NF-kB the Source of ALL Inflammation

NF-κB is a ubiquitous and well-characterised protein responsible for the regulation of complex phenomena, with a pivotal role in controlling cell signalling in the body under certain physiological and pathological conditions. Among other functions, NF-κB controls the expression of genes encoding the pro-inflammatory cytokines (e. g., IL-1, IL- 2, IL-6, TNF-α, etc.), chemokines (e. g., IL-8, MIP-1α, MCP1, RANTES, eotaxin, etc.), adhesion molecules (e. g., ICAM, VCAM, E-selectin), inducible enzymes (COX-2 and iNOS), growth factors, some of the acute phase proteins, and immune receptors, all of which play critical roles in controlling most inflammatory processes. Since NF-κB represents an important and very attractive therapeutic target to treat many inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, asthma, and the auto-immune diseases, most attention has been paid in the last decade to the identification of compounds that selectively interfere with this pathway.

Inhibition of NF-Kappaβ is increasingly considered a major therapeutic goal in the treatment and prevention of “inflammatory” diseases.

 

Definition: A transcription factor that enhances the production of inflammatory mediators.

 

The activation of nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-kB) has now been linked with a variety of inflammatory diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, diabetes, allergy, asthma, arthritis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, psoriasis, septic shock, and AIDS.

 

Sources of NF-kB inhibition
Nearly every fruit and vegetable contains some NF-kB inhibitors, but some contain much more than others. And if you’re really inflamed (have a condition associated with inflammation) you probably want the ‘expresso’ version (condensed source).
 
So according to this theory, NF-kB is the inflammation master switch and inhibiting it reduces inflammation. We want to reduce inflammation and we know that many plants safely inhibit NF-kB. Therefore all that might be required is to identify those plants that are especially good NF-kB inhibitors and then concentrate them. As it happens, the best way to ‘concentrate’ NF-kB inhibitors is by using those from an assortment of different plants. But the effect is the same. It works better.


Recently, a great number of plant-derived substances have been evaluated as possible inhibitors of the NF-κB pathway. These include a wide range of compound classess, such as lignans (manassantins, (+)-saucernetin, (-)-saucerneol methyl ether), sesquiterpenes (costunolide, parthenolide, celastrol, celaphanol A), diterpenes (excisanin, kamebakaurin), triterpenes (avicin, oleandrin), polyphenols (resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, rutin), etc. We will discuss the medicinal properties of these compounds with regards to the NF-κB inhibition.

Naturally Occurring NF-κB Inhibitors : Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 6, Number 8, August 2006 , pp. 945-951(7)

 

Flavanoids are widely accepted as the predominant polyphenols in our diet.

• Including: anthocyanins, carotenoids flavinols (rutin and quercitin), flavanols (catcechins), terpenoids, etc.

Standard Process and MediHerb products containing significant multiple flavanoids

• Catalyn - carotenoids, flavanosides
• Dosage:  3 to 6 tablets daily
• Cellular Vitality - anthocyanins, tannins, ellagic acid
• Dosage:  3 tablets daily
• Cyruta Plus - rutin and quercitin,
• Dosage:  3 to 6 tablets daily
• Vitanox - catcechins, anthocyanins, curcumin, caffic acid
• Dosage:  2 to 3 tablets daily
• HerbaVital - anthocyanins, tannins, terpenoids
• Dosage:  2 to 4 tablets daily

Food source and preperation

Beneficial effects of vegetables and fruit in preventative nutrition is strongly connected to the content of Flavonoids.



Heating, chopping and/or crushing of vegetables frees-up carotenoids, especially beta-carotene & lycopene. Carotenoids are nearly insoluble in water and are best absorbed when associated with oils.

"Reasoning for Seasoning" concept for health benefits of spice phytonutrients expressed in article by

BHARAT B. AGGARWAL AND SHISHIR SHISHODIA, Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Bioimmunotherapy The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Extensive research in the last few years has shown that the pathway that activates this transcription factor (NF-kB) can be interrupted by phytochemicals derived from spices such as turmeric (curcumin), red pepper (capsaicin), cloves (eugenol), ginger (gingerol), cumin, anise and fennel (anethol), basil and rosemary (ursolic acid), garlic (diallyl sulfide, Sallylmercaptocysteine, ajoene), and pomegranate (ellagic acid). For the first time, therefore, research provides "reasoning for seasoning.”

Your mom was right eat you vegetables, eat a variety of them and try something new.

Don