Vitamin D helps brain to work well at later age

Vitamin D may have a key role in helping the brain to keep working well in later life, suggests research published ahead of print in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. Read more

Ginseng is nature’s anti-inflammatory

CM NEWS – The famous immunological effects of ginseng have been confirmed and defined by a recent study. Ginseng is believed to have beneficial effects against human diseases, and its active components, ginsenosides, may play critical roles in its diverse physiological actions.

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Baby broccoli kills bacterial cause of ulcers, stomach cancer

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions – A small, pilot study in 50 people in Japan suggests that eating two and a half ounces of broccoli sprouts daily for two months may confer some protection against a rampant stomach bug that causes gastritis, ulcers and even stomach cancer. Read more

Green tea may strengthen teeth, gums

J of Periodontology – A study recently published in the Journal of Periodontology, the official publication of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), uncovered another benefit of green tea consumption. Researchers found that routine intake of green tea may also help promote healthy teeth and gums. Read more

Garlic lowers blood glucose levels of diabetics, helps hypertension

CM NEWS – Garlic may restore some of the antioxidants damaged by free radicals in patents with vascular diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, according to a new study.

The study is recently published by the Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Rats induced to have diabetes and hypertension were given an an aqueous extract of garlic (500 mg/kg IP daily) for 3 weeks.

As a result, the blood antioxidant levels of these rats after 3 weeks of treatment were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the pretreatment levels in both diabetic and hypertensive rats. The increased serum antioxidant levels were paralleled by a decrease in serum glucose in the garlic-treated diabetic rats and lowered systolic blood pressure in the garlic-treated hypertensive rats.

What is the importance of antioxidants? Oxidative stress, an excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) above the body’s antioxidant capacity, has been implicated in the development of many pathophysiological conditions including hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis and cancer, as well as the process of aging.

ROS are normal products of cellular metabolism which are usually removed by endogenous antioxidants. However, it has become increasingly clear that overproduction of ROS can lead to a damaging cycle of lipid peroxidation, depletion of natural antioxidants such as glutathione, perturbation of nitric oxide production and disruption of normal cellular metabolism. These changes have been shown to cause damage to cell membranes and in particular can cause endothelial dysfunction.

During the last decade, it has become increasingly evident that many chronic diseases are accompanied by increased levels of oxidative stress exacerbated by decreased antioxidant levels. These observations have precipitated much interest in study of the correlations between oxidative stress, antioxidant potential and development of chronic diseases in both humans and animal models. Of particular interest are the correlations between oxidative stress and development of diabetes and hypertension.

The researchers conclude that treatment of diabetic rats with garlic resulted in significantly increased antioxidant and lowered glucose levels compared to untreated diabetic animals.

[eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nep011]

Grape-seed extract kills leukemia cells

American Assn for Cancer Research release – An extract from grape seeds forces laboratory leukemia cells to commit cell suicide, according to researchers from the University of Kentucky. They found that within 24 hours, 76% of leukemia cells had died after being exposed to the extract. Read more

Lingzhi body, not just spores, also ups immunity

CM NEWS – Numerous lingzhi (靈芝, Ganoderma lucidum) products on the market advertise their immunostimulatory efficacy by how “cracked” the lingzhi spores are. But are cracked spores really that superior over the rest of the mushroom? Read more

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