Tag Archives: extract

Study: Cardamom Seed Extract Enhances Production of Antiviral Proteins

Posted on by
Reply

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamom) seed extract, notably its primary bioactive element, 1,8-cineole, has been highlighted in recent research for its potential as an antiviral agent by enhancing the production of antiviral proteins known as type I interferons.

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamom) seed. Image credit: Karina Panchenko.

Herbal remedies have long been utilized to address various health conditions, including viral infections.

Medicinal herbs and plants are abundant sources of bioactive substances and have been incorporated into antiviral products by pharmaceutical companies.

These substances interfere with different stages of various viruses’ life cycles and help modulate the body’s immune response to viral threats.

Recent research by Takeshi Kawahara and his team at Shinshu University suggests that cardamom seed extract might possess formidable antiviral properties.

“Even prior to the emergence of the recent coronavirus, we were investigating substances that could help prevent viral infections in daily life,” Dr. Kawahara stated.

“The pandemic has amplified public interest in the antiviral qualities of food, providing us more avenues to pursue this research.”

In earlier investigations, the researchers discovered that cardamom seed extract effectively prevented influenza virus infections.

The latest study involved conducting experiments on human lung cells, specifically A549 cells, treated with cardamom seed extract to simulate viral infection processes and better understand its effects on the production of antiviral molecules.

They found that cardamom seed extract, along with its key bioactive component, 1,8-cineole, activates intracellular nucleic acid sensors that recognize viral DNA and RNA.

These sensors trigger the production of various cytokines, which impact the virus at different phases of infection.

In this instance, treatment with cardamom seed extract or 1,8-cineole resulted in increased production of a specific type of cytokine known as type I interferon, which is crucial for the body’s defense against viral infections, facilitated by the intracellular nucleic acid sensors.

Given these findings, the researchers expressed significant interest in the potential therapeutic applications of their results.

“Traditionally, cardamom has been widely recognized as a medicinal spice, and based on our findings, we aspire to explore its use as an antiviral agent to combat various viral infections,” Dr. Kawahara noted.

“We hope this research sheds new light on the antiviral properties of foods and inspires further exploration of various food components that may aid in preventing viral infections in everyday life.”

These findings were published in the August 2025 issue of Foods.

_____

Abdullah Al Sufian Shuvo et al. 2025. Type I interferon-enhancing effect of cardamom seed extract via intracellular nucleic acid sensor regulation. Foods 14(15):2744; doi: 10.3390/Food14152744

Source: www.sci.news

Plant Extract Serum Boosts Hair Growth in Just Weeks

Posted on by
Reply

Hair growth significantly enhanced after 56 days of serum use

Tsong-Min Chang et al. 2025

A serum aimed at reversing hair loss has shown promising outcomes within a two-month period. This topical treatment, formulated with plant extracts and proteins that stimulate cellular activity, demonstrated notable enhancements in hair density compared to a placebo.

Hair loss affects approximately: 50% of men and 40% of women by the time they reach 50. Various treatments, such as finasteride and minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, may be effective; however, their success can vary based on genetics and the degree of hair loss.

Researchers are exploring innovative techniques for hair regeneration, including stem cell applications. Investigations into fibroblast manipulation, a cell type crucial for connective tissue formation, and a drug aimed at revitalizing dormant hair follicles are underway.

In a unique approach, researchers from Schweitzer Biotech in Taiwan have developed a serum enriched with caffeine, commonly found in health products, alongside two proteins known to enhance cellular growth: Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and Fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7), both displaying potential for hair follicle regeneration. Additionally, extracts from Centella asiatica, a tropical herb widely used in skincare, appear to support hair follicle health.

To evaluate efficacy, an international research team enlisted 60 adults aged 18 to 60 without severe hair loss. Participants were divided into five groups; the first group received a placebo serum devoid of active ingredients, while the second group was provided with a basic preparation of 0.1% caffeine and vitamin B5, known for its moisturizing properties. The remaining groups used this base formulation, with the third group incorporating IGF-1 and FGF-7, the fourth group including IGF-1 and FGF-7 with C. asiatica, and the fifth group receiving all components.

All participants were instructed to apply 1 milliliter of serum to their entire scalp nightly for 56 days. Improvements were observed in all groups across various measured outcomes, including hair density, thickness, and reduced hair loss. The most significant increase in hair density was found in Group 5, which saw nearly a 25% improvement—almost double that of the placebo group.

Researchers propose that C. asiatica extracts may enhance hair root strength and boost blood circulation around hair follicles. “This plant has been recognized for its anti-aging, reparative, and anti-inflammatory properties,” explains Christos Tziotsios from King’s College London. “It could be somewhat of a miracle plant. There’s stronger evidence for some of the other components in this study. For instance, IGF-1 and FGF-7 are both known to influence hair cycle dynamics.”

Participants in Group 5 demonstrated improved hair growth

Tsong-Min Chang et al. (2025)

Both Tziotsios and the research team emphasize that while the study’s scale is noteworthy, extended trials are essential before a treatment utilizing this formulation can be deemed available. “This doesn’t negate its potential interest, but it’s clear that further investigation is required,” says Tziotsios. “The more we comprehend the molecular mechanisms linked to hair loss and hair biology, the closer we will be to achieving a definitive treatment.”

Source: www.newscientist.com

Experience an Extract from In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

Posted on by
Reply

“I was faced with an overflowing immensity.” An underwater river.

alamy stock photo

From the age of 10, I was allowed to swim alone in the Nieuwe Maas River. The cold water shocked me, calmed me down and stole my heart. I went into the water, lay on my back, closed my eyes, and floated away. Then I staggered back along the stony shore, my legs turning blue and numb from the cold. I wrapped a towel around her and put her head in my lap, shivering. I let the water drain from my ears and the sound of the car returned. It took me a long time to convince myself to stand up again because I didn’t want to go home. As I put my weight down, the stone pressed into the thin soles of my feet, and every time I left the beach I told myself that if I just put the same stone in my pocket and went out into the water, I would never have to go again. I’m going home again.

It was an effective illusion. I was able to continue because I knew I didn’t have to. Every time I swam a little, and every time I climbed ashore, the stones dug deeper into my feet. One afternoon in early fall, I felt particularly hopeless. I couldn’t see any realistic way to escape from Geat’s situation, and I lived in constant fear of him. Storm clouds were approaching and the beach was deserted. I felt a dangerous tremor, felt free to ignore my own safety, and grimaced as I continued into the water. The water burned me and an amazing energy coursed through my body. It was very cold. When I reached the point where my shoulders were submerged in the water, my chest began to spasm and I swallowed a mouthful of bitter water. Then, as if from far away, very faintly, I felt it trying to give way.

I opened my eyes and dove into the water, digging and kicking out. Although it was only a few meters deep, it felt like I was digging another tunnel, entering a crack and swimming through a new realm, my own secret chamber. The water was muddy with the movement of my limbs, but when I stopped I suddenly saw everything clearly. The large rocks on the riverbed were dotted with insects, sponges, limpets, and lichens. Beyond that, green and purple river grass floats. It didn’t make the slightest sound. No water pressure thuds in your ears, no competing voices in your head. I hung horizontally, staring at the scene floating below the water’s surface, there was no further movement clouding my vision, but suddenly, as if out of nowhere, everything around me came to life fully alive. As if he realized that it was happening.

There was no gap between my body and the living world. I was pressed against the teeming vastness, where every cubic millimeter of water was dense with living things. These creatures were so small that I couldn’t see them, but somehow I felt their presence, their camaraderie around me.I wasn’t looking out of the water. towards Life, I looked straight ahead. into the The vast patchwork of water life that supports my body flows into my nostrils, ears, tiny cracks and crevices in my skin, swirls through my hair, and enters the same eyes that observed it. In what felt like minutes but should have been just seconds, I found myself floating in a web of entirely different worlds, important and complex places, and an almost infinite number of independent life forms. , I saw it scoop up countless creatures with every slight change. And the undulation of the body.

extracted from Ascension in progress Written by Martin McInnes, published by Atlantic Books. Ascension in progress This is the latest recommended book from the New Scientist Book Club.Register here and read along

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com