Ecklonia cava and COX-2

Anyone knows of a study on Ecklonia cava's ability to moderate COX-2?

In that regard I found some articles that compare EC to Celebrex, but does so by referring to
5-LIPOXYGENASE. Confusing since Celebrex is a selective COX-2 inhibitor!

So what is the ability of EC in regard COX-2 ? Anyone knows, IH perhaps?

cpio - 5-Lipoxygenase is much more powerful in terms of inflammation than COX-2, it is what COX-2 creates.

Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol. 2004 ;115-116 :77-95 17564307 (P,S,E,B)
Antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of ventol, a phlorotannin-rich natural agent derived from Ecklonia cava, and its effect on proteoglycan degradation in cartilage explant culture.

The influence of ECE in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced generation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) using RAW 246.7 cells was studied. While PGE2 was barely detectable in non-stimulated cells, more than one hundred times
the amount of PGE2 was detected in the stimulated cells. ECE, celecoxib (Celebrex®) and aspirin all showed significant inhibition of PGE2 generation in the concentration range tested. ECE showed inhibition of 61%, 85%,
92% and 99% at concentrations of 10, 30, 60 and 100 μg/mL, showing similar activity to celecoxib which showed 65%, 79%, 85% and 96%. Cartilage Protecting Activities As demonstrated above, ECE compared almost identically to celecoxib in the ability to reduce PGE2 by slowing down the lipoxygenase (LOX) system. ECE compounds have more than double
the ability of resveratrol to inhibit LOX. These results were demonstrated in a study on rabbit cartilage cells. Those cells treated with ECE had up to an 80% reduction in degeneration.

IH, do you know of 5-LOXIN? a new extract of Boswellia seratta, it is supposed to be a
powerful moderator of inflammation. Do you see any problems combining it with EC?

5-LOXIN(R) Proven To Reduce The Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis In New Human Study Published In Arthritis Research And Therapy

Article Date: 04 Aug 2008 - 2:00 PDT


PL Thomas (PLT), in alliance with Laila Nutraceuticals, India, jointly announced the publication of a new study using their exclusive dietary supplement ingredient, 5-LOXIN®. In the study, 5-LOXIN supplementation conferred clinically and statistically significant improvements in pain scores and physical function scores in OA patients at doses of 100mg and 250mg daily. Interestingly, significant improvements in pain score and functional ability were recorded in as early as 7 days after the start of treatment. Corroborating the improvements in pain scores in treatment groups, a significant reduction in synovial fluid MMP activity, enzymes which damage connective tissue, was noted. 5-LOXIN was found to be well-tolerated, with no safety concerns. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008, 10:R85doi:10.1186/ar2461.

The study was led by Siba Raychaudhuri, a faculty member of the University of California, Davis, in the United States. According to an interview with the journal, Dr. Raychaudhuri said, "The high incidence of adverse affects associated with currently available medications has created great interest in the search for an effective and safe alternative treatment."

The ingredient used by the authors was 5-LOXIN, (a unique, patent pending extract of Boswellia seratta) providing 30% AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid).

Raychaudhuri continued, "AKBA has anti-inflammatory properties, and we have shown that a Boswellia serrata extract with concentrated AKBA can be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee."

Seventy-five OA patients were included in the study. Divided into three groups of 25, the patients were given daily either 100 mg 5-LOXIN, 250 mg 5-LOXIN or a placebo for 90 days. Each patient was evaluated for pain and physical functions by using the standard tools (VAS - visual analog scale, Lequesne's Functional Index, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) at the baseline (day 0), and at days 7, 30, 60 and 90. Additionally, the cartilage degrading enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-3 was also evaluated in synovial fluid of the knee from OA patients.

According to the authors, "In this study, the compound was shown to have no major adverse effects in our osteoarthritis patients. It is safe for human consumption and even for long-term use."

Interesting studies on 5-LOXIN


Arthritis Res Ther. 2008 Jul 30;10(4):R85. [Epub ahead of print]Click here to read

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, U C Davis and VA Medical Center Sacramento, Hospital Way, Mather, California 95655, USA. sraychaudhuri@ucdavis.edu.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: 5-Loxin(R) is a novel Boswellia serrata extract enriched with 30% 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), which exhibits potential anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme. A 90-day, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 5-Loxin(R) in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHODS: Seventy-five OA patients were included in the study. The patients received either 100 mg (n = 25) or 250 mg (n = 25) of 5-Loxin(R) daily or a placebo (n = 25) for 90 days. Each patient was evaluated for pain and physical functions by using the standard tools (visual analog scale, Lequesne's Functional Index, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) at the baseline (day 0), and at days 7, 30, 60 and 90. Additionally, the cartilage degrading enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-3 was also evaluated in synovial fluid from OA patients. Measurement of a battery of biochemical parameters in serum and haematological parameters, and urine analysis were performed to evaluate the safety of 5-Loxin(R) in OA patients. RESULTS: Seventy patients completed the study. At the end of the study, both doses of 5-Loxin(R) conferred clinically and statistically significant improvements in pain scores and physical function scores in OA patients. Interestingly, significant improvements in pain score and functional ability were recorded in the treatment group supplemented with 250 mg 5-Loxin(R) as early as 7 days after the start of treatment. Corroborating the improvements in pain scores in treatment groups, we also noted significant reduction in synovial fluid matrix metalloproteinase-3. In comparison with placebo, the safety parameters were almost unchanged in the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: 5-Loxin(R) reduces pain and improves physical functioning significantly in OA patients; and it is safe for human consumption. 5-Loxin(R) may exert its beneficial effects by controlling inflammatory responses through reducing proinflammatory modulators, and it may improve joint health by reducing the enzymatic degradation of cartilage in OA patients. TRAIL REGISTRATION: (Clinical trial registration number: ISRCTN05212803.).



DNA Cell Biol. 2005 Apr;24(4):244-55.Click here to read

Human genome screen to identify the genetic basis of the anti-inflammatory effects of Boswellia in microvascular endothelial cells.
Roy S, Khanna S, Shah H, Rink C, Phillips C, Preuss H, Subbaraju GV, Trimurtulu G, Krishnaraju AV, Bagchi M, Bagchi D, Sen CK.

Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.

Inflammatory disorders represent a substantial health problem. Medicinal plants belonging to the Burseraceae family, including Boswellia, are especially known for their anti-inflammatory properties. The gum resin of Boswellia serrata contains boswellic acids, which inhibit leukotriene biosynthesis. A series of chronic inflammatory diseases are perpetuated by leukotrienes. Although Boswellia extract has proven to be anti-inflammatory in clinical trials, the underlying mechanisms remain to be characterized. TNF alpha represents one of the most widely recognized mediators of inflammation. One mechanism by which TNFalpha causes inflammation is by potently inducing the expression of adhesion molecules such as VCAM-1. We sought to test the genetic basis of the antiinflammatory effects of BE (standardized Boswellia extract, 5-Loxin) in a system of TNF alpha-induced gene expression in human microvascular endothelial cells. We conducted the first whole genome screen for TNF alpha- inducible genes in human microvascular cells (HMEC). Acutely, TNF alpha induced 522 genes and downregulated 141 genes in nine out of nine pairwise comparisons. Of the 522 genes induced by TNF alpha in HMEC, 113 genes were clearly sensitive to BE treatment. Such genes directly related to inflammation, cell adhesion, and proteolysis. The robust BE-sensitive candidate genes were then subjected to further processing for the identification of BE-sensitive signaling pathways. The use of resources such as GenMAPP, KEGG, and gene ontology led to the recognition of the primary BE-sensitive TNF alpha-inducible pathways. BE prevented the TNF alpha-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinases. BE also prevented the inducible expression of mediators of apoptosis. Most strikingly, however, TNF alpha-inducible expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were observed to be sensitive to BE. Realtime PCR studies showed that while TNF alpha potently induced VCAM-1 gene expression, BE completely prevented it. This result confirmed our microarray findings and built a compelling case for the anti-inflammatory property of BE. In an in vivo model of carrageenan-induced rat paw inflammation, we observed a significant antiinflammatory property of BE consistent with our in vitro findings. These findings warrant further research aimed at identifying the signaling mechanisms by which BE exerts its anti-inflammatory effects.

cpio - Not a problem at all combining it. It's also available topically.

Can Ecklonia cava gives insomnia??
Because I´ve read on an article :
" ECE compounds were found to prevent sleepiness in bus drivers and in high school students during daytime activities."

But Immorthal you recommend 400mg morning and night,and FIBROBOOST has 1200mg for serving...Isn´t that too much??

sissi - Ecklonia Cava is a powerful sleep aid, especially the first two weeks. It will not cause insomnia, just the opposite.

Each capsule is 400 mg, I recommend just one in the morning and one at night. 1,200 mgs is only if you take three. Taking 3 will not harm you in anyway, but you only need to take two.

EC does definitely not cause insomnia with me. I've been on it for 5-6 months now and I'm sleeping better than I was prior to it.

It's a huge difference from when I couldn't fall asleep if I tried to now when my body is telling me when to get sleep.

I'm also sleeping sounder than I had been and waking up with more energy.

Thanks Hadrion,and do you feel any side effect from it??

sissi wrote:Thanks Hadrion,and do you feel any side effect from it??

None at all. I think it's a great supplement. Prior to using it I was dealing with lots of inflammation in my scalp. It took about 3 months of use for me to really notice that the inflammation was going away.

Been using EC for quite a few months now--no inflammation really. Hair loss is under control, just need more regrowth! It's coming though, slowly but surely.