Neale Jackson

Polyphenol protection and treatment of hypertension.

INTRODUCTION High blood pressure is the major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and the rising prevalence of human hypertension precedes the trend toward a global epidemic of unhealthy ageing. A focus on lifestyle and dietary interventions minimizes dependency on pharmacological antihypertensive therapies. REVIEW Observational studies indicate that the intake of dietary flavonoids is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The evidence suggests that the dietary intakes of polyphenol-rich foods, herbs and beverages including flavonols, anthocyanidins, proanthocyanidins, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones and flavan-3-ols, improves vascular health, thereby significantly reducing the risk of hypertension and CVD. Consumption is associated with an improvement in endothelial function via vascular eNOS and Akt activation. Increased NO bioavailability improves vasodilation and blood circulation, effects protein kinases, ion channels and phosphodiesterases, counteracting vascular inflammation and LDL oxidative stress. Importantly, some polyphenols also inhibit the activity of matrix metalloproteinases, inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme activity and thereby improving SBP and DSB. We review the improvement of polyphenol intake on blood pressure and endothelial function for the treatment of hypertension, including not only observational but also RCTs and pre-clinical studies. CONCLUSION The antihypertensive phytotherapy of polyphenol-rich foods for protection and improving endothelial function with vascular relaxation occurs via the NO-cGMP pathway and ACE inhibition. OPCs stimulate endothelium-dependent vasodilation, suppress vasoconstrictor ET-1 synthesis, activate a laminar shear stress response in endothelial cells and also inhibit the activity of metalloproteinases including ACE lowering blood pressure.

Chinese herbs for dementia diseases.

In the last twenty years a considerable body of information has accumulated on the chemical constituents of Chinese herbs and their therapeutic potential. Our evaluation/systematic review [1, 2] of well-designed, randomized double blind controlled trials on Chinese herbal medicines beneficial for the improvement of cognitive function revealed a range of either single herbs or herbal mixtures that provided neuroprotective benefits. Oxidative stress may directly initiate neurodegeneration and herbal antioxidant neuroprotection is considered as a preventative and therapeutic approach. We encountered Acoris gramineus rhizome (AGR), Panax ginseng, Polygala tenuifolia and Poria cocos as the four most frequently used herbs as single/herbal mixtures that were associated with positive cognitive enhancing outcomes. This review focuses on the evidence of their medicinal effects attributed to those constituents present in relatively high concentration.

Redox Chemistry of Green Tea Polyphenols: Therapeutic Benefits in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Evidence for the medicinal and health benefits of polyphenols in green tea for the prevention of chronic diseases such as heart disease, various types of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases is advancing. Their in vivo effectiveness and molecular mechanisms are difficult to elucidate and remain a challenging task. We review the redox responsiveness and amyloid protein perturbation biophysical properties of the major green tea polyphenol constituent (-)- epigallocatechin-3-gallate [EGCG].

Danshen diversity defeating dementia

Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen) is widely used for the clinical treatment of cerebral ischemia and cardiovascular diseases. Its diverse molecular makeup of simple and poly hydroxycinnamic acids and diterpenoid quinones are also associated with its beneficial health effects such as improved cognitive deficits in mice, protection of neuronal cells, prevention of amyloid fibril formation and preformed amyloid fibril disaggregation related to Alzheimers disease. Whilst the in vitro studies have therapeutic promise, the anti-dementia effect/impact of danshen however depends on its absorbed constituents and pharmacokinetic properties. Both the water and lipid danshen fractions have been shown to have low oral bioavailability and at physiological pH, the polyphenolic carboxylate anions are not brain permeable. To tap into the many neuroprotective and other biological benefits of danshen, the key challenge resides in developing danshen nanopharmaceuticals, semi-synthetic pro-drug forms of its constituents to improve its biocompatability, that is, absorption, circulation in bloodstream and optimization of BBB permeability.

Polyphenols for the prevention and treatment of dementia diseases

The greatest risk factor for neurodegeneration is aging. However genetics at birth only contributes 20–25% to the determinants of lifespan, so we actually have around 75% control over how well individuals age in body and brain. Health is the real wealth and that everyone can significantly control/achieve sustainable health and quality of life through lifestyle choices needs to be better promoted. Dementia is predominantly a disease of aging with millions of people suffering from dementia and Alzheimers disease (AD) and in recent years little has happened to change and improve the cognitive functions of elderly people (2015 Alzheimers disease facts and figures). Every 4 seconds there is a new case of dementia in the world and with 7.7 million cases annually, the estimated global cost of AD and dementia disease is

Herbs and Dementia: A Focus on Chinese and Other Traditional Herbs

604 billion.

Alternative synthesis of the anti-baldness compound RU58841

Nutrition and diet are the common denominators of our physical and cognitive evolution from apes, to human huntergatherers, to modem Homo sapiens capable of elite physical and mental pe1iormance. Food technology has provided an oversupply of processed food for the Westem diet and has profoundly changed our eating habits and choices. In modem times our appetites have outgrown our energy needs, and this has impacted negatively on our minds and bodies. Our inability to effect rapid physiological and biochemical adaptations, as well as the increase in lifespan, has led to the emergence of a range of human health risks, including metabolic syndrome and dementia [1]. Diet-related cognitive impairment is effectively demonstrated, whereby diets that combine high energy/lipids with low antioxidant content are dsk factors for immune dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, and dementia. Research indicates that the summation of body-brain health status contributes to the decline in neurogenesis and cognitive impairments observed during aging [2], as depicted in Figure 73.1. These conditions are preventable, treatable, and often reversible, leading to a reduction in aging-related diseases that is beneficial for maintenance of cognition capacity. Noninvasive lifestyle and behavioral choices and interventional approaches such as calode restriction may extend the lifespan, retard many aging processes, minimize oxidative damage, and provide neuroprotection [3].

Dietary Directions Against Dementia Disorders

RU58841 is active against baldness and is commercially available. The previously reported synthesis uses phosgene, three discrete inert atmosphere steps and three steps that require flash chromatography. Our synthesis uses no phosgene, only one inert atmosphere step and does not require flash chromatography. This is achieved by stepwise construction of the hydantoin moiety around the amino group of 3-trifluoromethyl-4-cyanoaniline and ring closure to give a 2-nitropropane leaving group. On a small scale we achieved an overall yield of 33%.

Special Feature Organo-Fluorine Chemical Science

Since human health benefits are influenced by diets and lifestyle, the dietary intake and body–brain interactions of phytochemicals which are abundant in fruits, berries, vegetables, herbs, and in beverages are a promising avenue and resource that can provide dietary intervention and protection strategies against Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis dementia diseases. The manipulation of the molecular mechanisms and metabolic processes of food consumption occurring in body and brain can direct, determine, and provide new strategies of how to optimize and select dietary constituents that may sustainably provide generic benefits for neurons to defend against insults and damage, and sustain mental fitness against all neurodegenerative diseases. This chapter provides a perspective of the molecular episodes of dietary phytochemicals including polyphenols, brain foods/beverages, and herbs that can be used and directed towards providing health-sustaining interventions against protein misfolding-neurodegenerative and dementia disorders.