MP3 - 24 sec. - 168k

Curcuminoid Extract from Turmeric

The root of the turmeric plant, Curcuma longae rhizoma, has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, and cheeses. It has a yellow color, related to the ginger, and has been used for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a myriad of conditions. The active constituent, curcumin, has been found to function as an antioxidant ^{I II III}, an anticarcinogenic (anticancer)^{IV VVI}, a cholesterol-lowering agent ^{VII VIII}, and an anti-inflammatory agent ^{IX X XI}.

Green Tea Extract

Both green and black teas are derived from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The green tea leaves are lightly steamed to inactivate certain naturally occurring enzymes that cause oxidation of the plant material and the degradation of certain health-providing qualities. Black tea leaves are allowed to oxidize, which converts many of the plants polyphenols to less active forms. Green tea is very high in physiologically active plant phenols which function as anti-oxidant and anti-cancer agents. The aqueous (water extracted) polyphenols that seem to have the most physiological activity in humans are a sub-group of fifteen-carbon aromatic ringed structures called flavonoids. These flavonoids e.g. catechins, epicatechins, and proanthocyanidins, have powerful antioxidant activity^XII, the ability to increase the antioxidant activity of other antioxidants ^XIII, and significant cancer-protective qualities^{XIV XV XVI XVII}.

Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. However, today Jamaica is the major producer and annually ships over two million pounds. The physiologically active principles are considered to be the volatile oils and the strong smelling aromatic ketones collectively known as gingerols. Orally it has been used to treat motion sickness^XVIII XIX, nausea and vomiting due to pregnancy^XXI, and inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and even migraine headaches^XXIV . Ginger has also been found to have wonderful cholesterol-lowering qualities in the blood and the liver^XXV, as well as being able to keep blood platelets (clot formation) from aggregating and sticking together ^XXVI.

Pharmacologically ginger possesses many of its therapeutic benefits from its anti-inflammatory qualities. These qualities are due to its ability to inhibit hormone-like substances produced within damaged tissues, known as eicosonoids, which are responsible for the production of pain and inflammation^{xxvii xxviii}. These eicosonoids, produced from arachidonic acid (a 20-carbon chain fatty acid), are known as prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes. Aspirin, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), function as inhibitors of the cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzyme, which is responsible for converting arachidonic acid into these same inflammation and pain-producing chemicals.

Holy Basil

Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) should not be confused with the ordinary basil (Ocimum basilicum) that we use in our cooking. In India, it is known as Tulsi, and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years. It is traditionally planted throughout their temples and used in their worship, as well.

Chemical analysis of holy basil has shown that it contains very high levels of eugenol and eugenol derivatives, linolenic acid, and flavonoids as orientin, vicenin, cirsilineol, cirsimaritin, isothymusin, isothymonin, apigenein, and rosmarinic acid. This probably doesn’t mean much until you start to understand how these plant chemicals function in the human body as antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and anti-cancer nutrients. For instance, in one study, eugenol from holy basil demonstrated anti-inflammatory qualities similar to ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin, as well as good antioxidant activities^xxix. Other studies have shown anti-inflammatory potential obtained from the fixed oils, particularly the linolenic acid . Holy basil has also long been known to have anti-cancer qualities .

Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) has been used historically to treat inflammation of the lower urinary tract, rheumatic ailments, and allergic rhinitis^xxxiii. The primary components, histamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and formic acid cause anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral effects^xxxiv. And stinging nettle has shown to have quite remarkable qualities for relieving joint pain^{xxxv xxxvi} .

Why I Chose This Particular Blend

You’ve had a chance to look at a brief over-view of the five plants and plant extracts that I’ve chosen to put into the JOINT HEALTH formula. However, the primary reason, or rationale, for this particular formula of herbs is their potent antioxidant capabilities and their wonderful ability to naturally inhibit the COX-2 enzyme.

These two top-selling drugs for Merck and Monsanto (Searle division) claim that they can address the symptoms related to both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis without causing adverse side effects to the gastrointestinal tract. This is accomplished by the inhibition of the cyclo-oxygenase-2 enzyme without inhibiting the cyclo-oxygenase-1 enzyme. Now what does this mean and why is it so important? First we need to look, just briefly, at what causes the pain and inflammation related to the various forms of arthritis.

The pain and inflammation related to arthritis results from chemicals that are produced and released within damaged tissues. Whether we’re playing racquetball or jogging a little too frequently and abusing our joints or we’ve just suffered from a whiplash (hyperextension — hyperflexion) injury, the end result chemically is the production of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes. These pain and inflammatory mediators are fatty acids and are produced from another fatty acid known as arachidonic acid. For those of you who are familiar with the essential fatty acids, after several enzymatic reactions, linoleic acid (ω-6 fatty acid) is converted to arachidonic acid. The cyclo-oxygenase-2 enzyme is responsible for converting arachidonic acid into this particular group of inflammatory, pain-producing fatty acids, also known as eicosonoids. A similar enzyme, cyclo-oxygenase-1, is responsible for converting arachidonic acid into very favorable prostaglandins that help to protect the gastrointestinal tract.

Previous to Celebrex® and Vioxx®, the pharmaceutical industry produced anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibited both cyclo-oxygenase enzymes, and, of course, the favorable results were often coupled with gastric upset, gastric bleeding, and ulcers. In fact, even today, the use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) is responsible for 20,000 deaths and over 2 million major hospitalizations every year. So you can see why everyone is so excited about these two new drugs. What if I told you that the same thing could be done naturally, with herbs, and without all of the inevitable side effects? Wouldn’t that be pretty exciting? Well, we’ve done it! JOINT HEALTH is the first formula on the market today to provide a proprietary blend of natural herbal COX-2 inhibitors in a comprehensive joint formula.

It’s an odd thing that the body can do damage to itself. And what’s even more strange is the fact that most of the self-inflicted injury is done by the system of the body, which is supposed to keep us from harm, the immune system! In fact, there is a group of diseases, known as autoimmune diseases, which are caused by an over-reaction of our own misguided immune systems. Conditions like multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis are types of autoimmune diseases. In these conditions, the body’s defenses, for some reason, can no longer differentiate between what is us and what is not us. In other words, the immune system cannot see the difference between foreign invaders and our own tissues, and begins to attack normal, healthy tissue. Another way that the immune system can do harm is through release of proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzymes and free radicals.

Whenever an injury occurs, one of the first responses of the body is to protect itself from infection, which is accomplished by production, release, and migration of certain infection-fighting cells known as macrophages and neutrophils. These two cells belong to a larger group of immune cells called white blood cells. This response is definitely called for whenever the injury is open to our atmosphere and the possibility of infection can occur. But what if the injury is enclosed, like a sprain or strain type injury, and there is no chance of developing a bacterial infection. Unfortunately, the body’s immune response does not differentiate between the two different types of injury, and even in an enclosed injury sends these infection fighting cells to the site of injury. The results can be catastrophic. These cells are designed to release proteolytic enzymes and free radicals that help to kill foreign invaders. What happens with these enzymes and free radicals when there’s no foreign invaders to kill? Unfortunately they are still released, and instead of killing bacteria, they start to eat away at the proteins found within the damaged joint or surrounding tissues, and the release of free radicals destroy cell membranes and do further DNA damage, within the nucleus of the cells. The phytonutrients (plant chemicals) found in our herbal blend function as powerful antioxidants. And, as such, they have the ability to quench free radicals and limit the amount of damage done by an immune response.

^I Toda S, Miyase T, Arich H et al. Natural antioxidants, Antioxidative compounds isolated from rhizome of Curcuma long L. Chem Pharmacol Bull 1985; 33: 1725-1728.

^II Zhao B, Li X, He R et al. Scavenging effect of extracts of green tea and natural antioxidants on active oxygen radicals. Cell Biophysics 1989; 14: 175-185.

III Shalini VK, Srinivas L. Lipid peroxide induced DNA damage: protection by turmeric (Curcuma longa). Mol Cell Biochem 1987; 77: 3-10.

^IVNagabhushan M, Amonkar AJ, Bhide SV. In vitro antimutagenicity of curcumin against environmental mutagens. Fd Chem Toxic 1987; 25: 545-547.

^VNagabhushan M, Bhide SV. Nonmutagenicty of curcumin and its antimutagenic action versus chili and capsaicin. Nutr Cancer 1986; 8: 201-210.

^VI Kuttan R, Bhanumathy P, Nirmala K, George MC. Potential anticancer activity of turmeric (Curcuma longa). Cancer Lett 1985; 29: 197-202.

^VII Rao DS, Sekhara NC, Satyanarayana MN, Srinivasan M. Effect of curcumin on serum and liver cholesterol levels in the rat. J Nutri 1970; 100: 1307-1316.

^VIII Srinivasan K, Samaiah K. The effect of spices on cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity and on serum and hepatic cholesterol levels in the rat. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 1991; 61: 364-369.

^IX Srimal R, Dhawan B. Pharmacology of diferuloyl methane (curcumin), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. J Pharm Pharmac 1973; 25: 447-452,

^X Mukhopadhyay A, Basu N, Ghatak N, Gujral P. Anti-inflammatory and irritant activities of curcumin analogues in rats. Agents Actions 1982; 12: 508-515.

^XI Ghatak N, Basu N. Sodium curcuminate as an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Ind J Exp Biol 1972: 10: 235-236.

^XII Ho C, Chen Z, Shi H et al. Antioxidant effect of polyphenols extract prepared from various Chinese teas. Prev Med 1992; 21: 520-525.

^XIII Kahn, SB, Katiyar SK, Agarwal R, et al. Enhancement of antioxidant and phase II enzymes by oral feeding of green tea polyphenols in drinking water to SKH-1 hairless mice. Possible role in cancer chemoprevention. Cancer Res 1992; 52: 4050-4052.

^XIV Katiyar SK, Agarwal R, and Mukhtar H. Green tea in chemoprevention of cancer. Compr Ther 1992; 18: 3-8.

^XV Mukhtar H, Wang ZY, Katiyar SK, et al. Tea components. Antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects. Prevent Med 1992; 21: 351-360.

^XVI Komori A, Yatsumi J, Okabe S, et al. Anticarcinogenic activity of green tea polyphenols. Jpn J Clin Oncol 1993; 23: 186-190.

^XVII Yang CS, and Wang ZY. Tea and cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993; 85: 1038-1049.

^XVIII Mowrey D, Clayson D. Motion sickness, ginger, and psychophysics. Lancet 1982; I: 655-657.

^XIX Stewart JJ, Wood MJ, Wood CD, Mims ME. Effects of ginger on motion sickness susceptibility and gastric function. Pharmacology 1991; 42: 111-120.

^XX Grontved A, Brask T, Kamskard J, Hentzer E. Ginger root against seasickness Ð a controlled trial on the open sea. Acta Otolaryngol 1988; 105: 45-49.

^XXI Fisher-Rasmussen W, Kjaer SK, Dahl C, Asping, U. Ginger treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1990; 45: 669-671.

^XXII Srivastava KC, Mustafa T. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and rheumatic disorders. Med Hypothesis 1989; 29: 25-28.

^XXIII Srivastava KC, Mustafa T. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in rheumatism and musculoskeletal disorders. Med Hypothesis 1992; 39: 342-348.

^XXIV Mustafa T, Srivastava KC. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in migraine headaches. J Ethnopharmacol 1990; 29: 267-273.

^XXV Gujral S, Bhumra H, Swaroop M. Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) oleoresin on serum and hepatic cholesterol levels in cholesterol fed rats. Nutr Rep Intl 1978; 17: 183-189.

^XXVI Srivastave K. Effects of aqueous extracts of onion, garlic and ginger on the platelet aggregation and metabolism of arachidonic acid in the blood vascular system. In vitro study. Prost Leukotri Med 1984; 13: 227-235.

^XXVII Kiuchi F, Iwakami S, Shibuya et al. Inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotrienes biosynthesis by gingerols and diarylheptanoids. Chem Pharm Bull 1992; 40: 387-391.

^XXVIII Kiuchi F, Shibuyu M, Sankawa U. Inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis from ginger. Chem Pharm Bull 1982; 30: 754-757.

^XXIX Kelm MA, Nair MG, Strasburg GM, DeWitt DL. Antioxidant and cyclo-oxygenase inhibitory phenolic compounds fro Ocimum sanctum Linn.. Phytomedicine; 2000 Mar; 7 (1); 7-13.

^XXX Singh S. Comparative evaluation of anti-inflammatory potential of fixed oil of different species of Ocimum and its possible mechanism of action. Indian J Exp Biol 1998 Oct; 36 (10) : 1028-1031.

^XXXI Karthikeyan K, Ravichandran P, Govindasamy S. Chemopreventive effect of Ocimum sanctum on DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Oral Oncol 1999 Jan; 35 (1): 112-119.

^XXXII Uma DP, Ganasoundari A, Rao BS, Srinivasan KK. In vivo radioprotection by Ocimum flavonoids: survival of mice. Radiat Res 1999 Jan; 151 (1) : 74-78.

^XXXIII Thornhill SM, Kelly AM. Natural treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis. Altern Med Rev 2000 Oct: 5 (5): 448-454.

^XXXIV PDR¨ for Herbal Medicinesª, Second Edition; pp 729-730.

^XXXV Randall C, Meethan K, Randall H, Dobbs F. Nettle sting of Urtica dioica for joint pain Ð an exploratory study of this complementary therapy. Complemt Ther Med 1999 Sep; 7 (3) : 126-131.

^XXXVI Riehemann K, Behnke B, Schulze-Osthoff K. Plant extracts from stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), an antirheumatic remedy, inhibit the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-kappaB. BEBS Lett 1999 Jan 8; 442 (1): 89-94.