Anti-aging Herb-Lycium
Lycium is one of the main ingredients in FlameEz-Kidney and FlameEz-Glucose. Lycium has been considered to be a major anti-aging herb for over 2,500 years. This delicious fruit is very widely used as an excellent Yin Jing and blood tonic. According to Chinese pharmacopoeia, Lycium nourishes the liver and kidneys, improves vision, strengthens nonspecific immunity, prevents fatty liver, and reduces blood sugar. It has long been a favorite herb of Chinese athletes.
The Lycium fruit contains immunologically active polysaccharides (5-8%). The same polysaccharides also stimulate the secretion in the pituitary gland of human growth hormone, a powerful innate anti-aging hormone. Lycium is also very rich in vitamins and carotenoids. Being rich in trace minerals, Lycium contains significant amounts of zinc, calcium, germanium, selenium, and phosphorus, plus small quantities of many other minerals. The fruit also contains beta-sitosterol (an anti-inflammatory agent), linoleic acid (a fatty acid), sesquiterpenoids (cyperone and solavetivone), tetraterpenoids (zeaxanthin and physalin), and betaine. Lycium contains 18 kinds of amino acids, of which 8 (including isoleucine and tryptophan) are indispensable amino acids for the human body.
Based on scientific and clinical research, Lycium:
- Reduces beta-amyloid neurotoxicity;*
- Promotes neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects;*
- Reduces stress on endoplasmic reticulum and prevents cell aging;*
- Improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood glucose;*
- Reduces lipid peroxidation and DNA damage;*
- Inhibits proliferation of cancer cells and promotes malignant cell apoptosis;*
- Improves maturation and activity of immune cells.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Reference (for abstracts and additional references, click here):
- Xin YF. et al. Protective effect of Lycium barbarum on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Phytotherapy Research. 21(11):1020-4, 2007
- Ho YS. et al. Characterizing the neuroprotective effects of alkaline extract of Lycium barbarum on beta-amyloid peptide neurotoxicity. Brain Research. 1158:123-34, 2007
- Chan HC. et al. Neuroprotective effects of Lycium barbarum Lynn on protecting retinal ganglion cells in an ocular hypertension model of glaucoma. Experimental Neurology. 203(1):269-73, 2007
- Li XM. Protective effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress in rats. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 40(5):461-5, 2007
- Li XM. et al. Effect of the Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on age-related oxidative stress in aged mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 111(3):504-11, 2007
- Zhu J. et al. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides regulate phenotypic and functional maturation of murine dendritic cells. Cell Biology International. 31(6):615-9, 2007
- Yu MS. et al. Characterization of the effects of anti-aging medicine Fructus lycii on beta-amyloid peptide neurotoxicity. International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 20(2):261-8, 2007
- Wu H. et al. Effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on the improvement of antioxidant ability and DNA damage in NIDDM rats. Yakugaku Zasshi - Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. 126(5):365-71, 2006
- Yu MS. et al. Cytoprotective effects of Lycium barbarum against reducing stress on endoplasmic reticulum. International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 17(6):1157-61, 2006
- Chao JC. et al. Hot water-extracted Lycium barbarum and Rehmannia glutinosa inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 12(28):4478-84, 2006
- Zhao R. et al. Effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on the improvement of insulin resistance in NIDDM rats. Yakugaku Zasshi - Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. 125(12):981-8, 2005
- Luo Q. et al. Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects and antioxidant activity of fruit extracts from Lycium barbarum. Life Sciences. 76(2):137-49, 2004
