A 5-month open study with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in dyslexia.

This open pilot study investigated effects of a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich supplement on learning ability in a group of 20 dyslexic children in Sweden. Children formally diagnosed as dyslexic took eight capsules per day of a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) supplement containing high-DHA fish oil and evening primrose oil. Subjective assessments by the children and their parents were completed at baseline and 6, 12, and 20 weeks after supplementation. Quantitative evaluation by word-chain test was completed before and after 4 months of supplementation to measure word decoding (speed of reading) and letter decoding (motoric-perceptual speed). Subjective parent and child assessments showed increasing numbers of positive responders over time in reading speed, general schoolwork, and overall perceived benefit. Significant improvements were observed in reading speed and motor-perceptual velocity. Thirteen of 17 children had a significant improvement on the word-chain test (P < .04). Reading speed improved by 60% from 1.76 +/- 0.29 before the study to 2.82 +/- 0.36 after supplementation (P < .01 by Wilcoxon sign test). Motoric-perceptual velocity improved by 23% from a stanine value of 3.76 +/- 0.42 to 4.65 +/- 0.66 after supplementation (P < .05 by Wilcoxon sign test). Thus LC-PUFA supplementation for 5 months provides positive and clear beneficial effect on variables usually impaired by dyslexia.

Epidermal and dermal characteristics in skin equivalent after systemic and topical application of skin care ingredients.

Effects of active ingredients from topical and systemic skincare products on structure and organization of epidermis, dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ), and dermis were examined using an in vitro reconstructed skin equivalent (SE). Imedeen Time Perfection (ITP) ingredients (a mixture of BioMarine Complex, grape seed extract, tomato extract, vitamin C) were supplemented systemically into culture medium. Kinetin, an active ingredient from Imedeen Expression Line Control Serum, was applied topically. Both treatments were tested separately or combined. In epidermis, all treatments stimulated keratinocyte proliferation, showing a significant increase of Ki67-positive keratinocytes (P < 0.05). Kinetin showed a twofold increase of Ki67-positive cells, ITP resulted in a fivefold, and ITP+kinetin showed a nine-fold increase. Differentiation of keratinocytes was influenced only by kinetin since filaggrin was found only in kinetin and kinetin+ITP samples. At the DEJ, laminin 5 was slightly increased by all treatments. In dermis, only ITP increased the amount of collagen type I. Both kinetin and ITP stimulated formation of fibrillin-1 and elastin deposition. The effect of kinetin was seen in upper dermis. It stimulated not only the amount of deposited fibrillin-1 and elastin fibers but also their organization perpendicularly to the DEJ. ITP stimulated formation of fibrillin-1 in deeper dermis. In summary, the combination of topical treatment with kinetin and systemic treatment with ITP had complementary beneficial effects in the formation and development of epidermis and dermis.

Ginger--an herbal medicinal product with broad anti-inflammatory actions.

The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger have been known and valued for centuries. During the past 25 years, many laboratories have provided scientific support for the long-held belief that ginger contains constituents with antiinflammatory properties. The original discovery of ginger's inhibitory effects on prostaglandin biosynthesis in the early 1970s has been repeatedly confirmed. This discovery identified ginger as an herbal medicinal product that shares pharmacological properties with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Ginger suppresses prostaglandin synthesis through inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2. An important extension of this early work was the observation that ginger also suppresses leukotriene biosynthesis by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase. This pharmacological property distinguishes ginger from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This discovery preceded the observation that dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase may have a better therapeutic profile and have fewer side effects than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The characterization of the pharmacological properties of ginger entered a new phase with the discovery that a ginger extract (EV.EXT.77) derived from Zingiber officinale (family Zingiberaceae) and Alpina galanga (family Zingiberaceae) inhibits the induction of several genes involved in the inflammatory response. These include genes encoding cytokines, chemokines, and the inducible enzyme cyclooxygenase-2. This discovery provided the first evidence that ginger modulates biochemical pathways activated in chronic inflammation. Identification of the molecular targets of individual ginger constituents provides an opportunity to optimize and standardize ginger products with respect to their effects on specific biomarkers of inflammation. Such preparations will be useful for studies in experimental animals and humans.

Ginger extract components suppress induction of chemokine expression in human synoviocytes.

INTRODUCTION: Ginger has a long history of medicinal use, particularly as an anti-inflammatory agent for a wide variety of diseases such as arthritis. Suppression of inflammation in arthritis is attributed to suppression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines produced by synoviocytes, chondrocytes, and leukocytes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to elucidate the effect of a combination ginger extract and its individual components on chemokine expression in human synoviocytes. METHODS: Human synoviocytes were incubated with 100 microg/mL combination ginger extract (GE) of Alpinia galanga (AG) and Zingiber officinale (ZO); AG extract alone; ZO extract alone; or control media, for 1 hour at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2. Cells were next activated with 1 ng/mL of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) for 1 hour to determine macrophage chemotactic factor (MCP-1) and interferon-gamma activated protein (IP-10) mRNA levels using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Secreted MCP-1 and IP-10 were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) following a 24 hour incubation period. RESULTS: The GE combination was consistently more effective in decreasing chemokine mRNA and chemokine secreted protein levels than its individual components ZO or AG. In comparison, ZO was more effective than AG in suppressing chemokine expression. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that GE inhibits chemokine expression, and that the combination of ZO and AG components acts synergistically. This ginger formulation may be useful for suppressing inflammation due to arthritis.

Oral administration of a Spirulina extract enriched for Braun-type lipoproteins protects mice against influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

A growing body of research indicates that oral administration of bacteria (such as probiotics) can exhibit a protective effect against influenza A (H1N1) viral infection in mice. In the present study, we used a mouse model to examine whether oral administration of Immulina(®), a commercial extract from the cyanobacteria Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis, can reduce the severity of illness resulting from influenza A (H1N1) viral infection. The main active compounds within Immulina(®) are bacterial Braun-type lipoproteins that activate innate immune cells through a toll-like receptor (TLR) 2-dependent pathway. Mice that were fed Immulina(®) for 30 days before and 21 days after infection with influenza A (H1N1) virus exhibited a statistically significant reduction in the severity of infection. Compared to the control group, Immulina(®)-fed mice exhibited less weight loss, increased appetite, decreased clinical signs of disease, and lower lung histopathology scores. The results from the present study adds to the increasing evidence that oral administration of bacterial components that activate innate immune cells, whether derived from a bacterial preparation (probiotics or cyanobacteria) or from plant material containing endophytic bacteria, can exhibit a protective effect against influenza A (H1N1) viral infection.

An in vitro screening assay for inhibitors of proinflammatory mediators in herbal extracts using human synoviocyte cultures.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and prostaglandin (PG)E-2 play a critical role in the pathophysiology of arthritis. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha mediates induction of other cytokines, COX-2, PGs, and metalloproteinases, which leads to cartilage degradation. We developed an in vitro human synoviocyte assay system for screening inhibitors of proinflammatory mediators in herbal extracts. Synoviocytes (5 x 10(5) cells/well) obtained during primary knee replacement from osteoarthritic patients were incubated with: control media alone or ginger extract (hydroxy-methoxy-phenyl compounds [HAPC]: EV.EXT 77), 1 h before activation with 1 ng/ml TNF-alpha, 10 ng/ml interleukin-1beta, or control media alone at 5% carbon dioxide, 37 degrees C. Cell viability, TNF-alpha, COX-2, PGE-2, nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), and inhibitory subunit I kappa B-alpha (IkappaB-alpha) expression were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and Western blots. Ginger extract-HAPC (100 microg/ml) significantly inhibited the activation of TNF-alpha and COX-2 expression in human synoviocytes as well as suppressed production of TNF-alpha and PGE-2. Inhibition of TNF-alpha and COX-2 activation was accompanied by suppression of NF-kappaB and IkappaB-alpha induction. Using our in vitro assay, we discovered that the ginger extract blocks activation of proinflammatory mediators and its transcriptional regulator suggesting its mode of action. These observations indicate that ginger extract-HAPC offers a complementary and alternative approach to modulate the inflammatory process involved in arthritis.

Ginger extract inhibits beta-amyloid peptide-induced cytokine and chemokine expression in cultured THP-1 monocytes.

INTRODUCTION: Neuritic plaques, a neuropathologic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, are extracellular deposits of beta-amyloid peptides (Abeta). In the central nervous system neuritic plaques are surrounded by activated microglial cells expressing proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and neurotoxic mediators. Long-term activation of microglial cells is suspected to contribute to the neuron loss in Alzheimer's disease. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine whether a ginger (Zingiber officinale and Alpinia galanga) extract (GE) can dampen the activation of THP-1 cells by lipopolysaccharide, proinflammatory cytokines, and fibrillar amyloid peptide Abeta(1-42), a major component of neuritic plaques. METHODS: THP-1 cells, a human monocytic cell line with properties similar to human microglial cells, were incubated with GE or control medium alone for 1 hour, and then with reincubated lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) or fibrillar Abeta(1-42) for an additional hour. The extent of THP-1 cell activation was determined by measuring mRNA levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha (MIP-1alpha), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and interferon-gamma inducible protein 10 (IP-10). RESULTS: The results document that the GE used in this study inhibits LPS, cytokine, and amyloid Abeta peptide-induced expression of the proinflammatory genes TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, COX-2, MIP-alpha, MCP-1, and IP-10. The data provide experimental evidence that ginger can inhibit the activation of human monocytic THP-1 cells by different proinflammatory stimuli and reduce the expression of a wide range of inflammation-related genes in these microglial-like cells. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that GE may be useful in delaying the onset and the progression of neurodegenerative disorders involving chronically activated microglial cells in the central nervous system.

Clinical, biometric and ultrasound assessment of the effects of daily use of a nutraceutical composed of lycopene, acerola extract, grape seed extract and Biomarine Complex in photoaged human skin.

BACKGROUND: The use of nutraceuticals has become frequent in the cutaneous approach to photoaging. OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical efficacy of a nutraceutical product composed of lycopene, acerola extract, grape seed extract and Biomarine ComplexT in photoaged human skin. METHODS: 50 women, from 35 to 60 years of age, phototypes I to III, were assessed. For 120 days, they associated the nutraceutical product with the use of a sunscreen FPS15. On days 0 (D0), 30 (D30), 60 (D60), 90 (D90) and 120 (D120) they were evaluated and underwent Medical Assessments and Self-Assessment and cutaneous biometric analyses (corneometry, sebumetry and pH-metry) in the skin of the left zygomatic region and the upper medial side region of the left arm; on days 0 (D0), 30 (D30) and 120 (D120) the skin of the same regions was analyzed by ultrasound. On days 0 (D0) and 120 (D120) skin biopsies were performed in the areas where instrumental evaluation was performed (to evaluate collagen and elastic fibers). RESULTS: There was an improvement of the general status of the skin of all volunteers by the Medical and Volunteer Self- Assessments; increased parameters of cutaneous hydration, reduction of pH, increasing of ultrasound density and a histological increment of collagen and elastic fibers (both on the face and arm); there was a reduction of seborrhea (only on the face) CONCLUSIONS: The daily use of a nutraceutical product containing lycopene, acerola extract, grape seed extract and Biomarine ComplexT showed an important adjuvant effect to counteract skin photoaging.

Clinical, biometric and ultrasound assessment of the effects of daily use of a nutraceutical composed of lycopene, acerola extract, grape seed extract and Biomarine Complex in photoaged human skin / Avaliações clínica, biométrica e ultrassonográfica dos efeitos do uso diário de um nutracêutico a base de licopeno, extrato de acerola, extrato de semente de uva e Complexo Biomarinho na pele fotoenvelhecida humana

BACKGROUND: The use of nutraceuticals has become frequent in the cutaneous approach to photoaging. OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical efficacy of a nutraceutical product composed of lycopene, acerola extract, grape seed extract and Biomarine ComplexT in photoaged human skin. METHODS: 50 women, from 35 to 60 years of age, phototypes I to III, were assessed. For 120 days, they associated the nutraceutical product with the use of a sunscreen FPS15. On days 0 (D0), 30 (D30), 60 (D60), 90 (D90) and 120 (D120) they were evaluated and underwent Medical Assessments and Self-Assessment and cutaneous biometric analyses (corneometry, sebumetry and pH-metry) in the skin of the left zygomatic region and the upper medial side region of the left arm; on days 0 (D0), 30 (D30) and 120 (D120) the skin of the same regions was analyzed by ultrasound. On days 0 (D0) and 120 (D120) skin biopsies were performed in the areas where instrumental evaluation was performed (to evaluate collagen and elastic fibers). RESULTS: There was an improvement of the general status of the skin of all volunteers by the Medical and Volunteer Self- Assessments; increased parameters of cutaneous hydration, reduction of pH, increasing of ultrasound density and a histological increment of collagen and elastic fibers (both on the face and arm); there was a reduction of seborrhea (only on the face) CONCLUSIONS: The daily use of a nutraceutical product containing lycopene, acerola extract, grape seed extract and Biomarine ComplexT showed an important adjuvant effect to counteract skin photoaging.

FUNDAMENTOS: O uso de nutracêuticos se tornou uma condição frequente na abordagem cutânea do fotoenvelhecimento. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a eficácia clínica do uso de um produto nutracêutico a base de licopeno, extrato de acerola, extrato de semente de uva e Complexo BiomarinhoT na pele fotoenvelhecida humana. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 50 mulheres, de 35 a 60 anos de idade, fototipo I a III. Por 120 dias, elas associaram ao uso de fotoprotetor FPS15 a tomada diária do produto nutracêutico em questão. Nos dias 0 (D0), 30 (D30), 60 (D60), 90 (D90) e 120 (D120) elas foram avaliadas, quando sofreram Avaliações Médica e Auto-Avaliação e análises biométricas cutâneas (corneometria, sebumetria e pHmetria) nas peles da região zigomática esquerda e face súpero-medial do braço esquerdos; nos dias 0 (D0), 30 (D30) e 120 (D120) a pele das mesmas regiões foram analisadas do ponto de vista ultrassonográfico. Nos dias 0 (D0) e 120 (D120) biópsias cutâneas foram realizadas nas respectivas áreas das análises instrumentais (para avaliar colágeno e das fibras elásticas). RESULTADOS: Houve melhora do estado geral da pele de todas as voluntárias pelas Avaliações Médica e Voluntária; aumento alterações dos parâmetros cutâneos na hidratação, redução do pH cutâneo, aumento da densidade ultrassonográfica e aumento histológico na densidade colágena e elástica (tanto na face quanto no braço); redução da seborreia somente na face. CONCLUSÕES: O uso diário de um produto nutracêutico a base de licopeno, extrato de acerola, extrato de semente de uva e Complexo BiomarinhoT mostra-se um adjuvante importante na abordagem do fotoenvelhecimento cutâneo.