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Luteolin and Bioflavonoids as Therapeutic Agents
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Luteolin, quercetin, and other related bioflavonoids possess the strongest
and most versatile combination of antioxidant properties. These compounds also
inhibit dozens of enzyme systems that are the upstream targets for control
of inflammation, cancer, autoimmunity, neuromuscular disease, and aging. It is this global synergistic effect
of these powerful natural compounds that provide quantum improvements in
the overall health and well being of the people who use LutiMax as part of
their healthy lifestyle.
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Why are antioxidants necessary in the human diet?
Free radicals (also called Reactive Oxygen Species or ROS)
are chemically highly reactive molecules that indiscriminately attack human
tissue and cause all kinds of problems including aging, inflammation,
autoimmune diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic fatigue,
depression, etc.
The body regulates these ROS by means of enzyme systems and producing the
antioxidant glutathione. Superoxide dismutase and catalase are the
primary enzymes for neutralizing oxygen free radicals that are generated as a
result of metabolism. These
enzymes are less efficient at neutralizing ROS as a body ages and as a result
the body is more dependent on glutathione and dietary sources of
antioxidants. Furthermore, the enzyme called Gamma Glutamal Transpeptidase
(GGT) degrades glutathione. GGT
is up regulated when the liver attempts to eliminate toxins from our
diet, lifestyle, or infections.
These include alcohol use, anesthetics, prescription or recreational
drug use, pesticide exposure, heavy metal exposure, exposure to organic
chemicals such as hydrocarbons, as well as bacterial, viral, and fungal
infections that produce toxins that make us feel sick.
Dietary compounds that reduce GGTP levels therefore
increase glutathione and restore the proper levels of glutathione. These include bioflavonoids such as
luteolin and luteolin analogs such as quercetin, silymarin, which decreased
GGTP levels 23.79% in a double-blind placebo controlled study.
Luteolin is such a good antioxidant that it can
help the body withstand radiation and chemotherapy. In a study from Japan,
researchers went looking for the factor in Rooibos tea that was protecting
DNA from radiation-induced free radicals. They discovered that the protective
factor is luteolin. They then treated mice with pure luteolin. Luteolin gave
dramatic protection to the bone marrow and spleen against radiation. It was
better than any other plant derivative tested. They then tested luteolin in
conjunction with doxorubicin (Adriamycin), a common chemotherapeutic drug
known for its cardiac and bone marrow toxicity. Doxorubicin caused lipid
peroxidation to rise in bone marrow to 5.9 times normal and cardiac rose to
1.5 times normal.
Luteolin provided dramatic protection against this drug-induced free radical
damage. Bone marrow peroxidation decreased 91% and CPK levels (an
indication of heart damage) were normalized by luteolin. Importantly, luteolin
did not interfere with the therapeutic effects of doxorubicin. Together,
the actions of luteolin and other bioflavonoids can help provide powerful
cancer-fighting benefits.
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