Phloxicin

Although arthritis in its various forms is certainly responsible for its share of joint pain and inflexibility, the aging process and its accompanying normal wear and tear on joints can, by itself, be responsible for joint pain and stiffness. Appropriate exercise – particularly good stretching exercises – can help to keep joints limber, but sometimes additional support is required.

Phloxicin is designed to help maintain joint health and flexibility using a combination of herbal ingredients and one amino acid, which have demonstrated support. Woven into the total formula, all of these synergistic ingredients help to support joint health and flexibility for men and women of all blood types.

Phloxicin comprises four synergistic ingredients.

Boswellia serrata Resin Extract (Standardized to 70% Organic Acids and 20% Beta Boswellic Acid).  The applicable part of Boswellia serrata other wise known as Indian frankincense is the resin. The principle constituents of Indian frankincense are boswellic acid and alpha- and beta-boswellic acid, which have anti-inflammatory properties. (1) In preliminary research, Indian frankincense extracts show anti-inflammatory and antiarthritis effects. (2)

Boswellic acids inhibit 5-lipoxygenase and leukotriene synthesis, and inhibit leukocyte elastase, which are the likely mechanisms for its anti-inflammatory properties. Boswellic acids also might have disease modifying effect, decreasing glycosaminoglycan degradation and cartilage damage. Indian frankincense also might inhibit mediators of autoimmune disorders. It seems to reduce production of antibodies and cell-mediated immunity. (3, 4, 5) Indian frankincense might be useful in treating cancer. Preliminary research suggests that boswellic acids have an antiproliferative and apoptotic effect on cancer cells. (6) Preliminary research suggests boswellic acids stabilize mast cells, which suggests usefulness for asthma. (7) Other preliminary research suggests that boswellic acids might prevent organ rejection and ischemia/reperfusion injury. (8) Indian frankincense has an elimination half-life of 6 hours. (9)

L-Histidine.  Histidine is an essential amino acid involved in a wide range of metabolic processes. (10) L-Histidine is an important amino acid usually found to be deficient in those suffering from arthritis. Proper intake of L-histidine may prove beneficial in reducing inflammation associated with joint disease or injury. Used for growth and repair of tissues, L-Histidine helps to protect nerve cells and aids in the production of blood cells.

Ginger Oil (from Zingiber officinale Root).  The applicable parts of ginger are the rhizome and root. Ginger contains active constituents known as gingerol, gingerdione, and shogaol. These constituents seem to have a variety of pharmacological properties including antipyretic, analgesic, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, sedative, antibiotic, weak antifungal, and other properties. (11,12)

Ginger is sometimes used for inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Some researchers speculate that certain constituents of ginger might inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase pathways. (13) It also seems to inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2), which mediate inflammation. (14)

Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum Root).  Japanese knotweed, is a member of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). It is also known as P. japonicum, Reynoutria japonica, Pleuropteris zuccarinii, and Polygonum zuccarinii, as well as false bamboo. (15) A native of eastern Asia, this species grows in waste areas throughout the northeastern United States and into southern Canada.

Extracts from P. cuspidatum appear to have antipyretic and analgesic activities, as studied in intact mice and rats. (16) Roots of P. cuspidatum contain compounds called stilbenes, which are aromatic hydrocarbons having the general formula C14-H12. One stilbene called resveratrol has several physiological activities. First, resveratrol exhibits cancer chemopreventive activity by acting as an antioxidant, antimutagen, and anti-inflammatory agent. (17) Second, resveratrol inhibits lipoxygenase products, which are enzymes found in leukocytes, the heart, brain, lung, and spleen. (18, 19) Thus in summary Japanese knotwood appears to demonstrate analgesic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity.

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Rheumatism
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Cyclooxygenase pathway inhibition
• Lipoxygenase pathway inhibition
• Prosteglandin-E2 (PGE2) synthesis inhibition
• Thromboxane B2 (TXB2) synthesis inhibition
• Antioxidant support
• Analgesic support
• Anti-inflammatory support
• Joint health and flexibility support

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2. Kimmatkar N, Thawani V, Hingorani L, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial. Phytomedicine 2003;10:3-7.
3. Liu JJ, Nilsson A, Oredsson S, et al. Boswellic acids trigger apoptosis via a pathway dependent on caspase-8 activation but independent on Fas/Fas ligand interaction in colon cancer HT-29 cells. Carcinogenesis 2002;23:2087-93.
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8. Dahmen U, Gu YL, Dirsch O, et al. Boswellic acid, a potent antiinflammatory drug, inhibits rejection to the same extent as high dose steroids. Transplant Proc 2001;33:539-41
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13. Srivastava KC, Mustafa T. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and rheumatic disorders. Medical Hypotheses 1989;29:25-8.
14. Thomson M, Al-Qattan KK, Al-Sawan SM, et al. The use of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) as a potential anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic agent. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2002;67:475-8
15. Gleason, H.A. & A. Cronquist. 1963. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, NJ. 810 pp.
16. Lin, M.H. & S.Y. Hsu. 1987. Studies on pharmacological effects of various extracts of Polygonum cuspidatum S. et Z. TÕai-wan Yao Hsueh Tsa Chih 39(1): 42-53.
17. Jang, M., Cai, L., & G.O. Udeani. 1997. Cancer chemopreventive activity of resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes. Science 275: 218-220.
18. Kimura Y., Okuda, H., & M. Kubo. 1995. Effects of stilbenes isolated from medicinal plants on arachidonate metabolism and degranulation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. J Ethnopharmacol 45(2): 131-139.
19. Lehninger, A.L., Nelson, D.L. & M.M. Cox. 1993. Principles of Biochemistry, 2nd Ed. Worth Publishers, New York, NY. 1013