Cistanche Antioxidant And Antiaging - Principles And Strategies
Apr 02, 2022
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Many factors have been confirmed to be related to aging, among which free radicals are the biggest endogenous factor, and ultraviolet rays are the biggest factor of exogenous aging. External protection and internal anti-oxidation are currently feasible and effective strategies. You may often see the following phrases often put together on various occasions:
Fight free radicals
Free radical scavenging
Antioxidant, Antiaging
What exactly are free radicals, and why are they put together with antioxidants and anti-aging? What is the relationship between them?
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(1) About aging
The aging of the human body and skin is a natural process that cannot be reversed at present (of course, once reversed, it will also lead to serious ecological problems). There are many factors in aging, and the mysteries at the genetic level have yet to be solved, but it has been determined. Many endogenous and exogenous factors.
Many factors have been confirmed to be related to aging, which can be divided into endogenous factors and exogenous factors. Among them, the biggest endogenous factor is the damage of free radicals to the body. As far as the skin is concerned, the biggest factor of exogenous aging is UV light, extrinsic aging is also known as "photoaging".
(2) Free Radicals
So, what are free radicals? Free radicals are a type of very active molecular group (because most of them contain free oxygen atoms, so they are usually called oxygen-free radicals. If not specified, free radicals refer to oxygen free radicals), which are usually metabolized by the human body. Product, damage to the body by environmental factors can also increase free radicals, such as pollution, ultraviolet light, and sunlight, these unstable oxygen-containing molecules lack an electron on the outside, so they "steal" an electron from the nearby cell membrane (that is, "oxidative"). ” - Ice Cold Note), thus causing cellular damage (and cellular DNA damage). Damaged cells malfunction, resulting in poor health and decreased vitality.
To prevent free radical damage, the body already has endogenous antioxidants such as glutathione, coenzyme Q10, and SOD (superoxide dismutase) to prevent free radical invasion. If the free radical wins the "battle", two things happen:
1) skin showing signs of premature aging, such as wrinkles and sagging;
2) Oxidative stress state. Oxidative stress can be found behind any degenerative disease (ie: a disease characterized by wasting, damage, loss, and decline), such as heart disease, Alzheimer's, stroke, cancer, etc.- - To avoid these occurrences, you must eat foods rich in antioxidants to supplement your endogenous antioxidants. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) evaluation can compare the protective capacity of different antioxidants. Antioxidant foods high in ORAC are very good for the skin, and when these ingredients are formulated into sunscreen products and used consistently topically, the skin is better protected. In this way, when you follow the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant principles of the diet, the skin will be healthy, beautiful, and radiant.
Free radicals are the most important endogenous aging factors that have been identified at present. Therefore, anti-aging is to a large extent, anti-free radicals and antioxidants, so when you see "scavenging free radicals", "anti-free radicals" ", "antioxidant", you can think of these words as meaning: anti-aging, preventing skin (and health) damage. At present, many natural substances have been confirmed to have antioxidant effects. Taking and applying them can help to scavenge free radicals.
Whether shopping for skincare products, health products, or food, it is recommended to choose as many antioxidants as possible. The common types are listed below. The purpose of the list is to make it easy for everyone to identify, rather than having to eat these nutrients every day, in fact, many antioxidants are present in one food at the same time. If food cannot make up for it, it is recommended to supplement with antioxidant nutrients. When choosing skincare products, if you find that there are anti-oxidant ingredients in the products, most of them can be added.
Figure: Formation and damage of free radicals
Common Antioxidants:
①Vitamins: VC (ascorbic acid and its derivatives), VE (tocopherol, tocotrienol), vitamin B3, vitamin A
Among them, acerola cherries and wild thorn pears have the highest VC content, and fresh jujubes, domestic kiwifruit, and various green leafy vegetables have higher content in daily fruits. Green leafy vegetables are also often high in carotenoids (which can supplement VA).
Vitamin E is mainly found in seeds, nuts, and egg yolks.
Free radicals are the most important endogenous aging factors that have been identified at present. Therefore, anti-aging is to a large extent, anti-free radicals and antioxidants, so when you see "scavenging free radicals", "anti-free radicals" ", "antioxidant", you can think of these words as meaning: anti-aging, preventing skin (and health) damage. At present, many natural substances have been confirmed to have antioxidant effects. Taking and applying them can help to scavenge free radicals.
Whether shopping for skincare products, health products, or food, it is recommended to choose as many antioxidants as possible. The common types are listed below. The purpose of the list is to make it easy for everyone to identify, rather than having to eat these nutrients every day, in fact, many antioxidants are present in one food at the same time. If food cannot make up for it, it is recommended to supplement with antioxidant nutrients. When choosing skincare products, if you find that there are anti-oxidant ingredients in the products, most of them can be added.
Common Antioxidants:
①Vitamins: VC (ascorbic acid and its derivatives), VE (tocopherol, tocotrienol), vitamin B3, vitamin A
Among them, acerola cherries and wild thorn pears have the highest VC content, and fresh jujubes, domestic kiwifruit, and various green leafy vegetables have higher content in daily fruits. Green leafy vegetables are also often high in carotenoids (which can supplement VA).
Vitamin E is mainly found in seeds, nuts, and egg yolks.
B vitamins are mainly found in vegetables, whole grains, and animal foods, so a balanced and comprehensive diet is required.
Vitamin A is mainly found in the liver of animals, such as in cod liver oil. Considering that the safety of animal liver is worrying in the case of industrial farming (everyone knows it), carotenoids can be supplemented to convert into VA.
②Polyphenols (resveratrol, proanthocyanidins OPC, anthocyanins, tea polyphenols, ellagic acid, turmeric, milk thistle, and many plant extracts).
Among them, resveratrol mainly exists in peanut skin and grape skin. Anthocyanins are commonly found in grape seeds and various dark, especially purple vegetables. Tea polyphenols are mainly found in white tea and green tea.
③Carotenoids (Lycopene, Carotene, Lutein)
④Lipoic acid
⑤Hydrolyzed collagen peptides: mainly found in collagen beverages or health food, animal skins, tendons, and bones;
⑥ Melatonin (melatonin), its precursor itself mostly exists in millet and walnut;
⑦Enzymes/coenzymes (superoxide dismutase SOD, coenzyme Q10)
⑧ Glutathione
⑨Uric acid
⑩Unsaturated fatty acids (such as linolenic acid) are abundant in most nuts.
In terms of food selection, the principle is: to eat more bright, dark-colored foods. These foods are usually rich in carotenoids and anthocyanins, such as purple cabbage, purple eggplant, purple potato, blueberry, black peanut, black bean, black sesame, black rice, mulberry, bell pepper, broccoli, etc.
(3) Environmental factors (Environmental Factors) cause aging and fight against
Adverse environmental factors accelerate aging by directly damaging the skin, and at the same time increasing free radicals by destroying normal body tissue components and increasing metabolic stress in the body.
For example, ultraviolet rays will accelerate the degradation of collagen, and at the same time, free radicals will increase, which will further attack cells. Among all exogenous aging factors, UV rays are the biggest culprit, so sun protection has always been the number one task of anti-aging.
Bacteria and virus invasion, bad living habits (staying up late, overwork, etc.), etc. lead to decreased immunity, resulting in poor health and poor metabolism. It will also increase various bad metabolic wastes including free radicals and harm the body. Feedback is reflected on the skin, and good nutrition, health care, normal lifestyle habits, and a happy mood are the only ways to correct these problems.
Smoking can significantly increase free radicals, which can significantly promote the formation of wrinkles. It is necessary to quit smoking and promote the elimination of second-hand smoke in the whole society.
Through the efforts of internal adjustment and external protection, it has become a very real possibility to reduce and prolong the appearance of wrinkles, and improve skin quality and overall health.
(4)Pharmacological effects of Cistanche
1. Anti-aging effect
Cistanche has a certain degree of anti-aging effect.
Cistanche can significantly enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mouse erythrocytes, and significantly reduce the content of myocardial lipofuscin in mice. It can also extend the average lifespan, median lethal days, and maximum lifespan of Drosophila. Cistanche deserticola decoction 8g/kg administered to mice by gavage can significantly increase the activities of Na+ and K+-ATPase in the red blood cell membrane, which may be one of the mechanisms of its tonic effect.
2. Adjust endocrine, promote metabolism and strengthen
Cistanche deserticola has a regulating effect on the decrease and increase of nucleic acid content in the liver and spleen of yang-deficiency and yin-deficiency animals.
It has the effect of activating the adrenal glands and releasing corticosteroids. Its mechanism of action may be to enhance the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian luteinizing function. This effect is not due to their direct stimulation of pituitary luteinizing hormone secretion, but rather an increase in pituitary responsiveness to LRH and ovarian responsiveness to LH.
It is suggested that the main significance of traditional Chinese medicine for tonifying the kidney is to improve the regulating mechanism in the body and play a positive therapeutic role through the recovery of the body's own internal function. Through the research on the effect of Cistanche deserticola on the DNA synthesis rate of "Yang-deficiency" animals, it was found that hydroxyurea inhibited the reduction reaction of nucleotides at the level of phosphorylation, resulting in a decrease in the DNA synthesis rate, and the disorder of protein and energy metabolism caused "Yang-deficiency". ".
Cistanche deserticola may contain a biologically active factor that activates nucleotide reductase.
Therefore, it can significantly improve the DNA synthesis rate of "Yang-deficiency" animals, promote the synthesis of RNA, and improve the nucleic acid metabolism of proteins. Adding its dilute ethanol extract to drinking water to feed rats can promote growth and development.
3. Promote DNA synthesis
Cistanche decoction (0.5g/ml) 0.5ml/gavage can increase the synthesis of liver and spleen DNA in mice with "yang deficiency" caused by hydrocortisone acetate.
