In botanical extracts, highly abundant constituents can mask or dilute the effects of other, and often, more relevant biologically active compounds. To facilitate the rational chemical and biological assessment of these natural products with wide usage in human health, we introduced the DESIGNER approach of Depleting and Enriching Selective Ingredients to Generate Normalized Extract Resources. The present study applied this concept to clinical Red Clover Extract (RCE) and combined phytochemical and biological methodology to help rationalize the utility of RCE supplements for symptom management in postmenopausal women.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBreast cancer risk continues to increase post menopause. Anti-estrogen therapies are available to prevent postmenopausal breast cancer in high-risk women. However, their adverse effects have reduced acceptability and overall success in cancer prevention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA new isoflavonoid, xanthocerin J, along with previously described xanthocerin A, were isolated from a methanol extract of aerial parts of a traditional American Indian herb, Pursh (Asteraceae). The structures of these compounds were characterized using mass spectrometry and NMR based on an isolation protocol using magnetic microbead affinity selection screening (MagMASS) for ligands to the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). These compounds bound to ERα from an active fraction that exhibited dose-dependent antiestrogenic activity in the Ishikawa assay.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOptimal parameters for the auto-hydrolysis of (iso)flavone glycosides to aglycones in ground Trifolium pratense L. plant material were established as a "green" method for the production of a reproducible red clover extract (RCE). The process utilized 72-h fermentation in DI water at 25 and 37 °C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBotanical dietary supplements (BDS) containing hops are sold as women's health supplements due to the potent hop phytoestrogen, 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), and the cytoprotective chalcone, xanthohumol. Previous studies have shown a standardized hop extract to beneficially influence chemical estrogen carcinogenesis by fostering detoxified 2-hydroxylation over genotoxic 4-hydroxylation estrogen metabolism. In this study, hop extract and its bioactive compounds were investigated for its mechanism of action within the chemical estrogen carcinogenesis pathway, which is mainly mediated through the 4-hydroxylation pathway catalyzed by that can form gentoxic quinones.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMany botanicals used for women's health contain estrogenic (iso)flavonoids. The literature suggests that estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) activity can counterbalance estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-mediated proliferation, thus providing a better safety profile. A structure-activity relationship study of (iso)flavonoids was conducted to identify ERβ-preferential structures, overall estrogenic activity, and ER subtype estrogenic activity of botanicals containing these (iso)flavonoids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBotanical dietary supplements for women's health are increasingly popular. Older women tend to take botanical supplements such as hops as natural alternatives to traditional hormone therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms. Especially extracts from spent hops, the plant material remaining after beer brewing, are enriched in bioactive prenylated flavonoids that correlate with the health benefits of the plant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWomen are increasingly using botanical dietary supplements (BDS) to reduce menopausal hot flashes. Although licorice ( sp.) is one of the frequently used ingredients in BDS, the exact plant species is often not identified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe formation of o-quinones from direct 2-electron oxidation of catechols and/or two successive one electron oxidations could explain the cytotoxic/genotoxic and/or chemopreventive effects of several phenolic botanical extracts. For example, poison ivy contains urushiol, an oily mixture, which is oxidized to various o-quinones likely resulting in skin toxicity through oxidative stress and alkylation mechanisms resulting in immune responses. Green tea contains catechins which are directly oxidized to o-quinones by various oxidative enzymes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPostmenopausal women are increasingly using botanicals for menopausal symptom relief due to the increased breast cancer risk associated with traditional estrogen therapy. The deleterious effects of estrogens are associated with estrogen receptor (ER)α-dependent proliferation, while ERβ activation could enhance safety by opposing ERα effects. Three medicinal licorice species, Glycyrrhiza glabra ( G.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMany women consider botanical dietary supplements (BDSs) as safe alternatives to hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms. However, the effect of BDSs on breast cancer risk is largely unknown. In the estrogen chemical carcinogenesis pathway, P450 1B1 metabolizes estrogens to 4-hydroxylated catechols, which are oxidized to genotoxic quinones that initiate and promote breast cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSupplements with estrogenic activities are intensively investigated as potential alternatives for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. These investigations include studies on their safety regarding potential breast cancer risks. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess whether or not a standardized hops (Humulus lupulus) extract, containing 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hops (Humulus lupulus (L.)) dietary supplements are of interest as herbal remedies to alleviate menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, depression and anxiety. So far, the evidence regarding estrogenic and related properties of hops preparations has been considered insufficient for a market authorization for menopausal indications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBotanical dietary supplements contain multiple bioactive compounds that target numerous biological pathways. The lack of uniform standardization requirements is one reason that inconsistent clinical effects are reported frequently. The multifaceted biological interactions of active principles can be disentangled by a coupled pharmacological/phytochemical approach using specialized ("knock-out") extracts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Impairment of central auditory processing is a well-known symptom of neurodegenerative dementia; however, whilst numerous studies have examined verbal processing impairment, to date few have attempted to describe impairments of non-verbal, environmental sound recognition in patients with dementia. As these impairments may have direct implications on patient support and care, such studies are urgently necessary.
Aim Of The Study: The aim of the study was to determine whether the recognition of meaningful environmental sounds is impaired in patients with mild or early stage neurodegenerative dementia.
Botanical dietary supplements are increasingly popular for women's health, particularly for older women. The specific botanicals women take vary as a function of age. Younger women will use botanicals for urinary tract infections, especially Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry), where there is evidence for efficacy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz
July 2016
The avoidance of wheat, gluten and other cereal products is a growing phenomenon in industrialized countries. The diagnostic criteria of celiac disease and of food allergy to wheat flour and/or other cereals are clearly defined. Only about 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHumulus lupulus L. (hops) is a popular botanical dietary supplement used by women as a sleep aid and for postmenopausal symptom relief. In addition to its efficacy for menopausal symptoms, hops can also modulate the chemical estrogen carcinogenesis pathway and potentially protect women from breast cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe concept of botanical integrity (BI), introduced previously in issue 106, involves the determination of identity, homogeneity, bioactivity, and safety of plant-derived materials designated for human consumption. It goes beyond previously established quality control principles. The inaugural article in this series described the three major domains of expertise that are required to assess BI (as noted in Figure 1): botanical examination (botany), phytochemical analysis (chemistry), and biological efficacy and safety assessments (bioactivity, which encompasses the fields of pharmacology and toxicology).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: For the alleviation of menopausal symptoms, women frequently turn to botanical dietary supplements, such as licorice and hops. In addition to estrogenic properties, these botanicals could also have chemopreventive effects. We have previously shown that hops and its Michael acceptor xanthohumol (XH) induced the chemoprevention enzyme,
Nad(p)h: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), in vitro and in vivo.
Estrogen chemical carcinogenesis involves 4-hydroxylation of estrone/estradiol (E1/E2) by P450 1B1, generating catechol and quinone genotoxic metabolites that cause DNA mutations and initiate/promote breast cancer. Inflammation enhances this effect by upregulating P450 1B1. The present study tested the three authenticated medicinal species of licorice [Glycyrrhiza glabra (GG), G.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRaw materials, ingredients, and products derived from plants are commonly referred to as herbs or botanicals in both the biomedical literature and the natural products health industry. This overarching term includes the breadth of crude herbs, plant parts, and the ingredients made from them, and also covers finished products such as botanical dietary supplements. Botanical dietary supplements are intended to supplement the human diet and are composed primarily of powdered plant parts, their extracts, or other preparations derived from crude herbal material; some formulations include other ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScope: Women seeking alternatives to hormone-replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms often try botanical dietary supplements containing extracts of hops (Humulus lupulus L.). Hops contain 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), a potent phytoestrogen, the related flavanones 6-prenylnaringenin and isoxanthohumol (IX), and the prenylated chalcone xanthohumol (XN).
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