Gibbledygook's anti-viral log

Tell us what you are using to treat your MS-- and how you are doing.
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gibbledygook
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Gibbledygook's anti-viral log

Post by gibbledygook »

I have started taking anti-viral herbs as opposed to antibiotics in the hope that trying to weaken Epstein Barr, varicella zoster et al might alleviate the disease burden. I believe that the following have anti-viral properties:
maximised curcuminoids 5g to 8g (good for pain)
reishi 3g
licorice 4g
green tea 3g
reservatrol 600mg
honokiol 120mg

NAC 2400mg
selenium
glutathione
blackcurrant sumbokol


I have been taking the above for 3 weeks since my latest steroids session. So far the pain in my left leg has improved and I have had very few night spasms. My walking remains poor and limited to a max of 400meters possibly less.

I am also taking a fibrinolytic called lumbrokinase and a combination of serrapeptase and nattokinase again for their fibrinolytic properties.

maximised curcuminoids
<shortened url>
1: Mol Carcinog. 2002 Mar;33(3):137-45. Links
The chemopreventive compound curcumin is an efficient inhibitor of Epstein-Barr virus BZLF1 transcription in Raji DR-LUC cells.Hergenhahn M, Soto U, Weninger A, Polack A, Hsu CH, Cheng AL, Rösl F.
Division of Genetic Alterations in Carcinogenesis, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany.

To characterize the effects of inhibitors of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation, we established Raji DR-LUC cells as a new test system. These cells contain the firefly luciferase (LUC) gene under the control of an immediate-early gene promoter (duplicated right region [DR]) of EBV on a self-replicating episome. Luciferase induction thus serves as an intrinsic marker indicative for EBV reactivation from latency. The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induced the viral key activator BamH fragment Z left frame 1 (BZLF1) protein ("ZEBRA") in this system, as demonstrated by induction of the BZLF1 protein-responsive DR promoter upstream of the luciferase gene. Conversely, both BZLF1 protein and luciferase induction were inhibited effectively by the chemopreventive agent curcumin. Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) further demonstrated that the EBV inducers TPA, sodium butyrate, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) increased levels of the mRNA of BZLF1 mRNA at 12, 24, and 48 h after treatment in these cells. TPA treatment also induced luciferase mRNA with similar kinetics. Curcumin was found to be highly effective in decreasing TPA-, butyrate-, and TGF-beta-induced levels of BZLF1 mRNA, and of TPA-induced luciferase mRNA, indicating that three major pathways of EBV are inhibited by curcumin. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) showed that activator protein 1 (AP-1) binding to a cognate AP-1 sequence was detected at 6 h and could be blocked by curcumin. Protein binding to the complete BZLF1 promoter ZIII site (ZIIIA+ZIIIB) demonstrated several specific complexes that gave weak signals at 6 h and 12 h but strong signals at 24 h, all of which were reduced after application of curcumin. Autostimulation of BZLF1 mRNA induction through binding to the ZIII site at 24 h was confirmed by antibody-induced supershift analysis. The present results confirm our previous finding that curcumin is an effective agent for inhibition of EBV reactivation in Raji DR-CAT cells (carrying DR-dependent chloramphenicol acetyltransferase), and they show for the first time that curcumin inhibits EBV reactivation mainly through inhibition of BZLF1 gene transcription. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
<shortened url>
1: Am Surg. 1998 Jan;64(1):47-51; discussion 51-2.Links
The effect of curcumin on human B-cell immortalization by Epstein-Barr virus.Ranjan D, Siquijor A, Johnston TD, Wu G, Nagabhuskahn M.
Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.

Cyclosporine is a commonly used immunosuppressant in solid-organ transplantation. It is, however, associated with an increased incidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)induced post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). In this study, human B lymphocytes isolated from healthy volunteers were immortalized in vitro with EBV. The effect of oxidative stress mediated by cyclosporine A or hydrogen peroxide on in vitro B cell immortalization was studied by coculturing immortalized B cells with cyclosporine A and hydrogen peroxide. Curcumin, a phenolic extract of the spice turmeric, was then used to observe its effect on this process. We found that in vitro B-cell immortalization with EBV was promoted by the oxidative stress induced by cyclosporine A and hydrogen peroxide, with the maximum effect seen at concentrations of 500 ng/ml and 100 microM, respectively. Curcumin blocked the B-cell immortalization in a dose-dependent fashion with nearly complete inhibition at 20 microM. We conclude that, because both hydrogen peroxide and cyclosporine A strongly promote in vitro B-cell immortalization with EBV (the putative process responsible for PTLD) and curcumin, an extract of a common spice is an effective inhibitor of this process; curcumin may be an effective adjunct in the prevention of PTLD in the patients undergoing therapy with cyclosporine A.
<shortened url>
1: J Surg Res. 1999 Nov;87(1):1-5. Links
Enhanced apoptosis mediates inhibition of EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell line proliferation by curcumin.Ranjan D, Johnston TD, Reddy KS, Wu G, Bondada S, Chen C.
Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated B-cell lymphomas occur more frequently in immunodeficient states such as organ transplantation and HIV infection. We have previously reported that B cell immortalization with EBV was promoted by cyclosporin A (CyA) and that curcumin (Cur), a natural phenol with known antioxidant and antitumor properties, blocked EBV-induced B cell immortalization. In the following experiments we show that Cur inhibits the proliferation of EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) via enhanced apoptosis. METHODS: LCL were generated by infecting freshly isolated human B cells with EBV (B95-8) for 12 h and coculturing with predetermined optimal concentrations of CyA (500 ng/ml) for 4 weeks. LCL were then either frozen for future use or propagated for immediate experiments. These cells were then plated in 96-well plates with 20 microM Cur or 0.1% DMSO (vehicle control). The number of immortalized colonies/well, cell count, and (3)H uptake were used as an index of immortalization. To assess apoptosis rate LCL were cultured with 0.1% DMSO or Cur (20 microM) for 0, 18, and 42 h in culture flasks and then stained with MC540 and H33342, as markers for apoptosis, and analyzed by FACS. RESULTS: A profound inhibition of proliferation was seen in the LCL with 20 microM curcumin compared to 0.1% DMSO control. The colony count reduced from 34.5 +/- 3.4 to 0/well (P = 0.005), cell number reduced from 101,250 +/- 12,093 to 3750 +/- 1500/well (P = 0.002), and (3)H uptake reduced from 40,889 +/- 3669 to 70 +/- 5.2/well (P = 0.001). The apoptosis rate of LCL in the DMSO control at 24.07 and 16.87% increased significantly with 20 microM Cur to 76.4 and 95.1% at 18 and 42 h, respectively (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Cur is a potent inhibitor of EBV-transformed LCL. This effect appears to be mediated through enhanced apoptosis. A further investigation of this effect may be useful in prevention and therapy of B-cell lymphoma in immunodeficient patients. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.
reishi 3g
<shortened url>
1: J Nat Prod. 2003 Dec;66(12):1582-5. Links
Lucidenic acids P and Q, methyl lucidenate P, and other triterpenoids from the fungus Ganoderma lucidum and their inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus activation.Iwatsuki K, Akihisa T, Tokuda H, Ukiya M, Oshikubo M, Kimura Y, Asano T, Nomura A, Nishino H.
K-Laboratories for Intelligent Medical Remote Services, 2266-22 Anagahora, Shimoshidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya 463-0003, Japan.

A new triterpene acid, lucidenic acid P (1a), and two new triterpene acid methyl esters, methyl lucidenates P (1b) and Q (2b), were isolated and characterized from the fruiting body of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. In addition, eight known triterpene acids, lucidenic acids A (3a), C (4a), D(2) (5a), E(2) (6a), and F (7a) and ganoderic acids E (9a), F (10a), and T-Q (11a), and six known triterpene acid methyl esters, methyl lucidenates A (3b), D(2) (5b), E(2) (6b), F (7b), and L (8b) and methyl ganoderate F (10b), were isolated and identified from the fungus. All of the triterpenoids, with the exception of 7a, were evaluated with respect to their inhibitory effects on the induction of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in Raji cells, which is known to be a primary screening test for antitumor promoters. All of the compounds tested showed potent inhibitory effects on EBV-EA induction (96-100% inhibition at 1 x 10(3) mol ratio/TPA
licorice 4g
<shortened url>
1: Phytother Res. 2008 Feb;22(2):141-8. Links
Antiviral effects of Glycyrrhiza species.Fiore C, Eisenhut M, Krausse R, Ragazzi E, Pellati D, Armanini D, Bielenberg J.
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences-Endocrinology, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.

Historical sources for the use of Glycyrrhiza species include ancient manuscripts from China, India and Greece. They all mention its use for symptoms of viral respiratory tract infections and hepatitis. Randomized controlled trials confirmed that the Glycyrrhiza glabra derived compound glycyrrhizin and its derivatives reduced hepatocellular damage in chronic hepatitis B and C. In hepatitis C virus-induced cirrhosis the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma was reduced. Animal studies demonstrated a reduction of mortality and viral activity in herpes simplex virus encephalitis and influenza A virus pneumonia. In vitro studies revealed antiviral activity against HIV-1, SARS related coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, arboviruses, vaccinia virus and vesicular stomatitis virus. Mechanisms for antiviral activity of Glycyrrhiza spp. include reduced transport to the membrane and sialylation of hepatitis B virus surface antigen, reduction of membrane fluidity leading to inhibition of fusion of the viral membrane of HIV-1 with the cell, induction of interferon gamma in T-cells, inhibition of phosphorylating enzymes in vesicular stomatitis virus infection and reduction of viral latency. Future research needs to explore the potency of compounds derived from licorice in prevention and treatment of influenza A virus pneumonia and as an adjuvant treatment in patients infected with HIV resistant to antiretroviral drugs.
<shortened url>
1: Antiviral Res. 2003 Jun;59(1):41-7. Links
Mechanism of action of glycyrrhizic acid in inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus replication in vitro.Lin JC.
Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, 701 Section 3, Chung Yang Road, Hualien 970, Taiwan ROC. jx18@mail.tcu.edu.tw

We report here that glycyrrhizic acid (GL), a component of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza radix), is active against EBV replication in superinfected Raji cells in a dose-dependent fashion. The IC(50) values for viral inhibition and cell growth were 0.04 and 4.8mM, respectively. The selectivity index (ratio of IC(50) for cell growth to IC(50) for viral DNA synthesis) was 120. Time of addition experiments suggested that GL interferes with an early step of EBV replication cycle (possibly penetration). GL had no effect on viral adsorption, nor did it inactivate EBV particles. Thus, GL represents a new class of anti-EBV compounds with a mode of action different from that of the nucleoside analogs that inhibit viral DNA polymerase
green tea 3g
<shortened url>
1: Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003 Feb 21;301(4):1062-8. Links
Inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus lytic cycle by (-)-epigallocatechin gallate.Chang LK, Wei TT, Chiu YF, Tung CP, Chuang JY, Hung SK, Li C, Liu ST.
Department of Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Rd., 807, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), abundant in green tea, is a potent anti-microbial and anti-tumor compound. This investigation used immunoblot, flow cytometry, microarray, and indirect immunofluorescence analyses to show that at concentrations exceeding 50 microM, EGCG inhibits the expression of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic proteins, including Rta, Zta, and EA-D, but does not affect the expression of EBNA-1. Moreover, DNA microarray and transient transfection analyses demonstrated that EGCG blocks EBV lytic cycle by inhibiting the transcription of immediate-early genes, thus inhibiting the initiation of EBV lytic cascade.
reservatrol 600mg
<shortened url>
1: Antiviral Res. 2006 Dec;72(3):171-7. Epub 2006 Jul 26. Links
Resveratrol inhibition of varicella-zoster virus replication in vitro.Docherty JJ, Sweet TJ, Bailey E, Faith SA, Booth T.
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, P.O. Box 95, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA. jjd@neoucom.edu

Resveratrol was found to inhibit varicella-zoster virus (VZV) replication in a dose-dependent and reversible manner. This decrease in virus production in the presence of resveratrol was not caused by direct inactivation of VZV or inhibition of virus attachment to MRC-5 cells. The drug effectively limited VZV replication if added during the first 30 h of infection. Western blot analysis and real-time RT-PCR studies demonstrated that protein and mRNA levels of IE62, an essential immediate early viral protein, were reduced when compared to controls. These results demonstrate that VZV replication is adversely affected by resveratrol which is negatively impacting IE62 synthesis.
honokiol 120mg
<shortened url>
1: J Immunol. 2007 Jul 15;179(2):753-63. Links
Honokiol, a natural plant product, inhibits inflammatory signals and alleviates inflammatory arthritis.Munroe ME, Arbiser JL, Bishop GA.
Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, IA 52242, USA.

Honokiol (HNK), a phenolic compound isolated and purified from magnolia, has been found to have a number of pharmacologic benefits, including anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. HNK has long been used in traditional Asian medicine without toxic side effects. We and others have extensively studied signaling to B cells by CD40 and its Epstein Barr viral mimic, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), which has been implicated in exacerbation of chronic autoimmune disease. We asked whether HNK could inhibit CD40 and LMP1 inflammatory signaling mechanisms. In vivo, HNK stabilized the severity of symptomatic collagen-induced arthritis in both CD40-LMP1 transgenic mice and their congenic C57BL/6 counterparts. Ex vivo studies, including collagen-specific serum Ab and Ag recall responses, as well as CD40 or LMP1-mediated activation of splenic B cells, supported the anti-inflammatory effects of HNK. In mouse B cell lines expressing the human CD40-LMP1 chimeric receptor, CD40- and LMP1-mediated NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation were abrogated in a dose-dependent manner, with a concomitant decrease in TNF-alpha and IL-6. These promising findings suggest that the nontoxic anti-inflammatory properties of HNK could be valuable for blocking the autoimmune response.
blackcurrant sumbokol
<shortened url>
1: Phytother Res. 2003 Jun;17(6):609-13. Links
Anti-herpesvirus activity of an extract of Ribes nigrum L.Suzutani T, Ogasawara M, Yoshida I, Azuma M, Knox YM.
Department of Microbiology, Asahikawa Medical College, 2-1-1-1 Midorigaoka-Higashi, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan. suzutani@fmu.ac.jp

An extract of Ribes nigrum L., known as blackcurrant in Europe and Kurokarin(R) in Japan, has been used as an ingredient in a variety of foods and folk medicine. In this study, the anti-herpesvirus activity of this extract was examined in vitro. The extract inhibited herpes simplex virus type 1 attachment on the cell membrane completely at a 100-fold dilution, as well as the plaque formation of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, and varicella-zoster virus by 50% at a 400-fold dilution or lower concentrations. This latter activity, which inhibits virus replication in cells, was due to the inhibition of protein synthesis in infected cells from the early stage of infection. Kurokarin is a possible candidate as a herbal medicine for herpesvirus infectious diseases. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Last edited by gibbledygook on Tue May 13, 2008 5:56 am, edited 11 times in total.
3 years antibiotics, 06/09 bilateral jug stents at C1, 05/11 ballooning of both jug valves, 07/12 stenting of renal vein, azygos & jug valve ballooning,
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Post by cheerleader »

I wish you good luck with the antiviral route, Alex.
I know you really tried, quite diligently, with the antibiotics.
I can't imagine your frustration at the continued progression of your symptoms. Thank you for sharing this new regimen with all of us. I hope and pray you can find some healing.

We've been using the antiviral route since Jeff's dx....along with most of the ones you're using, we also added garlic and zinc. We also tried Lauricidin (monolaurin), but it bothered Jeff's stomach. (It kinda smells and tastes like soap. bleh) There are folks who've had great success with it (including a friend of mine with herpes- she's stopped her outbreaks)
www.lauricidin.com
this is not meant as a product endorsement (since it didn't work for us) but as some more info on the wonderful world of antivirals :)
best,
AC
Husband dx RRMS 3/07
dx dual jugular vein stenosis (CCSVI) 4/09
http://ccsviinms.blogspot.com
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Post by gibbledygook »

Thanks for this, I might give it a go once I've done a few weeks on my existing regimen...
IN VITRO EFFECTS OF MONOLAURIN COMPOUNDS ON ENVELOPED RNA AND DNA VIRUSES1
JOHN C. HIERHOLZER11Respiratory Virology Branch Center for Disease Control Atlanta, Georgia 30333, JON J. KABARA22Department of Biomechanics Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan 488241Respiratory Virology Branch Center for Disease Control Atlanta, Georgia 30333 2Department of Biomechanics Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan 48824
1Use of trade names is for identification only and does not constitute endorsement by the Public Health Service or by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Abstract
Monolaurin alone and monolaurin with tert-butylhydroxyanisole (BHA), methylparaben, or sorbic acid were tested for in vitro virucidal activity against 14 human RNA and DNA enveloped viruses in cell culture. At concentrations of 1% additive in the reaction mixture for 1 h at 23°C, all viruses were reduced in infectivity by >99.9%. Monolaurin with BHA was the most effective virucidal agent in that it removed all measurable infectivity from all of the viruses tested. The compounds acted similarly on all the viruses and reduced infectivity by disintegrating the virus envelope.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10 ... alCode=act
3 years antibiotics, 06/09 bilateral jug stents at C1, 05/11 ballooning of both jug valves, 07/12 stenting of renal vein, azygos & jug valve ballooning,
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Post by gibbledygook »

<shortened url>
There's something fishy about milk and lactose (galactose) and Epstein Barr and so I'm going to give milk a miss (again, groan).
3 years antibiotics, 06/09 bilateral jug stents at C1, 05/11 ballooning of both jug valves, 07/12 stenting of renal vein, azygos & jug valve ballooning,
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THC is anti-viral

Post by gibbledygook »

<shortened url>
thc seems antiviral.
3 years antibiotics, 06/09 bilateral jug stents at C1, 05/11 ballooning of both jug valves, 07/12 stenting of renal vein, azygos & jug valve ballooning,
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chinese herbs for ms and hayfever

Post by gibbledygook »

I have translated the pinyin for the chinese herbs which I have just started. Interestingly they include both licorice and ganoderm lucidum but not curcumin or magnolia. They also include ginseng, shisandra fructus, bupleuri radix, scutellariea radix and barbate herba, aurantii fructus immaturus, jujubae fructus and zingiberis rhizoma. The main constituent of the tea is ganoderma lucidum. I guestimate that I take 3g a day of this. The next most important constituents are the ginseng, the shisandra, the scutellarieae and aurantii fructus. I will continue to take 8g of curcumin a day as I have convinced myself that it is helpful; for instance last night the spams reappeared, instead of zanaflex I took 2g of maximised curcumin and half an hour later the spasms were gone. I will also continue to take the 4g green tea and the 2g resveratrol.

I have been feeling quite unwell (17/4/2008)with a tummy bug which my partner also suffered from so drinking the pretty revolting chinese tea has been difficult. I've noticed a bit of a deterioration in my walking and renewed burning sensations and phosphenes for the last few days and that may be owing to this tummy illness.

I finally recovered from what must have been gastroenteritis around 22/4/2008. During the time of illness I couldn't eat very much at all, least of all the rather nasty chinese tea. I also developed a sort of arthritis in my right index finger and this has not yet resolved (27/4/2008). My partner also complained of developing an arthritic finger during his time of gastroenteritis which somewhat preceded mine. The only medication I have managed during the last few weeks is a bit of green tea and up to 10g of curcuminoids. From my experience I reckon this dosage of curcuminoids alone, although seemingly helpful for spasms and pain is probably not enough to damp down the inflammation sufficiently for repair or even happy stabilisation. I have therefore ordered a more bioavailable form of the curcumin as it is difficult to absorb. My walking has been quite poor especially when feeling feverish. Additionally the tingling in my left leg has been quite strong although thankfully not too painful. So I'm still hunting for herbal remedies and have now restarted the chinese tea. I am also taking gotu kola, grapeseed extract, NAC, selenium, zinc, green tea, resveratrol, calcium, magnesium, blackberry extract (sambucol), vit d, inosine, enzymes, b12 and have ordered some lauricidin which I hope might assist the arthritic finger. Am also trying to avoid lactose and eat soy and am on grazax immune therapy for hayfever.

I also upped the dose of maximised curcuminoids to 18g. The following morning (29/4/2008) my leg was not as stiff and during my shower my right leg didn't freeze up with spasticity. This is unusual especially as it's a rainy humid day in London. My arthritic right index finger was also much much less painful. In fact haven't noticed any pain at all. Mmm.


28/4/2007 I have added 5-loxin from the Life Extension herbal outfit from Iherb. 5-loxin is a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor. This enzyme has been found in large quantity in MS lesions and may be responsible for blood brain barrier disruption.

<shortened url>
1: J Neuroimmunol. 2001 Dec 3;121(1-2):40-8. Links
Microarray analysis of gene expression in multiple sclerosis and EAE identifies 5-lipoxygenase as a component of inflammatory lesions.Whitney LW, Ludwin SK, McFarland HF, Biddison WE.
Molecular Immunology Section, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Bldg. 10/Rm 5B-16, Bethesda, MD 20892-1400, USA.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by lesions that are areas of blood-brain barrier breakdown, inflammation and myelin damage. To identify genes that contribute to lesion pathology, we have compared gene expression in MS lesions and in brains of mice with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) with that in normal white matter. Gene expression was analyzed by cDNA microarrays consisting of 2798 human genes. One of the genes found to be upregulated in both MS lesions and EAE brains was 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the proinflammatory leukotrienes. The presence of 5-LO in MS lesions was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and indicated that 5-LO was primarily contained within macrophages. Although these findings are not specific for MS, they identify a potentially important component of pro-inflammatory activity in the demyelinating process in MS and suggest a possible target for anti-inflammatory therapy in MS.
<shortened url>
1: Acta Neurol Scand. 1987 May;75(5):361-3.Links
Leukotrienes B4 and C4 in MS.Prosiegel M, Neu I, Wildfeuer A, Mehlber L, Mallinger J, Ruhenstroth-Bauer G.
Release of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) from neutrophils and platelet-neutrophil suspensions in response to ionophore A23187 was measured in 12 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 8 healthy volunteers. LTC4 release from neutrophils, as well as from platelet-neutrophil suspensions, was significantly decreased in MS patients compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in the release of LTB4 between MS patients and controls. The findings suggest that permanent stimulation of platelets and neutrophils e.g., by encephalitogenic peptide leads to continuous LTC4 release with subsequent depletion of intracellular substrates serving as precursors for the formation of 5-lipoxygenase products. Since the target of microvascular actions of LTC4 are postcapillary venules, the release of this sulfidopeptide leukotriene might play a pathogenetic role in the formation of MS lesions
Last edited by gibbledygook on Tue May 13, 2008 5:41 am, edited 4 times in total.
3 years antibiotics, 06/09 bilateral jug stents at C1, 05/11 ballooning of both jug valves, 07/12 stenting of renal vein, azygos & jug valve ballooning,
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Post by gibbledygook »

Since upping my dose of maximised curcuminoids to 18g a day on the 28th April 08 the painful burning/tingling in my left leg, left knee and left sole of foot has drastically reduced except for about an hour when I get into bed. My walking also feels stronger and different. The morning shower hasn't been such an ordeal and for the last 2 mornings the right hand side of my body hasn't frozen on contact with the water. As this is obviously a substantial amount of turmeric I have had a liver function test done today.
I continue to take the ganoderma lucidum predominant chinese tea, green tea extract, resveratrol, grape seed extract, gotu kola, magnolia and boswellia plus all the usual suspects of inosine, vit a-z etc.
I have also continued taking Grazax, an anti-hayfever immune modulating drug. On the leaflet it states not to take grazax if you have an illness which affects the immune system! I have not suffered any deterioration in symptoms since taking the grazax except temporarily during the gastroenteritis. Nor have I experienced any hayfever and my quack today was complaining of this and was going to take some kenalog. Usually my hayfever is so bad I contemplate leaving for the sahara. :lol: Going through a good patch!
Last edited by gibbledygook on Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
3 years antibiotics, 06/09 bilateral jug stents at C1, 05/11 ballooning of both jug valves, 07/12 stenting of renal vein, azygos & jug valve ballooning,
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Post by gibbledygook »

Am quite interested in adding triphala (indian ayurvedic formulation with the following constituents:
Arjuna Terminalia arjuna
Pippali Piper longum
Ginger Zingiber officinale
Black pepper Piper nigrum
Amla Emblica officinalis
Haritaki Terminalia chebula
Bibhitaki Terminalia belerica
Fenugreek Trigonella foenum-graecum
Turmeric Curcuma longa
Guggul Commiphora mukul)

because of its activity against MMP 9 which is where the efficacity of the tetracyclines is suspected as per the following:
<shortened url>

1: J Periodontol. 2005 Apr;76(4):497-502.Links
Evaluation of the inhibitory effect of triphala on PMN-type matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9).Abraham S, Kumar MS, Sehgal PK, Nitish S, Jayakumar ND.
Department of Periodontia, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the inhibitory activity of triphala on PMN-type matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) expressed in adult periodontitis patients and compared its activity with another ayurvedic drug, kamillosan, and doxycycline, which has known inhibitory activity. METHODS: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were extracted from gingival tissue samples from 10 patients (six males, four females) with chronic periodontitis. Tissue extracts were treated with the drug solutions, the inhibition was analyzed by gelatin zymography, and the percentage of inhibition was determined by a gel documentation system. RESULTS: The activity of MMPs was significantly decreased with the use of the drugs. Triphala showed a 76.6% reduction of MMP-9 activity, whereas kamillosan showed a 46.36% reduction at a concentration of 1,500 microg/ml (crude extract) and doxycycline showed a 58.7% reduction at a concentration of 300 microg/ml (pure drug). CONCLUSION: The present study showed the strong inhibitory activity of triphala on PMN-type MMPs involved in the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation during periodontitis.
Last edited by gibbledygook on Tue May 13, 2008 5:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
3 years antibiotics, 06/09 bilateral jug stents at C1, 05/11 ballooning of both jug valves, 07/12 stenting of renal vein, azygos & jug valve ballooning,
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Post by SarahLonglands »

Alex, I recently discovered that what reduces the burning sensation in my feet, which must be peripheral neuropathy because its the same in the bad leg and the one that isn't, is to take 2400 mg of alpha lipoic acid a day.

Sarah 8)
An Itinerary in Light and Shadow Completed Dr Charles Stratton / Dr David Wheldon abx regime for aggressive secondary progressive MS in June 2007, after four years. Still improving with no relapses since starting. Can't run but can paint all day.
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Post by gibbledygook »

Hi Sarah,

My foot burn occurs in my good motor function leg. Unfortunately mine's definitey MS as it spread in last summer's relapse from the sole of the foot all the way up my left calf and into the knee area. Bastard disease. I have been taking 400mg of alpha lipoic acid for several years. I wonder what dosage each pill of yours is? To get up to 2400mg I'd have to take 12 pills a day. Almost as bad as the curcumin!
3 years antibiotics, 06/09 bilateral jug stents at C1, 05/11 ballooning of both jug valves, 07/12 stenting of renal vein, azygos & jug valve ballooning,
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DIM
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Post by DIM »

Alex as you already know curcumin absorption is very low less than 2-3% in blood tests after an hour, if you use together with bioperine, quercetin or phosphatidile choline and take always with slightly hot foods absorption increases remarkably.
Curcumin doesn't increases but LOWERS liver enzymes and is probably with silymarin the most potent herb that promotes liver regeneration!
It works against Herpes and EBV viruses, is the most powerfull anti-iflammatory polyphenol, has antitumor properties, antitoxic, acts as a free radical scavenger/antioxidant and is potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (MS related).

BUT bear in mind it inhibits eicosanoid biosynthesis which means you souldn't take it with your EPA/DHA fatty acids!

I give to my wife 1000mg Curcumin with choline and hope it works but she takes also daily more than 2,5-3grs monolaurin (Lauricidin) which I believe protected her many times from bacterials/viruses.
Whish you good luck with your regime!
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CureOrBust
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Post by CureOrBust »

DIM wrote:BUT bear in mind it inhibits eicosanoid biosynthesis which means you souldn't take it with your EPA/DHA fatty acids!
Thats new to me. Do you mean "Not at the same time" or not at all (for example not in the same day)?
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Post by SarahLonglands »

Alex, try this from Vitacost:
http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Alpha-Lipoi ... 0-Capsules

That means you only have to take four a day. Its not just effective against peripheral neuropathy, and I started taking so much just to experiment with antioxidants when I started using oil paints again.

Sarah
An Itinerary in Light and Shadow Completed Dr Charles Stratton / Dr David Wheldon abx regime for aggressive secondary progressive MS in June 2007, after four years. Still improving with no relapses since starting. Can't run but can paint all day.
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gibbledygook
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Post by gibbledygook »

Great - thanks for the information from all. Vitacost looks much better value than solgar which is a bit of a rip-off and where I've been getting my alpha lipoic.

I am extremely pleased to report that I have just managed a slow but cane-free 800 meters. This is significantly better than for many months. Admittedly the last 200 meters weren't great and it was obviously a limping gait with plenty of pauses but I still made it. Considering my last EDSS was given as 6.5 during my February 2008 relapse I am much improved. I have also just today started to switch over from the maximised turmeric 1g pills to some allegedly more bio available 400mg pills by Life Extension. They claim that these pills make curcumin more bioavailable. However I haven't yet corroborated this on Pubmed.

I've found this on the life extension study. Looks a bit like marketing blether but still:
LE Magazine October 2007

Novel Turmeric Compound Delivers Much More Curcumin to the Blood


By Dale Kiefer

Life Extension readers have long been aware of the vast array of health benefits conferred by the curry spice turmeric, which is the source of curcumin. Scientific researchers around the world are investigating applications for curcumin that include fighting cancer, arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and reversing the pathological processes underlying Alzheimer’s disease, among other conditions.1-13

Curcumin has long been known to have poor bioavailability, requiring high doses to achieve desired blood levels. A novel curcumin absorption system has been developed that delivers up to seven times more pharmacologically bioactive curcumin to the blood compared with commercial curcumin products.

This revolutionary development will radically change the extent to which people may obtain additional health benefits from this revered herb.

A wealth of data shows that curcumin and its related chemicals (collectively known as curcuminoids) help to prevent and fight a wide range of diseases—from cancer to cardiovascular disease—through a variety of mechanisms.1,5,7-19 These include powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, chemopreventive (cancer-preventive), and antineoplastic (cancer-fighting) properties.

Perhaps one of curcumin’s most important activities in the human body is its ability to inhibit activation of the transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB),4-6 a potent inducer of chronic inflammation. NF-kB is a protein that acts as a sort of switch, turning on inflammation by activating genes involved in the production of inflammatory compounds. As NF-kB activation has been implicated in all the stages of carcinogenesis, this transcription factor is a potential target in cancer chemoprevention and is the subject of intensive research.

Absorption comparison of different formulations of curcumin


The Curcumin Revolution: Greatly Enhanced Bioavailability
Despite its impressive array of benefits, the effectiveness of oral supplementation with curcumin has been limited by poor absorption into the bloodstream through the digestive tract. In the past, a few formulators worked around this problem by adding a derivative of black pepper, piperine, which enhanced the absorption of ingredients such as curcumin.20 Scientists have long sought a more bioavailable form of curcumin to provide even greater pharmaceutical potencies to maximize curcumin’s efficacy.

Life Extension has reviewed numerous curcumin products that showed varying degrees of enhanced absorption. One published clinical study caught our attention. In it, a novel manufacturing technology was able to dramatically increase blood plasma curcumin to levels not previously seen through supple mentation. While only 50-60% of pure curcumin administered to animals is typically absorbed, this new technology increased the absorption of curcumin to a remarkable 96%.21 This impressive rise in bioavailability was achieved without the addition of piperine.

Absorption of super bio-curcumin in rats compared with conventional curcumin61

Chart 1. Bioavailability in rats fed with BCM-95® is 7.8 times higher than conventional curcumin.

Impressed with these data and seeking to verify these findings, Life Extension then ran an objective comparison trial on human volunteers to determine if this novel curcumin could really deliver significantly greater concentrations of curcumin to the bloodstream and for a longer sustained time period.22 The findings from Life Extension’s independent study basically mirrored those in the first study. As a result, we identified a curcumin formula that provides better bioavailability than was ever thought possible. Known as BCM-95®, this “next generation” formulation is far more readily absorbed than other currently or previously available curcumin products. In fact, both studies delivered close to seven times more curcumin than was previously available from a standard supplement.

Life Extension’s study of this new formulation was designed to document the “pharmacokinetics,” or absorption, circulation, and metabolism of curcumin and curcuminoids in human subjects. The study compared BCM-95® with two other curcumin products: a plant-bound curcumin formulation with piperine and a purified 95% curcumin standalone extract (which is what most supplement companies sell today). Eleven volunteers were recruited. They were divided into three groups. Subjects received BCM-95®, plant-bound curcumin extract with piperine, or ordinary curcumin extract. Blood was drawn at baseline and again six times over the following eight hours. After a two-week washout period, subjects were switched (crossed over) to an alternate formulation; BCM-95® subjects were given ordinary “control” curcumin, while subjects originally given either of the two “control” curcumin formulations were given BCM-95®.

New Formulation Increases Blood Levels More, Sooner, Longer
Subjects’ plasma samples were subsequently assayed to determine curcumin concentrations. The results clearly showed that BCM-95® was rapidly absorbed from the digestive system, allowing more of turmeric’s powerful disease-fighting chemicals to circulate throughout the bloodstream, while delivering the full punch of curcumin’s properties as never before. In fact, curcumin reached a peak within one hour in the bloodstreams of subjects who took BCM-95®. After a brief dip at about two hours’ post-dose, curcumin reached a second, still higher peak again at 4.5 hours, and then gradually declined. By eight hours’ post-dose, curcumin was still detectable in subjects’ blood.22

Absorption of super bio-curcumin in humans compared with conventional curcumin22

Chart 2. Super Bio-Curcumin® (BCM-95®) showed 6.9 times greater bioavailability (absorption and sustainability over 8 hours) in humans compared with conventional curcumin (as measured by the area under the curve [AUC] in a plot of blood levels against time, that is, the total amount of curcumin absorbed by the body over 8 hours).

In contrast, ordinary standalone curcumin took two hours to reach peak concentration, and then rapidly declined. By 4.5 hours’ post-dose, when BCM-95® curcumin was just hitting its stride, curcumin from this control formulation had virtually disappeared from subjects’ bloodstreams. Even at its peak, this control curcumin formulation reached only about half the concentration of curcumin from BCM-95®. Likewise, the BCM-95® showed superior absorption compared with the plant-bound curcumin with piperine formula. Thus, BCM-95® not only delivers more curcumin to the bloodstream, sooner, but it sticks around nearly twice as long, too. This is an extremely important advantage, which should result in greatly enhanced benefits.

How did the inventors of this patent-pending curcumin achieve this breakthrough? Rather than focusing on further purification of curcumin and curcuminoids derived from turmeric (usually marketed as “95% curcumin/curcuminoids”), the formulators went back to the “roots,” so to speak, reincorporating many of the components of raw turmeric root—which are normally removed during the extraction process—and greatly enhancing the bioavailability of active constituents in the process. In essence, this revolutionary reformulation relies on the inherent synergy of the turmeric rhizome’s natural components to dramatically enhance bioavailability.

Absorption of super bio-curcumin in humans compared with plant-bound curcumin with piperine22

Chart 3. Super Bio-Curcumin® (BCM-95®) showed 6.3 times greater bioavailability (absorption and sustainability over 8 hours) in humans compared to plant-bound curcumin with piperine (as measured by the area under the curve [AUC] in a plot of blood levels against time, that is, the total amount of curcumin absorbed by the body over 8 hours).

As a result, BCM-95® is six-to seven times more bioavailable than ordinary 95% extract. Just one 400 mg dose of this new bioavailability-enhanced turmeric extract is equivalent to taking 2,772 mg of standard “95%” curcumin extract or 2,548 mg of plant-bound curcumin extract with piperine. In the Life Extension human trial, BCM-95® delivered 6.93 times more curcumin to the bloodstream than the ordinary standalone curcumin product and 6.37 times more curcumin to the bloodstream than the plant-bound curcumin extract with piperine.22

Life Extension’s results confirmed the findings shown previously for BCM-95®.
3 years antibiotics, 06/09 bilateral jug stents at C1, 05/11 ballooning of both jug valves, 07/12 stenting of renal vein, azygos & jug valve ballooning,
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DIM
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Post by DIM »

CureOrBust wrote:
DIM wrote:BUT bear in mind it inhibits eicosanoid biosynthesis which means you souldn't take it with your EPA/DHA fatty acids!
Thats new to me. Do you mean "Not at the same time" or not at all (for example not in the same day)?
You are right, don't take your curcumin caps with EPA/DHA or GLA, take the fatty acids alone after one-two hours!
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