The Possible Benefits of Fibronol® and FibroBoostTM, Dietary Supplements
- Provides phlorotannins, powerful marine-based antioxidants
- Provides nutritional support for the cardiovascular system, brain, metabolism and general condition*
Description
Fibronol® and FibroBoostTM contain Seanol-F, a patent-pending brown seaweed extract. Seaweeds, or algal plants, have long been used by traditional cultures worldwide for food and medicine. Seaweeds are organized into four classes: green algae (Chlorophyceae), blue-green algae (Cyanophyceae), red algae (Rodophyceae), and brown algae (Phaeophyceae). Some green algaes, such as sea spaghetti, are used as food. Blue-green algae are found in both seawaters, and in fresh waters, such as the well-known edible Klamath Lake blue-green algae, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Red seaweeds include agar-agar, dulse, Irish moss and nori. Brown seaweeds include arame, hijiki, kombu and wakame, and are known for their use in Asian cuisines. Both red and brown algae are rich in polysaccharides, which are utilized for their gelling, emulsifying and stabilizing properties. Agar and carrageenan are polysaccharides extracted from red seaweeds; algin is extracted from the brown seaweed giant kelp.
Ecklonia cava, called noro-kajime in Japan, is the edible brown seaweed that serves as the source for Seanol-F. E. cava is used commercially as a source of hydrocolloids, such as alginate, and as a soup ingredient in Asia. It is also considered a source of iodine.
Seanol-F is a standardized complex of unique natural molecules from E. cava. Seanol-F contains phlorotannins, polyphenolic compounds not found in terrestrial plants but only in certain brown algal species. Phlorotannin-rich extracts of E. cava show significant antioxidant activities, including DPPH radical scavenging, ferric ion reduction, peroxynitrite scavenging, and inhibition of LDL oxidation.* As well as modulating levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), phlorotannins may modulate levels of PGE2, cytokines and prostaglandins.*
The phlorotannins found in E. cava, which include phloroglucinol, triphlorethol-A, eckol, bieckol, dieckol, and phlorofucofuroeckol (PFF), have powerful cytoprotective activity.* Triphlorethol-A helps protect cells against radiation-induced oxidative damage by scavenging intracellular ROS.* It also increases the activities of cellular antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase.* Phloroglucinol and eckol have been shown to scavenge hydrogen peroxide and other ROS, preventing lipid peroxidation.* They also increase catalase activity and modulate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. The crude polyphenolic fractions (CphF) of E. cava have shown especially strong antioxidant activity, much higher than that of the preservatives BHA and BHT at the same concentration. They have the capacity to scavenge superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. They may have the strongest antiradical activity among natural substances.*
Dieckol and PFF have been shown in mouse studies to increase the brain level of acetylcholine by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, and support neurotransmitter levels, with significant benefit for brain function.* An in vitro study in cultured human dermal fibroblasts has shown that E. cava phlorotannins may naturally support inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) with no cytotoxic effects.* Eckol and dieckol showed strong inhibition of both NF-kappaB and AP-1 reporter activity, which were well correlated with their abilities to inhibit MMP-1 expression.*
Human studies show that Seanol-F supports cardiovascular function: it inhibits LDL oxidation more powerfully than the same levels of green tea catechins; it supports the body’s fibrinolysis function; it supports cholesterol within normal levels; and it supports normal production of nitricoxide (NO) in the vascular endothelium, which supports normal blood flow.* Other studies offer further evidence that Seanol-F compounds may optimize NO levels.*
Seanol-F supports normal function of the nervous system, and the metabolism.* It can increase alpha wave production, an indication of increased relaxation.* Human studies also show that it can promote daytime wakefulness, likely due to increased blood flow and oxygenation.* Subjects given Seanol-F fell asleep faster, slept longer and reported increased soundness of sleep.* They felt it increased their energy levels and improved their general condition.*
Unlike polyphenols derived from land plants, Seanol’s polyphenols are 40% oil-soluble. They can pass the blood-brain barrier, and they have a much longer metabolic half-life than that of the usual hydrophilic polyphenols: up to 12 hours vs. typically 30 minutes. Studied since 1992, in-vitro studies, animal studies, and human trials have consistently shown that Seanol compounds have amazing health promoting promise with no evidence of toxicity.*
References
Kim MM, Ta QV, Mendis E, Rajapakse N, Jung WK, Byun HG, Jeon YJ, Kim SK. Phlorotannins in Ecklonia cava extract inhibit matrix metalloproteinase activity. Life Sci. 2006 Sep 5;79(15):1436-43. Epub 2006 May 7. Kang KA, Zhang R, Lee KH, Chae S, Kim BJ, Kwak YS, Park JW, Lee NH, Hyun JW. Protective effect of triphlorethol-A from Ecklonia cava against ionizing radiation in vitro. J Radiat Res (Tokyo). 2006 Mar;47(1):61-8.
Shin HC, Hwang HJ, Kang KJ, Lee BH. An antioxidative and antiinflammatory agent for potential treatment of osteoarthritis from Ecklonia cava. Arch Pharm Res. 2006 Feb;29(2):165-71. Athukorala Y, Kim KN, Jeon YJ. Antiproliferative and antioxidant properties of an enzymatic hydrolysate from brown alga, Ecklonia cava. Food Chem Toxicol. 2006 Jul;44(7):1065-74. Epub 2006 Mar 3.
Kang KA, Lee KH, Chae S, Zhang R, Jung MS, Lee Y, Kim SY, Kim HS, Joo HG, Park JW, Ham YM, Lee NH, Hyun JW. Eckol isolated from Ecklonia cava attenuates oxidative stress induced cell damage in lung fibroblast cells. FEBS Lett. 2005 Nov 21;579(28):6295-304. Epub 2005 Oct 19.
Kang KA, Lee KH, Chae S, Zhang R, Jung MS, Ham YM, Baik JS, Lee NH, Hyun JW. Cytoprotective effect of phloroglucinol on oxidative stress induced cell damage via catalase activation. J Cell Biochem. 2006 Feb 15;97(3):609-20. Myung CS, Shin HC, Bao HY, Yeo SJ, Lee BH, Kang JS. Improvement of memory by dieckol and phlorofucofuroeckol in ethanol-treated mice: possible involvement of the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Arch Pharm Res. 2005 Jun;28(6):691-8.
Kang KA, Lee KH, Chae S, Koh YS, Yoo BS, Kim JH, Ham YM, Baik JS, Lee NH, Hyun JW. Triphlorethol-A from Ecklonia cava protects V79-4 lung fibroblast against hydrogen peroxide induced cell damage. Free Radic Res. 2005 Aug;39(8):883-92. Ahn MJ, Yoon KD, Min SY, Lee JS, Kim JH, Kim TG, Kim SH, Kim NG, Huh H, Kim J. Inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and protease by phlorotannins from the brown alga Ecklonia cava. Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Apr;27(4):544-7.
Chapman VJ, Chapman DJ. (1980). Seawee.ds and their uses. London: Chapman & Hall. Hoppe HA. (1979). Marine algae and their products and constituents in pharmacy. In: Marine Algae in Pharmaceutical Science. Hoppe HA, Levring T, Tanaka Y, eds. Berlin & New York: Walter de Gruyter.
Allergy Research Group® 2300 North Loop Road, Alameda, CA 94502 Phone: 800-545-9960 or 510-263-2000 Fax: 800-688-7426 or 510-263-2100 www.AllergyResearchGroup.com
*THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.
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