NP036

Connectivar


TAGS:    ANTI-INFLAMMATORY    |   ANTIOXIDANTS/HERBAL FORMULAS    |   MUSCULOSKELETAL

Helps support healthy connective tissue

INTRODUCTION

Dr. D’Adamo has designed Connectivar using a combination of two well-researched herbs, a bioflavonoid complex and one mineral. The mineral manganese helps to support ligament strength and helps to maintain joint stability. Butchers Broom Root Extract appears to have a protective effect on capillaries, internal tissue of blood vessels and smooth muscle. The flavonoid (antioxidant) content in Butchers Broom appears to help strengthen blood vessels, lessen capillary fragility and sustain healthy circulation. Butchers Broom appears to have blood vessel enhancing properties that reduce blood vessel capacity and pooling of blood in the legs. Connectivar also contains Rutin-Hesperidin Complex, which seems to relieve occasional venous insufficiency, including pain, heaviness, leg cramps, itching and swelling. Hesperidin, a bioflavonoid, appears to work by improving venous tone and helping maintain normal capillary permeability Lastly, evidence suggests that Gotu Kola may enhance collagen synthesis.

The result is a well-designed formula to help maintain blood vessel, capillary, and ligament strength for men and women of all blood types.


DESCRIPTION/ BACKGROUND

Connectivar comprises four synergistic ingredients:


Manganese. Manganese helps to strengthen tissues, ligaments, and linings in the outside of organs. “If the human body is well supplied with [manganese], various tissues, cells and nerves become more ductile, tensile, and elastic.” (The Chemistry of Man by Bernard Jensen).

Butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus) Root Extract (Standardized to 10% Ruscogenins). The applicable parts of butcher’s broom are the rhizomes and roots. The steroidal saponin constituents, ruscogenin and neoruscogenin, produce vasoconstrictive effects by direct activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors. This activation, in turn, stimulates the release of noradrenaline at the vascular wall. (1) Butcher’s broom appears to have venotonic properties that reduce venous capacity and pooling of blood in the legs. It also seems to have a protective effect on capillaries, vascular endothelium and smooth muscle. (2,3) The flavonoid content might help strengthen blood vessels, lessen capillary fragility and sustain healthy circulation. (1)

Rutin-Hesperidin Complex. Rutin is a flavonoid. Rutin is thought to be an antioxidant, a free radical scavenger and an iron-chelator. (4,5) It has been reported to decrease capillary fragility and permeability, although the existing evidence is inconclusive. (6) After oral administration, rutin is hydrolyzed in the gastrointestinal tract to release quercetin, which is responsible for many of the actions of rutin. It appears that quercetin from rutin is absorbed better in women than in men, although the gender related differences in bioavailability are not completely understood. (7)

Hesperidin is one of over 4,000 flavonoids found in plants. (12,9,10) Hesperidin is in a class of flavonoids primarily derived from citrus fruits and is known as a citrus bioflavonoid. It is closely related to other citrus bioflavonoids such as quercetin, rutin and diosmin. Hesperidin alone, or in combination with other citrus bioflavonoids, is most often used for vascular conditions such as hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

Hesperidin seems to work by improving venous tone, reducing stasis, restoring normal capillary permeability and improving lymphatic drainage. Hesperidin might improve venous tone and reduce stasis by improving vasculature response to adrenergic stimulation. Hesperidin’s anti-inflammatory effects seem to help restore normal capillary permeability. Hesperidin inhibits phosphodiesterase and increases intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which causes decreased production of inflammatory prostaglandins E2 and F2 and thromboxane B2. Hesperidin’s analgesic effect seems to work through peripheral rather than central mechanisms. Hesperidin can also reduce the generation of free radicals and inhibit tumor growth. (8,11,12,13)

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) Leaf Extract (Standardized to 10% Asiaticasides). The applicable parts of gotu kola are the above ground parts. The primary constituents responsible for the pharmacological effects are thought to be the saponin-containing triterpene acids, standardized to 1-8%, and their sugar esters, including asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, asiaticoside A (madecassoside) and asiaticoside B. Gotu kola also contains essential oils, flavonoids, flavone derivatives including quercetin and kaempferol, sesquiterpenes, stigmasterol, sitosterol and isothankuniside. (14,15) The triterpenoid saponins (e.g., asiaticoside, madecassoside) seem to be involved in wound healing and decreasing venous pressure in venous insufficiency; asiaticoside and madecassoside have anti-inflammatory activity. (16, 17, 18, 19) There is also some evidence that asiaticosides might promote wound healing by stimulating collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis (17, 20). Topical application of gotu kola extracts increase collagen synthesis, intracellular fibronectin content, mitotic activity in the germ layer and enlarge kerato-hyaline granules in scar tissue.



AGENT/ INGREDIENT ROLE
Manganese
Hesperidin
Rutin
Gotu kola (Centella asiatica)

TABLE 1: Key agents in Connectivar.

ACTIONS/ INDICATIONS

This is a well-designed formula to help maintain blood vessel, capillary, and ligament strength for men and women of all blood types.

  • Supports chronic venous insufficiency such as pain, heaviness, leg cramps, leg edema, varicose veins, peripheral vascular disease, itching and swelling
  • Supports reduction of venous capacity, venous stasis, and pooling of blood in the legs
  • Exerts a protective effect on capillaries, vascular epithelium, and smooth muscle
  • Supports reduction of capillary fragility and permeability
  • Supports lymphatic drainage
  • Exerts anti-inflammatory action
  • Exerts antioxidant activity
  • Supports hemorrhoid stabilization
  • Promotes wound healing
  • Stimulates collagen synthesis

TYPICAL DOSAGE

Typical dosage is 1-2 capsules twice daily, best taken away from meals.

PRODUCT HISTORY

This product was introduced by NAP in 2004 after first being specifically designed for use in The D’Adamo Clinic.

REFERENCES

  1. Redman DA. Ruscus aculeatus (butcher’s broom) as a potential treatment for orthostatic hypotension, with a case report. J Altern Complement Med 2000;6:539-49.
  2. Beltramino R, Penenory A, Buceta AM. An open-label, randomized multicenter study comparing the efficacy and safety of Cyclo 3 Fort versus hydroxyethyl rutoside in chronic venous lymphatic insufficiency. Angiology 2000;51:535-44.
  3. Cappelli R, Nicora M, Di Perri T. Use of extract of Ruscus aculeatus in venous disease in the lower limbs. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1988;14:277-83.
  4. Kostyuk VA, Potapovich AI. Antiradical and chelating effects in flavonoid protection against silica-induced cell injury. Arch Biochem Biophys 1998;355:43-8.
  5. Escarpa A, Gonzalez MC. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection for the determination of phe- nolic compounds in peel and pulp from different apple varieties. J Chromatogr A 1998;823:331-7.
  6. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  7. Erlund I, Kosonen T, Alfthan G, et al. Pharmacokinetics of quercetin from quercetin aglycone and rutin in healthy volunteers. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2000;56:545-53.
  8. Misra MC, Parshad R. Randomized clinical trial of micronized flavonoids in the early control of bleeding from acute internal haemorrhoids. Br J Surgery 2000;87:868-72.
  9. Craig WJ. Health-promoting properties of common herbs. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;70:491-9.
  10. Middleton E. Some biological properties of plant flavonoids. Ann Allergy 1988;61:53-7.
  11. Cospite M. Double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of clinical activity and safety of Daflon 500 mg in the treatment of acute hemorrhoids. Angiology 1994;45:566-73.
  12. Di Carlo G, Mascolo N, Izzo AA, Capasso F. Flavonoids: Old and new aspects of a class of natural therapeutic drugs. Life Sci 1999;65:337-53.
  13. Koyuncu H, Berkarda B, Baykut F, et al. Preventive effect of hesperidin against inflammation in CD-1 mouse skin caused by tumor promoter. Anticancer Res 1999;19:3237-41.
  14. Brinkhaus B, Lindner M, Schuppan D, Hahn EG. Chemical, pharmacological and clinical profile of the east Asian medical plant Centella asiatica. Phytomedicine 2000;7:427-48
  15. Dutta T, Basu UP. Crude extract of Centella asiatica and products derived from its glycosides as oral antifertility agents. Indian J Exp Biol 1968;6:181-2.
  16. Pointel JP, et al. Titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) in the treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Angiol 1987;38(1 Pt 1):46-50.
  17. Shukla A, Rasik AM, Jain GK, et al. In vitro and in vivo wound healing activity of asiaticoside isolated from Centella asiatica. J Ethnopharmacol 1999;65:1-11.
  18. Belcaro GV, Rulo A, Grimaldi R. Capillary filtration and ankle edema in patients with venous hypertension treated with TT-FCA. Angiology 1990;41:12-8.
  19. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  20. Maquart FX, Chastang F, Simeon A, et al. Triterpenes from Centella asiatica stimulate extracellular matrix accumulation in rat experimental wounds. Eur J Dermatol 1999;9:289-96.



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