Laboratory Study Suggests Potential Anti-Cancer Benefit of Ginseng

Ginseng (English pronunciation: /ˈdʒɪn.seŋ/) is any one of eleven distinct species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, belonging to the Panax genus in the family Araliaceae.

It grows in the Northern Hemisphere in eastern Asia (mostly Korea, northern China (Manchuria), and eastern Siberia), typically in cooler climates; Panax vietnamensis, discovered in Vietnam, is the southernmost ginseng found. This article focuses on the Series Panax ginsengs, which are the adaptogenic herbs, principally Panax ginseng and P. quinquefolius. Ginseng is characterized by the presence of ginsenosides.

Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is in the same family, but not genus, as true Ginseng. Like Ginseng, it is considered to be an adaptogenic herb. The active compounds in Siberian Ginseng are eleutherosides, not ginsenosides. Instead of a fleshy root, Siberian Ginseng has a woody root, From Wikipedia

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) extract caused laboratory cultures of colorectal cancer cells to die, indicating that the herb may have an anti-cancer effect, according to a study published in the journal Cancer Letters. Although results from the study suggest that combining ginseng with antioxidants such as vitamin C may potentially enhance this effect, there is no evidence yet that this laboratory research can be extended to treatments in people.

Researchers at the University of Chicago treated two types of colorectal cancer cells with steamed American ginseng root extract. This caused damage to the cells' mitochondria, the internal structures that are involved with energy production, and led to apoptosis (cell death). It also increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS)—a byproduct of the processes in which cells use and break down oxygen (increased levels of ROS can either bring on cell death or activate the survival pathways that protect against it). The researchers found that fewer ginseng-treated cancer cells with high ROS levels died compared with ginseng-treated cancer cells that had low ROS levels. To test whether ROS protected the ginseng-treated colorectal cancer cells from dying, the researchers added two antioxidants (N-acetyl-L-cysteine and vitamin C), which decreased ROS levels and increased rates of cell death.

Whether ROS acts to induce cell death or survival in response to ginseng depends on the specific biochemical pathways that are activated, and how this happens remains unknown. Further studies are needed. The researchers also noted the need for additional investigations to test whether combining ginseng and antioxidants might help prevent the development of colorectal cancers. From Cancer Letters. 2010;289(1):62–70.

Vitamin D Make More Sperm shot Firmness

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids, the two major physiologically relevant forms of which are vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D without a subscript refers to either D2 or D3 or both. Vitamin D3 is produced in the skin of vertebrates after exposure to ultraviolet B light from the sun or artificial sources, and occurs naturally in fish and a few other foods. In some countries, staple foods such as milk, flour and margarine are artificially fortified with vitamin D, and it is also available as a supplement in pill form.[2] Light-exposed mushrooms may provide up to 100% of the recommended Daily Value of vitamin D.[3]

Vitamin D is carried in the bloodstream to the liver, where it is converted into the prohormone calcidiol. Circulating calcidiol may then be converted into calcitriol, the biologically active form of vitamin D, either in the kidneys or by monocyte-macrophages in the immune system. When synthesized by monocyte-macrophages, calcitriol acts locally as a cytokine, defending the body against microbial invaders.[4]

When synthesized in the kidneys, calcitriol circulates as a hormone, regulating, among other things, the concentration of calcium and phosphate in the bloodstream, promoting the healthy mineralization, growth and remodeling of bone, and the prevention of hypocalcemic tetany. Vitamin D insufficiency can result in thin, brittle, or misshapen bones, while sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, and, together with calcium, helps to protect older adults from osteoporosis. Vitamin D also modulates neuromuscular function, reduces inflammation, and influences the action of many genes that regulate the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of cells.[5] From Wikipedia

A new finding says that the sperm can make the most rapid movement in men who had vitamin D levels are high. Research conducted on 300 healthy men was recently published in the journal Human Reproduction.

Of course, this finding give new hope to those who have infertility problems.

The researchers found that the sperm of men who are deficient in vitamin D (less than 25 nanomoles per liter of blood) had a sperm motility less than that has more than 75 nanomoles of vitamin D per liter of blood, said researcher Martin Blomberg Jensen from the Department of Growth and Reproduction at Home Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark.

The researchers also found that these benefits can be obtained by exposing sperm to the activated vitamin D. The sun usually plays a role in activate vitamin D in our skin.

This study shows that vitamin D is needed to overcome reproductive problems in men. But Jensen adds that more research is needed before vitamins can be prescribed to improve the quality of sperm.

Jensen said that by taking supplements of vitamin D, we can increase the number of active vitamins, but it has not been seen from the testes are tested.

Jensen added that however, the level of sperm does not guarantee the speed will increase male fertility. Because the fertility of a man is depending on the cause of the low fertility rate itself as motility, or morphology of sperm.

Sperm velocity is a very important parameter, and the proportion of fast-moving sperm (motility) was associated with and become predator to the achievement of pregnancy.

However, there is no scientific method that is suitable for improving sperm quality, although previous studies have demonstrated the relationship between sperm velocity in the presence of antioxidants, zinc and vitamins, said Jensen.

For example, research presented in 2003 at a meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine suggests that the speed of sperm in men who drank coffee were higher than those who are not coffee because there are elements of antioxidants.

But for the women, it is danger if they are vitamin D dificiency. From Marlito