Arpa Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 (edited) Maybe MosJan, our mshtakan mshak would consider cultivating LOSHTAK! Finally! That Armenian panacea, cure all, amena-bouzh/ամէնաբոյժ/darman herb is catching on. The world is catching up with Armenian medicine. Many may have seen that ad about that “miracle cure” for migraine headache. Does anyone know what LOSHTAK is? I still have the package that I bought in Yerevan. It is touted as the cure-all, panacea that cures everything from bad hair to cancer. Some of us may have seen those ads on TV about that new “miracle” cure for migraine headache called “Headon”. I decided to look up the ingredients. Among others… tata!! White Bryony. (see below) LOSHTAK!!! The world is finally catching up with Ancient Armenian Medicine http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/bryeur76.html Many have asked if “loshtak” is the same as “Ginseng”. No! Ginzeng, that other “panacea” is known as “zhenzen/ ժենժեն” in Armenian. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...361742?v=glance Ingredients Active Ingredients: Potassium Dichromate (6X H.P.U.S. 0.05%), Sublimed Sulphur (12X H.P.U.S. 0.2%), White Bryony (12X H.P.U.S. 0.04%) (The letters H.P.U.S. indicated that the components in this product are officially monographed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States). Inactive Ingredients: Diazolidinyl Urea, Ethyl Alcohol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Menthol, Menthyl Lactate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Stearate, Steareth-21, Tetrasodium EDTA, Re: Adaptogenic Properties of Bryonia Root Panossian A, Gabrielian E, and Wagner, H. Plant adaptogens. II.* Bryonia as an adaptogen. Phytomedicine. :. The use of Bryonia alba L. (Cucurbitaceae) root (called "Loshtak" in Armenia) in folk medicine goes back centuries in Armenia and in surrounding countries. There are also references to it in ancient Greece, Rome and Asia. Today, in this country, as well as England, France, German and the former Soviet Union, dried bryonia root extracts and homeopathic tablets and pellets are used to treat cough, rheumatic pain and headache, acute inflammation of lung pleura, abdomen and lung, rheumatism, fever and viral infections. Evidence has been accumulating during the last decade that bryonia roots have adaptogenic properties as well. Adaptogens are defined as substances that elicit nonspecific resistance enhancing the body's ability to counteract stress and to adapt to exceptional strain. Recently, a bryonia extract containing 100 milligrams of standardized root powder was registered at the Armenian Drug Administration as an immunomodulator, adaptogen and tonic and a protectant against radiation. This review summarizes reports (published mainly in Russian) on the chemical composition and the pharmacological and biochemical properties of the active principles of B. alba roots as well as clinical trials investigating its use as an adaptogens in animals and humans. The wide range of diseases for which bryonia root is recommended as a drug suggests that its active compounds act upon tissues involved in the immune system, hormonal regulation and the central nervous system. According to the known chemical composition of bryonia root, two major classes of compounds may be responsible for these effects: cucurbitacins, which are structurally similar to corticosteroids and trihydroxyoctadecadienoic acids, which are formed from linolenic acid. Both corticosteroids and eicosanoids are recognized as important regulators in the activation and suppression of the immune system. In clinical trials, patients treated with the bryonia extract have shown improved T-cell immunity, antimutagenic effects and improvement in the functioning of the heart. It has also been found to be effective in reducing or preventing the side effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients. In athletes it has also been shown to increase endurance, working capacity and performance and reduce the time it takes for heart rate to return to normal following competition. In animals, the extract has been found to reduce the effects of irradiation and increase the survival rate after infection with Staphylococcus aureus. The authors recommend that bryonia extract be used as a tonic and anti-stress agent for healthy subjects to increase their working capacity as well as to prevent stress-induced diseases, by stimulating the immune and endocrine systems. Studies with rats, guinea pigs and dogs chronically treated with bryonia extract powder, showed no toxic effects. However, the authors caution against taking bryonia during pregnancy. For adults and children 2 years of age and older, the recommended intake is one tablet a day for 25 to 30 days. Side effects include diarrhea, drowsiness, tachycardia and hyperexcitability if the doses exceeds 2 tablets a day. Beneficial effects can be seen after at least 1 to 3 weeks of treatment. --Densie Webb, PhD Edited March 9, 2006 by Arpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 we have 2 LOSHTAK's in Armenia Loshtak = http://www.rabiz.com/RABIZ-LOSHTAK.gif or Losht http://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/5709.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 The Effect of Bryonia alba root Extracts on Exogenous and Endogenous Oxidative DNA Damage in Human Lymphocytes Armen K. Nersesyan Cancer Research Center, Yerevan, Armenia and Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, UK Corresponding author: Armen K. Nersesyan, Ph.D., D.Sc. Department of Genetics and Cytology, State University, 1 Alex Manoukian St, Yerevan 25, Armenia Telephone: +3741 552352 Fax number: +3741 286922 E-mail adress: genetik@ysu.am CEJOEM 2001, Vol.7. Nos.3-4.:209-216 Key words: Oxitative DNA damage, comet assay, “Loshtak” preparation, chemoprevention Abbreviations: LP = “Loshtak” preparation AE = aqueous extract ME = methanol extract FPG = formamidopyrimidine glycolyse Abstract: The effect of aqueous and methanol extracts of “Loshtak” preparation (purified Bryonia alba roots) on exogenous and endogenous oxidative DNA damage was studied on human lymphocytes using the comet assay with endonuclease III and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase. Extracts of Loshtak lack ability to protect human cells against exogenous DNA oxidative damage induced by H2O2 but protect them from the endogenous one. The ability of Loshtak preparation to protect human cells against endogenous oxidative DNA damage adds a new beneficial property to other effects (e. g., lack of genotoxic and carcinogenic activities, antimutagenic effect) of it. Received: 11 February 2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Restoration of the disordered glucose-fatty acid cycle in alloxan-diabetic rats by trihydroxyoctadecadienoic acids from Bryonia alba, a native Armenian medicinal plant. Karageuzyan KG, Vartanyan GS, Agadjanov MI, Panossian AG, Hoult JR. Institute of Molecular Biology, Armenian National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia. We studied how administration of trihydroxyoctadecadienoic acids obtained from the roots of the native Armenian plant Bryonia alba L. (0.05 mg/kg/day for 15 days. i.m.) restores the disordered lipid metabolism of alloxan-diabetic rats. Diabetes was accompanied by an increase in total non-esterified fatty acid content of blood together with decreases in muscle and adipose tissue of total non-esterified fatty acids and triglycerides, together with marked alterations of phospholipid fatty acid distribution within the membranes from muscle, including increased short chain fatty acid and decreased arachidonate content. All these metabolic changes induced in diabetes were significantly restored by trihydroxyoctadecadienoic acid treatment towards their normal values (P < 0.005) with the exception of diminished triglyceride content of muscle which was not restored. In experiments on rat neutrophil leukocytes in vitro, it was found that the standardised preparation of Bryonia C-18 fatty acids (a mixture of four diastereoisomeric forms of the positional isomers I 12,13,16-trihydroxy-9Z,14E-octadecadienoic acid, II 12,15,16-trihydroxy-9Z,13E-octadecadienoic acid, III 9,10, 13-trihydroxy-11E,15Z-octadecadienoic acid and IV 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10E,14Z-octadecadienoic acid) had no effect on granular enzyme secretion or 5-lipoxygenase activity at 5-50 micrograms/ml, but dose-dependently reduced thromboxane B2 generation, with a corresponding increase in prostaglandin E2 release. We conclude that trihydroxyoctadecadienoic acids from B. alba can correct major metabolic abnormalities typical of severe diabetes mellitus, and that they can influence the profile of the formation of stable prostaglandins by actions downstream of prostaglandin endoperoxides. PMID: 9690343 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Possible genotoxic activity of extracts of Bryonia alba roots on human lymphocytes and transformed cells. Nersesyan AK, Collins AR. Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Center, Yerevan, Armenia. genetik@ysu.am Bryonia alba roots (BAR) are widely used as an adaptogenic and restorative drug with immunomodulatory and stress-protective properties that increase the non-specific resistance of an organism toward harmful stimuli. Potential genotoxic activity of aqueous and methanol extracts of BAR was studied on human normal (lymphocytes) and transformed (HeLa and Caco-2) cells using single cell gel electrophoresis (the comet assay). The results obtained did not show any evidence of genotoxic effects of BAR. PMID: 12088103 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Date: February 13, 1998 HC# 010782-128 Re: Adaptogenic Properties of Bryonia Root Panossian A, Gabrielian E, and Wagner, H. Plant adaptogens. II.* Bryonia as an adaptogen. Phytomedicine. :. The use of Bryonia alba L. (Cucurbitaceae) root (called "Loshtak" in Armenia) in folk medicine goes back centuries in Armenia and in surrounding countries. There are also references to it in ancient Greece, Rome and Asia. Today, in this country, as well as England, France, German and the former Soviet Union, dried bryonia root extracts and homeopathic tablets and pellets are used to treat cough, rheumatic pain and headache, acute inflammation of lung pleura, abdomen and lung, rheumatism, fever and viral infections. Evidence has been accumulating during the last decade that bryonia roots have adaptogenic properties as well. Adaptogens are defined as substances that elicit nonspecific resistance enhancing the body's ability to counteract stress and to adapt to exceptional strain. Recently, a bryonia extract containing 100 milligrams of standardized root powder was registered at the Armenian Drug Administration as an immunomodulator, adaptogen and tonic and a protectant against radiation. This review summarizes reports (published mainly in Russian) on the chemical composition and the pharmacological and biochemical properties of the active principles of B. alba roots as well as clinical trials investigating its use as an adaptogens in animals and humans. The wide range of diseases for which bryonia root is recommended as a drug suggests that its active compounds act upon tissues involved in the immune system, hormonal regulation and the central nervous system. According to the known chemical composition of bryonia root, two major classes of compounds may be responsible for these effects: cucurbitacins, which are structurally similar to corticosteroids and trihydroxyoctadecadienoic acids, which are formed from linolenic acid. Both corticosteroids and eicosanoids are recognized as important regulators in the activation and suppression of the immune system. In clinical trials, patients treated with the bryonia extract have shown improved T-cell immunity, antimutagenic effects and improvement in the functioning of the heart. It has also been found to be effective in reducing or preventing the side effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients. In athletes it has also been shown to increase endurance, working capacity and performance and reduce the time it takes for heart rate to return to normal following competition. In animals, the extract has been found to reduce the effects of irradiation and increase the survival rate after infection with Staphylococcus aureus. The authors recommend that bryonia extract be used as a tonic and anti-stress agent for healthy subjects to increase their working capacity as well as to prevent stress-induced diseases, by stimulating the immune and endocrine systems. Studies with rats, guinea pigs and dogs chronically treated with bryonia extract powder, showed no toxic effects. However, the authors caution against taking bryonia during pregnancy. For adults and children 2 years of age and older, the recommended intake is one tablet a day for 25 to 30 days. Side effects include diarrhea, drowsiness, tachycardia and hyperexcitability if the doses exceeds 2 tablets a day. Beneficial effects can be seen after at least 1 to 3 weeks of treatment. --Densie Webb, PhD Enclosure Bin #128 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 MEDICINE IN ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL ARMENIA Stella Vardanian Armenian medicine, which has a history of some 3000 years, has created a rich treasury of natural medicaments. Medicine is an inseparable part of ancient Armenian culture and its roots come from deep in the past. Relying on folk medicine and its sources, it accumulated the experience and knowledge of many generations of Armenian physicians on the curative properties of plants and animals as well as minerals. In ancient times, the medicinal herbs of the Armenian highland were especially well-reputed. Those herbs were exported to the East and to some countries of the West. Thus such ancient and Arabian writers as Herodotus, Strabo, Xenophanes, Tacitus, Pliny the Elder, Dioscorides. Galen, Ibn Sina and al-Biruni, when discussing Armenia, also mentioned its natural medicinal plants. Armenian historians Movses Khorenatsi, Pavstos Buzand, Lazar Parpetsi, Thovma Ardsruni gave much important information on medicine in ancient Armenia. The medicinal plants of Armenia were grown with great care in special gardens founded as early as those on the initiative of king Vagharshak (2nd cent. B.C) and Artashes (1st cent. A.D.). The remarkable curative hormonic properties of certain plants, as for example, the white bryony (Bryonia alba) and the black cumin (Nigella sativa) brought about the worship of these plants in Armenia, ancient expressions of which have been preserved in Armenian folklore. Virtual Matenadaran - The Heritage - Medicine in Details ... as for example, the white bryony (Bryonia alba) and the black cumin (Nigella sativa) brought about the worship of these plants in Armenia, ancient expressions ... http://www.matenadaran.am/en/heritage/medicine/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Is this a snake oil sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpa Posted March 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Is this a snake oil sale? Yervant, Are you saying that you don’t know what Loshtak/Լոշտակ is? Man! Have you missed it! Amot!! :) As intimated above, it is the panacea, a cure-all in Armenia. In fact I still have that package of loshtak pills I bought in Yerevan. Now that I am looking at it it is labeled in Russian “CYCTAK” 6.4 mg, made by KRKA, Novo Mesto , Yugoslavia. And as Mosjan quoted articles above, I was looking for it but when it comes to the Matenadaran site my patience runs out. I also know that Stella Vardanian MD, medical historian works there. In fact I met her there, and I have met her several other times. I have two of her books the latest being personally autographed ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ԲԺՇԿՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՊԱՏՄՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ that she gave me as a gift, I won’t say why. Coming back to Loshtak/Bryony, it is nothing new, it had been used in the US as well, one can find it in old pharmacology books. Among the many virtues attributed to it, you said it, “snake oil”, it is also touted as a natural sorryyyyy. Ginseng is touted as such too, the reason why many of us confuse one for the other. Speaking of which, the Chinese are the world’s biggest believers and consumers of Ginseng. It begs the question; Of all the people why are the Chinese, and orientals for that matter, are so obsessed with aphrodisiacs?? With over 1.2 billion and still growing, wouldn’t they rather indulge in suppressants?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Yervant, Are you saying that you don’t know what Loshtak/Լոշտակ is? Man! Have you missed it! Amot!! :) As intimated above, it is the panacea, a cure-all in Armenia. In fact I still have that package of loshtak pills I bought in Yerevan. Now that I am looking at it it is labeled in Russian “CYCTAK” 6.4 mg, made by KRKA, Novo Mesto , Yugoslavia. And as Mosjan quoted articles above, I was looking for it but when it comes to the Matenadaran site my patience runs out. I also know that Stella Vardanian MD, medical historian works there. In fact I met her there, and I have met her several other times. I have two of her books the latest being personally autographed ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ԲԺՇԿՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՊԱՏՄՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ that she gave me as a gift, I won’t say why. Coming back to Loshtak/Bryony, it is nothing new, it had been used in the US as well, one can find it in old pharmacology books. Among the many virtues attributed to it, you said it, “snake oil”, it is also touted as a natural sorryyyyy. Ginseng is touted as such too, the reason why many of us confuse one for the other. Speaking of which, the Chinese are the world’s biggest believers and consumers of Ginseng. It begs the question; Of all the people why are the Chinese, and orientals for that matter, are so obsessed with aphrodisiacs?? With over 1.2 billion and still growing, wouldn’t they rather indulge in suppressants?? Amot indeed I didn't know about it but the snake oil remark was a joke and not the credibility of it. I read an article about ginseng little while ago saying that the claim about it is little exaggerated, as for the Chinese they are not interested in numbers but the size of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpa Posted March 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Amot indeed I didn't know about it but the snake oil remark was a joke and not the credibility of it. I read an article about ginseng little while ago saying that the claim about it is little exaggerated, as for the Chinese they are not interested in numbers but the size of it. Some time ago, much to my disgust, I saw a show on TV, was it History or Discovery Channel?, where they showed a segment , no not in China but Japan, a restaurant had advertised a night of “tiger penis soup”. Yep. You read it right “soup of tiger penis”, note that it is singular. They showed about 400 hundred men in their business suits, with spoon in hand waiting in anticipation. The soup was served and those idiotic business executives wolfed it down. Remember, I said ONE “tiger penis/arnandam”, singular, for 400 men. Of course as you may have gathered it was touted as an aphrodisiac. How many milli-micrograms did each diner receive of whatever it was meant to deliver? What made it even more disgusting to me was that a beautiful animal had to be slaughtered merely for that organ. If they are so concerned about “size” they should consider marrying an Armenian. Amot!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Some time ago, much to my disgust, I saw a show on TV, was it History or Discovery Channel?, where they showed a segment , no not in China but Japan, a restaurant had advertised a night of “tiger penis soup”. Yep. You read it right “soup of tiger penis”, note that it is singular. They showed about 400 hundred men in their business suits, with spoon in hand waiting in anticipation. The soup was served and those idiotic business executives wolfed it down. Remember, I said ONE “tiger penis/arnandam”, singular, for 400 men. Of course as you may have gathered it was touted as an aphrodisiac. How many milli-micrograms did each diner receive of whatever it was meant to deliver? What made it even more disgusting to me was that a beautiful animal had to be slaughtered merely for that organ. If they are so concerned about “size” they should consider marrying an Armenian. Amot!! This reminded me the movie with Marlon Brando and Matthew Broaderick. They were showing the extinct animal to the rich guests and charging $200,000 for each plate and serving them chicken instead. Retard customers were paying big money for eating extinct animal, at least that's what they thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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