Cratagus oxycantha (2% Vitexin)

In most instances, prescriptive drugs have considerable side-effects. Note that cholesterol "statin" drugs cause Co-enzyme Q10 deficiency, a nutrient essential for heart health.

Ayurved Formulas offer a series of products to address these problems and bring together some of nature's most potent herbs. These herbs have been scientifically studied and formulated. The ingredients in Cardana are:

1.) Terminalia arjuna bark. This Ayurved herb has been conclusively proven to have cardiovascular activity. Studies have shown that extracts of Terminalia arjuna produce sustained hypotension and bradycardia which is dose dependent. It has also been shown to increase the force of contraction of the heart in all doses.

2.) Coleus forskohlii. Detailed pharmacologic studies established that forskohlin - a diterpene lactone - lowered significantly high blood pressure in different animal species, as well as man. In addition, it had a positive inotropic effect on the heart muscle. The anti-hypertensive effects for forskohlin were attributed to a decrease in pre and after loads as well as decreased peripheral resistance by a direct action on relaxing the arteriolar smooth muscle. Both the positive inotropic action and the vascular action were shown to be initiated by the stimulation of the membrane bound enzyme adenylate cyclase resulting in raised intracellular cAMP levels, an activation of protein synthesis, a lowering of the membrane bound Na+, K+-ATPase activity and activation of the slow calcium gate. Coleus forskholii shows that the plant kingdom offers excellent prospects in the search for further potent cardiac agents.

3.) Crataegus oxycantha (Hawthorn). The fruits from this plant are cardiotonic and coronary vasodilator. Hawthorn is reputed to dissolve deposits in thickened and sclerotic arteries. Various clinical studies have shown increased cardiac performance and output; decrease in peripheral resistance; decrease in pulmonary arterial and capillary pressures; reductions in blood pressure at rest and during exercise; and improved metabolic parameters.

4.) Withania somnifera. Also known as ashwagandha, it has been described as the most important medicinal plant in India. This herb has been the focus of hundreds of clinical studies and is one of the most exhaustively researched herbs. The anti-stress activity of the roots has been reported in multiple clinical studies. Ashwagandha has been used as a treatment for the most debilitating diseases and is included for its cardioprotectivie activity.

5.) Boerhaavia diffusa. The cardiovascular action of this herb has been clinically studied. The rationale for its inclusion is due to its powerful diuretic activity.

6.) Piper longum. This fruit yields a molecule known as "piperine". Piperine has been clinically studied and reported to improve the bioavailability of drugs. By the addition of this ingredient, the pharmacological actions of other herbs are enhanced, leading to a better overall action. 

References

i. Heichrgens H. (1993). "Crataegus special extract WS 1442 in cardiac insuffiency NYH A II. A placebo-controlled randomized double blind study". Fortschr Med. 111: 352-4.

ii. Loew, D. (1997). "Phytotheraphy in heart failure". Phytomedicine. 4: 267-271.

iii. Blesher V.R. (1992). "Use of crataegus in cardiology. Fortscher Med. 15: 290-292.

iv. OÇonolly et al (1987). "Treatment of elderly, multimorbid patients with stenocardiac complaints with crateagus". Therapiewoche. 37; 3587-3600.

v. Bharani A, Ganguly A, Bhargava KD. (1995). "Salutray effect of T. Arjuna in patients with severe refactory heart failure". Int. J. Cardiol. 49: 191-199.

vi. Reichert, R (1996). "Terminalia arjuna for Congestive heart failure:. Quarterly Rev. of Nat-Med Fall; 177-178.

vii. Divivedi, S. et al. (1995). "Term. arjuria and prostaglandin E activity". Indian Drugs 24: 378-382.

Ulcer protective effect of Terminalia arjuna on gastric mucosal defensive mechanism in experimental rats.
Phytother Res. 2007 Aug;21(8):762-7.
Devi RS, Narayan S, Vani G, Srinivasan P, Mohan KV, Sabitha KE, Devi CS.

The methanol extract of the bark of Terminalia arjuna (Combretaceae) (TAE) showed marked antiulcer and ulcer healing activity against 80% ethanol (ETH), diclofenac sodium (DIC) and dexamethasone (DEX) induced ulcer models dose dependently at doses of 100, 400 and 200 mg/kg body weight respectively. Pre-, post and co-administration of TAE offered 100% protection to the gastric mucosa against ETH, DIC and DEX induced ulcers as observed from the ulcer score. Gastric mucosal analysis of DEX induced rats were associated with changes in the levels of protein, protein bound carbohydrate complexes, lipid peroxides (LPO), glutathione (GSH) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) compared with control rats. Co-administration with TAE in DEX rats (DEX + TAE) favorably altered the levels of LPO, GSH and also the activities of SOD and CAT in gastric mucosa, whereas the activities of GPx remained unaltered in all groups. In DEX + TAE rats, the levels of protein and protein bound carbohydrate complexes were increased when compared with DEX rats. The results indicate that the gastroprotective effect of TAE is probably related to its ability to maintain the membrane integrity by its antilipid peroxidative activity that protects the gastric mucosa against oxidative damage and its ability to strengthen the mucosal barrier, the first line of defense against exogenous and endogenous ulcerogenic agents. (c ) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Gastroprotective effect of Terminalia arjuna bark on diclofenac sodium induced gastric ulcer.
Chem Biol Interact. 2007 Apr 5;167(1):71-83. Epub 2007 Feb 2.
Devi RS, Narayan S, Vani G, Shyamala Devi CS.

AIM: The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna (TA) on diclofenac sodium induced gastric ulcer in experimental rats.
METHODS: Animals were induced for gastric ulcer with diclofenac sodium (DIC) (80mg/kg bodyweight in water, orally) and treated orally with TA in various doses ranging from 100mg/kg bodyweight to 500mg/kg bodyweight. The effective dose was 400mg/kg bodyweight, since this dose elicited a maximum reduction in lesion index. The gastroprotective effect of TA was assessed from volume of gastric juice, pH, free and total acidity, pepsin concentration, acid output in gastric juice, the levels of non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH), lipid peroxide (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), and activities of enzymic antioxidants-super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in gastric mucosa. The levels of DNA, protein bound carbohydrate complexes-hexose, hexoseamine, sialic acid, fucose in gastric mucosa and gastric juice and the levels of RNA in gastric mucosa were assessed. The stomach tissues were used for adherent mucus content and also for the histological examination.
RESULTS: A significant reduction in lesion index was observed in ulcer induced animals treated with TA (DIC+TA) compared to ulcerated rats (DIC). A significant increase was observed in pH, NP-SH, GSH, enzymic antioxidants, protein bound carbohydrate complexes, adherent mucus content, nucleic acids with a significant decrease in volume of gastric juice, free and total acidity, pepsin concentration, acid output, LPO levels and MPO activities in DIC+TA rats compared to DIC rats. Histological studies confirmed the gastroprotective activity of TA.
CONCLUSION: From the data presented in this study it could be concluded that T. arjuna acts as an gastroprotective agent probably due to its free radical scavenging activity and cytoprotective nature.


Pretreatment with alcoholic extract of Crataegus oxycantha (AEC) activates mitochondrial protection during isoproterenol - induced myocardial infarction in rats.
Mol Cell Biochem. 2006 Nov;292(1-2):59-67. Epub 2006 May 30.
Jayalakshmi R, Thirupurasundari CJ, Devaraj SN.

Crataegus oxycantha (hawthorn) is used in herbal and homeopathic medicine as a cardiotonic. The present study was done to investigate the effect of the alcoholic extract of Crataegus oxycantha (AEC) on mitochondrial function during experimentally induced myocardial infarction in rat. AEC was administered orally to male albino rats (150-200 g), at a dosage of 0.5 ml/100 g body weight/day, for 30 days. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were administered isoproterenol (85 mg/kg body weight, s.c) for 2 days at an interval of 24 h. After 48 h, the rats were anaesthetized and sacrificed. The hearts were homogenized for biochemical and electron microscopic analysis. AEC pretreatment maintained mitochondrial antioxidant status, prevented mitochondrial lipid peroxidative damage and decrease in Kreb's cycle enzymes induced by isoproterenol in rat heart.