Common Name: Hesperidin

Overview:

Hesperidin is a water-soluble citrus bioflavonoid. It is the principle flavonoid in lemons and oranges. The skin and membranes of citrus fruit contain higher concentrations of hesperidin than the fruit itself. While hesperidin is found in all citrus fruit, oranges and tangelos contain the highest concentrations of this bioflavonoid. It is a powerful antioxidant and helps increase the activity of vitamin C in the body. Although hesperidin is not an essential nutrient (a nutrient that is vital for life), a deficiency of hesperidin has been linked to an increase in capillary permeability, pain in the arms and legs as well as weakness and leg cramps. In Europe, this bioflavonoid is approved for the treatment of diseases of the blood and lymphatic vessels. This includes hemorrhoids, venous insufficiency, leg ulcers, easy bruising, nose bleeds and helping to alleviate lymphadema following breast cancer surgery.

Benefits

Many studies have been done on the health benefits of hesperidin. Studies have shown that hesperidin, because of its antioxidant properties as well as its ability to strengthen the circulatory system is proving to:

1. Help reduce the swelling of the arm following breast cancer surgery. A double blind study showed a significant decrease in swelling in those who received bioflavonoid therapy compared to those that took the placebo.
2. Improve venous circulation and strength in those who suffer from severe chronic venous insufficiency. This improvement was seen in a double blind study of over 200 individuals.
3. Decrease the healing time of a group of people who suffered from nonhealing leg ulcers
4. Significantly increase HDL-cholesterol while lowering total lipid and triglyceride in the blood. In a recent study, 25 people with elevated cholesterol levels where given hesperidin rich orange juice. One glass of this juice was taken every day for four weeks. This was then followed with two glasses a day for 4 weeks and finally three glasses a day for 4 weeks. The HDL levels of these individuals increased 21% while the LDL/HDL ratio dropped 16%. The folate levels where also seen to rise, a good thing, since folate causes a decline in the levels of homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine are linked to an increased risk of heart attack. This positive effects persisted even during the 5 week washout period when the test participants where asked not to drink orange juice.
5. Improve acute internal hemorrhoids of pregnancy.
6. High blood pressure and act as a diuretic in animal studies.
7. Inhibit the growth of cancer cells in vitro (in the test tube) and in animal studies. In one of these tests the cancer inhibiting effect of dietary several bioflavonoids were tested against each other. The bioflavonoid hesperidin was the most potent.
8. Have significant antiallergenic and anti-inflammatory properties. This was seen in preliminary animal studies. More research is in progress.

Citrus fruit

Juice, especially juice with the pulp

Recommended Dosage:

The recommended dosage of bioflavonoids is 500mg twice a day.

Contra-indications

None. Extensive investigations of hesperidin have found it to be non toxic and free of any drug interactions.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a health care provider before using hesperidin.

Drug interactions

None

Web References

1. http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/hes_0295.shtml
2. http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN

Printed Reference Material

1. Ameer B, Weintraub RA, Johnson JV, et al. Flavanone absorption after naringin, hesperidin, and citrus administration. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1996; 60:34-40.
2. Berkarda B, Koyuncu H, Soybir GT, Baykut F. Inhibitory effect of hesperidin on tumor initiation and promotion in mouse skin. Res Exp Med. (Berl). 1998; 198:93-99.
3. Bok SH, Lee SH, Park YB, et al. Plasma and hepatic cholesterol and hepatic activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase and acyl CoA: cholesterol transferase are lower in rats fed citrus peel extract or a mixture of citrus bioflavonoids. J Nutr. 1999; 129:1182-1185.
4. Emin JA, Oliveira AB, Lapa AJ. Pharmacological evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of a citrus bioflavonoid, hesperidin, and the isoflavonoids duartin and claussequinone in rats and mice. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1994; 46:118-122.
5. Galati EM, Monforte MT, Kirjavainen S, et al. Biological effects of hesperidin, a citrus flavonoid (Note I): anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. Farmaco. 1994; 40:709-712.
6. Galati EM, Trovato A, Kirjavainen S, et al. Biological effects of hesperidin, a citrus flavonoid. (Note III): antihypertensive and diuretic activity in rat. Farmaco. 1996; 51:219-221.
7. Garg A, Garg S, Zaneveld LJ, Singla AK. 2001. Chemistry and pharmacology of the Citrus bioflavonoid hesperidin. Phytother Res 2001 Dec; 15(8): 655-69.
8. Garner RC, Garner JV, Gregory S, Whattam M, Calam A, Leong D. Comparison of the absorption of micronized (Daflon 500 mg) and nonmicronized 14C-diosmin tablets after oral administration to healthy volunteers by accelerator mass spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting. J Pharm Sci. 2002 Jan; 91(1): 32-40.
9. Jantet G. Chronic venous insufficiency: worldwide results of the RELIEF study. Reflux assEssment and quaLity of lIfe improvEment with micronized Flavonoids.
   Angiology. 2002 May-Jun; 53(3): 245-56.
10. Koyuncu H, Berkarda B, Baykut F, et al. Preventive effect of hesperidin against inflammation in CD-1 mouse skin caused by tumor promoter. Anticancer Res. 1999; 19(4B):3237-3241.
11. Manuel y Keenoy B, Vertommen J, De Leeuw I. The effect of flavonoid treatment on the glycation and antioxidant status in Type 1 diabetic patients. Diabetes Nutr Metab. 1999 Aug; 12(4): 256-63.
12. Matsuda H, Yano M, Kubo M, et al. [Pharmacological study on citrus fruits. II. Anti-allergic effect of fruit of Citrus unshiu MARKOVICH (2). On flavonoid components.] [Article in Japanese.] Yakugaku Zasshi. 1991; 111:193-198.
13. Miyake Y, Yamamoto K, Tsujihara N, Osawa T. Protective effects of lemon bioflavonoids on oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Lipids. 1998; 33:689-695.
14. Montforte MT, Trovato A, Kirjavainen S, et al. Biological effects of hesperidin, a citrus flavonoid. (Note II): hypolipidemic activity on experimental hypercholesterolemia in rat. Farmaco. 1995; 50:595-599.
15. Struckmann JR. Clinical efficacy of micronized purified flavonoid fraction: an overview. J Vasc Res. 1999; 36 Suppl 1:37-41. Review.

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Not only does this organic compound give citrus fruit its color, but it's also an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic.

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 Overview:

Horsetails are the last remnants of huge tree like plants that thrived 400 million years ago.  Horsetail is closely related to ferns and is native throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America.  It is a perennial with hollow stems and shoots that closely resemble asparagus.  It has two distinct stem forms.  The variety that grows in early spring is brown in color and is topped by a spore containing cone.  The mature form of the herb appears in summer and has feathery branched stems.  These plants are closely related to ferns and can reach a height of over 6 feet.

Horsetail has been used in traditional medicine all over the world.  Since the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, it was used to stop bleeding, treat ulcers, and wounds as well as a treatment for tuberculosis and kidney problems. Today the horsetail is still an important herb in traditional medicine.

Active Ingredients:

Horsetail high mineral salt content, especially silica, is extrememly high.  This makes it an excellent choice in nutritional support for building and repairing bones, connective tissue and skin.  Horsetail contains:

• Silica-two thirds of which are water soluable silicic acid
• potassium
• selenium
• manganese
• magnesium
• the alkoloids, nicotine palustrine and palustrinine
• flavonoids
• sterols including cholesterol, isofucosterol, campesterol
• saponins

Traditional uses:

  The uses for horsetail in traditional medicine are many.  They include:

• urinary tract infections
• kidney stones
• diuretic
• osteoporosis
• osteo and rheumatoid arthritis
• skin, nail and hair support
• externally it is good for burns and speeds wound healing, sprains and fractures

Clinical uses:

There has been little clinical study of horsetail but professional herbalists recognize its value as a:

• diuretic
• treatment for kidney stones and gravel
• a wash for poorly healing wounds
• maintaince of healthy skin and hair as well helping to prevent hair loss

Recommended Dosage:

When taking horsetail it is very important to drink plenty of water.

Pediatric

Pediatric dosages are calculated by a child’s body weight.  Since adult dosages are calculated using a body weight of 150 lbs to calculate a pediatric dose simply take the child’s weight and divide by 150 lbs.  For example, if a child weights 50 lbs and the adult dose for a supplement is 150mg:

50lbs/150lbs=.33 or 1/3 of adult dose so take the 150mg adult dose and divide by 3 to obtain the child’s dose of 50mg.

Adult

• Decoction (a strong tea):  pour boiling water over 2-3grams of horsetail, boil for 5 minutes, steep for 15 and then strain.  Drink 3 times/day.
• Tincture (1:5) in 30% ethanol: 1 to 4ml three times a day.
• For a compress use 10grams of herb steeped in 2 quarts of water and use this per day.
• Bath for arthritis and sprains.  Boil 100grams of herb and seep for one hour.  Add this to a warm bath to sooth joints and muscles.

Contra-indications:

• Horsetail is not meant to be taken over long periods of time
• Do not use horsetail if you have kidney problems
• Buy horsetail from a reputable supplier.  A close relative E. palustre to horses and may be so in humans as well,

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a health care provider before using horsetail.

Drug interactions

Do not take horsetail if you are taking:

• Digoxin as horsetail may enhance the toxic effects of this drug

Web References

1. Holistic Online
2. Flora Health
3. Wikipedia
4. UMM.edu

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3. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, Ore: Eclectic Medical; 1998:85.
4. Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000:208-211.
5. Duke, J. 1997: The Green Pharmacy, The Ultimate Compendium of Natural Remedies from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing and Herbs. pp. 36-37; 98; 132-133; 415. Rodale Press.
6. Flynn, R. and Roest, M. 1995. Your Guide to Standardized Herbal Products. One World Press, 601 Granada Drive, Prescott, AZ, 86301; Library of Congress: 94-80040;  pp. 50-51.
7. Foster S, and Duke JA. 1990. Horsetail in Medicinal Plants. Houghton Mifflin Co., New York, NY, p. 304.
8. Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler's Honest Herbal. 4th ed. New York: The Haworth Herbal Press; 1999:219-220.
9. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Christof J. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 2nd ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000: 409-410.
10. Turner N, and Kuhnlein H. 1991. Traditional plant foods of Canadian indigenous peoples. Nutrition, botany and use. In Food and Nutrition in History and Anthropology Vol. 8. Gordon & Breach Science Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, p. 48.
11. White L, Mavor S. Kids, Herbs, Health. Loveland, Colo: Interweave Press; 1998:22, 33.
12. Wichtl M (ed). 1994. Equiseti herba – Equisetum (English translation by Norman Grainger Bisset). In Herbal Drugs and Phyto-pharmaceuticals. CRC Press, Stuttgart, pp. 188-191.

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