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21.04.2017
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Ingredients, Remedies
From Nature three key remedies for our liver
Dr. Elena Lucchi
In traditional Chinese medicine, spring is associated to wood element – symbolizing rebirth – and it is related to specific organs such as liver and gallbladder. By encompassing such Oriental tradition, we should consider the idea to purify our “overloaded” liver after winter and to help its correct function.
The liver: a chemical transformation laboratory
Such an organ – actually the biggest gland of our body – works in a “silent” way so that we are not very familiar with its functions.
Liver operates in a series of important activities: it intervenes in intestine mediated fat absorption, in endogenous cholesterol synthesis, in body cells’ feeding, in elimination of toxic substances (i.e. drugs), in coagulation factors’ biosynthesis and it represents a storing place for our essential nutrients such as iron, copper and vitamin B12.
Liver is an endless chemical transformation laboratory helping near organs (pancreas, intestine and kidneys) with the final aim of wellness of the whole organism.
Upon considering the above concepts, I understand now the repeated recommendations to consume dandelion, lemon, artichokes and I’d like to thank my yoga teacher which makes me writhe to re-activate full liver functionality! According to Chinese medicine, liver is appointed to distribute energy in the whole body to the point that the frequent springtime tiredness sensation could be caused by overloaded liver. That’s why we should take care of such a precious organ!
Which foods are useful for purifying?
A correct dietary habit is the actual starting point: food that increases gastric secretion and acts as tonic for the whole system could be useful.
Artichoke (Cynara scolymus), known as “liver’s friend” in the old Literature, is one of the most cultivated edible plant in the World. Its extracts have been used since ancient times for hepatic disorders. Its beneficial properties – known since XVII century – are now supported also by scientific research which confirms the protective action on liver [1]. highlighting other therapeutic properties like the antioxidant and the activity in reducing lipid and glycemic content.[2] Artichokes protect and prevent oxidation on liver along with boldine (active principle of boldo),[3]vitamin E , C and minerals as Zinc and Copper.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) which is best known as “lion’s tooth”, with its very common and typical yellow flower in meadows and countryside during springtime, boasts relevant detoxification properties on liver along with diuretic actions. Dandelion, as revealed by the common name piscialetto (the italian for bed wetter) is known since the most traditional use for its capacity to help liquid drainage, both at intestinal and kidney level along with choleretic, digestive and depurative properties useful when general detox is needed.
The last ingredient I’d like to talk about is Olive (Olea europaea): a common plant widely distributed in Mediterranean areas and in Italy in particular. Both fruit and leaves are full of active principles,which are collected in the standardized olive extract, in particular oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol boast beneficial properties such as antioxidant, hepatoprotective propertie [4] and help lower and protect from oxidation blood LDL (low density lipoproteins) commonly known as “bad cholesterol”, which are often involved in the problems of the circulatory system.
Dietary supplements can help you!
Very common edible plants with a typical bitter taste such as artichoke, milk thistle, gentian, dandelion are well widespread in Mediterranean areas but sometimes they are not always available on our table so we can find easily in a dietary supplement which collects them in a single capsule and is formulated to help liver functions and its equilibrium. The dietary supplement Epo Stim® by BeC Natura contains all those ingredients and it could be consumed along with Depur Plus® supplement to promote physiological intestinal function and prevent overloaded liver after winter charges in order to better enjoy the benefit Springtime!
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In Depth
[1] Rangboo V, et al The Effect of Artichoke Leaf Extract on Alanine Aminotransferase and Aspartate Aminotransferase in the Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis International Journal of Hepatology vol. 2016, Article ID 4030476, 6 pages, 2016.
[2] Rondanelli M, et al Health-promoting properties of artichoke in preventing cardiovascular disease by its lipidic and glycemic-reducing action Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2013; 80: 17-26
[3] Kringstein P, Cederbaum AI, Boldine prevents human liver microsomal lipid peroxidation and inactivation of cytochrome P4502E1 Free Radic Biol Med. 1995; 18: 559-63
[4] Barbaro B, et al ‘Effects of the Olive-Derived Polyphenol Oleuropein on Human Health’ Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2014, 15, 18508-18524
Cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase and the inflammatory process
Cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase are the two families of enzymes that are commonly involved in the inflammatory process, through a complex of reactions which is called arachidonic acid cascade. This complex of reactions develops as follows: a first enzyme, a phospholipase cleaves the phospholipids of biological membranes, releasing arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid with 20 carbon atoms (eicosa-5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z-tetraenoic acid ; C20:4; ω-6). The arachidonic acid is then transformed by two parallel enzymatic pathways, that is, by two families of enzymes: the cyclooxygenase which transforms it into prostaglandins and thromboxanes and the lipooxygenase which transforms it into hydroperoxides which in turn transform into leukotrienes .
There are two cyclooxygenase isoforms indicated with type 1 and type 2, briefly COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is the enzyme present in most cells (except red blood cells), and is constitutive, that is, it is always present. COX-2 is an inducible cyclooxygenase isoform: it is constitutively present in some organs such as brain, liver, kidney, stomach, heart and vascular system, while it can be induced (i.e. developed if necessary) following inflammatory stimuli on the skin, white blood cells and muscles.
There are various types of lipooxygenase that lead to different products, the most important in the inflammatory process is 5-lipooxygenase, 5-LOX.
Prostaglandins, Thromboxanes, and Leukotrienes
Prostaglandins, Thromboxanes, and Leukotrienes are chemical messengers or mediators, that is, molecules that bring a message to specific cells and activate or deactivate metabolic responses in these cells. They, therefore, have a function similar to hormones, only that, unlike what hormones do, the chemical message is carried only at a short distance, that is, only to the cells that are in the vicinity of the place where the mediators were produced. There are different prostaglandins, different thromboxanes and different leukotrienes that carry specific messages. In many cases these act as mediators of the inflammatory process , therefore they trigger all the events that are involved in inflammation:
– vasodilation with consequent blood supply (redness),
– increased capillary permeability with consequent fluid exudation (swelling or edema),
– stimulation of nociceptive nerve signals (pain),
– on-site recall of immune system cells that attack a possible invader (chemotactic action)
– activation of the biosynthesis of fibrous tissue to strengthen or repair the affected part (even if there is no need)
– generations of free radicals that can chemically destroy an invader (but also damage our tissues, i.e. they just “shoot in the middle”).
Prostaglandins and thromboxanes, however, also play important physiological roles in normal conditions, i.e. in the absence of inflammation. For example, they regulate the secretion of mucus that protects the walls of the stomach, they regulate the biosynthesis of cartilages and synovial fluid in the joints, they regulate vasodilation, hence the correct flow of blood in the various local districts, and more.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the main components of most oils and fats. These are heavy, non-volatile and little polar molecules, insoluble in water, made up of glycerol (or glycerin) esterified with three molecules of fatty acids: therefore, it is a tri-ester of glycerin, from which the name derives. Each fatty acid contains 8 to 22 carbon atoms (commonly 16 to 18) and can be saturated, mono-unsaturated or poly-unsaturated. The size of the fatty acids and their saturation determines the physical and sensorial properties of the triglycerides, which can appear as oils (liquids at room temperature) or fats (solid or semi-solid) and can have greater or less greasiness and smoothness on the skin. Unsaturated triglycerides or with shorter fatty acids are more fluid and have greater flowability.
Fatty acids (saturated, mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated)
The name fatty acids is commonly used to indicate those organic acids that are found in the composition of lipids, that is, in animal and vegetable oils and fats, both in the free form and in the form of esters with glycerol (e.g. in triglycerides), or they are esterified with “fatty” alcohols, that is, long chain alcohols, to form waxes. Fatty acids are carboxylic acids (formula R-COOH) which have a long carbon chain (R), unlike common organic acids such as acetic acid and propionic acid, which have 2 or 3 carbon atoms in total, respectively. Fatty acids are defined as saturatedif they do not have double carbon-carbon bonds, (called “unsaturations”), they are defined mono-unsaturated if they have only one, they are defined mono-unsaturatedpoly-unsaturated if they have two or more double bonds (see figure). The term omega-3 (ω-3) or omega-6 (ω-3), refers to the position of the first double bond starting from the bottom of the chain of carbon atoms: if the first double bond is encountered after 3 carbon atoms the fatty acid is classified as omega-3 , if after six carbon atoms omega-6 , as shown in the figure. The most common saturated fatty acids are palmitic acid (16 carbon atoms and no double bond, C16: 0) and stearic acid (18 carbon atoms, 18: 0), the most common mono-unsaturated is the oleic acid, typical of olive oil (18 carbon atoms and 1 double bond in position 9, C18: 1; ω-9), while the most common poly-unsaturated are linoleic acid and linolenic acid, progenitors respectively omega-6 and omega-3 (see figure).
Terpenes and terpenoids
Terpenes or terpenoids are a large family of natural molecules, typically containing 10 to 30 carbon atoms, which are biosynthesized from a common “brick”, isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), containing 5 carbon atoms (see figure). The discovery that the repetitive brick consists of 5 carbon atoms is relatively recent, while it was once assumed that the entire family was created by repeating a brick of 10 carbon atoms, which was called “terpene”. Therefore, the molecules with 10 carbon atoms (such as limonene, see figure) were called mono-terpenes, i.e. composed of a single brick, diterpenes those with 20 carbon atoms (e.g. the cafestol that gives the aroma to the coffee), triterpenes those with 30 carbon atoms (e.g. beta-carotene). Since molecules made from 15 carbon atoms were also found (such as bisabolol), it was thought they contained a terpene and a half, and were called sesquiterpenes (from the Latin semis = half + atque = and). Today it is known that the repetitive unit is composed of 5 carbon atoms, therefore it is easy to understand how mono-terpenes contain two (see figure), sesquiterpenes three, diterpenes four, triterpenes six.
