AMAZON HERB COMPANY

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H Sabelli, P Fink, J Fawcett and C Tom


Phenylethylamine (PEA), an endogenous neuroamine, increases attention and activity in animals and has been shown to relieve depression in 60% of depressed patients. It has been proposed that PEA deficit may be the cause of a common form of depressive illness. Fourteen patients with major depressive episodes that responded to PEA treatment (10-60 mg orally per day, with 10 mg/day selegiline to prevent rapid PEA destruction) were reexamined 20 to 50 weeks later. The antidepressant response had been maintained in 12 patients. Effective dosage did not change with time. There were no apparent side effects. PEA produces sustained relief of depression in a significant number of patients, including some unresponsive to the standard treatments. PEA improves mood as rapidly as amphetamine but does not produce tolerance.

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A novel approach to nutritional mobilization of the immune system

Gitte S. Jensen,¹ Donald ¹. Ginsberg,¹ Patricia Huerta,¹
Monica Citton,¹ and Christian Drapeau ^2,3


Objective: To examine the short-term effects of consumption of a moderate amount (1.5 grams) of the blue green algae Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA), on the immune system.

Methods: Using a crossover placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded design, 21 volunteers were studied, including 5 long-term AFA consumers.

Results: Consumption of a moderate amount (1.5 grams) of the blue-green algae Aphanizomenon flos-aquae results in rapid changes in immune cell trafficking. Two hours after AFA consumption, a generalized mobilization of lymphocytes and monocytes, but not polymorph nucleated cells was observed. This included increases in CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell subsets and CD19+ B cells. In addition, the relative proportions and absolute numbers of natural killer (NK) cells were reduced after AFA consumption. No changes were observed in the relative proportions of n6ve versus memory T cells, neither in the CD4 or the CD8 fractions. A mild, but significant reduction in phagocytic activity was observed for polymorph nucleated cells. When freshly purified lymphocytes were exposed to AFA extract in vitro, direct activation was not induced, as evaluated by tyrosine phosphorylation and proliferative activity.

Discussion: The changes in immune cell trafficking displayed high degree of cell specificity. Long-term consumers responded stronger, with respect to altered immune cell trafficking. In vitro, AFA did not induce a direct activation of lymphocytes. These data support a signaling pathway from gut-to-CNS-to-lymphoid tissue. The signals from CNS may be crucial for the rapid changes in the general distribution and specific recruitment we observed. Moderate anti-inflammatory modulation may account for the modification of phagocytic activity.

Conclusion: Consumption of AFA leads to rapid changes in immune cell trafficking, but not direct activation of lymphocytes. Thus, AFA increases the immune surveillance without directly stimulating the immune system.

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Anne Béress, Otmar Wassermann, Thomas Bruhn, László Béress, Edmundo N. Kraiselburd, Luz Virginia Gonzalez, Gladys E. de Motta, Pedro I. Chavez

ABSTRACT: Anti-HIV-active polysaccharides and polyphenols were isolated from the brown seaweed fucus vesiculosus by hot H20 extraction of both the intact and the homogenized algae. This was followed by XAD2 chromography and by sequential precipitation of the non-absorbed compounds with glacial HOAC and thereafter with ErOH. The precipitate was solubilized, dialyzed against distilled H20, and chromatographed on SP-Sephadex C25 and on QAE-Sephadex A25. This was followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G50 and Sephadex G100 and finally by hplc on a Shodex Ionpak s-804 column. For comparison, the commercial product fucoidan, a sulfated algal polysaccharide, was also further purified by the chromatographic tenchniques mentioned above. The isolated freeze-dried fractions obtained by these procedures were tested for inhibition of both HIV-induced syncytium formation and HIV reveerse transcriptase enzyme activity. Some of these fractions inhibited both of these activities at concetrations that were not cytotoxic.

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Szabo A, Billett E, Turner J.


OBJECTIVES: To determine in this pilot study whether aerobic exercise affects phenylacetic acid concentration in the urine. METHODS: Twenty healthy men provided 24 hour urine samples on two consecutive days for the determination of phenylacetic acid levels. Before and during day 1, subjects refrained from physical activity; on day 2 subjects ran on a treadmill at 70% of their maximal heart rate reserve (MHRR) for 30 minutes. RESULTS: The 24 hour mean urinary concentration of phenylacetic acid was increased by 77% after exercise. CONCLUSION: As phenylacetic acid concentration in urine reflects phenylethylamine level, which is known to have antidepressant effects, phenylethylamine may be linked to the therapeutic effects of physical exercise on depression.

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Reddy CM, Bhat VB, Kiranmai G, Reddy MN, Reddanna P, Madyastha KM.


We report data from two related assay systems (isolated enzyme assays and whole blood assays) that C-phycocyanin a biliprotein from Spirulina platensis is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with a very low IC(50) COX-2/IC(50) COX-1 ratio (0.04). The extent of inhibition depends on the period of preincubation of phycocyanin with COX-2, but without any effect on the period of preincubation with COX-1. The IC(50) value obtained for the inhibition of COX-2 by phycocyanin is much lower (180 nM) as compared to those of celecoxib (255 nM) and rofecoxib (401 nM), the well-known selective COX-2 inhibitors. In the human whole blood assay, phycocyanin very efficiently inhibited COX-2 with an IC(50) value of 80 nM. Reduced phycocyanin and phycocyanobilin, the chromophore of phycocyanin are poor inhibitors of COX-2 without COX-2 selectivity. This suggests that apoprotein in phycocyanin plays a key role in the selective inhibition of COX-2. The present study points out that the hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic properties of phycocyanin reported in the literature may be due, in part, to its selective COX-2 inhibitory property, although its ability to efficiently scavenge free radicals and effectively inhibit lipid peroxidation may also be involved.

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Pugh N, Ross SA, ElSohly HN, ElSohly MA, Pasco DS.


This research describes the identification of three new high molecular weight polysaccharide preparations isolated from food-grade microalgae that are potent activators of human monocytes/macrophages: "Immulina" from Spirulina platensis, "Immunon" from Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, and "Immurella" from Chlorella pyrenoidosa. These polysaccharides are structurally complex and have estimated molecular weights above ten million daltons. All three polysaccharides are highly water soluble and comprise between 0.5 % and 2.0 % of microalgal dry weight. Immunostimulatory activity was measured using a transcription factor-based bioassay for nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) activation in THP-1 human monocytes/macrophages. Using this system the EC(50) values for these microalgal polysaccharides are between 20 and 110 ng/ml (about 10pM). THP-1 activation was confirmed by measuring immune cytokine mRNA induction using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Each polysaccharide substantially increased mRNA levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). These polysaccharides are between one hundred and one thousand times more active for in vitro monocyte activation than polysaccharide preparations that are currently used clinically for cancer immunotherapy.

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N. Pugha and D.S. Pasco^{a, b}


Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is a fresh-water microalgae that is consumed as a nutrient-dense food source and for its health-enhancing properties. The current research characterizes the effect of a water soluble preparation from AFA on human monocyte/macrophage function and compares the effect of AFA with responses from known agents that modulate the immune system. At 0.5 µg/ml the AFA extract robustly activated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) directed luciferase expression in THP-1 human monocytic cells to levels at 50% of those achieved by maximal concentrations (10 µg/ml) of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, the AFA extract substantially increased mRNA levels of interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-a), and enhanced the DNA binding activity of NF-kappa B. The effects of AFA water soluble preparation were similar to the responses displayed by LPS, but clearly different from responses exhibited by tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) and interferon-gamma (INF-?). Pretreatment of THP-1 monocytes with factors known to induce hyporesponsiveness suppressed both AFA-dependent and LPS-dependent activation. These results suggest that the macrophage-activating properties of the AFA water soluble preparation are mediated through pathways that are similar to LPS-dependent activation.

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Romay C, Armesto J, Remirez D, González R, Ledon N, Garcí­a I.


OBJECTIVE: Phycocyanin is a pigment found in blue-green algae which contains open chain tetrapyrroles with possible scavenging properties. We have studied its antioxidant properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phycocyanin was evaluated as a putative antioxidant in vitro by using: a) luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (LCL) generated by three different radical species (O2-, OH., RO.) and by zymosan activated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs), b) deoxyribose assay and c) inhibition of liver microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by Fe+2-ascorbic acid. The antioxidant activity was also assayed in vivo in glucose oxidase (GO)-induced inflammation in mouse paw. RESULTS: The results indicated that phycocyanin is able to scavenge OH. (IC50 = 0.91 mg/mL) and RO. (IC50 = 76 microg/mL) radicals, with activity equivalent to 0.125 mg/mL of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and 0.038 microg/mL of trolox, specific scavengers of those radicals respectively. In the deoxyribose assay the second-order rate constant was 3.56 x 10(11) M(-1) S(-1), similar to that obtained for some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Phycocyanin also inhibits liver microsomal lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 12 mg/mL), the CL response of PMNLs (p < 0.05) as well as the edema index in GO-induced inflammation in mouse paw (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first report of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of c-phycocyanin.

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Pilar Rupérez,† Oussama Ahrazem †, and J. Antonio Leal † Departamento de Metabolismo y Nutrición, Instituto del Frío, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Ciudad Universitaria s/n, E 28040 Madrid, Spain, and Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Velázquez 144, E 28006 Madrid, Spain

Abstract Fucus vesiculosus was sequentially extracted with water at 22 °C (fraction 1 (F1)) and 60 °C (F2), and with 0.1 M HCl (F3) and 2 M KOH (F4) at 37 °C. Soluble fractions (42.3% yield) were composed of neutral sugars (18.9-48 g/100 g), uronic acids (8.8-52.8 g/100 g), sulfate (2.4-11.5 g/100 g), small amounts of protein (<1-6.1 g/100 g), and nondialyzable polyphenols (0.1-2.7 g/100 g). The main neutral sugars were fucose, glucose, galactose, and xylose. Infrared (IR) spectra of the fractions showed absorption bands at 820-850 and 1225-1250 cm-1 for sulfate. F1, F2, and F4 also exhibited an absorption band at 1425 cm-1, due to uronic acids, and their IR spectra resembled that of alginate. F3 had an IR spectrum similar to that of fucoidan with an average molecular weight of 1.6 × 106 Da, calculated by molecular exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography. The presence of fucose in this polysaccharide was confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. This fraction showed the highest potential to be antioxidant by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, followed by the alkali- and water-soluble fractions. Sulfated polysaccharides from edible seaweeds potentially could be used as natural antioxidants by the food industry.

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Abstract Plant phenols tend to accumulate under conditions where plants have excess carbon above the level which can be used for growth, and where phenylalanine, the substrate of phenylpropanoid synthesis, accumulates due to suppressed protein synthesis. These internal balances imply an accumulation of phenols as a consequence of nitrogen deficiency suppressing plant primary metabolism. In three sublittoral populations of the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus (L.) collected from the northern Baltic Sea between May and September 1982, the accumulation of phenolic compounds correlated inversely with nitrogen content of thallus; higher phenolic contents were on average found under nitrogen deficiency. Phenolic content did not correlate with carbon content of thallus as such, while a significant negative correlation was found with the nitrogen: carbon ratio. Phenolic compounds, although having possibly defensive functions in plants, may thus partially vary as a function of resource availability rather than as a result of an active allocation into plant defences.