InflaNOx - AOR

Key Benefits at a Glance:

• Curcumin is a proven natural anti-inflammatory
• Reduces joint pain & inflammation
• Speeds up recovery from injuries
• Helps reduce systemic inflammation

Product Description:

InflaNOx contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant; when combined with nitric oxide it serves to enhance the effects of nitric oxide to provide superior inflammation relief. AOR is the first company to offer this powerful anti-inflammatory combination. Curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory derived from turmeric root. Due to its widespread mechanisms of action, curcumin has also been studied for conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, irritable bowel disease (IBD), colitis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, viral infections such as hepatitis, drug-resistant bacterial infections, healing of skin conditions, and more. InflaNOx provides general anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protection, it benefits gastric health and helps to relieve the symptoms of IBD, protects the liver and enhances physical and exercise performance.

The Power of Curcumin

Curcuma longa is a perennial herb that belongs to the ginger family. The rhizome is extensively used for imparting color and flavor to food including curries. As a powder, called turmeric, it is also used for medicinal and religious ceremonies. Curcumin is an extract of the herb turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn) which has wide-ranging health benefits. It is well known to have antioxidant effects, preventing cellular damage, and it reduces the production of inflammatory signals. It is also able to block the growth of abnormal cells, stopping cancer before it begins.

Curcumin protects the liver from several toxins and regulates lipid metabolism to decrease cholesterol levels. It protects the gastric mucosa against irritants. It can fight off many unwanted invaders such as the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and various fungal infections, and has even been shown to be a useful ally against HIV. Curcumin is able to protect the body from damage in a number of ways. More recently it has been discovered that curcumin is able to reduce the formation of dangerous amyloid beta plaques in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Chemistry of Curcumin

Curcuma longa rhizomes yield about 8% essential oils and 10% fatty oil. Three major constituents have been identified:
1. Curcumin (diferuloyl methane)
2. Curcumin methane
3. Di-hydroxy cinnamoyl methane

The volatile oils contain cineol, camphor and linalool and are probably responsible for the antispasmodic activity. Borneol is present in the essential oil fraction and is largely responsible for the digestion-improving properties of curcumin.

Curcumin Versus Tumeric

Turmeric root supplements absolutely do not offer the same benefits as those containing isolated curcumin. Curcumin is the most potent component of the turmeric root. Unfortunately, turmeric root contains less than 2% of curcumin making it ineffective for any health benefits. In addition, over 95% of all clinical studies have been conducted using isolated curcumin and NOT with the turmeric root. Even 750mg of a 10:1 ratio extract of turmeric will deliver no more than 150mg of the active curcumin. But given the poor bioavailability (the amount of the active compound that reaches the target site or site of action) of this compound, the amount you actually get is likely far less than that. Clinical studies suggest that the bioavailability is less than 5%, making even standard 95% curcumin formulations fairly ineffective.  As for a significantly weakened turmeric root formula? That becomes essentially useless!

Numerous supplements on the market contain the curcumin extract of turmeric. However, many of these are poorly absorbed and offer little value in terms of therapeutic benefit due to their poor bioavailability.

What Is Nitric Oxide?

Nitric oxide is an essential molecule that has a wide range of beneficial effects throughout the body. Its primary role is to facilitate communication between the body’s cells. It’s known as a powerful effector molecule and functions as an EDRF (endothelium-derived relaxation factor). Green leafy vegetables contain very high levels of nitrates, for example, celery, spinach and beetroot contain over 250mg of nitrate per 100g serving. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables such as the DASH, Mediterranean and Japanese, are associated with good health and protect against disease due to their high levels of nitrates.

Research:

The benefits of Curcuma longa have been extensively researched, especially by Indian scientists.

1. Antioxidant

Numerous studies have shown that the various constituents of Curcuma longa possess potent antioxidant properties. The ability of curcuminoids to reduce hydroxyl and peroxyl free radicals is well documented. Sharma reported curcumin to be an effective agent against lipid peroxidation.

2. Anti-inflammatory

The Central Drug Research Institute in India found curcumin to be the major constituent responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity. The classical model for studying acute effects of anti-inflammatory agents is to test their inhibitory action on the development of rat paw edema – the exudative phase of inflammation – induced, for instance, by the local injection of carrageenan. Thus inflammation is thought to be in part due to the action of prostaglandin derivative from arachidonic acid metabolism. A detailed evaluation of curcumin as a potential non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent by Srimal and Dhawan found curcumin to be highly effective after oral administration. Curcumin was effective in other models of inflammation including granuloma, pouch, cotton pellet, formalin-induced, and Freund’s adjuvant.

Many mechanisms of action have been attributed to curcumin. Some researchers found curcumin to be less effective in adrenalectomized rats, suggesting a participation of corticoidal steroids, while others did not observe any effect of curcumin salts on steroid release from the adrenal cortex. Recently, another, more specific in-vitro method has been developed which allows the study of the inhibitory mechanism of potential drugs. By using rat peritoneal neutrophilis, curcumin was tested for the direct effect on the 5-lipooxygenase activities. Another study found that curcumin was able to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in microglial cells that had been stimulated to mount an inflammatory response. Microglial cells are activated after brain injuries and produce proinflammatory mediators and neurotoxic compounds. Curcumin decreased the production of these compounds, apparently by blocking NF-kB, a protein signal in the pathway that leads to their production. The overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines contributes to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cerebral ischemia and many degenerative and inflammatory conditions. The ability of curcumin to decrease inflammation presents an approach to slow the progression of these diseases.

3. Gastro-intestinal effects

Curcumin increases mucin content, thereby protecting the gastric mucosa against irritants. Controversial data exist regarding an anti-ulcerogenic activity of curcumin. Some researchers found a protective effect of curcumin against histamine-induced gastric ulceration, while others reported an ulcerogenic effect of curcumin.

Curcumin also possesses anti-spasmodic properties. Curcumin showed liver protective effects against carbon tetrachloride, D-Galactosamine and peroxide induced cytotoxicity. Curcumin increased bile acid production in dogs and rats.

4. Cardiovascular effects

A sharp and transient hypotensive effect of curcumin was reported in dogs. Curcumin also inhibited collagen and adrenaline-induced aggregation of platelets but did not affect prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis.

5. Lipid metabolism

Rao and co-workers reported that rats fed with curcumin and cholesterol in their diet had only half to one-third of the serum and liver cholesterol levels compared to the controlled groups receiving cholesterol alone.

6. Anti-bacterial/Anti-fungal

Curcumin inhibited growth of most organisms including: Staph aureus, Streptococci, Lactobacilli, Corynebacterium, Baccilus aureus, and Micrococcus pyogenes. The crude ether and chloroform extracts of Curcuma longa showed fungistatic activity against several dermatophytes as well as anti-amoebic activity against Entamoeba histolytica.

7. Anti-viral

A 1993 study showed curcumin as an effective ally in the treatment against HIV. Curcumin was effective in inhibiting the replication of HIV in both acutely infected and chronically infected cells.

8. Anti-tumor activity

The anti-tumor activity of various extracts of Curcuma longa has been remarked by several researchers. Topical application of curcumin inhibited the number of TPA-induced tumors by as much as 98%!! Curcumin was found to be a selective and non-competitive inhibitor of phosphorylase kinase.

Supplement Facts:

Serving Size: 1 Capsule

Curcumin (from Curcuma longa Linn.) ............ 400 mg

Non-Medicinal Ingredients: potassium nitrate (providing 259 mg nitrates), green tea extract, citric acid, potato starch. Capsule: hypromellose.

AOR Guarantees: that no ingredients not listed on the label have been added to the product. Contains no wheat, gluten, corn, nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, sulphites, mustard, dairy, soy, eggs, fish, shellfish or any animal byproduct.

Suggested Dose and Usage:

Take 3 capsules per day, or as directed by a qualified health care practitioner.

Warnings And Contraindications:

Consult a health care practitioner prior to taking antiplatelet medication, blood thinners, erectile dysfunction-type products or any other nitrate containing medications (or supplements), have gallstones or a bile duct obstruction, have stomach ulcers or excess stomach acid. Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen.

Pregnancy/Nursing: Do not use.

Additional Learning And Information:

1. The Power of Nitric Oxide - Say Yes to NO (from AOR)

Statements about these products and health conditions have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. For the Complete disclosure statement click here.

References:

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11.  The inhibition of bacterially mediated N-nitrosation by vitamin C: relevance to the inhibition of endogenous N-nitrosation in the achlorhydric stomach. Carcinogenesis. 1989 Feb;10(2):397-9. Mackerness CW, Leach SA, Thompson MH, Hill MJ.

12.  Tea polyphenols: prevention of cancer and optimizing health. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Jun; 71(6 Suppl): 1698S-702S; discussion 1703S-4S. Mukhtar H, Ahmad N.