[Latin Name] Hypericum perforatum

[Plant Source] From China

[Appearance] Brown fine powder

[Specifications] 0.3% Hypericin

[Particle size] 80 Mesh

[Loss on drying] ≤5.0%

[Heavy Metal] ≤10PPM

[Pesticide residue] EC396-2005, USP 34, EP 8.0, FDA

[Storage] Store in cool & dry area, keep away from the direct light and heat.

[Package] Packed in paper-drums and two plastic-bags inside.

[What is St. John's wort]

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) has a history of use as a medicine dating back to ancient Greece, where it was used for a range of illnesses, including various nervous disorders. St. John’s wort also has antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it has been applied to the skin to help heal wounds and burns. St. John’s wort is one of the most commonly purchased herbal products in the United States.

In recent years, St. John’s wort has been studied extensively as a treatment for depression. Most studies show that St. John’s wort may help treat mild-to-moderate depression, and has fewer side effects than most other prescription antidepressants.

[Functions]

1. Anti-depressive and sedative properties;

2. Effective remedy for the nervous system, relaxing tension, and anxiety and lifting the spirits;

3. Anti-inflammatory

4. Improve capillary circulation

QAAFI SCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES
4 April 2017

DESCRIPTION
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the main causes of death and contribute significantly to high health burden worldwide. It is estimated that 17 million people die every year from CVD, and in Australia it represents 37% of all deaths. Risk factors causing heart diseases are obesity, tobacco smoking, inactivity and unhealthy diets according to WHO (2011). One of the strategies to lower the prevalence of CVD is to promote healthy eating via increasing the daily consumption of cereals, fruits, and vegetables. Population based studies have shown that diet is strongly associated with heart diseases, and these days a very important lifestyle change is the ‘heart-healthy’ diet which includes the consumption of soluble dietary fibres (SDF) from cereals for example. Although SDFs in intervention trials have been shown to decrease blood cholesterol and/or triglycerides, risk biomarkers for CVD, the detailed mechanism(s) are not yet defined, but restricted re-absorption of bile acids (BAs) resulting in an excess excretion in the faeces has been hypothesised.

In the Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences (CNAFS) we have been studying the mechanisms behind the lipid lowering effects of SDFs such as β-glucan from oat and barley; and arabinoxylan from wheat and rye using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo approaches. Using pigs as a model for humans, we found out that after an adaptation period on the test diets, (1) oat β-glucan not only physically hinders the active transport of bile acids and uptake of cholesterol, but also changes the BAs profile, thus resulting in reduced blood total and LDL-cholesterol. (2) Wheat arabinoxylan on the other hand, lowers blood triglycerides with delay in digestion and absorption of triglycerides from the small intestine to the blood circulation. In both experiments, lower circulating BAs levels, enhanced production of therapeutic and suppression of toxic BAs were seen without excess excretion of BAs in the faeces.

About Dr Nima Gunness
Dr Nima Gunness is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences (CNAFS), ARC Centre in Excellence in Plant Cell Walls. Nima was awarded a PhD in Nutrition, Biochemistry and Food Sciences from the University of Queensland, QLD, Australia after graduating with a Master in Food Technology degree from Curtin University, WA, Australia. Nima has a BSc in Biology from the University of Provence, Aix Marseille I, France.

Nima’s research interests include understanding and proposing solutions towards two major public health concerns cardiovascular disease and obesity via healthy eating. In her current role, Nima has been investigating the mechanisms behind the lipid-reducing properties of non-starch polysaccharides/soluble dietary fibres from cereals (e.g. oat, barley, wheat and rye) by investigating the structure/function of soluble dietary fibres in relation to their interactions with cholesterol, triglycerides and bile acids using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo methods. She is also working on the nutritional mechanisms underpinning the epidemiological health benefits of whole fruit, vegetables and nuts, to translate these into consumer concepts (e.g. satiety per kJ and satiation). Nima has published a number of scientific articles in renowned international journals as first author, a review which is highly cited and a recent publication which has attracted media attention. Nima mentors PhD, Master, Honours and Overseas visiting students. Nima is part of the Project Leadership Team of the ARC CoE in Plant Cell Walls.

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