Tagetes - healing beyond wild psychoactivity

[Tagetes - healing beyond wild psychoactivity]

I've got a few T. erecta now - another 'medicinal potted colour'

 

 

Using Tagetes erecta flowers, sometimes used as a food colour, as a healing dietary addition is nice on many levels. I have a few different ones, some have stronger flavour, others have a super mild flavoured edible flowers that make awesome colourful garnishes that just bring sunshine to your salad, aesthetically and in their chemistry and pharmacology.

 

I'm now getting self-sufficient in having a good healing salad addition growing in my own garden. . I prefer to spruce my salads with them. Not just additional colour 'radiating with the energy of the sun' to brighten your day but flavonoids, triterpenoids and healing carotenoids with CNS benefits and whole body healing effects.

 

Better that way than tea, the taste is mild but pleasant.

[Who said dessert couldn't be medicinal? An experiment in 'Berry Choc + Therapy', from boring medicine to creative meals]

If you need another inspiration for a dish, I prepared this one when I was really ill and found it healing:

 

 

Requiring hardcore culinary arts therapy,  prepared a curry from scratch using literature therapeutic doses of medicinal phytochemicals from food.

 

Made a daal cinnamon curry with a good source of coconut MCTs and good fatty acids

 

Curcumin is anti-inflammatory and antidepressive. Blend it with your oil and black pepper. I use a medicinal turmeric that naturally has 5 x the curcuminoids.

 

Ginger and its constituents, such as 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, 6-paradol, zingerone, and dehydrozingerone, are effective for ameliorating the neurological symptoms of neurodegenerative conditions.

 

Polyphenols from cinnamon I've covered.

 

Added a solid bit of saffron, covered above.

 

Curry leaf aqueous leaf extract reduced the despair behaviour in experimental animal models, suggesting an anti-depressant like activity and also exerted anxiolytic activity

Tip: Add some turmeric essential oil, less than 10 drops (anti-inflammatory, ar-turmerone inhibits microglial activation, a property that may be useful in treating neurodegenerative disease. Furthermore, ar-turmerone  increases NPC proliferation)

 

It's very flavorsome but I like it.

For a more Mediterranean style dish

 

Requiring a bit more of a boost to get into the world (community garden etc, fairly busy tomorrow), whipped up a 'medicinal purple cabbage bolognese'. Used some fresh herb where I could but packed in high levels of dried herb.

 

I certainly don't skimp on my herbs and spices, this is probably the most herb-laden I've spiked a carotenoid-rich tasty tomato sauce, swimming with purple cabbage anthocyanins (no pasta) and other goodness.

 

Epidemiological studies suggest long-term consumption of dietary polyphenols is associated with a decreased risk of incidence of chronic diseases. They are seemingly effective to alleviate inflammation-related diseases, possessing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, neuroprotective and anti-cancer health benefits. More recently benefits have been extended to their other CNS benefits

 

While I grow all these, I'm not yet self-sufficient for having medicinal cooking therapy sessions.

 

Heaps of oregano. This contains rosmarinic acid, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, scutellarein and their derivatives. Not meaning teaspoons or like piss weak quantities. Oregano possesses potent antioxidant properties. Oregano is rich in antioxidants, with as little as one gram could contribute a significant amount of plant-based antioxidants to a human being per day. An extract prepared from leaves of oregano, a major constituent of the Mediterranean diet, is brain-active, with moderate triple reuptake inhibitory activity, and exhibits positive behavioural effects in animal models, not just the carvacrol rich essential oil that is CNS active.

 

High doses of parsley. Alongside the quality nutrition. Parsley is rich in polyphenolic flavonoids, including apiin, apigenin, crisoeriol, and luteolin. Not your standard 'herb' levels

 

Large doses of basil, including some exotic ones. Once again rich in nutrition, polyphenols and flavonoids as well as compounds such as rosmarinic acid

 

Heaps of onion. Onions are among the richest sources of dietary flavonoids. I pack in the dried onion. I like to use a bit of anthocyanin containing red onion, too.

 

Topped it off with saffron.

 

Very tasty.

 

Tip: add a drop of Spanish Sage essential oil to your cooking (established mood and cognitive benefits in healthy individuals)

[Who said dessert couldn't be medicinal? An experiment in 'Berry Choc + Therapy', from boring medicine to creative meals]

In the R&D lab this morning. Berry Choc + Therapy. I've gotten slack, just skulling or taking polyphenol sources, not creating with them. This is a simple healing creation. Quite tasty, remember polyphenols tend to have as literature unfolds, synergistic effects, add the rest of the constituents...

 

 

Because the effects seem to build up, it seems better to have your therapeutic polyphenols etc in the morning IMO.

 

See: Why nutritional psychiatry is the future of mental health treatment

 

This one's the therapeutic blueberry, sour cherry, pomegranate concentrate and cinnamon topped with organic Matcha green tea high flavonol ethical cacao and therapeutic saffron, Clary Sage, Lemon Balm chocolate.

 

Blueberries:

 

Single-dose flavonoid interventions have produced improvements in attention, inhibition, visuospatial memory, and executive function between 2–6 h post-consumption, whilst supplementation of flavonoids for 1.5–8 weeks has been associated with improved visuospatial memory and improved long-term memory.

 

Acutely, a flavonoid rich blueberry drink improved the mood of healthy children and young adults. In both studies, increased Positive Affect was observed 2 h after consumption of the flavonoid-rich drink (significant drink by session interaction). The flavonoid drink had no effect on Negative Affect.

 

In older populations, addition of easily achievable quantities of blueberry (equivalent to one cup) to the diets of older adults can improve some aspects of cognition, including executive functioning. Supplementation with an anthocyanin-rich blueberry concentrate improved brain perfusion and activation in brain areas associated with cognitive function in healthy older adults.

 

A single dose increased positive affect. Pilot EEG data highlight an anxiolytic effect of the consumption of a single serve of berries, as indexed by a suppression of α spectral power, and an increase in the slow wave δ and θ spectral powers. There was also an indication of greater alertness and lower fatigue, as indexed by an increase in β power and suppression of α spectral power. They cause an acute increase in reaction times during the digit vigilance task.

 

Longer term, in a cognitively impaired population, Improvements in verbal fluency, short-term memory and long-term memory are observed. There tends to be blood pressure reduction.

 

They have really good anti-obesity/hypoglycemic/hypolipidemic and antidepressant-like effects. They tend to be insulin sensitising
 
It's not just that they improve hippocampal neurogenesis and function. Berries have the potential to decrease memory impairment, oxidative stress status, and AChE activity and increase neuron density etc. Anthocyanins increase BDNF mRNA expression and may alter other important cognitive pathways.  

 

Pomegranate  see here

 

Cinnamon:

 

 The bark contains proanthocyanidins, catechin and epicatechin along with the precursor for benzoate, cinnamaldehyde.

Cinnamon could be beneficial to counteract deleterious dietary effects in stressed conditions. It could effectively prevent the cognitive dysfunction and the impairment of energy and glucose homeostasis induced by amyloid-β deposition by reducing neuroinflammation and enhancing insulin signaling. It efficiently inhibits tau accumulations, Aβ aggregation and toxicity in vivo and in vitro models. Indeed, cinnamon possesses neuroprotective effects interfering multiple oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory pathways. Cinnamon modulates endothelial functions and attenuates the vascular cell adhesion molecules. Cinnamon PPs may induce AD epigenetic modifications. Cinnamon seems to be effective and safe approaches for treatment and prevention of AD onset and/or progression.

"A Cochrane review on cinnamon states that long-term blood glucose control is essential in reducing the risk of complications associated with diabetes mellitus such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), retinopathy and nephropathy.

Insulin is one of the key hormones that regulates energy and metabolism use as well as transporting sugar from the bloodstream into cells. Cinnamon has been studied as a therapy for improving glycaemic control through its insulin-mimicking biologically active properties that enhance glucose uptake and utilisation in the cell by:

-modulating hepatic glucose metabolism through changes in pyruvate kinase (PK) and phosphenol pyruvate carboxikinase (PEPCK)
-inhibition of intestinal glycosidase
-translocation and synthesis of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4)
-insulin receptor de-phosphorylation and auto-phosphorylation.

In type 2 diabetes, higher amounts of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) are indicative of poorer control of blood glucose levels. Once haemoglobin has been glycated, its ability to transport oxygen, as well as collect carbon dioxide to return to the lungs, is lost leading to advanced glycated end product (AGE), elevated HbA1c and plasma glucose which are associated with retinopathy, nephropathy and cardiovascular disease.
 
In a clinical trial, 2g of cinnamon a day for 12 weeks alongside regular medication for type 2 diabetes, significantly reduced glycated HbA1c, as well as diastolic and systolic blood pressure compared to placebo.A recent double-blind trial reported that 3g of cinnamon significantly improved all components of metabolic syndrome such as insulin, blood pressure, antioxidant status and lean body mass when compared to a placebo"

Cacao and butter

 

Alongside the dose-dependent cognitive enhancement,  the cacao flavonols help with the NO, CBF and BDNF and general brain health, and cardiovascular benefits, data suggest that (-)-epicatechin exerts its antinociceptive effects by activation of the NO-cyclic GMP-K channels pathway, 5-HT1A/1B/1D/5A serotonergic receptors, and μ/κ/δ opioid receptors.

 

Total plasma concentrations of (−)-epicatechin plus (−)-epicatechin metabolites were found in the low-micromolar range as soon as 1 h after the consumption of a flavanol-rich food. The major metabolite of (−)-epicatechin detected in plasma was 4′-O-methyl-epicatechin-7-β-D-glucuronide

 

NF-κB, phosphatases, and kinases, other signaling cascades have been shown to be modulated by (−)-epicatechin and procyanidins. Oral (−)-epicatechin administration to mice protects against Aβ-induced hippocampal toxicity and from stroke-associated brain infarcts and neurologic deficits. At nanomolar concentrations, (−)-epicatechin stimulated the Nrf2 signaling pathway in primary cultures of astrocytes and neurons

" Epi is now known not only as an antioxidant and activator of NO production but also as a substance that can enter the brain and supposedly provide neuroprotection.. Furthermore, Epi's anti-inflammatory effects, its ability to prevent metabolic abnormalities, its ability to reduce infarct size in the heart and stroke volume in the brain, its ability to improve red blood cells' deformability and to reduce pro-thrombotic states, all provide it with a unique synergy in mechanisms involved in the prevention of hypertension and concomitant cardiovascular and brain-related diseases. This may result in significant health benefits and longevity. Thus, Epi, due to its multiple biological activities, is a promising therapeutic candidate

...a high intake of flavonoid-containing foods was associated with better cognitive functions at baseline and also with a more favourable evolution of cognitive performance after a 10-year follow-up period. In a crosssectional study, the relationship between the intake of foods containing chocolate, wine and tea and cognitive performances in elderly people showed dose-dependent associations between the consumption of these foods and cognition (Nurk et al., 2009). In another study, more frequent chocolate consumption was significantly associated with better performances on the extensive battery of neuropsychological tests. Interestingly, the associations between frequent chocolate consumption and cognitive performance remained significant after adjustment for a number of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension (Crichton et al., 2016). Furthermore, a high dose of cocoa polyphenols improved self-rated calmness and contentedness

Experimental studies suggest that orally administered Epi may be a potential prophylactic for Alzheimer's disease in mice (Cox et al., 2015) and, in snails, may enhance memory formation if applied during memory consolidation (Fernell et al., 2016). Additionally, orally administered Epi may affect anxiety-like behaviour in mice" [ref]

 

These fatty acids have effects, from GABAA modulation in some blends to the oleic acid which involves modulation of DA and serotonin neurotransmission Some of the fatty acids are interesting at opioid receptors, too: The mixture of linoleic and palmitic acids (1:1) showed an affinity for δ opioid receptor with a Ki value of 9.2 ± 1.1 μM. Cocoa butter is rich in palmitic and ~4% linoleic.

Green Tea

 

Tea consumption had significant acute benefits on mood and performance and creativity.

 

While some suggest taking supplements of green tea to reduce metabolic biomarkers alone is ineffective, as part of a diet shift it seems good.
 
Tea use was associated with reduced stress, increased calmness and increased electroencephalographic activity (increased alpha, beta and theta activities) in the midline frontal and central brain regions Green tea consumption in subjects with cognitive dysfunction (2 g/day for 3 months, approximately equal to 2 to 4 cups of tea/day) significantly improved cognitive performance. Along with the effects of lower doses of caffeine and small quantities of L-theanine, EGCG has sedative effects in the brain, partially through GABAA receptors, and consequently moderates an acute stress response in a dose dependent manner.

 

Green tea is believed to lower the risk of dementia both through it's polyphenols and active metabolites that exhibit effects on nerve cell proliferation and neuritogenic properties. The consumption of green tea catechins is generally believed to suppress age-related cognitive dysfunction, The neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and iron-chelating properties of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) make it promising for neurorescue. Diet induced neuroinflammation was restored by EGCG supplementation and homocysteine-induced neurodegeneration and neuro-inflammation in the brain was attenuated. It inhibits brain damage and promotes regeneration in the cerebral cortex of rats.

 

EGCG was able to effectively inhibit chemical-induced neurodegeneration and improve learning and memory retention in some toxic exposures

 

Teas significantly reduced AChE activity and partially reduced fat accumulation. Green teas reduced memory deficits. They reduced reactive species accumulation and reduced plasma triglyceride levels. The tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been shown to ameliorate metabolic abnormalities and fatty liver.

 

Saffron:

 

 Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has demonstrated antidepressant effects in clinical studies and extensive anxiolytic effects in experimental animal models. It reputedly has acute effects.
 
It's not overly expensive to get a bulk decent quality Iranian saffron from the right places.

 

Quite quickly, it increases mood, reduces anxiety and manages stress without side effects in studies. It has been traditionally used for the treatment of insomnia and other diseases of the nervous systems, it has sleep quality improving effects. Crocins attenuated schizophrenia-like behavioural deficits. It has a satiating effect and decreases the frequency of snacking events. It's been used in emotional disorders and it was found that using saffron (30 mg/day) was effective in relieving symptoms in some cases.

 

Crocin can regulate HPA axis activity and has therapeutic effects in stress disorders, potentially PTSD where it is effectve in an animal model. It may serve an appropriate treatment for subjects who experience a extremely stressful or traumatic event.

 

Saffron and its metabolites have proven to be effective in different models of psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. It is as least effective as first-line medications for MDD in quality studies with less side effects.

It's got a good safety margin, while 30mg may prove effective “to a daily maximum dose of 1.5 grams there has not been any risk documented. Lethal dose is 20 g and the abortive dose, 10 g, because as such it was employed in the past due to its stimulating action on the smooth muscle of the uterus. 5 g daily dose can already cause intoxication accompanied by vomiting, bloody diarrhea, hematuria, skin hemorrhages in nose, lips and eyelids, vertigo and dulling. The skin and mucous membranes take a yellowish colour similar to jaundice”.

 

Crocin is an isolated chemical compound that belongs to a group of commercial carotenoid derived from the stigma branches of dried saffron. The spice’s high antioxidant capacity explains most of its preventive or healing properties in relation to chronic and degenerative diseases

 

Crocin and crocetin may have a neuroprotective effect because of their anti-inflammatory action in microglial cells, as tested in rat brains, accompanied by a reduction in neurotoxic molecules (TNF-α, interleukin-1β and intracellular ROS. The restoration of a redox balance in brain tissues can be a good therapeutic strategy to limit neuro-inflammation and consequently tissue oxidative damage). Many of the anti-inflammatory effects of crocin demonstrated in animal models of neuronal degeneration could be mediated by its direct effects on microglia homeostasis.

 

It also has anti-adiposity effects

 

Crocin can be considered as healthcare product to prevent age-related brain diseases, it is able to enhance memory function in an aging model through anti-glycative and anti-oxidative properties which finally can suppress brain inflammatory mediators and increase protective pathways

 

Crocin can improve learning and memory and may prevent neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. Saffron is a source of novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. It is not mutagenic and prevents alcohol-induced disorders of memory and learning. Its mechanism is thought to be prevention of the inhibitory effect of ethanol on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors in the hippocampus. It has clear binding capacity at the PCP binding side of the NMDA receptor and at the sigma(1) receptor
 

There is an anti-fatigue effect of crocetin - its intake improved performance when taken 4 h before a physical fatigue-inducing task

 

Treatment with saffron extract for seven consecutive days in a study conducted in rats in an experimental model of MS improved learning and memory impairment and alterations in the parameters of oxidative stress in the hippocampus. Clinically saffron was able to reduce MS symptoms - crocetin might prevent demyelination and neurodegeneration. Such findings show that saffron may potentially prove useful in the treatment of MS through the inhibition of oxidative stress and the infiltration of leukocytes to the CNS.

 

Saffron protects many cells of the dopaminergic system with relevance to Parkinson's disease.

 

Studies on the bioactive substances of saffron in depression indicate that the crocin acts by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters, while safranal inhibits the reuptake of serotonin. There are in vivo studies suggesting inhibitory effects on the monoamine oxidases, MAO-A and MAO-B, enzymes responsible for the degradation of the neurotransmitters, as mentioned above, leading to an increase in their levels in the synaptic space and reducing depressive symptoms.

 

Saffron is a potential efficacious and tolerable treatment for major depressive disorder with anxious distress. [1] It increased mood, reduced anxiety and managed stress without side effects, offering a natural alternative to standard treatments [2] Saffron is as effective as fluvoxamine in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate OCD [3]

 

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27701683
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28735826
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29062366

Clary Sage

 

I've also used quite a lot of Salvia sclarea essential oil orally at low doses. It adds nicely to food, in contrast to lavender. I find it nicer than lavender in effect, too. Lavender has effects in part mediated by 5-HT1ARs, likewise the linalool-type compounds in Clary sage probably do too. These compounds also reverse the epigenetic consequences of stress Clary oil was found to alleviate stress and have antidepressive effects, effects manifested by activation of dopamine pathways. The anti-stressor effect of clary oil likely involves dopamine D1/D2 and 5-HT1ARs.

 

"Another piece of research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that including clary sage oil in the food of animal subjects lead to a significant reduction in dominant and anxious behavior. "

 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320423.php

 

Lemon balm

 

Elliott et al. (2007) employed EOs from Lavandula angustifolia Mill. and Melissa officinalis L. belonging to Lamiaceae for the management of agitation in individuals with severe dementia. The sedative and calming effect of both EOs is already established which can contribute in consolidation of memory. In the receptor binding capability study, both oils extensively inhibited radioligands binding to the muscarinic M1, 5HT2A, histamine H3 receptors and GABAA receptor channel site. M. officinalis EO displayed broad receptor binding capacity in comparison to L. angustifolia EO, and showed affinity for binding with 5HT1A and the agonist binding site of GABAA receptors. The results of this study revealed that both EOs act as substrate for and interact with several receptors, and can be effectively used to relieve the symptoms of agitation. Conversely, M. officinalis EO has got the ability to reduce social withdrawal times and increased the time of constructive activities of dementia patients. L.angustifolia and M. officinalis EOs in combination (50:50) has inhibited flunitrazepam binding.

A placebo-controlled trial, conducted on patients affected by severe dementia guests of care facilities in the UK, reported the effect of Melissa officinalis (M. officinalis) essential oil, applied as massage twice a day for 4 weeks, on agitation measured by the Cohen-Mansfield agitation inventory (CMAI): seventy-one out of the seventy-two participants completed the trial and results demonstrated an improvement of agitation without the occurrence of significant side effects. The efficacy of lemon balm hydroalcoholic extracts rather than the essential oil is also well documented. In a study (a parallel group, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial), involving aged patients (from 65 to 80 years of age) suffering from mild-moderate AD, 60 drops/day of lemon balm extract were administered. Lemon balm exerted positive effects both on cognition, as measured through the 11-item cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog) and the CDR-SB, and on agitation as side effect at 4 months.

[.]

This might give you some idea.

 

For an extract that exerts beneficial CNS effects:

Catha edulis Forsk. (Khat): Evaluation of its Antidepressant-like Activity

Although a lot of studies demonstrated that cathinone is unstable and undergoes degradation during drying or extraction and becomes physiologically inactive after about 36 h of harvesting,[8,22,23] the current investigation used standardized extraction method followed by spectroscopic confirmation. The phytochemical analysis (MS of Khat extract) indicated the presence of cathinone and cathine as shown in Figure 1.

 

Previously published studies on the chemical compositions of herbs and their bioactivity recommend that plants containing saponins, flavonoids, and tannins own bioactivity against many central nervous system ailments.[31] Phytochemical data on Khat revealed the presence of many phytochemicals.[32] It is probable that the biomechanism of anxiolytic action of Khat could be due to the binding of cathine or cathinone to various receptors involved in the anxiolysis processes, which has to be explored further.

Wont go into isolation of active constituents here.

[A Cross Cultural Technology of Healing Consciousness Using Psychoactive Plant Medicines]

Really cool article. We need to learn the subtleties of plant medicines, not just the "opening medicines". Yep, even a diet optimised with the right plants gets psychoactive in a subtly healing way.

 

http://phytoalchemy.co.za/2018/02/14/cross-cultural-technology-healing-consciousness-using-psychoactive-plant-medicines/

 

"...there appears to be a broad lack of attention in the West to the role of the other major traditional plant medicine categories besides the strong consciousness opening medicines. In this paper I explore the sequential use of subtle acting psychoactive cleansing, opening, strengthening and protection medicines that are indispensable in the successful healing and self-development process that indigenous healers undergo in both South America and Southern Africa, as part of their initiation with psychoactive plant medicines, and that this process can not be understood by focusing on the opening plants...

 

...the sequential use of subtle acting psychoactive plant medicines is indispensable for the healing process observed in traditional societies, and that Westerners would benefit in recognizing that shamanic healing is not only the use of opening plant medicines..., but a well designed process of using numerous subtle acting psychoactive plant medicines, in a sequence, in order to heal and transform a person, that requires time and patience."

[Coleus - can we use it medicinally beyond psychoactivity?]

Played a bit around with a strongly purple Coleus, just nibbling bits, nothing too extreme, not a therapeutic dose - those really purple Coleus may theoretically have the highest level of some healthy constituents but that purple colour seemingly stains your mouth quite a bit, particularly your tongue... if you don't want to freak people out, be careful of the purple Coleus.

[How has shifting diet impacted your life? With some studies]

Keen to hear a few words from people who have adopted a new diet and found benefit, particularly for managing mental health. What was the change and how was it beneficial?

 

Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents.

Habitual intake of a Western dietary pattern may exacerbate low-grade systemic inflammation, not solely attributable to BMI

A 'Western' dietary pattern (characterised most strongly by processed foods, red and processed meats, dairy, potatoes, refined grains, soft drink, sauces and dressings and take away) associates with an increased risk of mental health problems including depressive symptoms in adolescents, through biologically plausible pathways inflammation and adiposity, whereas a 'Healthy' dietary pattern (he ‘Healthy’ pattern was characterised by higher loadings on whole grains, fruit, vegetables, legumes and fish) appears protective in these pathways. Longitudinal modelling into adulthood is indicated to confirm the complex associations of dietary patterns, adiposity, inflammation and mental health problems, including depressive symptoms [1]

http://sci-hub.tw/10.1016/j.bbi.2018.01.002

Other research has found a study a strong relationship between higher scores for a ‘Western’ dietary pattern and increased BMI, cardiometabolic risk, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and higher withdrawal, depression, delinquency and aggressive behaviours.

 

A significant proportion of depressed persons show up-regulation of inflammatory markers. It has been suggested that chronic inflammation may underlie the association between diet and depression, since negative health behaviors, such as a poor diet, may lead to both inflammation and depression in susceptible individuals

Nutrients such as magnesium, fibre, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, and carotenoids from food associate with a Healthy diet and decreased levels of inflammatory markers

 

Dietary influences on cognition.

 

Full text: http://sci-hub.tw/10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.02.052

 

The fact "dietary changes can also affect the biological functioning of the brain and seriously impact cognitive function has yet to fully penetrate our social consciousness, with possibly disastrous consequences as the obesity pandemic threatens to overwhelm healthcare services."

 

Epidemiological studies suggest that introduction of a more healthy diet positively impacts cognitive domains, strongly.

"From a neurobiological perspective, both addictive drugs and highly palatable foods increase dopamine release in the reward centers of the brain, and maladaptive changes in dopamine signaling have long been implicated in the etiology of addiction. In particular, a reduction in striatal D2/3 receptor density ... has also been documented in overweight subjects, coupled with impulsivity. Recent data from the Winstanley lab using one such behavioral assay of impulsivity, the five-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRT), suggest that macronutrients themselves may be able to alter this form of cognition, the ability of certain hypercaloric macronutrients to increase impulsivity is noted.

 

Consumption of diets high in saturated fats and refined carbohydrates are associated with neurocognitive dysfunction, including increased risk for mild cognitive impairment and dementia. they are associated with impairments in decision-making, planning and problem solving (all of which are features of executive function) with less evidence for associations with other cognitive domains, such as verbal fluency and learning and memory, along with with alterations in appetitive functions, such as, reinforcement learning and effort, reward cue reactivity and incentive motivation, all of which are regulated by neural systems that support executive functions. From a mechanistic perspective, these cognitive deficits may result from decreases in neurotrophic factor expression, increases in oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, as well as structural and functional deficits in brain regions like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex"

 

It's been shown three weeks on a super healthy diet starts to crank up regions of the brain like the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and causes modulation of regions like the nucleus accumbens, orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala. This area appears to be critical for working memory, planning, selective attention, temporal integration and volition. Damage in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in humans leads to a lack of spontaneous activity, distractibility by environmental cues, and the repetitive, stereotypic use of inappropriate behavioral responses (perseveration).

I've mentioned the polyphenols lots, in short they seem very helpful

 

Reduced mortality risk by a polyphenol-rich diet: An analysis from the Moli-sani study.

 

High polyphenol and healing phytochemical intake is for me not just the best way to manage my mental health. The polyphenol content of the diet was, in a recent analysis, associated with reduced mortality risk:

 

"Participants included in the highest quintile of intake of various polyphenol classes and subclasses presented a significant lower all-cause mortality risk compared with those in the lowest group of consumption

 

...the present results together with the recent literature, extend the role of dietary polyphenols from natural compounds potentially active on disease prevention to important nutrients for the reduction of mortality risk in a general population."

 

In depression, there is an inverse relationship between consumption of fruits and/or vegetables and depressive symptoms. Less than 5% of depressed subjects reported consuming the amount of fruits and vegetables recommended by the WHO. I'm finding mixing up the diet to be more important - just a one-unit increase in the dietary diversity scale was associated with a 39% reduction in the risk of severe depression. Adherence to a high-quality diet, regardless of type (i.e., healthy/prudent or Mediterranean), was associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms over time (odds ratios ranged 0.64-0.78 in a linear dose-response fashion [P < 0.01]). A relatively low dietary inflammatory index was also associated with a somewhat lower incidence of depressive symptom (odds ratio = 0.81), although not in a dose-response fashion. Similar associations were found for the consumption of fish and vegetables (odds ratios 0.86 and 0.82 respectively) but not for other high quality food groups (e.g., fruit).

 

I've touched on this here

 

On 2/13/2018 at 4:21 AM, Alchemica said:

 

Can going more diversely planty make our world a kinder, more compassionate, mentally healthier, less angry society? I don't think it's just vegetarian/vegan mumbo jumbo...

 

It's not just the mood and cognitive improvements that seem impressive, one thing I'm finding is the change in 'pent up anger' and negative emotional dysregulation that seems to improve by getting really diversely planty and avoiding grain-based not particularly nutritious food and sticking with more plant proteins. Studies are still lacking on how crop-based diets with varying macronutrient, mineral or vitamin contents and amino acid composition influence the physiology, behaviour or key life-history traits but it was found monotonous high carbohydrate typical crop-based diets cause high rates of maternal infanticides in the European hamster.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if much of our psychological/emotional disorders, societal issues with anger and violence etc can be attributed to the typical Western diet and trans-generational epigenetic consequences.

 

Diet, stress, anxiety, depression, life satisfaction, emotion among numerous other psychological factors modify things like DNA methylation patterns. Studies underpin the hypothesis that DNA methylation is involved in deviant human behaviour, psychological and psychiatric conditions. The best way for me to get back to healthier emotions and more seems to be food.

 

In my experiences, it's not enough to simply modulate protein/carbs/fats, vitamins and methylation precursors. Plant compounds really help.

 

Polyphenols are effective against chronic diseases and recent reports indicated strong epigenetic effects of polyphenols. They alter traits by altering the structure of chromatin and directly regulate both transcription and translational processes. In this context, dietary polyphenol-targeted epigenetics becomes an attractive approach for disease prevention and intervention. Polyphenols, including flavonoids, curcuminoids, and stilbenes, modulate the establishment and maintenance of key epigenetic marks, thereby influencing gene expression and, hence, disease risk and health.Dietary phenolic compounds modulate DNA methylation

 

Many components of food have the potential to cause epigenetic changes in humans. For example, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables contain isothiocyanates, which are able to increase histone acetylation. Soya, on the other hand, is a source of the isoflavone genistein, which is thought to decrease DNA methylation in certain genes. Found in green tea, the polyphenol compound epigallocatechin-3-gallate has many biological activities, including the inhibition of DNA methylation. EGCG from tea can re-express many transcriptionally silenced genes through inhibition of DNMT1 enzymatic activity. Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric (Curcuma longa), can have multiple effects on gene activation, because it inhibits DNA methylation but also modulates histone acetylation.

Even huffing some lavender has epigenetic restorations of the epigenetic consequences of stress...

 

 

[Milk Thistle, not just a hepatoprotective plant]

While well known for it's hepatoprotective benefits, you seldom hear of Milk Thistle being used for other reasons. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, anticancer, cardioprotective and intriguing CNS effects.

 

I've used this a bit on top of my other polyphenols and some high silymarin extract is cheap. It has anxiolytic and antidepressive effects in brain injury in animal models

 

Back on it at the moment as it's one I've kind of got some bulk powder left of and ran out of other solid polyphenol sources for a bit. It's hard to tell what it feels like alone but I just find it beneficial to keep the polyphenols flowing in my diet, otherwise I get extra sick.
 

 

 

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a medicinal plant that has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for a variety of ailments. As a traditional medicine it has been used for treatment of liver diseases and is known to provide a wide range of hepatoprotective effects. It has been found effective in various neurological disorders and things like Rheumatoid Arthritis and diabetic complications.

 

"Clinical trials have shown silymarin is safe at high doses (>1500 mg/day) in humans, the pharmacokinetic studies over the past three decades related to absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of silymarin have revealed poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and ultimately poor oral bioavailability."

That said, I feel there's still benefits to use in the diet, You can consider complexes with improved bioavailability. Please note there may be drug interactions, sometimes this can be exploited beneficially.

"The neuroprotective effects conferred by silymarin include modulation of various antioxidant mechanisms, and several kinases involved in cell signaling pathways, inhibition of the inflammatory response generated during neurodegeneration, neurotropic effects, regulation of neurotransmitters and inhibition of apoptosis." [1]

 

Aside from being a good anti-oxidant, silymarin, a plant-derived polyphenolic flavonoid of Silybum marianum, elicited significant antidepressant-like activity in an acute restraint stress model of depression.

 

It improved monoamines, mainly 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in the cortex, dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) in the cerebellum in mice. It alleviates monoaminergic deficits, neurogenesis (enhancing 5-HT, NE and BDNF levels), and attenuation of inflammatory cytokines system and oxidative stress by modulation of corticosterone response, restoration of antioxidant defense system in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Silibinin-treatment up-regulated the BDNF/TrkB pathway and attenuated autophagy in the hippocampus.

 

Silymarin/silybin reveals immunomodulatory effects with both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive activities. Different studies have shown that silymarin has the anti-inflammatory effect through the suppression of NF-κB signaling pathway and TNF-α activation. Silymarin attenuated IL-6, and TNF-α significantly

 

It can be considered a potential treatment for Parkinson's Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases associated with neuroinflammation.

 

Silybum marianum could be a new source for the isolation of phytoconstituents useful in cognition and memory disorders such as Alzheimer's disease

 

Silymarin is a potential option for preventing aging and age-related diseases.

[Callistemon (Bottlebrush) tea as gentle Native stimulant, pro-cognitive tea?]

29 minutes ago, Siggor said:

You need to collate your knowledge into a book, I am sure there would be plenty of people to fork out for it. Or people would chip in to get something like that to be published.

 

Thanks, one day that would be nice, I keep doing little write ups for the moment, I still struggle quite a bit with my head, each day is just trying, so these kind of cognitive tasks help me a little bit. Nice to be able to do little bits and pieces that others find of interest.

[Callistemon (Bottlebrush) tea as gentle Native stimulant, pro-cognitive tea?]

It's the same compound in many essential oils, including rosemary. This compound is quite effective via inhalation, as mentioned, anxiolytic, pro-cognitive.  Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) ligands are used in treating cognitive decline such as Alzheimer's, too. Irreversible AChE inhibition is sometimes problematic as you mention. Particularly things like memantine ie uncompetitive NMDAR antagonists with paradoxically cognition enhancing, even antipsychotic-augmenting effects, find use in medicine.

 

That said, it's one you don't want to dose too high on.

[Callistemon (Bottlebrush) tea as gentle Native stimulant, pro-cognitive tea?]

In adventures living more off the land, today trying Callistemon as a natural energy drink. Anyone tried this one?

 

"Indigenous people of Australia used the bottle brush flowers as a natural energy drink, ingeniously taking full advantage of their natural surroundings. Soaking the flowers in water essentially drinking all the natural goodness."

 

Flowers and leaves can be used for tea; leaves can be used to flavour sauces.

 

"Some people say all of the Callistemon species can be used the same way - You can use either the Callistemon citrinus leaves or blossoms to make a tea or use the leaves to make a tea and use the blossom to sweeten the tea."

http://www.eattheweeds.com/bottlebrush-tree/

 

The plant has good antioxidant activities, total phenolic and flavonoid contents

 

These Myrtaceae tend to contain 1,8-cineole and α-pinene in the essential oils, of relevance to medicine. 1,8-cineole may function as a memory enhancing NMDA/AChE active molecule (also acting at TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels). 1,8-Cineole, a major constituent, was effective in decreasing anxiety and plasma 1,8-cineole correlates with cognitive performance following exposure to essential oils... It displays NMDAR activity, 1,8-cineole was found to be similar to memantine, 1,8-cineole is a good candidate for NMDA antagonism, with a weaker AChE inhibitory effect.

 

 α-pinene has diverse applications, from anti-inflammatory, to memory enhancing, to being anxiolytic. Leaf essential oil exhibited high antioxidant activity

 

I like the Callistemon as a tea. The flower is a pleasant softer brew. The leaf particularly seems 'sharply pro-cognitively uplifting'. If you like healing teas like rosemary etc you may like it

 

The flowers brewed as a tea have a refreshing flavour, pleasant, be nicer as iced tea I think.

 

The leaves quite a bit more essential oil laden, still pleasant but reasonably flavoursome and seemingly more active.

 

1,8-Cineole is a small lipophilic molecule that easily passes across the blood-brain barrier and may show effects at the neuronal level by acting on receptor sites and enzyme activity. This compound showed stimulant activity in mice, significantly increasing ambulatory activity and reflecting a reduced level of anxiety. Furthermore, 1,8-cineole was reported to inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a nervous system enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to transmit nerve impulses.

 

The α-pinene is a nice additional addition, so too the flavonoids/phenolics.

['Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.' - a focus on Pomegranate]

I've used pomegranate leaf and brewed some up with my pomegranate peels. This morning a strong brew of pomegranate peels, blueberry, hibiscus and lots of spearmint

 

For holistic health, even in pathology, I still think you can't go past what many people would consider 'not medicine'.

 

Today in the shamanic mug is a nice broad-spectrum, chunky style with the spearmint brew, cocktail of polyphenols etc. Saved up lots of local pomegranate peel. It makes quite a tanniny tasting healing tea with a broad spectrum of healing polyphenols which can enhance cognitive/functional recovery in CNS injury. Tonnes of Spearmint. Added some Hibiscus and a solid dose of blueberry goodness.

 

These tools I think I find healthier and at times more effective than something considered 'more medicinal'

 

All of these constituents are to me nicely uplifting, the anthocyanins improve mood/positive affect even acutely have solid pro-cognitive effects, improving memory aspects and executive functioning etc.

 

These are looking really promising for CNS things:

Pomegranate supplementation improves cognitive and functional recovery following ischemic stroke: A randomized trial.

 

These also contains beneficial phenolics and flavonoids

 

I use the whole fruit, the peel of the pomegranate is now being recognised to contain up to three times the polyphenols as the arials. Pomegranate includes:

 

punicalagins
condensed tannins
catechins
gallocatechins
prodelphinidins

 

"Use young leaves as a salad green.
Use young leaves in a green smoothie or juice.
Use young leaves as a spinach alternative – curries, pasta sauces, soups …
Make a leaf tea – fresh or dried.
Make a paste from the leaf and put it on eczema directly."

 

 

[Magnolia grandiflora leaf - anonaine and related alkaloids as 5-HT1A ligands/DAT inhibitors]

@10g Magnolia grandiflora leaf twice in a day, mood uplift became quite good. Cognitively and emotionally, even spiritually nice.

 

I've mentioned one dominant alkaloid constituent, (-)-anonaine. As I've said, this has good selectivity as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor and at 5-HT1A with some α1-adrenoceptor antagonist activity. Through both dopamine reuptake inhibition and 5-HT1A agonism (5-HT1A receptor stimulation increases dopamine release in frontal regions of the brain), the net dopaminergic effect is seemingly pleasant. α1-adrenoceptor antagonists may also enhance brain functions. Such antagonists enhanced memory function by activating NMDA receptor-mediated ion currents in the hippocampus

 

Another constituent is remerine/roemerine. These were found to be quite decent antagonists at 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors and α1 receptors. The 5-HT2A/C antagonism occurs with good selectivity over activity at 5-HT2B, α1A, α1B and α1D receptors. This antagonism likely functions to increase cortical dopamine and augments the therapeutic potential of some dopamine reuptake inhibitors.

 

Liriodenine stimulates respiration in animals and has a short lasting hypotensive effect. It was shown to have activity against gram-positive bacteria, acid-fast bacteria, and several fungal organisms with relatively low acute toxicity and relatively potent anti-cancer effects. It was found to be a muscarinic receptor antagonist. In combination with anonaine etc, it displayed anti-depressant effects

 

[From common garden plants to medicines]

Starting to see even more  common 'ornamental' plants as medicines... even the Salvias  I wrote off as uninteresting. A trip to look at plants or even just wandering the streets is like visiting 'The Creator's Pharmacy'... trying to work out the medicine of the Salvia plants I discounted that grow around the garden and nearby.

 

Some I cherish, from my Salvia officinalis which I try to use quite often as a functional food healing tonic, to my Clary sage, which I use as essential oil and have nibbled a few leaves off, to my Pineapple Sage which is antidepressive, anxiolytic and has beneficial effects on blood pressure. This plant, "mirto", is a shrub that has been widely used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of different central nervous system (CNS) diseases, principally, anxiety. These have antidepressant and anxiolytic activity, contain ursolic acid an antidepressant flavanone, 5-O-(6-rhamnosylglucoside)-7-hydroxy-4'-methoxyflavanone. It also has anti-hypertensive activity.

Many have pro-cognitive and very useful all round effects, Salvia officinalis and Spanish Sage are good examples. S. officinalis has anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antidementia, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects [1]
 

Interestingly, one I've seen around, is Salvia guaranitica. From what I hear, "Salvia Guaranitica is certainly active. Contains Cirsiliol. Works noticeably well..." Interested in adding that. Quite available. This plant is used as a traditional medicinal plant used in Latin America as sedative. Studies demonstrated the presence of cirsiliol in its extracts and found that this flavonoid is a competitive low affinity benzodiazepine receptor ligand (Marder et al., 1996). Studies have investigated the pharmacological properties of Salvia guaranitica extracts and of its active principle, cirsiliol. A partially purified fraction of this plant, administered intraperitoneally in mice (in a dose equivalent to 3 g of the fresh plant), exhibited sedative and hypnotic effects as measured in the hole board and in the pentobarbital-induced sleep tests, respectively. Salvia guaranitica extracts and its active principle cirsiliol, possess sedative and hypnotic properties; cirsiliol produces these effects probably acting on the benzodiazepine receptor. Definitely sounds like a good addition.

 

I tried the Salvia splendens 'Blaze of Fire', it seems like a potentially medicinally useful plant - the aerial parts of these plants contain flavonoids, triterpenoids, and monoterpenes, particularly in the flowers and leaves, while diterpenoids are found mostly in the roots. It's a good source of phenolics and has hypoglycemic and antiinflammatory activities along antioxidant effects. Salvia splendens is widely used in Indian traditional medicine for the control of diabetes mellitus. Interestingly, it's also a flower anthocyanin source - derivatives of pelargonidin, delphinidin, or malvidin were isolated.

 

One I think may be Salvia argentea which shows the presence of many chemical groups which possess interesting biological activities. It may find use as an anti-inflammatory.

 

Recently a friend pointed out Salvia dorisiana at the Botanic Gardens, I can't find any literature on the medicinal use of that one but it's culinary uses are there - uses for Fruity Sage include using the leaves and flowers in salads, fruits salads, iced teas and fruit punches. It smells wonderful.

While potentially less common and more renowned for it's medicine, the Clary Sage is quite interesting. S. sclarea extract had decent affinity for the 5-HT2A receptors and fairly good affinity for the D2 receptors. Clary sage oil has antidepressant-like effects and potent anti-stress effects, I find it better than Lavender. The antidepressant-like effect of clary oil is closely associated with modulation of the DAergic pathway while the anti-stress effect relies on DA/5-HT1A pathways.

 

There's a thread on other Salvias here.

[Diabetes]

Interesting recent results with berries, particularly looking at high anthocyanin berries.

 

Aronia contains a variety of ingredients such as polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and tannins. Especially, anthocyanin content in aronia berry is known to be much higher than in other plants and berries. It is known for exerting antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-aging effects. Such a strategy may be tasty and useful
 

Other anthocyanins seem to help, too. Anthocyanins from black carrot were found to be effective to control diabetes  Things like tart cherry have a strong biochemical basis for management of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease by controlling glucose absorption, reducing associated hypertension and inflammation.

[Paper on Convolvulaceae symbiosis]

Cool new papers. Ever wondered what the symbiotic funkiness of Convolvulaceae looked like?

 

 

In this pic: The fungus/plant symbioses Periglandula/Ipomoea or Periglandula/Turbina: flowers of the host plant I. asarifolia (A), I. asarifolia (red blooming) (, T. corymbosa ©; epiphytic colonization of a young leaf of T. corymbosa by P. turbinae forming typical mycelium mats along the veins (D, E); ergoline alkaloids visualized by their UV-auto fluorescence within the mycelium of a young colony of P. ipomoeae (F); a peltate glandular trichome (pgt) encircled by hyphae of P. ipomoeae forming the interface of the symbiotum (G); formation of an appressorium-like structure (ap) on the cuticle of the secretory cell of the glandular trichome indicating the close contact of fungus and plant in the symbiosis (H); hyphae (hy) of P. ipomoeae embedded in the matrix (m) of subcuticular space of the peltate glandular trichome (pgt) (I).

 

Ref: http://www.thieme-connect.com/DOI/DOI?10.1055/a-0577-8049

Full text: http://sci-hub.tw/10.1055/a-0577-8049

 

There's also a Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience on the synthetic analogue of potential therapeutic relevance to people: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00043 (Full text: http://sci-hub.tw/…//dx.doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00043)

[Magnolia grandiflora leaf - anonaine and related alkaloids as 5-HT1A ligands/DAT inhibitors]

@Supplemental 10g Magnolia grandiflora leaf. Just to see where it went, rather than craving more. Had a nice day with some potentially increased pro-sociality noted on the 10g, got out to a peaceful Japanese Garden.

 

The utilisation of a dual DAT inhibitor/5-HT1A agonist such as the alkaloids in Magnolia grandiflora intrigues me a lot.

 

Effective low abuse potential dopaminergics that may increase frontal cortical dopamine and gently modulate the reward system are sorely needed in medicine for treating everything from ADHD, to severe anhedonic depressions, to attenuating as an augmentation strategy, cognitive issues and negative symptoms in psychotic disorders etc.

 

The dual action profile is intriguing as:

 

1) 5-HT1A agonism may reduce potential sensitisation and the development of tolerance to pro-cognitive effects - It is suggested that the sensitisation development to dopamine reuptake inhibitors may be opposed by buspirone co-administration due to the reduction in the sensitivity of 5-HT1A somatodendritic receptors. Attenuation of methylphenidate-induced tolerance on cognition is also seen with the co-administration of a 5-HT1A active compounds

 

2) 5-HT1A agonists are often pro-cognitive and often pro-social, along with being anxiolytic. Can't be overly simplistic, it's rather dependent on how the agonist is acting, pre-synaptically and post-synaptically.There is generally an increase in dopamine release in prefrontal cortex mediated by the direct or indirect activation of the 5-HT1A receptor

 

Add the antitumour, vasorelaxation, antioxidative, antiparasitic and antimicrobial effects of these alkaloids... then there's the healing benefits of the polyphenols if you use leaf material.

 

Coffee has more subjective stimulation and abuse potential, in an unpleasant way. This is nice as a potential antidepressive, clean, pro-cognitive, seemingly low abuse plant medicine. If I had to describe it, I'd call it a "Shen tonic". It's feels like a subtle uplift of spirits, over a nasty push. It's seemingly got a pro-social edge and a certain emotional and transcendent element to it IMO.

"(−)-anonaine has good selectivity for 3H-dopamine uptake. The affinity of (−)-anonaine at dopamine D1 3H-SCH 23390 and D2 3H-raclopride binding sites was low [19]. (−)-Anonaine displays dopamine uptake inhibitory properties. 5-HT1A receptor plays an important role in depressive disorders. One study has shown that 1,2-dimethoxy-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzoquinoline-
3,8,9,10-tetraol, (−)-anonaine, liriodenine, and nornuciferine are the main constituents of the aerial parts of Annona cherimola [2]. These main constituents produced antidepression-like effects due to the 5-HT1A receptor agonistic activity of (−)-anonaine and nornuciferine [2]. These results indicate that (−)-anonaine displays dopamine uptake inhibitory and 5-HT1A agonistic activity with anti-depressant activity." [1]

 

[Magnolia grandiflora leaf - anonaine and related alkaloids as 5-HT1A ligands/DAT inhibitors]

I should note my experiments have been with dried leaf from my Magnolia grandiflora "Little Gem"

@Zedo That's what I'm trying to ascertain, is the differences between gradifloras at the moment

 

Trying to improve the taste of Magnolia leaf tea and check differences between smaller variants and the big trees, gathered a couple of leaves off the ground from a large Magnolia.

 

Leaves average 1.6g each dry. They have the same characteristic smell as my Magnolia grandiflora "Little Gem" but they are a little more palatable from a quick sip, ever so slightly. Not sure if it's just some curing that's gone on in leaves maturing and falling off the tree, or loss of some essential oils.

 

@10g (lower potentially active doses of anonaine and related alks as an antidepressive DAT inhibitor/5-HT1A agonist), it's once again subjectively pleasant but mild, gently uplifting. A subtlety to interact with. My morning walk was once again a bit different, enjoyable, more ability to remain somewhat more goal-oriented potentially.

[Nicotiana alata - bringing the "rest of Tobacco's Medicine" to the picture]

If you want a nicotine buzz, seek elsewhere. If you want a healing tobacco, this may be of interest to you.

 

 

My review on Nicotiana alata, which is grown mainly as an ornamental plant, although some authors classify it as traditionally used as smoking tobacco, mainly for religious purposes. It is often referred to as “jasmine tobacco” or “flowering tobacco” due to its abundant, beautiful flowers and mild sweet nocturnal fragrance.

 

It's a different spirit to interact with than the majority of Nicotiana's, it seems useful for tapering off high nicotine content plants.

 

We are used to interacting with the nicotine in tobacco, we often don't get the full spectrum of interacting with the Tobacco Spirit.

 

Nicotiana alata is a nice ally to connect with for doing that. Phytoconstituents include alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds, proteins, terpenoids and saponins.

 

I find it brings "the rest of Tobacco's Medicine" to the picture. For growth, it's super easy to maintain as a beautiful compact aesthetic plant. I didn't find it set seed prolifically, it was a struggle to get some seed.

 

In my opinion, it could potentially be a better healing Tobacco for some situations, particularly Tobacco dieta - I included some of this plant orally and it seems friendly. That said, it's not suggested or recommended.

 

While generally considered alkaloid-poor - one analysis puts nicotine concentration as low as 0.06%, it's often higher (it's possible it is actually more a nornicotine/anabasine/anatabine ally) - Nicotiana alata is a nice plant to grow and seems to have a subtlety of interacting with that is nice. Interacting with it attunes you to the subtlety of the tobacco's other healing constituents while putting aside the fiendish nature of nicotine.

 

Alkaloid content seems to depend strongly on growing conditions. The total-alkaloid content in leaves from greenhouse-grown plants of N. alata was 0.2 μg.g-1 (of which – 68.8 % nicotine, 9.5 % nornicotine, 21.3 % anabasine, 0.4 % myosmine), while that in leaves from field-grown plants was only 0.04 μg.g-1 (100 % nicotine).

 

Many of it's constituents are very healing, from the phenolic/flavonoids to the triterpenes which may be anxiolytics

 

"HPLC analysis of triterpenes identified only betulin (251.12 μg/g) in the leaves of white flowers genotype, and betulin (284.30 μg/g) and betulinic acid (393.75 μg/g) – in that with pink flowers. Totally, 12 phenolic acids and 7 flavonoids were determined in the leaves. The most abundant free phenolic acid were chlorogenic (3796.21 and 2523.37 μg/g, respectively in white and pink forms) and other hydroxycinnamic acids (rosmarinic, sinapic, caffeic), and conjugated - vanillic acid (3077.34 and 4926.68 μg/g, respectively). The major flavonoids of both genotypes were: free - hyperosid (35.85 and 107.30 μg/g), and conjugated – apigenin (249.55 and 211.74 μg/g), luteolin, hesperetin and kaempferol. 19 components were determined (by GC/GC-MS) in the essential oils (representing 83.86 % and 67.09 % of oil content), among which the major were: phytol, solanone, cis-5-butyl-4-methyldihydrofuran-2(3h)-one, dihydro-β-ionone, α-ionene, β-damascenone, 1-methylnaphthalene. In the concretes were identified 19 components (82.03 % and 65.63 %, respectively), of which over 3 % were: isoamyl alcohol, oxynicotine, phytol, 4-mеthyl-1-penthanol, cotinine, 3-metyl-3-penthanol, 3-penthanone. The number of identified volatiles in the resinoids was 16 (94.93 % and 75.94 %), with major components: nicotine, phytol, eicosane, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, solanone, furfuryl alcohol."

 

Root cultures of Nicotiana alata Link and Otto, growing in a Murashige and Skoog medium, contained the following alkaloid composition: nicotine (5 %), nornicotine (58%), anabasine (10%), and anatabine (27%), all with the (S)-configuration with high enantiomeric excess.

 

It intrinsically seems to have a better burn rate without complicated curing, that said I don't think it's a good smoking tobacco as the healing constituents probably don't smoke well. It's pleasant as a low nicotine snuff.

[Some research on amyrins and resins.]

This is one that really interests me.I bought some a long time ago but I was really ill and didn't use them to their potential. If you can find an ethical source, highly recommend doing some experimentation for me.

 

Sacred Maya incense, copal (Protium copal - Burseraceae), has antianxiety effects in animal models.

 

The Maya have traditionally used copal, Protium copal, as incense during ceremonies since pre-Columbian times. Anecdotally, copal (when burned as incense), is thought to elicit mentally uplifting and calming effects. The main objective of this study was to determine whether the incense elicits anxiolytic-like behavior in animal models using rats. A second objective was to characterize active constituents and discern potential mechanism(s) of action, specifically the involvement of the GABAergic and endocannabinoid (eCB) systems. Despite the extensive Central American use of this resin, there are currently no known scientific behavioral or pharmacological studies done with the incense.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Quantification of the triterpenes in the copal resin and cold trapped incense was achieved by HPLC MS. Behavioral effects in rats were assessed using the elevated plus maze (EPM), social interaction (SI) test, conditioned emotion response (CER) and Novel object recognition (NOR) paradigms. Rats were exposed to burning copal (200 mg) over 5 min in a smoking chamber apparatus and then immediately tested in each behavioral paradigm. Follow-up SI tests were done using two antagonists flumazenil (1 mg/kg) and AM251 (1 mg/kg) administered systemically. Inhibition of MAGL (monoacylglycerol lipase) was measured by microplate assay with recombinant human enzyme and probe substrate.

RESULTS:

Phytochemical analysis revealed that copal resin and incense had high α- and β-amyrins and low lupeol triterpene content. Exposure to Protium copal incense significantly reduced anxiety-like behavior in the SI and CER tests. In contrast, no anxiolytic effects were observed in the EPM. The CER effect was time dependent. Both flumazenil and AM251 blocked the anxiolytic activity of copal revealing the involvement of GABAergic and endocannabinoid systems. Copal, as well as the identified triterpenes, potently inhibited monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) activity in vitro (IC₅₀ ≤ 811 ng/mL).

CONCLUSIONS:

This is the first study to show that copal incense from Protium copal elicits anxiolytic-like effects in fear and social interaction models as evidenced by a reduced learned fear behavior and an increase in active social interaction. It's high α and β-amyrin content suggests behavioral effects may be mediated, in part, by the known action of these terpenes at the benzodiazepine receptor. Furthermore, P. copal's observed activity through the eCB system via MAGL offers a new potential mechanism underlying the anxiolytic activity.

 

~~~

 

A mixture of natural triterpenes α- and β-amyrin was initially said to bind selectively to CB(1) receptors with a subnanomolar K(i) value (133 pM). Orally administered α/β-amyrin inhibited inflammatory and persistent neuropathic pain in mice through both CB(1) and CB(2) receptors.

 

Later, it was found β-amyrin potently inhibited 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) hydrolysis in pig brain homogenates, but not that of anandamide. Although β-amyrin only weakly inhibited purified human monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), it also inhibited α,β-hydrolases and more potently inhibited 2-AG breakdown than α-amyrin

 

Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB(1)), but not CB(2), pharmacological blockade significantly reversed the beneficial effects of α,β-amyrin. mRNA expression for both the endocannabinoid hydrolase monoglyceride lipase 1 (MGL1) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) were significantly reduced in α,β-amyrin-treated mice

 

One of the best sources: Protium is the main genus of the Burseraceae family and one of the most common genera in South America, with an important species called “breu.” Gum and oil-resins of this species are used as tonic and stimulant and for the treatment of ulcers and inflammation.. Mono- and dihydroxylated triterpenes were isolated from the insoluble material which resulted from oleoresin hexanic extraction

 

Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl) Marchand, Burseraceae, is popularly used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. The resin consisted of triterpenes, such as α- and β-amyrin. The resin and fractions elicited antiproliferative activity, increased activity of caspase-3 and ACE, and a decrease in the TNF-α level.

 

Bursera copallifera (Burseraceae) releases a resin known as “copal ancho” which has been used, since pre-Colombian times, as ceremonially burned incense and to treat tooth ache, tumors, arthritis, cold, cough, and various inflammatory conditions. This contains 3-epilupeol (59.75 %) and α-amyrin (21.1 %) are the most abundant triterpenes in the resin. The minor triterpenes were α-amyrin acetate (6.25 %), 3-epilupeol acetate (11.31 %), lupenone (1.82 %), and 3-epilupeol formiate (0.5 %).

 

If you want an endocannabinoid active essential oil, try Cedrus atlantica essential oil

[Proanthocyanidins as an addition to a healthy planty diet.]

Thanks for sharing @LikeAshesWeFade Good luck with the living off the land, nice one.

I'll share here 

Reduced mortality risk by a polyphenol-rich diet: An analysis from the Moli-sani study.

 

High polyphenol and healing phytochemical intake is for me not just the best way to manage my mental health. The polyphenol content of the diet was, in a recent analysis, associated with reduced mortality risk:

 

"Participants included in the highest quintile of intake of various polyphenol classes and subclasses presented a significant lower all-cause mortality risk compared with those in the lowest group of consumption

 

...the present results together with the recent literature, extend the role of dietary polyphenols from natural compounds potentially active on disease prevention to important nutrients for the reduction of mortality risk in a general population."

 

http://sci-hub.tw/10.1016/j.nut.2017.11.012

 

For me, I find that rather than supplement with a single source or supplement, getting it through dietary diversity is much more effective, you get spectrums of nutrition and phytochemicals.

 

At present, my main polyphenol sources are, trying to keep cheap and diverse, frozen blueberries, hibiscus, grape seed and dark community garden grapes, cinnamon, occasional turmeric, cacao, tea diversity etc. Top it up with other good polyphenol foods, peels etc. Get high on greens, the rainbow of veggies, get the other phytochemical classes...

 

These are extremely promising compounds for healing everything from inflammatory conditions, metabolic disturbances, promoting healthy aging to treating mood/CNS things, to neurodegenerative diseases

 

Dietary diversity scores correlate strongly with depression. There also seems to be synergistic relationships using a diverse range of polyphenols, emerging evidence suggests different classes of polyphenols act synergistically.

 

Current research indicates things like blueberry anthocyanins are clinically effective for cognitive deterioration in aging, if you exploit the synergies, go plant-based diets rich in diverse polyphenols and phytochemicals, it might be really effective.

 

[Carotenoids for mental health - the rainbow of healing]

 

While I'm a polyphenol fiend, I also cherish the healing phytochemical rainbow. Today for my carotenoids, I'm having a tiny bit of saffron, some T. erecta flowers and kale. Have a glass of tomato juice, too. Still got some chlorella left, so I'll have a dose.

 

While saffron crocins are really healing, so are β-Carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and things like lycopene, which keep the brain working well

 

β-Carotene

 

β-Carotene improves memory, recognition and verbal skills

 

Really became a fan of spirulina for awhile but cost made it a bit of an issue. Keen to know if anyone here with mental illness or autism has tried it themselves? Started to start add chlorella - chlorella tended to reduce oxidative stress and significantly prevented the decline of cognitive ability, it also buffered stress responses, diminishing the impact of stressors by reducing the HPA response.

 

Noticed the spirulina not only helps with mood and cognition but when I was using that, helped the ASD stuff (my premorbid issue). It's also good for the body on the whole, nicely restorative. One component, β-carotene is a strong antioxidant but interestingly may do more for autistic traits.

 

While phycocyanin and related constituents are one interesting component, potently neurorestorative, improving oxidative status, improving neuroinflammation, protecting from demyelination and axonal loss, modulating the expression of genes related to remyelination, gliogenesis and axon-glia processes etc, spirulina is rich in β-Carotene

 

β-Carotene oral supplementation to animal model of ASD significantly reduced restricted and stereotyped behaviours and interests, increased social interactions and communication, CD38, and oxytocin, probably by enhancing brain neuroplasticity without toxicity [ref].

 

All-trans retinoic acid is a potent inducer of CD38 and can be used as a novel therapeutic strategy in autism. It's been put forward the prospect that retinoids are potential therapeutic agents in autism and possibly other disorders that are characterized by dysfunctional social cognition/relationships especially where oxytocin has been suggested to play a role.

 

"There is a longstanding notion that vitamin A plays a role in psychiatric illness likely based on the profound effects of retinoids on brain development and processes such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and mood regulation

 

Intriguingly, the cortex of retinoic acid deprived rats is characterized by beta-amyloid accumulation and other changes that parallel those in Alzheimer’ disease. Additionally, normal memory loss in aging rats can be alleviated by vitamin A therapy. In the adult hippocampus, retinoids are essential for the maintenance of synaptic plasticity including LTP and neurogenesis. The hippocampus is a brain region dependent upon neural plasticity for its function in learning and memory. CD38 transcription is correlated with cognitive function in ASD and secondly, that retinoids are potential therapeutic agents in autism."

 

Crocins

 

The crocins are hydrophilic carotenoids that can act as antioxidants, improve learning and memory, be used for treatment of brain injury, mood disorders, OCD, joint pain and muscle dysfunction in osteoarthritis, metabolic syndrome and related mood disorders and neurodegenerative damage, and have a protective effect against brain damage

 

Aside from the NMDA affinity and sigma-1 binding, there is evidence that crocins act as reuptake inhibitors of dopamine and norepinephrine.

 

"The antioxidant properties of saffron derivatives may also be relevant. Mood disorders are associated with elevated oxidative stress and a deficit of exogenous antioxidants, affecting immune and inflammatory responses in a way, which may promote neurodegeneration (Leonard and Maes, 2012). There is good evidence that the antioxidants in saffron extracts protect against oxidative stress in the central nervous system (Mehri et al. 2015; Oruc et al. 2016), constituting a second potential mechanism of therapeutic action.

 

The most important indicator of the quality and commercial value of the saffron is its contents of crocin I and II, which are specified in trade standards. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia stipulates that the total content of crocin I and II should not be less than 10.0 %."

 

In an analysis of 63 saffrons, the crocin I content range was 6.6–23.7 %.

 

Considering a therapeutic dose is sometimes considered to be 30mg crocins that works out to be about 127-455mg saffron going on crocin I. I stuck with 300mg/day for my saffron dose for bad days - cost is ~ $4/gram from my Indian shop for decent stuff.

 

There is a TGA listed coated tablet containing either 11 mg or 14 mg of standardised saffron extract (affron), derived from the stigmas of Crocus sativus L. and standardised to contain >3.5% Lepticrosalides® (a measure of bioactive compounds present in saffron, including safranal and crocin. Two tablets daily constitutes a dose.

 

As I mentioned before:

 

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has demonstrated antidepressant effects in clinical studies and extensive anxiolytic effects in experimental animal models. It reputedly has acute effects.

 

Quite quickly, it increases mood, reduces anxiety and manages stress without side effects in studies. It has been traditionally used for the treatment of insomnia and other diseases of the nervous systems, it has sleep quality improving effects. Crocins attenuated schizophrenia-like behavioural deficits. It has a satiating effect and decreases the frequency of snacking events. It's been used in emotional disorders and it was found that using saffron (30 mg/day) was effective in relieving symptoms in some cases.

 

Crocin can regulate HPA axis activity and has therapeutic effects in stress disorders, potentially PTSD where it is effectve in an animal model. It may serve an appropriate treatment for subjects who experience a extremely stressful or traumatic event.

 

Saffron and its metabolites have proven to be effective in different models of psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. It is as least effective as first-line medications for MDD in quality studies with less side effects.

It's got a good safety margin, while 30mg may prove effective “to a daily maximum dose of 1.5 grams there has not been any risk documented. Lethal dose is 20 g and the abortive dose, 10 g, because as such it was employed in the past due to its stimulating action on the smooth muscle of the uterus. 5 g daily dose can already cause intoxication accompanied by vomiting, bloody diarrhea, hematuria, skin hemorrhages in nose, lips and eyelids, vertigo and dulling. The skin and mucous membranes take a yellowish colour similar to jaundice”.

 

Crocin is an isolated chemical compound that belongs to a group of commercial carotenoid derived from the stigma branches of dried saffron. The spice’s high antioxidant capacity explains most of its preventive or healing properties in relation to chronic and degenerative diseases

 

Crocin and crocetin may have a neuroprotective effect because of their anti-inflammatory action in microglial cells, as tested in rat brains, accompanied by a reduction in neurotoxic molecules (TNF-α, interleukin-1β and intracellular ROS. The restoration of a redox balance in brain tissues can be a good therapeutic strategy to limit neuro-inflammation and consequently tissue oxidative damage). Many of the anti-inflammatory effects of crocin demonstrated in animal models of neuronal degeneration could be mediated by its direct effects on microglia homeostasis.

 

It also has anti-adiposity effects

 

Crocin can be considered as healthcare product to prevent age-related brain diseases, it is able to enhance memory function in an aging model through anti-glycative and anti-oxidative properties which finally can suppress brain inflammatory mediators and increase protective pathways

 

Crocin can improve learning and memory and may prevent neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. Saffron is a source of novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. It is not mutagenic and prevents alcohol-induced disorders of memory and learning. Its mechanism is thought to be prevention of the inhibitory effect of ethanol on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors in the hippocampus. It has clear binding capacity at the PCP binding side of the NMDA receptor and at the sigma(1) receptor
 

There is an anti-fatigue effect of crocetin - its intake improved performance when taken 4 h before a physical fatigue-inducing task

 

Treatment with saffron extract for seven consecutive days in a study conducted in rats in an experimental model of MS improved learning and memory impairment and alterations in the parameters of oxidative stress in the hippocampus. Clinically saffron was able to reduce MS symptoms - crocetin might prevent demyelination and neurodegeneration. Such findings show that saffron may potentially prove useful in the treatment of MS through the inhibition of oxidative stress and the infiltration of leukocytes to the CNS.

 

Saffron protects many cells of the dopaminergic system with relevance to Parkinson's disease.

 

Studies on the bioactive substances of saffron in depression indicate that the crocin acts by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters, while safranal inhibits the reuptake of serotonin. There are in vivo studies suggesting inhibitory effects on the monoamine oxidases, MAO-A and MAO-B, enzymes responsible for the degradation of the neurotransmitters, as mentioned above, leading to an increase in their levels in the synaptic space and reducing depressive symptoms.

 

Saffron extracts and crocetin had a clear binding capacity at the PCP binding side of the NMDA receptor and at the sigma-1 receptor while crocins attenuated schizophrenia-like behavioural deficits. Crocin has been shown to be an antioxidant and neural protective agent

 

Saffron is a potential efficacious and tolerable treatment for major depressive disorder with anxious distress. [1] It increased mood, reduced anxiety and managed stress without side effects, offering a natural alternative to standard treatments [2] Saffron is as effective as fluvoxamine in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate OCD [3]

 

A recent review found:
 

"Saffron, derived from the stigma of Crocus sativus flower, is commonly used as a spice and as medicine in the Middle East and in South Asia. In patients with mild to moderate anxiety, extracts of saffron were reported to be effective in relieving symptoms in several RCTs (Akhondzadeh et al., 2005; Mazidi et al., 2016; Talaei, Hassanpour Moghadam, Sajadi Tabassi, & Mohajeri, 2015). Studies also show that the effects are comparable to standard antidepressant drugs such as fluoxetine (Moosavi, Ahmadi, Amini, & Vazirzadeh, 2014; Noorbala, Akhondzadeh, Tahmacebi‐Pour, & Jamshidi, 2005; Shahmansouri et al., 2014) and imipramine (Akhondzadeh, Fallah‐Pour, Afkham, Jamshidi, & Khalighi‐Cigaroudi, 2004).Saffron reduced anxiety and depression scores in women with premenstrual syndrome as well (Agha‐Hosseini et al., 2008)."

 

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27701683
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28735826
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29062366

 

Lutein & Zeaxanthin

 

Good sources of lutein and zeaxanthin include kale, spinach, turnip greens, summer squash, pumpkin, paprika, yellow-fleshed fruits and avocado

 

Supplementation with the these carotenoids significantly reduces stress, cortisol, and symptoms of sub-optimal emotional and physical health. Low blood serum or plasma concentrations of the xanthophyll carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin have been implicated in poorer cognitive health in older adults. They may assist with cognitive control. They have anti‑inflammatory and antioxidative effects and putative neurotrophic effects. The dietary intake of carotenoids should be promoted as this may have a substantial positive effect on cognition, memory and things like stroke prevention and stroke mortality reduction. Supplementation appears to benefit neurocognitive function by enhancing cerebral perfusion, even if consumed for a discrete period of time in late life. Higher intakes may result in the ability to respond to cognitive tasks more efficiently, maintaining high performance while displaying neural indices indicative of lower cognitive load.

 

Lycopene

 

Lycopene is the major carotenoid in tomatoes. Tomatoes contain a matrix of many bioactive components, including vitamin C, vitamin E, other carotenoids (a-, beta-, gamma- carotene, lutein), and flavonoids.

 

The processing that heated tomato products is said to increase the bioavailability of key phytonutrients and antioxidants, such as lycopene, lutein and other carotenoids

 

The consumption of foods rich in carotenoids that possess significant antioxidant and inflammatory modulating properties has been linked to reduced risk of neuropathology. Lycopene helps to protect against induced cognitive dysfunction.

 

Lycopene inhibits glutamate release in cortical synaptosomes

 

Lycopene food sources may be useful in neurodegenerative conditions, including AD ad PD.

 

Lycopene significantly improved cognitive deficits and were accompanied by the attenuation of inflammatory injury via blocking the activation of NF-κB p65 and TLR4 expressions and production of cytokines. It could ameliorate oxidative stress induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment possibly via mediating Nrf2/NF-κB transcriptional pathway. In degenerative conditions, it causes modifications in the activity of cholinesterase and antioxidant pathways.

 

Lycopene reverses neurochemical deficts, oxidative stress, apoptosis and physiological abnormalities in PD mice

 

Oral lycopene administration attenuates insulin signaling deficits, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment

 

In models of epilepsy, when used alongside conventional anti-convulsants, lycopene significantly restored the seizure score, latency, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and gamma-aminobutyric acid levels near to normal

 

Carotenoids may modulate inflammation and enhance antioxidant defenses within both the central nervous system (CNS) and systemic circulation. Increased levels of lycopene also appear to moderate decline in the essential pyridine nucleotide [NAD(H)] in both the plasma and the CSF.

 

 

[Magnolia grandiflora leaf - anonaine and related alkaloids as 5-HT1A ligands/DAT inhibitors]

This morning, my shamanic mug contains my morning anthocyanins and phenolics (Hibiscus) and an alkaloid source (Magnolia leaf)

 

While I did some work with Magnolia leaf when my mood was super poor, I wanted to try a lower dose with my Hibiscus (which has antidepressant and mild anxiolytic effects itself).
 

The leaf has strong antioxidant/reducing capacity - the antioxidant activity of Magnolia officinalis leaf (can't find data for M. grandiflora) was related to its main chemical compositions including flavonoids, phenolics and lignanoids. It also contains parthenolide. Please note, this is still an area of research, we have more to learn.
 

10g Magnolia leaf [Leaf from the flowering plant contains anonaine, remerine, liriodenine and rutine (0.54 % total alkaloids) It also contains essential oils 0.58 %], which may be around 50mg of anonaine [5-HT1A/DAT activity, along with α1 adrenergic receptor affinity and antitumour, vasorelaxation, antioxidative, antiparasitic and antimicrobial effects] and related alkaloids going by my 6am math which is questionable. This is at the lower active dose level human dose equivalence to what showed antidepressant efficacy in animal models.

 

The only thing is the taste... it's really quite a challenge.

Subjective verdict on this morning's healing brew. If you want a pushy anxiogenic morning perk, go with coffee. The mood uplift of the Hibiscus flower and Magnolia leaf seems pleasant and acuteishly there. Went for a nice walk. It wasn't pushy just more refreshing. These alkaloids seem to lack the noradrenergic push, they feel pleasant but soft. I went for a longer than normal walk but it was just pleasantly cruisy. I haven't really explored new areas since Milly passed, kind of been locked in to typical walks where I go on a mission to do things. Today I felt more like going for a bit of an adventure, checking out new things but stopping to smell the roses at the same time. Just a mild, nice, gentle uplift and clean pleasantness so far. Nothing unpleasant, apart from the taste of the leaf.

[Spruced Juice - what sorts you primo medicinal juice needs out?]

Coming from being a total tea-totaller (doing lots of healing teas, no alcohol for quite a long time), I require the primo medicinal juice option...

 

Keen to know how non-drinkers spruce their juice?

 

Day started with a dose of  carotenoids , plenty of polyphenols including cacao, banana and peel, pomegranate and peel etc. small doses of grape seed and cinnamon, therapeutic Kale, rocket, basil etc.

Whipped up a large dose of Purple carrot (also rich in anthocyanins), Beetroot (rich in betalains and dietary nitrate etc), Galangal (Community garden from what I potted up, little bit of rhizome and quite a lot of aerial parts - This "Spice of Life" has been characterised to contain at least 12 flavonoids and 4 diarylheptanoids in the leaves), Hibiscus (good anthocyanin etc source) and 3 types of Community Garden Mint including heaps of Spearmint... went well with the kale, basil and rocket etc for lunch.

 

Tastes quite good but I put a seriously medicinal mint dose in. Cant really taste the galangal too much as it's A. officinarum, which is medicinal but not particularly pungent in flavour.

 

Turned into a beautiful night outside for a long walk, peaking on polyphenols, those anthocyanins in particular are really CNS active (and seem cumulative), they're not just cognitive, these flavonoids alone have a strong effect on positive affect even acutely [seen in studies], combined with diverse healing synergistic phytochemicals, appreciating the Lunar Goddess at 96.2% of her full glory, Mother Earth and Father Sky.

[The Science of Fermented Fruits, Veggies and Plant Medicines]

A really cool paper, this is like an under-explored thing. Anyone here into fermented food and tried anything exotic? Come on people, get exotically fermenting up stuff....

 

I've done cacao fermentation (liked that), tried turmeric fermentation (didn't do this large scale to get a healing amount). Want to ferment things like green tea, ginseng and ashwagandha (more active compounds are formed fermenting these)

 

Keen one day to ferment more healing food with some select quality probiotic strains. Fermented up an Aptenia brew (alcoholic) to get an apple tasting refreshing beverage but I was worried oxalates were being liberated rather than degraded so didn't pursue. Past the alcohol days anyway. Done plenty of Aptenia fermentations, some with added yeast, little bit of Sceletium. Sometimes the Aptenia fermented really well, other times it fouled.

 

Fruits and vegetables, as a source of nutritional compounds and phytochemicals: Changes in bioactive compounds during lactic fermentation.

 

Fermentation belongs to some of the most ancient food processes in human history.

 

Microorganisms naturally present on the substrate, develop their fermentative activity. This leads to the transformation of the initial material and to modification of biochemical composition. Fermentation causes considerable changes that affect the organoleptic properties (taste, texture and in a lesser extend color), the nutritional value and the microbial safety of food. Therefore, human interest in fermentation lays on the four potential advantages for food: (1) improved shelf life and safety, (2) improved nutrition health properties, (3) organoleptic modification and (4) production of active principles of interest

 

The increase of nutrient density by lactic fermentation is mostly due to a decrease of sugar content. Thanks to the activity of various enzymes, fermentation of fruits and vegetables tends to improve bio-accessibility and/or bioavailability of various type of compounds such as proteins, amino-acids, vitamins and antioxidants compounds (such as polyphenols).

 

However, a common conclusion for several works is that the selection of starter can contribute to maintain or to increase antioxidant activity when compared to spontaneous fermentation. Changes in antioxidant activity point out that modifications of composition occur over fermentation. One of the main mechanism that could explain antioxidant activity variation is the release of bioactive compounds from conjugated phytochemicals. Metabolism of phenolic compounds by LAB has been reviewed by Rodriguez et al (Rodriguez et al., 2009). Interestingly, among LAB, Lb. plantarum is of great interest since it possesses enzymes leading to the production of high-added value compounds, such as powerful antioxidants

 

As a whole, molecular nature of phenolic compound can be modified through fermentation leading to new derived compounds with biological activities potential including modification of microbiota populations and gut immunoglobulin levels. In addition, polyphenols bioavailability can be positively influenced by glucosidase, over fermentation, thereby increasing in situ radical scavenging potential as well as putative stimulation of natural antioxidant body defenses

 

http://sci-hub.tw/10.1016/j.foodres.2017.09.031

 

Fermented plant medicines:

 

Something as simple as fermented ginger has improved anti-inflammatory properties. Not sure how this applies to turmeric...

 

Sceletium, even Aptenia:

 

"...the process of bruising and fermentation alters the alkaloid profile, which we will deal with in some detail below. All that said, total alkaloid levels can range between 0.3% and 2.3% of dry weight. The average for cultivated material is generally around 0.8% total alkaloids, though there are certain high-yield stains that have been developed that can average double that.

 

the fermentation of Kanna accomplishes the following primary outcomes:

• Lowers oxalic acid
• Lowers 4′-O-demethylmesembrenol
• Significantly converts mesembrine to mesembrenone and ∆7-mesembrenone
• May increase total alkaloid levels (by a very small measure)"

https://sceletium.com/chemistry-pharmacology/

 

Ashwagandha:

 

Ashwagandharishtha style preparations can be made.

Ashwagandharishtha is a liquid polyherbal formulation traditionally prepared by fermentation process using the flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa. It contains roots of Withania somnifera as a major crude drug. Alcohol generated during the fermentation causes the extraction of water insoluble phytoconstituents. Yeasts present on the flowers are responsible for this fermentation.

 

https://ayurmedinfo.com/2011/06/27/ashwagandharishta-uses-ingredients-dose-and-side-effects/

 

Lemon Balm (and other base plants) for Kombucha:

 

 The use of lemon balm for kombucha fermentation can yield a beverage with improved functional characteristics compared to the traditional kombucha prepared from black tea.

 

Sweetened black or green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is the traditional and almost only recommended medium for preparing kombucha because of high levels of nitrogen sources (like purine derivatives, caffeine and theophylline) which are necessary for growth and reproduction of SCOBY cells. Although it has been noticed that some herbal teas cannot be used as alternative nitrogen sources due to the lack of purine derivatives (12), sweetened echinacea (Echinacea purpurea L.) and winter savory (Satureja montana L.) have been demonstrated as suitable tea alternatives, yielding a fermentation product in a shorter time and comparable to the traditional beverage with regard to the basic chemical and microbiological characteristics. Also, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) can be successfully used as nitrogen source for kombucha fermentation. This aromatic herb is cultivated throughout the world because of its application in several fields. In medicine it is used for the treatment of headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, nervousness, anemia, bronchitis, high blood pressure, rheumatism, and enhancing memory.
 

Cacao:

 

 Differences in microbial activities result in different cacao flavour characteristics. Catechins and epicatechins were present in large amount in cacao and quite unstable during fermentation. While it's possible to increase interesting alkaloid concentrations and form polyphenol breakdown products which are active, there are several pathways, polyphenols also undergo enzymatic oxidation by polyphenol oxidase and condensate in high molecular weight tannins.

 

That's where if you want the benefits of epicatechin (cognitive, cardiovascular etc healing), you're best without a fermented product. As raw as possible.

 

For a spiritual effect, the cacao fermentation seems to add something.The traditional cacao fermentations tend to rely on more than yeast, the presence of yeasts, lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria seems to be optimal. Maybe a kombucha is good, I didn't find my chocolate kombucha attempts brought out deeper chocolate flavour though but that was a one off trial. There are brewing cultures like prepared lambic culture that contains the Saccharomyces culture along with the lactic acid and Brettanomyces cultures. (Wyeast 3278). Don't know if they'd be interesting?

 

Green tea:

 

Lactic acid bacteria allow conversion of EGCG, EGC, and EC → GCG and GC in green tea

 

Green tea antioxidant power when treated increased 55% compared to untreated tea. Yerba mate antioxidant power increased by 43% compared to untreated tea. You get interesting polyphenol profiles.

 

Despite the benefits of polyphenols, many clinical studies and animal models have shown that these compounds, especially the polymers, esters, and glycosides, are abundant, but are not always absorbed by oral administration. The functional effect of the compound depends not only on the amount ingested, but on its bioavailability. Therefore, the enzymatic hydrolysis of polyphenols from food is a subject worth investigating. There are tannases etc.

Ginseng:

 

Having specific β-glucosidase activity can be used to enhance the health benefits of Panax ginseng in either fermented foods or bioconversion processes. Bifidobacterium strains to cause production of ginsenoside aglycones. It also bioconverts a wide variety of polyphenols. Ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Re continuously decreased, whereas ginsenosides Rd, Rg1, and Rg2 increased after 1-2 d of fermentation.  [ref]

 

Others:

 

 When common dietary polyphenols are subjected to fermentation, the newly formed biotransformation phytochemicals are more capable of causing a beneficial shift in microbial growth stimulation. New polyphenols are also created. This is sometimes beneficial, other times not - with cacao, polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity, respectively was reduced by fermentation; Epicatechin is degraded to less anti-oxidant substances. It can however allow for hydrolysis of things like initial glucosides and aglycons. Fermented grape pomace yields more total antioxidants and antioxidant activity than its unfermented counterpart. Anthocyanins often form gallic acid and protocatechuic acid

 

Remarkably, even fermented fish oil, an agent with well-documented anti-inflammatory and mood-support properties, has been shown to provide an enhanced anti-inflammatory activity versus its unfermented counterpart.

 

Yes, you can beneficially ferment herbal products. Unfortunately I can't find much on how alkaloids and constituents or other actives change, other than in sceletium, during fermentation.

 

Researchers have examined the in vivo properties of an herbal blend typically used in traditional medicine to treat inflammatory disorders, comparing its effects in the unfermented and fermented form. Blood LPS levels were significantly lower when treated with the fermented blend, as was C-reactive protein, a primary marker of systemic inflammation.

 

In separate work involving a singular traditional food or medicinal agent, the anti-inflammatory botanical Sophora flavescens, researchers, again using LPS as the inducing agent, found a more pronounced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity with the fermented form

 

Magnolia flower as a source of polyphenols on fermentation increased the total phenolic contents, total flavonoids, and antioxidative and anticancer activities. Isoflavones ferment well, so do often other flavonoids.

For more fermented roots, fruits, veggies and plant medicines, see here