What is Transresveratrol?Basic Information,Super Function and Researches of resveratrol and Polygonum Cuspidatum Extract.Polygonum Cuspidatum Extract.Resveratrol.

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Polygonum Caspidatum and treatment of viral myocarditis:Coxsackie Virus Infections

Polygonum Cuspidatum Extract Resveratrol CAS.NO 510-36-0 photo picture image Coxsackie refers to a collection of closely related viruses classified among the enteroviruses, namely those that cause infection after being taken in orally with contaminated food or water and then multiply in the intestines (entero = intestinal). The coxsackie viruses were named after the town Coxsackie, New York. A strain of this virus was discovered there during the investigation of an epidemic that occurred in 1948 alongside a polio epidemic (polio being another enterovirus). The coxsackie viruses are divided into two major subgroups, labeled A and B. There are 23 known coxsackie A viruses that usually cause only enteric diseases, and 6 known coxsackie B viruses, which are the ones of greatest concern because of their ability to cause serious diseases beyond the intestinal tract. Coxsackie B3 has been found to be one of the main causes of certain debilitating or life-threatening diseases, such as viral myocarditis.

 The coxsackie virus apparently produces few or no symptoms in most instances, but it can cause a commonly occurring intestinal disease, with abdominal distress and diarrhea. Even when symptomatic, the resulting disease is usually a relatively mild one, which might be referred to as "intestinal flu." It most often occurs in late summer or early autumn and is consistent with what the Chinese call "summer heat syndrome," which usually manifests as an intestinal disorder accompanied by muscle aches and/or headaches, and fever. Rarely, the coxsackie virus can cause a more severe disease.

 It has been suggested that most people experience coxsackie infections at some time, and they are particularly prevalent in infants and young children, and, to a lesser extent, adolescents, with first onset related largely to the hygienic conditions (lack thereof) in which the child lives. The disease symptoms appear between 2 and 10 days after exposure, and are gone within a few days, similar to the experience of the common cold or influenza, but with intestinal symptoms. It is thought that a partial immunity to coxsackie viruses develops in most children exposed to it, so that symptomatic disease is rare or even milder for adults.

 In some cases, however, the virus escapes the intestinal tract to cause serious disease. In children, coxsackie may go on to produce viral meningitis and it has been proposed, on the basis of epidemiological evidence, that coxsackie and other enteroviruses (such as ECHO) may be among the causes of childhood insulin-dependent diabetes. In adults, viral myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy can occur if the virus infects the heart muscle. Coxsackie B viruses are estimated to be responsible for at least 50% of the cases of infection-caused heart diseases. For reasons yet unknown, the cardiac disease caused by this virus mainly occurs in middle-aged men, with onset occurring, on average, around age 42. The cardiac disease becomes apparent about two weeks after exposure to the virus.

 The early symptoms of the coxsackie-induced cardiac myopathy include some generalized viral symptoms-fever, fatigue, malaise-with the addition of chest pains. As the virus enters the heart cells, the immune system attacks and damages both infected and normal heart cells; the affected individual feels severe fatigue when there is significant impairment of heart function. In most cases, the disease is resolved spontaneously without any treatment, though some permanent heart damage may have occurred. But, in about 20% of the cases, there can be progressive disease or recurrence of symptoms; the heart damage can be extensive, causing arrhythmias, weakened left ventricular functions, and, in the worst cases, heart failure requiring heart transplantation. In these severe cases, cardiac disease progression persists after the virus is long gone: the immune system continues to damage the heart.

 Coxsackie infections are recognized as health problems in modern China, contributing to the high rates of childhood intestinal disease, meningitis, and, for adults, myocarditis. These infections are the subject of some research into the potential value of Chinese herbs. The main strategies are to inhibit viruses with the heat clearing herbs, of which sophora root (kushen) appears to be the most promising agent, and to bolster the resistance to the disease and limit its damaging effects to the heart with qi tonics, for which astragalus (huangqi) and ginseng (renshen) appear particularly valuable.

 Polygonum Caspidatum as antiviral herbs:Hu-chang is obtained from Polygonum cuspidatum, which contains a number of anthraquinones, such as emodin, physcion, and chrysophanol, and the stilbene derivative resveratrol (this compound is an ingredient in red grapes that is thought to be responsible for some of the health benefits of red wine). In vitro studies showed that the herb extract could inhibit several viruses including influenza, herpes simplex, adenovirus, polio, coxsackie A and B, EHCO, and encephalitis B. Isatis leaf, hu-chang, and sophora (for more information about the latter; see the START article: Sophora) are all used in the treatment of viral hepatitis in China; in addition, they are all used in formulas for treatment of sore throat due to various infections.

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citations1.What is Transresveratrol?Basic Information,Super Function and Researches of resveratrol and Polygonum Cuspidatum Extract.Polygonum Cuspidatum Extract.Resveratrol.

last edit date:5th,May.2009.