White Tea Could Keep You Healthy And Looking Young

White tea may be good for your health, according to new research by Kingston University and Neal’s Yard Remedies. (Credit: Image courtesy of Kingston University)

ScienceDaily (Aug. 14, 2009) — Next time you’re making a cuppa, new research shows it might be wise to opt for a white tea if you want to reduce your risk of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or even just age-associated wrinkles. Researchers from Kingston University teamed up with Neal’s Yard Remedies to test the health properties of 21 plant and herb extracts. They discovered all of the plants tested had some potential benefits, but were intrigued to find white tea considerably outperformed all of them.

Professor Declan Naughton, from the School of Life Sciences at Kingston University in South West London, said the research showed white tea had anti-ageing potential and high levels of anti-oxidants which could prevent cancer and heart disease. “We’ve carried out tests to identify plant extracts that protected the structural proteins of the skin, specifically elastin and collagen,” he explained. “Elastin supports the body’s natural elasticity which helps lungs, arteries, ligaments and skin to function. It also helps body tissue to repair when you suffer wounds and stops skin from sagging.” Collagen is a protein found in connective tissues in the body and is important for skin, strength and elasticity, he added.

Results showed white tea prevented the activities of the enzymes which breakdown elastin and collagen which can lead to wrinkles that accompany ageing. These enzymes, along with oxidants, are associated with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Professor Naughton said: “These enzymes and oxidants are key components of normal body processes. However, in inflammatory conditions, suppressing the activities of these excess components has been the subject of decades of research. We were surprised to find such high activity for the white tea extracts in all five tests that were conducted.”

The researchers were blown away by exactly how well the white tea had performed. “We were testing very small amounts far less than you would find in a drink,” Professor Naughton, one of the country’s leading specialists on inflammation, said. “The early indicators are that white tea reduces the risk of inflammation which is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers as well as wrinkles.”

Eight of the other plants and herbs analysed also helped protect against the breakdown of both elastin and collagen. After white tea, bladderwrack performed well followed by extracts of cleavers, rose, green tea, angelica, anise and pomegranate.

Dr Pauline Hili, Technical Director for Neal’s Yard Remedies, said: “We are really excited by this research as it helps us to remain innovative and at the cutting edge of natural skin care. Celebrating the plants used in the Neal’s Yard Remedies products and understanding their specific actions on the skin is what it is all about. The Kingston University research program helps us to create safe, highly effective and cutting-edge products so it’s an ideal partnership for us.”

Journal reference:

1. Tamsyn SA Thring, Pauline Hili, Declan P Naughton. Anti-collagenase, anti-elastase and anti-oxidant activities of extracts from 21 plants. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2009, 9:27 (4 August 2009) [link]

Adapted from materials provided by Kingston University, via AlphaGalileo.

Source

Anti-acne shrimp shells/Nanobac/CNPs

Acne is the scourge of modern youth. It is caused by a number of factors such as excess production of skin oil, the plugging of pores and by bacterial infection. Various over-the-counter treatments are available but these often have side effects such as causing skin to scale and drying out.

Robert Modlin [Link], a dermatologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, US, and colleagues say they have come up with an exciting new treatment based on nanoparticles of chitosan, a polysaccaride from the shells of crustaceans like crabs and shrimps.

While investigating chitosan as a carrier for antibiotics the team made the surprising discovery that the material can kill various bacteria by itself. They say that biodegradable nanoparticles could be used to treat acne and to carry other compounds such as antioxidants and collagen. How long before teenagers are smearing their faces with ground shrimp shell?

Read the full anti-acne nanoparticles patent application. Link

From the patent:
(WO/2007/149868) CONTROLLED RELEASE ENCAPSULATED ANTI-BACTERIAL AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY NANOPARTICLES

[0032] This invention pertains to the development of anti-microbial {e.g., anti- bacterial) nanoparticle compositions that are useful therapeutics in their own right and that can further act as drug carriers and thereby enhance the antimicrobial activity of whatever drug(s) are carried therein.

[0033] In certain embodiments the nanoparticles comprise chitosan and a biocompatible polymer {e.g., alginate). The chitosan-based nanoparticles possess antimicrobial activity by themselves and can readily be used to carry other therapeutic agents including, but not limited to, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs including but not limited to retinoids, fruit acids, antioxidants, dermal filler substances such as collagen and hyaluronic acid, peptides that are antimicrobial or enhance skin remodeling and healing, botox, and the like.

[0034] It is believed the antimicrobial nanoparticle systems of this invention offer a number of benefits. First, highly stable nanoparticles, provide maximum therapeutic benefit without risk of degradation. Second, both the size and physiochemical properties of the nanoparticles provide for increased epidermal penetrance. Third, the physiochemical properties of the nanoparticles can offer delayed release of the therapeutic activity {e.g., of the encapsulated drug(s)), providing the user with the benefit of prolonged impact long after its application. Fourth, the components of the nanoparticles possess minimal toxicity, and have already been approved by the FDA for other medicinal purposes.

[0035] Without being bound to a particular theory, it is believed that several mechanism may account for the therapeutic efficacy of the nanoparticles described herein. One mechanism is based on the interaction between positively charged chitosan molecules and negatively charged microbial cell membranes, which produces a leakage of intracellular components resulting in death of the bacteria. Another mechanism is based on the interaction of chitosan with the membrane of the cell to alter cell permeability. In addition, it is believed that chitosan can act as a chelating agent and bind trace elements, thereby inhibiting bacterial cell growth and toxin production.

[0036] It is also noted that in addition to antibacterial activity, the nanoparticles of the present invention also demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity as well as anti-fungal and anti-viral activity. Without being bound by a particular theory, it is believed that this activity may result from the ability of the nanoparticles to impede fungal adhesion and interferon induction.

[0037] As indicated above, the nanoparticles of this invention show significant antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. Accordingly, the nanoparticles and nanoparticle compositions of this invention find uses in a wide variety of contexts. The nanoparticles, by themselves, or when they incorporate one or more drugs, are useful for providing topical antimicrobial activity and/or topical anti-inflammatory activity, or, in certain embodiments, the nanoparticles can be orally, nasally, rectally, or parenterally administered.

Article link

Would this prove efficacious in eliminating CNPs??
Nanobac - NNBP - along with The Mayo clinic and NASA are working to eliminate calcifying nanoparticles - CNPs - from our bodies to eliminate hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, gall stones and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. Nanobac use an antibiotic such as tetracycline to kill these nanobacteria/particles. The product of the above article is inherently antibiotic and acts as a chelating agent also part of Nanobac's treatment.

Nanobac links:
Calcification & Inflammation
Discoveries
Collaborations