DESCRIPTION

Bioflavonoids are a group of water-soluble substances that occur mainly as natural pigments in plants and flowers. They may occur as natural dyes and in citrus fruit. Bioflavonoids are found in the white portion of the peel.

Szent-Gyorgyi, in the mid 1930’s, first isolated a material from citrus rind called citrin. It was used in the treatment of weak capillaries (our smallest blood vessels, 1/2,000 of an inch in diameter). Citrin was named vitamin P at that time, but soon it was concluded that bioflavonoids were not essential for life and they lost their vitamin status. Although they are no longer considered to belong to the vitamin group, and although most of the world does not use the word, ‘vitamin P,’ some countries, including Russia, still do.

Originally, it was thought that flavonoids served no useful role in the prevention or treatment of human disease. Today we know that even though bioflavonoids are not vitamins, they do play a significant and monumental role in human nutrition and in the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases.

There have been more than 800 flavonoids discovered to date. The current explosive worldwide bioflavonoid research programs will certainly uncover many more to add to the list.

Bioflavonoids are active antioxidants. They are present in our food and their role in the prevention of heart disease is well documented. They are anticarcinogenic, that is, they destroy and inhibit the growth of cancer cells. This cytotoxic quality – the actual ability of potent flavonoids to kill cancer cells – is one of the most effective weapons in our antibacterial arsenal today. Bioflavonoids enhance the effects of vitamin C and have antibiotic potential. They can control germ growth (bacteriostasis) or actually kill germs (antibiotic effect).

Therapeutic Uses of Bioflavonoids:

1) disorders of blood vessels (fragile capillaries, hemorrhagic or bleeding tendencies)

2) diabetes and its complications

3) peptic ulcer disease

4) venous disease (varicose veins and spider veins, hemorrhoids)

5) obstetric gynecologic treatment in estrogenic disorders and miscarriages

6) overexposure to X-ray or radiation therapy

7) thrombophlebitis (blood clot in leg vein) and possibly other blood clots

How much bioflavonoid is enough?

There are no recommended daily requirements for bioflavonoids. Natural vitamin C contains some bioflavonoids and since they occur together it is reasonable to supplement them together. Flavonoids are generally nontoxic. The average American ingests about one gram of bioflavonoids daily. Supplementation is variable and the amount may range from 500mg to 5,000mg each dose. Megadoses of bioflavonoids have been advocated by some experts.

Where are bioflavonoids founds?

In most plants, flowers, herbs and grain.

Foods high in bioflavonoids:

Citrus – oranges, citron, lemons, grapefruit, tangerines, grapes, cherries, berries, plums, cantaloupes, apricots, papaya, peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, tea, coffee, cocoa, red wine.

Bioflavonoids and the Future

In 1994 and l995 bioflavonoids were rediscovered by the medical communities of the world. There has been a renaissance in bioflavonoid study and research.

From the major medical universities and research centers of Italy, Japan, India, Turkey, Russia, China, England, the USA and the Netherlands, have come marvelous reports of bioflavonoid investigation. Following are the abstracts of just a few of the research reports of the bioflavonoids:

EnteroVirus

Synthetic flavans with modified chloro-, cyano- and amidino- groups were found to possess powerful antiviral activity, higher than most original compounds studied, and they were found to be effective in the early stages of viral replication.

Coronary Flow

Researchers at the Kohu University, Germany, using the main flavonoids from crataegus species found, it can favorably influence heart rate, left ventricular pressure, velocity of heart muscle contraction and relaxation, and it improves coronary artery blood flow.

Flavonoids as Oxygen Radical Scavengers

Faculty at the Vrije University, Amsterdam, have confirmed research identifying flavonoids as a group of natural occurring compounds that are excellent and potent scavengers of oxygen radicals. This is the primary reason bioflavonoids are therapeutically effective. It is this action that bolsters the immunity and counters aging, heart disease and cancer.

Inhibition of Leukemia Cells Synthesis

The School of Medicine at Loyola University, in Chicago, investigating quercetin, a flavonoid, found it inhibits the DNA synthesis of human leukemia cells. Flavonoids possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory qualities. R. Ficarra et al, researching extracts of Cordia has proven these flavonoids to have significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antiarthritic activity.

Preventing Spinal Cord Injury Damage

The experimental research center at the University of Erciyes, using Ginkgo biloba flavonoids, have shown they significantly decrease malondialdehyde. This is the substance that causes ischemic spinal cord damage following spinal cord injuries.

More Potent Than Vitamin E

Two plant-derived flavonoids, quercetin and cyanidin, were found to have four times the antioxidant potential of vitamin E analogues.

Tumor Prevention

The department of Internal Medicine, at Kanazawa, Japan, has documented the antitumor properties of nine herbal components investigated and has found all to have potent antitumor activity.

Alcohol Abuse

Kering and Vallee, at the Harvard Medicine School have shown the flavonoid Radix puercaric, found in an herb long used in Chinese medicine, to prevent and treat alcohol abuse.

Venous and HEMORRHOIDAL Disease

Use of the flavonoid medicant, Dalfon, results in marked improvement of rectal pain, discomfort and discharge in hemorrhoidal disease. Dalfon contains 90 percent diosmin and 10 percent hesperidin. It is also used effectively in venous diseases, swelling, stasis, and poor return circulation of the lower extremities.

Cancer Cell Killer

Studies at the Triangle Park Research Center, in North Carolina, have documented the anticancer properties found in the comboretaceae flower. This exciting study reveals another new class of bioflavonoids that exhibit cytotoxicity. This is the drug’s ability to kill cancer cells and prevent their growth. Calycopterone, the plant’s main flavonoid has shown a wide range of activity against many different types of cancer.

Anti-AIDS Bioflavonoids

The University of North Carolina’s School of Pharmacy has isolated an anti-AIDS substance from the common chrysanthemum plant. It inhibits HIV replication. Thirteen known and 14 synthetic flavonoids are under investigation and show promise for the treatment of AIDS.

Bone Remodeling

Ipriflavone, a flavonoid, is effective in the bone remodeling of ossicle cultures. The ossicles are the small bones of the inner ear. It interferes with bone resorption and is being used in treating otosclerosis, a disease of the inner ear resulting in deafness.

Peptic Ulcer Disease

Cistus incanus flavonoids have been used with success in the treatment of common gastric or stomach lesions and ulcers. They w
1ll also prevent experimental ulcer formation with reserpine or serotonin.

New Anti-inflammatory Flavonoids

Tantin, a new flavonoid from the Tanacetium parithenium plant has been identified as the major anti-inflammatory agent of the feverfew (featherfew) plant.

Preventing Cell Damage

Flavonoids from Ginkgo biloba are effective in preventing cell death in a variety of diseases. It works through the antinecrotic and scavenging properties of the plants’ terpenes and bioflavones.

Flavonoids in Cancer Prevention

A research paper from the University Krovove summarizes the possibility of using flavonoids in the treatment and especially prevention of human cancers.

Preventing Blood Clots

Flavonoids possess antiplatelet agitating properties- meaning they will prevent blood cells from clumping together and forming blood clots. The University of Ankara has shown 26 flavone derivatives to be highly effective. The formation of blood clots are responsible for heart attacks and strokes.

Another AIDS Study

The Dynacorp Research Center in Frederick, Maryland, has found a flavonoid baicalin to be effective in the treatment and prevention of HIV infection. This inhibits both HIV infection and replication.

Flavonoid in Kidney Failure

Another new flavonoid, lespephlan, is being used in Russia to effectively treat renal failure. It has the ability to refuse blood levels of the metabolic waste materials, urea and creatinine. It activates the kidney functions of elimination and filtration and it promotes urine flow.

Mouth Sores

Anben and galascorbin, two bioflavonoids, are safe and potent treatments for ulcerative mouth sores and necrotic lesions of the oral mucosa.

Blood Lipid Lowering Effects

A study completed at the Banaras Hindu University of India documents the antihyperlipidemia action of flavonoids from Pterocarpus marsupeum. Administration of this plant extract produced significant reductions of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and the "bad" LDL and ULDL-cholesterols. A flavone, pterosupin, was additionally effective in lowering serum biglycerides.

Flavones Simulating Estrogens

A number of bioflavonoids have been shown to mimic the biological actions of 17 beta estradiol.

LYMPHOCYTIC MALIGNANCIES

Research has shown effective results of tasifolin and other bioflavonoids for possible use in lymphocytic malignancies.

BIOFLAVONOIDS AS A PAIN KILLER

Many bioflavonoids possess analgesic properties. An old Hedyosmum derivative from Columbian folk medicine offers new promise as a potent, natural and safe pain killer.