Curcuma longa Extract
A perennial plant belonging to the ginger family. Dried Curcuma longa is used as a spice: turmeric. Turmeric is also used in Asian folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent, as well as for “indigestion, hepatitis, jaundice, diabetes, atherosclerosis and bacterial infections“. The best-researched component of turmeric is curcumin, which has therapeutic potential for treating/preventing cancer, Alzheimer’s and inflammatory diseases. Turmeric has also shown hypoglycemic and anti-obesity effects in animal experiments.
Black Cohosh
Botanical name(s): Cimicifuga racemosa or Actaea racemosa. Black cohosh is a perennial plant that is a member of the buttercup family. Rhizome extracts are used to treat symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, anxiety and depression. Clinical studies, however, are conflicting: some demonstrate benefits, while others don’t.
For more information, see: “Black Cohosh, Benefits and Side Effects“.
Curcumin
A polyphenolic compound (“curcuminoid”) found in the spice turmeric. Curcumin has antioxidant activity in-vivo, as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. Curcumin is viewed as a promising compound for the prevention/treatment of various diseases (including CVD and Alzheimer’s disease), but its therapeutic potential may be limited by poor oral bioavailability. Methods to improve delivery are currently being sought.
For more information, see the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center.
Senna Extract
An herbal laxative used in a range of “detox” and “cleansing” products, as well as over-the-counter commercial preparations (such as Ex-Lax). There are several related species of plants used, but Cassia angustifolia and Cassia acutifolia are the most common. The active ingredients are known as sennosides, which induce laxation via “stimulation of propulsive activity” in the colon.
Tagatose
An isomer of fructose marketed as a low-calorie sweetener under the trade name Naturlose. Tagatose is a monosaccharide that’s approx. 92% sweet as table sugar (sucrose), but is poorly digested and absorbed. Despite its potential, tagatose is still not widely used in the US, although that may change in the future – especially since it may have therapeutic applications for diabetes and digestive health.
Trehalose
Also known as mycose. Trehalose is a disaccharide found in mushrooms, insects, other fungi, plants and bacteria. It consists of 2 glucose units linked together by an alpha 1-1 glucoside bond. Trehalose digests more slowly than many other dietary sugars, and has a moderate glycemic index.
Trehalose is used largely as a cryopreservative and food additive, as it’s hygroscopic and enhances the stability of proteins. Trehalose also has potential therapeutic uses: animal studies have shown it has protective effects in Huntington’s Disease and Alzheimer’s.
