax ginseng have been shown to develop sexual function in men with. The use of panax ginseng encourages the flow of blood to the penis and improves the response of the nervous system thereby improving the quality of erections. In a study of 90 men with erectile dysfunction,60% of the subjects reported development in their symptoms compared with 30 % of those using the placebo. The findings was published in the “International Journal of Impotence Research”. In 1996, the Journal Panminerva Medica reported a study in which infertile men demonstrated improved sperm count and motility after being treated with 4 grams of red ginseng for 3 months. A study reported in November 2002 in The Journal o f Urology indicates that panax ginseng is an effective therapy for erectile dysfunction. As published in Jan 2003 edition of  The Journal of Family Practice, supplement with panax ginseng offers a safe and effective alternative for achieving and maintaining erection, even in severe cases of erectile dysfunction.

Libido

Experiments have shown  results, indicating that Korean ginseng promotes the growth of male reproductive organs, increases sperm and testoterone levels, and enhances sexual activity in lab animals. According to a 1999 “World Health Organization” examination, ginseng saponins are thought to reduce serum prolactin, therefore increasing libido in male impotence. In a study found that 4 g of panax ginseng per day for 3 months led to an development in sperm count and sperm motility.

Mental Performance

This plant stimulates the formation of blood vessel and develops blood circulation in the brains, thus improving memory and cognitive abilities. Several findings have showed that panax ginseng improves mental performance, especially during times of stress. In a study at a hospital in 1982, a group of nurses were given ginseng or placebo for 3 consecutive days before switching to night duty. The ginseng therapy group reported better scores for competence, mood, general well-being and performance on tests for speed and coordination compared to the placebo group. In one study of 112 healthy participants older than 40 years, the application of 400 mg per day of the standardized panax ginseng extract for 8 weeks resulted in better and faster simple reactions and abstract thinking. In a 2006 study reported in the “Journal of  Psychopharmacology“, 27 healthy young participants completed a 10 minute “cognitive demand” test. Use of ginseng demonstrated an enhanced performance.

Brain

The most commonly known ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 are known to have an activity on brain functioning. Rg1 is thought to be a slight central nervous system stimulant, hypertensive, anti-fatigue agent, anabolic, and mental acuity and intellectual performance enhancer. Researches done in China demonstrated that ginsenosides enhance protein synthesis and activity of neurotransmitters in the brain. According to a study published in February 2012 in the “Biochimica et Biophysica Acta“; ginseng component Rg1 induces neuroprotection through ameliorating amyloid pathology, modulating APP process, improving cognition, and activating PKA/CREB signaling.

Heart

Experiments have shown that panax ginseng slows the heart rate and reduces the heart’s demand for oxygen. Panax ginseng stimulates optimal blood circulation and supplies the stamina and energy necessary for a body. An intravenous formulation of ginseng seems to enhance ejection fraction in patients with Congestive heart failure (CHF). This plant might improve hemodynamics and might work synergistically with digoxin. Shenmai injection (Panax ginseng, Schizandra fruit, Ophiopogon) may have antiarrhythmic activity. Shengmai San is a widely used formula in modern China, usually given as a prepared liquid  a decoction, or as an intravenous drip. This formula is administered to patients who have suffered a serious disease, particularly heart attack, congestive heart failure, or severe bronchitis, and to treat a sudden drop in blood pressure associated with cardiogenic or septic shock.

Diabetes

Animal-based studies have shown that panax ginseng can facilitate the release of insulin from the pancreas and enhance the number of insulin receptors in the body. There is some findings that taking panax ginseng, 200 mg daily, can lessen fasting blood glucose levels and hemoglobin HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes. Ginseng can lessen insulin requirements and prolong the effect of  injected insulin. Patients with type 2 diabetes mostly find that after 2 weeks of taking ginseng tea, their blood-sugar levels go down by between 40 and 50 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). In the “Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases” (January 2008), it was reported that panax ginseng improves glucose and insulin regulation in well-controlled, type 2 diabetes.

Liver Damage

Panax ginseng is thought to avoid liver damage in people who have been exposed to drugs and toxins. “The Journal of Hazardous Materials” November 2011 edition reported the protective activity of Korean ginseng against serum biochemical changes and apoptosis in liver of rats treated with carbon tetrachloride. This study demonstrated that ginseng therapy may play a protective role by enhancing liver enzyme activities and recovering biochemical parameters, and improving the changes in histological structure against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damages in rats.

Immune System

Panax ginseng acts on the immune system by producing higher activity levels of natural killer cells, increasing total lymphocyte count and raising levels of  T-helper cells. In vitro studies reveal enhanced  natural killer cell activity and increased immune cell phagocytosis after ginsenoside exposure. Korean Red Ginseng contains a polysaccharide called ginsan that stimulates natural killer cell activity, according to a study  reported in the Aug t 2011 edition of the journal Immunology Letters. Researchers have found that a combination of echinacea and ginseng increases the activity of natural killer cells, an substantial immune system component, in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.

A clinical trial in 60 healthy participants demonstrated enhanced chemotaxis, phagocytosis, increased total lymphocyte count, and increased numbers of  T helper cells in those who received ginseng extract in a dosage of 100 mg twice daily for 8 weeks. A study of 227 healthy participants showed that daily administration of 100 mg standardized Panax ginseng extract, for 12 weeks enhanced the efficacy of polyvalent influenza vaccine. The people who received panax ginseng had a lower incidence of colds and influenza, higher antibody titers, and higher natural killer cell activity levels.

In a study found that steamed then dried panax ginseng had favorable effects in individuals infected with HIV, and increased the effectiveness of the anti-HIV medication, AZT. Cho YK, Lee, Oh and Kim report on a study comparing 5.4 g of panax ginseng daily on 16 HIV+ patients versus 10 people who took no anti-HIV drugs for 3 – 4 years. In the group using this form of  Korean Red Ginseng, the average CD4 count increased from baseline of 301 to 359. In the control group, the baseline CD4 count of 352 decreased  to 156. Researchers concluded that “Korean Red Ginseng has definite long-term immune modulating effect without adverse effects on HIV-infected patients”. A study reported in Aug 2009 in the journal “Clinical and Vaccine Immunology,” indicates that panax ginseng may have favorable effects against HIV when combined with HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). HIV-1 (Human immunodeciency virus type 1 is a virus that causes AIDS, a condition in which the immune system fails due to the destruction of CD4+ helper T cells macrophages, and dendritic cells. Owing to the introduction of  highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the improvement of many anti-retroviral medications the rates of mortality and morbidity related to HIV-1 disease have lessen significantly. But, anti-retroviral drug-resistant mutants are incessantly occurring and limit the availability of effective medications. Korean red ginseng has been shown to exert favorable effects on HAART by maintaining CD4+ T cell counts and delaying the development of resistance mutations in HIV-1 patients treated with HAART.

Anticancer

Panax ginseng reduce the production of tumor necrosis factor, lessen DNA strand breakage, and inhibit the formation of induced skin tumors. Studies on human breast cancer cells indicate that ginseng, particularly its constituent ginsenoside-Rb1, acts as a phytoestrogen. A prospective study investigated non-organ specific cancer prevention of ginseng. A study conducted in South Korea followed 4,587 women and men aged thirty-nine years and older from 1987 to 1991. People who consumed panax ginseng regularly were compared with similar people who did not. It was documented that in that time, those who used ginseng had a 60 % lower incidence of death from cancer, particularly stomach and lung cancer. An epidemiological study analyzed the preventive activity of Panax ginseng on 3,974 patients with various types of cancer compared to case-matched controls for 67 weeks. Patients  taking panax ginseng showed a 50% lower risk of cancer recurrence compared to patients not taking ginseng. Cancer incidence reduced by 36 and 69 % in people taking ginseng for 1 year or 5 years, respectively. A greater protective effect was seen in cancers of the esophagus, pharynx, liver and lung .

Dosage

The general recommended daily dosage of ginseng is 1 g to 2 g of raw herb, or 200 mg daily of an extract standardized to contain 4% to 7% ginsenosides. German Commission E approves a dosage of 1 to 2 grams per day of dried root, or preparations providing the equivalent. The Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China officially lists 3 to 9 grams as the dosage for ginseng in decoction form. The doses for different problems; Preventing Cold and Flu; 100 mg daily. Immune System; 100 mg twice a day. Memory Enhancing; 400 mg. Type 2 Diabetes: 200 mg daily. Erectile dysfunction; 900 mg three times daily.

Shark Liver Oil is extracted from the livers of deep-water sharks which usually inhabit the cold, non-polluted waters of the sea. Shark liver oil contains a number of substances including alkylglycerol, squalene and squalamine. Alkoxyglycerols is the main active component in shark liver oil. Alkoxyglycerols in mother’s milk is the vital substance that provides infants with protection and immunity against infection as it helps in the continued development of their immune system.

Shark Liver Oil Medical Effects and Benefits

In 1922, 2 Japanese scientist discovered AKGs (alkylglycerols) in sharks caught in the deep unpolluted waters off  New Zealand. Later Scandinavian scientists Dr. Astrid Brohult and his wife Professor Sven Brohult discovered that individuals with weak immune systems became resistant to infection after taking alkyglycerols. Other researches performed by scientists, have shown that shark liver oil stimulates the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells to the normal level and encouraging growth of antibodies.

Alkylglycerols

Alkylglycerols assist  the stem cells in their production of blood, and help strengthen the healthful cells of the body. First clinical use was for treating leukemias, and later to avoid radiation sickness from cancer x-ray treatment. Researcher and physician Astrid Brohult was a Swedish oncologist working with leukemia patients in a children’s hospital. She believed  shark liver oil enhanced the number of white cells for people being treated by radiation, had an inhibitory property on the growth of tumor cells, and decreased radiation injuries. Although the results were inconsistent, some of her patients quickly experienced important developments, including a normalization of white blood cell counts and a striking return of energy. Dr. Astrid Brohult and other researchers continued to study AKGs (alkylglycerols) and quickly proved  that they inhibit cancer proliferation and avoid radiation sickness.  In a study demonstrated that those without alkylglycerols had a 52.1 % injury rate from radiation therapy and those with alkylglycerols had just a 26.3 % injury rate. A study of 100 cancer patients demonstrated that 75 %of them had an increased white blood count despite going through radiation therapy, 15 % had no change, and 10 % had a decrease. In the Proceedings of the American Meeting of Cancer Research in 1992 it was reported that leukemia avoids the immune system from properly forming white blood cells, however, with this oil they seem to “mature” to a proper form more readily. In a study that  working with tumor cultures taken from nine patients, we examined the sensitivity of tumor cells to the effect of alkylglycerols by themselves and in conjunction with chemotherapeutic agents. We found that in all of the patient cultures tested, alkylglycerols enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy. In 6 patients the cancer cell counts decreased dramatically, with over 90 %of the tumor eradicated; 3 people demonstrated increases in sensitivity to the chemotherapy.

The Alkylglycerols (AKGs) found in shark liver oil showed the activity to stimulate macrophages to more effectively destroy, consume, and breakdown germs and damaged cells while strengthening the walls of healthy cells. High doses of AKGs help macrophages participate in a cancer killing mechanism, which enable the macrophages to bind to antibodies on the surface of cancer cells, engulfing and destroying them. The researches to examine the effectiveness of alkylglycerols were done by Scandinavian scientists in the 1970s and 1980s. In a study reported in the “Journal of Cell Physiology“, scientists investigated the cell differentiation-promoting effect of a specific type of alkylglycerols on human colon cancer cells. Therapy with alkylglycerols resulted in a decrease of cellular proliferation and a reduced capacity for cellular invasion. New researches showed that the activation of protein kinase C, an essential step in cell proliferation, can be inhibited by alkylglycerols. Alkylglycerols, by stimulating immune system cells called macrophages, which consume invading germs and damaged cells; and by inhibiting protein kinase C, which is a key regulator of cell growth.

Alkylglycerols directly strengthen the immune system by stimulating production of white blood cells called neutrophils and by activating macrophages. The scientific researches supports the use of 100-150 mg of AKGs daily for general immune system enhancement. A 2005 study conducted in Poland found that shark liver oil during standart therapy can help stimulate the immune system to fight infections better.

Alkoxyglycerols are found in important levels in human breast milk and in the blood-forming organs such as the bone marrow, liver, and spleen. Are a group of 3 natural substances which are involved in the production and stimulation of white blood cells in bone marrow. Mother’s milk contains 33.8% of alkylglycerols, the same type found in shark liver oil, but the percentage of alkylglycerols in shark liver oil is 59.4%. These compounds are especially rich in the colostrum produced  for a few days after birth. In animal-based studies,  dietary alkoxyglycerols have been shown to be transferred from the blood and secreted intact into both colostrum and milk, which in turn, leads to measurable support of immune system components such as the macrophages.

Squalene

Squalene is a derivative of shark liver. Shark liver oil includes 40 % or more of squalene.  (Olive oil includes squalene in concentration of 0.4 – 0.7 %). Lab experiments on animals and human cancer cells confirms squalene’s cancer-fighting activities. Deep-sea sharks have immunity to certain forms of cancer. Sharks have showed the capability to heal their wounds rapidly. In researches performed at the “Smithsonian Institution” in recent years just one malignant tumor was found in over 25,000 sharks. In these sharks squalene disrupts the growth of specific proteins responsible for cell replication in cancer cells. A research reported in the journal “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention” in Dec 1997 found that squalene may be responsible for disrupting the DNA synthesis sequence that causes cancer cells to grow. In a animal-based study found that a 1% squalene diet lessen a certain type of colon cancer foci by 46%.

Squalene is used in flu vaccines in european countries to help enhance the immune system. The World Health Organization reports that squalene has been used in vaccines since 1997, due to its activity to enhance the body’s natural auto-immune response. Squalene is combined with a surfactant to make an emulsion used as an adjuvant in vaccines. Since 1997, an influenza vaccine (FLUAD, Chiron) which includes approximately  10 mg of squalene per dose, has been approved in health agencies in several European countries. (Squalene by itself is not an adjuvant, however,emulsions of squalene with surfactants do enhance the immune response)

Squalamine

Squalamine is predominantly found in the liver tissue of the deep water shark. When it was discovered in 1993, the compound was reported to exhibit broad-spectrum antibiotic activity. Squalamine shows antiangiogenic activity. Angiogenesis is a function in the body where unwholesome cells develop, their own blood vessel structure in order to nourish and support themselves. Increases the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy medications by promoting tumor cell apoptosis and by decreased angiogenesis. In addition, squalamine showed bactericidal and fungicidal activity and increases the bactericidal effects when used in combination with antibiotic drugs. Laboratory experiments revealed squalamine is also a good antiviral candidate, killing a broad spectrum of human and animal viruses. Researches shows squalamine disrupts the membrane interactions necessary for viral replication. In tissue cultures, squalamine was shown to inhibit the infection of blood vessel cells by the dengue virus, and human liver cells by hepatitis B and D.

Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) or Bitter Gourd is a perennial plant that grows in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, South America, East Africa, and the Caribbean. Chemical compounds of bitter gourd include  its seeds, fruits and to a lesser extent leaves and roots. Alpha and beta-momorcharin are proteins that may be isolated in seeds, fruit and the leaves. Insulin-like polypeptides named p-insulin and alkaloid momordicine could be isolated  from the fruits and seeds. Bitter melon includes a protein, MAP30, that was patented by American researchers in 1996.

Bitter Melon Current Research Findings and Benefits

Natural remedy bitter melon is used for various stomach and intestinal disorders including ulcers, colitis, diabetes, liver disease, psoriasis and as additional therapy for patients with AIDS. Laboratory experiments, a protein in bitter gourd named MAP-30 kills viruses and slows the growth of some cancer cells. According to some research, show that bitter melon extract improves glucose tolerance, decreases blood sugar levels, and reduces HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes. Compounds in bitter melon have been found to activate the AMPK, the protein that regulates glucose uptake. A protein found in bitter melon, momordin, has showed anticancer effect against Hodgkin’s lymphoma in animals. In lab experiments bitter gourd extracts inhibit the capability of HIV to insert its DNA into the chromosomes of human cells.

Diabetes

Researches showed that bitter melon may play a role in controlling the production of insulin, therefore promoting blood sugar control. At least 3 different constituents in have been reported to have hypoglycemic. Charantin, vicine, and polypeptide-P are the three known compounds present in bitter melon that are responsible for its antidiabetic activities. Bitter melon main components interact with the enzyme AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), this enzyme regulates fuel metabolism and facilitates glucose uptake. This protein, known as AMPK, is normally activated in the body through exercise. Although there are drugs that can  activate this protein, this plant provides the same result with no adverse effects. Researches bitter melon has shown that enhances the production of  beta cells by the pancreas, improving the body’s ability to produce insulin. The hypoglycemic components found in plant include a combination of steroidal saponins known as charantins, insulin-like peptides, and alkaloids. In the “Journal of Medicinal Food“, scientists analyzed the effect of  Momordica charantia extracts in diabetic and healthy rats. As a result, bitter melon strongly reduced glucose levels in diabetic rats and showed favorable effects in the regulation of blood glucose in normal rats. In 2007, a study by the “Philippine Department of Health” determined a daily dose of 100 mg per kilogram of body weight is comparable to 2.5 mg/kg of the antidiabetes medication glibenclamide used twice per day. The findings of a 4-week studies, reported in the Jan 2011 issue of the “Journal of  Ethnopharmacology,” significantly decreased blood sugar levels among participants with Type 2 diabetes who took 2000 mg daily.

HIV

In vitro antiviral effect has been showed with bitter melon and its inhibitory effects on HIV integrating into host cells. In vitro research has demonstrated decreased, rates of  T lymphocyte infections with HIV-1 and decreased viral replication in infected cells. Alpha and beta-momorcharin and cucurbitacin B, have been analyzed for anticancer activities. A chemical analog of these proteins has been improved, patented ‘MAP-30’. In one experiment, HIV-infected cells treated with alpha- and beta-momorcharin demonstrated a almost complete loss of viral antigen while normal cells were unaffected.  According to study published in June 2001 edition in the Planta Medica; protein extracted from the ripe seed and fruit  decreased viral protein in HIV-infected cells by 82% and inhibited one process involved in viral replication by 50%.  Scientists at the “New York University School of Medicine” explained that MAP 30 protein is able to slow down HIV-1 infection in T-lymphocytes and monocytes as well as replication of  HIV-1 in infected cells.

Herpes Simplex Virus

Herpes is a common viral infection caused by Herpes Simplex virus. Bitter melon extract has been shown to possess strong antiviral activities stimulate the immune system and activate the body’s natural killer cells to help fight off viruses such as herpes simplex virus 1. In a 1982 study of the effects of bitter melon on the herpes simplex virus-1, MAP30 inhibited the reproduction of the virus, as well as reducing its capability to form plaques. According to certified nutritional consultant Phyllis Balch, Momordica charantia extracts are  more effective than the drug acyclovir at killing strains of herpes virus that are not resistant to acyclovir.

Anticancer

According to research published in the journal” Cancer Research“; bitter melon extract, can be utilized as a dietary supplement for the avoiding of breast cancer. In  study, used human breast cancer cells, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, and primary human mammary epithelial cells as an in vitro model to assess the efficacy of bitter melon extract as an anticancer agent. Bitter melon extract treatment of  breast cancer cells resulted in a significant decrease in cell proliferation and induced apoptotic cell death. When cell death was measured by looking at cell membrane integrity, 80% of the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells had died within 48 hours of therapy with 2 parts bitter melon extract to 100 parts cell culture medium. The scientists found that cell division was partially halted when treated with bitter melon extract for 24 hours. “Our findings suggest that bitter melon extract modulates several signal transduction pathways, which induces breast cancer cell death,” explained scientist Ratna B. Ray, professor in the Department of Pathology at Saint Louis University. Also, there has been one reported case report of a people with gallbladder cancer who drink bitter melon tea daily and lived eight years beyond her life span expectancy. In the case report it was said that she discontinued the tea for several months, during which time the cancer reiterated and was the cause of her death.

Dosage

Typical recommended dose 50 to 100 ml of bitter melon  juice, divided into 2 or 3 doses over the course of the day.

Side Effects

This plant is considered relatively safe for duration of 4 weeks. May have additive effects when taken with other glucose-lowering drugs. Contraindicated during pregnancy. The covering on bitter melon seeds are toxic in children, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and death. More ingestion of the seeds had been linked with headache, fever, and coma. Toxicity caused by overdose has been identified in some animal models, and 2 case have documented near-fatal reactions due to hypoglycemic coma in children. Also, experts said that bitter melon seeds should not be taken by individuals of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern descent with known glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. People who have a deficiency of  glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase can create a problem called favism. This problem causes stomach pain, headaches, fever and coma in the most serious case.

Omega-3’s are long-chain polyunsaturated essential fatty acids that are vital to human health. Its primary components are DHA and EPA. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is believed to play a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, while DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is the necessary for proper brain and nerve development. DHA is a important fat, making up about 30% of the structural fats in the gray matter of the brain and 97% of the omega-3’s in the brain. The omega-3 fatty acids content of the newborn’s brain is multiplied by 3 to 5 times during the last 3 months of gestation and then increases again by the same level during the first 3 months of life.

DHA Benefits

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is one of the most common fatty acids in the brain. It is a important structural fat in the brain and retina accounting for up to 97 percent of the omega-3 fatty acids in the brain and up to 93 percent of the omega-3 fatty acids in the retina. DHA is also, an vital structural component of heart tissue and naturally found in breastmilk. DHA has a favorable effect on diseases such as arthritis, some cancers, hypertension, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, and depression. DHA deficiencies are associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, unipolar depression, adrenoleukodystrophy, phenylketonuria, and cystic fibrosis. Reduction in omega-3 fatty acid DHA in the brain are associated with cognitive decline during aging and with onset of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. DHA builds cell membranes in the brain and protects against macular degeneration and colon cancer and relieves inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune conditions such as lupus.and rheumatoid arthritis. Whereas EPA is the inhibitor of the enzyme delta-5-desaturase (D5D) that produces arachidonic acid (AA), DHA is an inhibitor of other key enzyme delta-6-desaturase (D6D) that produces the first metabolite from linoleic acid known as gamma linolenic acid.

Pregnancy

It’s essential that pregnant women take in enough Omega-3 and that children in early infancy take in  Omega-3. In the last  three months of pregnancy, the need for omega 3 fatty acids is increased significantly, as this is the stage for brain development in the baby and DHA fatty acids are required. Omega-3 are even more vital during the third trimester, an important time period for fetal brain development. omega-3 fatty acids are also used after birth to make breast milk. A Danish study showed that women with  omega-3 fatty acids intake during pregnancy give birth to babies with normal birth weights and are less prone to giving birth prematurely. DHA is necessary for brain and eye development throughout the life stages. However is especially important during the first 2 years of life and early childhood. Between birth and 5 years of age, the  rain increases almost 3.5 times in mass. During this time it is important hat children consume enough levels of DHA in their diet to support this period of rapid brain and eye growth and development.

Eye Health

The brain, retina and other neural tissues are especially rich in LC-PUFA (long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids). Omega-3 fatty acid DHA comprises approximately 60% of the rod outer segments of the eyes. The retina develops rapidly during the  recent months of pregnancy and the first 6 months of infancy. According to an analysis of several studies performed by scientists at “Harvard School of Public Health” and reported in the journal “Pediatrics“, the researchers found that healthy pre-term infants who were fed DHA-supplementation formula demonstrated significantly better visual acuity at 2 and 4 months of age, compared with similar pre-term infants who were fed formula that did not include the omega-3 supplementation.

New findings showed  that higher intake of omega-3 fatty acid DHA  is associated with lower risk for progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration. A 2009 National Eye Institute study that used data obtained from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study found individuals who reported the highest level of omega-3 fatty acids in their diet were 30 % lower probably than their peers to develop macular degeneration during a 12-year period. Findings of several studies, including one reported in the Feb 2001 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicate that eating high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids may help promote macular health. Researches also show that omega-3 fatty acids can help lessen dry eye syndrome, a chronic eye disease caused by a reduce in tear production or increase in tear evaporation.

Brain

Researchers, (the University of  Kuopia, and at Harvard Medical School) examined at the incidence of silent brain damage in approximately 3,500 people age 65 or older. Eating tuna or other non-fried fish was associated with a 25 percent less risk of these abnormalities, which are linked to higher rates of stroke and cognitive decline.

Omega-3 fatty acid DHA is also necessary for maintenance of normal brain function in adults. It is a component of several prominent phospholipids in the brain, with the highest levels of DHA being found in phosphatidyl-serine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Docosahexaenoic acid is taken up by the brain in preference to other fatty acids. DHA which reduces oxidative stress and enhances synaptic plasticity and learning and memory is the most abundant omega-3 in cell membranes in the brain. Omega 3 fatty acids concentrations influence the production of neurotrophic factors, which regulate the growth of new brain cells.

Experts believe the omega-3 DHA is preventive against Alzheimer’s and dementia. Individuals with Alzheimer’s have important lower levels of omega-3 fatty acid DHA in the neurons of their hippocampus, an area of the brain severely affected in the disease. This region is critical to creating recent memories. In a study  reported in 1991 in Lipids, a group of Swedish researchers found that levels of omega-3 fatty acid DHA were lower in brain samples of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease compared to healthy geriatric patients. In the Farmingham Heart Study, people with the maximum levels of  DHA experienced a 47 % decrease in risk of dementia and a 39% decrease in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists have pinpointed the mechanism behind omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D3 ability to increase the immune system’s capability to clear the brain of amyloid plaques that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In a  preliminary study reported in the February edition of the “Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease”, the researchers identified key genes and signaling networks regulated by vitamin D3 and the DHA that may help control inflammation and improve plaque clearance. “Our new study sheds further light on a possible role for nutritional substances such as vitamin D3 and omega-3 in boosting immunity to help fight Alzheimer’s,” explained Dr. Milan Fiala, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.  Vitamin D, omega-3 may help clear amyloid.

Anti-inflammatory

Omega-3 fatty acid DHA seems to reduce inflammation in the body by suppressing a certain enzyme (COX-2) and inflammatory chemicals such as IL-1 (interleukin-1) and TNF (tumor necrosis factor). New researches  show that DHA has a significant inhibitory activity on the expression of cytokines in endothelial cells, which suppress the inflammatory process and may inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis. In a experiment that used human blood samples, DHA+EPA intake changed the expression of 1040 genes and resulted in a reduced expression of genes involved in inflammatory and atherogenesis-related pathways, such as nuclear transcription factorkB signaling, eicosanoid synthesis, scavenger receptor activity, adipogenesis, and hypoxia signaling.

Increased blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with lower levels of compounds linked to inflammation and heart illness. A study by Professor Manohar Garg from the “University of Newcastle” found that increased blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA  and EPA were associated with decreased levels of C-reactive protein. A recent study examined the association between omega-3 fatty acids and risk factors for different chronic diseases. The findings demonstrated  that increased levels of DHA and EPA were associated with reduced levels of several disease biomarkers. The researchers showed that increased RBC levels of DHA and EPA correlated with reduced levels of triglycerides and  C-reactive protein (CRP).

Depression

Serotonin and dopamine, which are receptors and neurotransmitters in the brain, are composed of omega-3 fatty acid DHA. The human brain is composed of over 60 percent fat and its primary fat is DHA. A healthy brain contains more than 20 g of omega-3 fatty acid DHA; and  is an vital component of neuronal membranes. The main function of brain cells is to transmit neurotransmitters. When brain cells fail to transmit these chemicals (such as serotonin) effectively, the sequel can be of psychiatric disease, including depression. Omega-3 fatty acids may improve brain function by making brain cell membranes more fluid.

More intake of omega-3 fatty acid DHA and EPA is linked with increased gray matter volume in brain regions controlling depression and mood. Dr. Sarah M. Conklin explained a study showing that the amount of omega-3 fatty acid consumed in the diet may cause positive anatomical changes in areas of the brain that regulate emotion. Fifty-five healthy adults had MRI scans to determine the volume of gray matter in specific brain regions. The more the intake of omega-3 fatty acids, the larger was the volume of gray matter in the anterior cingulate cortex, a brain area controlling emotion and mood and implicated in depression. “We were able to show that individuals who consumed more omega-3 fatty acids in their diets had more gray matter volume in areas of the brain important for regulating mood,” Dr. Conklin says. Dr. Andrew Stoll, has done some of studies using omega-3 fatty acids in depression and bi-polar disorder. Dr. Stoll showed that  omega-3 fatty acids may inhibit neuronal signal transduction pathways in a manner similar to that of lithium.

In a 2006 study reported in the January edition of “Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica”, 16 new mothers with postpartum depression took 0.5 to 2.8 g of EPA/DHA daily for 8 weeks. Depression scores decreased approximately 50% in all groups. When 20 menopausal women with major depression took 2 grams of  DHA and EPA daily for 8 weeks, 70% found their mood developed, and 45% found their depression went into remission. Mean scores on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale dropped from 24.2 to 10.7. In a study conducted in 2011,  medical students who took a daily omega-3 supplement containing 348 milligrams DHA and 2,085 milligrams of EPA for 12 weeks had a 20 percent decrease in anxiety compared with students who took a placebo. A multi-center study in the USA showed that supplement with 900 milligrams of  DHA/day was associated with developed earning and memory function in adults whose cognitive performance had declined.

Heart

Data from the MRFIT study have indicated that increasing intakes of EPA+DHA up to 700 mg/day are associated with overall reductions in all-cause as well as coronary disease-related mortality. Omega-3 fatty acids inhibit the production of thromboxane A2 and inflammatory cytokines. Both of these changes tend to reduce the tendency of blood to clot, which should the risk of a fatal heart attack. According to researches involving patients suffering from cardiovascular such as myocardial infarction and rhythm disorders, omega-3 fatty acids were responsible for decreasing  mortality by 20% to 56%.  Omega-3 fatty acid DHA has been shown to lower triglyceride. This can decrease the risk of heart disease. New findings show that taking 3 grams daily of pure omega-3 fatty acid DHA produce a 30-40% more decrease in triglyceride levels in plasma than a corresponding amount of EPA.

Anticancer

EPA and DHA induced programmed cell death in colon cancer cells and prostate cancer cells, and omega-3 fatty acid DHA supplementation decreased tumor size in a mouse model of cancer. A study in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention suggests a decreased risk in breast and colorectal cancer with increased DHA and EPA intake. Preliminary studies suggest that taking omega-3 daily may help slow the progression of colon cancer in people with early stages of the disease. Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found that eating omega-3 fatty acids regularly can result in prevention of colon polyp formation.

DHA Food Sources List

DHA is present in salmon, tuna, mackerel, trout, halibut, sardines, and herring. Algae usually provides just DHA.

Dosage

The American Heart Association recommends consuming 1–3 g per day of DHA and EPA. Several studies documenting the positive effects of omega-3s have been conducted with supplemental daily dosages between 2 to 5 gr of DHA and EPA, more than could get in 2 servings of fish a week. The European Perilip Group of clinicians and experts in omega-3 research, currently recommend  minimum 200 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acid DHA per day during pregnancy and lactation. 300mg/day of omega-3 fatty acid DHA for pregnant and lactating women was the recommendation by a workshop sponsored by the National Institutes of  Health and International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids. A dose of 2-4 g of DHA+EPA per day  may lower very high triglycerides by 20 % to 50 %. 800 mg DHA and 1,600 mg EPA/day in adults provides an development in sustained attention, reduces errors in attention tests and provides developments in reaction times measured by electromyography. A new study of healthy older adults with mild memory problems found that supplement with 900 milligrams  of  DHA daily developed their memory. (Oily fish can include high levels of toxic pesticides, dioxins, PCB’s, or heavy metals such as mercury and lead. Therefore, choose just brands of fish oil that are molecularly distilled or otherwise guaranteed to be free of toxic contaminants).