alfalfa & hypercholesterolemia

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Research of :Role of alfalfa in curing hypercholesterolemia Prepared by : Mohamed yusuf

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Page 1: Alfalfa & hypercholesterolemia

Research of :Role of alfalfa in curing

hypercholesterolemia

Prepared by : Mohamed yusuf

Page 2: Alfalfa & hypercholesterolemia

Content1. Introduction.2. Definition of alfalfa.3. Content of alfalfa.4. Pharmaceutical uses of alfalfa .5. Cure of cholesterol by alfalfa.6. Saponins.7. Hypocholesterolemic effect by saponins.8. Other pharmaceutical uses for alfalfa.9. Precautions of alfalfa.10.Summary.

Page 3: Alfalfa & hypercholesterolemia

Definition of alfalfa Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) Family: Legume (Leguminosesea) Common Names: Buffalo herb Lucerne Purple medicHabitat: North America, the Mediterranean

region, western Asia; foothills and mountain areas.

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Composition of alfalfa CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Alkaloids Amino acids AnthocyaninsAsparagine Carbohydrates ChlorophyllCoumestrol Crude fibers EnzymesEstrogens Fatty acids FlavonesFructose Lauric acid Malic acidMalonic acid Medicagol MorphineMyristic acid Oxalic acid Palmitic acidPlant acids Quinic acid Salicylic acidSaponins Sitosterol StachydrineStigmasterol Sucrose TriacontaneTriacontanol Trigonelline Xylose

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Pharmaceutical uses of alfalfaNutritional SupportAllergiesDiabetesMenopausal Symptoms (e.g. Hot Flashes)High Cholesterol

Page 6: Alfalfa & hypercholesterolemia

Cure of cholesterol by alfalfa It depends on saponins that found in alfalfa with high concentration.

Extensive human clinical research has shown that: plant sterols and plant sterol esters substantially and consistently lower total blood cholesterol levels by 6 - 10% and LDL (bad) cholesterol by 8 - 15%.

Health organizations: suggest 2 g of plant sterols as the optimum daily dosage. Dosages higher than 3 g/d provide little additional benefits, and are therefore not recommended.

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SaponinsDefinition:

Saponins are steroid or triterpenoid glycosides, common in a large

number of plants and plant products that are important in human and animal

nutrition.

They derive their name from their ability to form stable, soap-like foams in aqueous solutions.

Page 8: Alfalfa & hypercholesterolemia

SaponinsStructure: Saponins consist of a sugar moiety usually containing

glucose, galactose, glucuronic acid , xylose , rhamnose or methylpentose, glycosidically linked to a hydrophobic aglycone (sapogenin) which may be triterpenoid or steroid in nature.

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SaponinsTypes of saponins: 1-sterodial saponins :consist of C-27 with 5 methyl

group .Less distributed in nature .Mainly used as precursor of

sex hormones & corticosteroids.

Page 10: Alfalfa & hypercholesterolemia

Saponins2-triterpenoidal saponins:Consist of C-30 .Have pentacyclic skeleton with 8 methyl

group.Much distributed in nature comparing

to steroidal saponins.Note :Saponins are in immature plant ratio is

higher than mature plants in the same species.

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Hypocholesterolemic effect by saponins

Saponins &bile acids are both ampiphilic compound , partly hydrophilic ,partly hydrophobic .in aqueous solution individually they form small micelles ,their hydrophobic triterpene or steroid groups stacking together like small piles of coins . when the two type are mixed their hydrophobic groups interleave with each other in their stacks . the steric and electrostatic constraints to the formation of micelles are relieved and the stacks become greatly extended , incorporating many hundreds of molecules .

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Hypocholesterolemic effect by saponins

a) Bile acid b) saponins c)micelles ( bile acid & saponins)

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Hypocholesterolemic effect by saponins

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Hypocholesterolemic effect by plant sterol

Reduction in LDL-Cholesterol Levels with Plant Sterol Consumption:

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Other pharmaceutical for alfalfa

1. Alfalfa has antibiotic properties: The saponins in alfalfa have been shown to

be antifungal. This activity is concentrated mainly in the medicagenic acid fraction. Alfalfa has shown some activity against tuberculosis bacteria, while aqueous and volatile extracts of alfalfa are antibacterial against gram negative bacteria.

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2.Alfalfa contains vitamin K, an antihemolytic agent.

Vitamin K is found in many green leafy plants, but is especially abundant in alfalfa. The herb has therefore been effectively used in treatment of vitamin K disorders in man. When the delivery of bile to the bowel is hindered, as in obstructive jaundice or biliary fistula, a bleeding disorder may arise. Other bleeding disorders may result from the use of artificial formulas to feed newborns, protracted antibiotic therapy, pancreatic insufficiency, chronic diarrhea and steatorrhea, and from the misuse of anticoagulants, aspirin, and anticonvulsant drugs

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3. Menopausal symptomsAlfalfa contains coumestans, which are

phytoestrogens. For this reason, alfalfa has been examined in laboratory studies for menopausal symptoms

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Precautions of uses alfalfa 1. Alfalfa, in its various forms, may present some

health risks. Powdered alfalfa herb, alfalfa sprouts, and alfalfa seeds all contain L- Canavanine , a substance that may cause abnormal blood cell counts, spleen enlargement, or recurrence of lupus in patients with controlled disease.

Note: However, heating alfalfa may correct this problem.

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Precautions of uses alfalfa 2.Pregnant or nursing women, young children,

or people with estrogen sensitive cancers should also avoid alfalfa because of its possible estrogenic effects.

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Precautions of uses alfalfa 3.Alfalfa has a high potassium content. People

with chronic kidney insufficiency, hypoaldosteronism, or who are using potassium-altering medications should avoid alfalfa to avoid the risk of potentially life-threatening hyperkalemia (too much potassium in the blood).

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summaryAlfalfa is a good source of saponins for curing

hypercholesterolemia .Alfalfa has another pharmaceutical uses for

diseases like (Diabetes).Alfalfa not recommended for some people who has : 1) lupus or lupus history. 2) who has sensitivity from estrogen. 3) people who have problem in kidney.

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Reference Sidhu,G,S; Oakenfull,D,G (1986) A

mechanism for the hypocholesterolaemic activity of saponins. British J.of nutrition , 55 : 643 – 649.

Francis,G;Kerem,Z ; Makkar,s,p,h and Becker, Klaus(2002). The biological action of saponins in animal systems: a review. British Journal of Nutrition,88:587-605.

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wisdomNot all we eat is useful for us but we didn’t think

before that there is a lot of benefits in other plants that “ALLAH” give us but we don’t use it.

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