Cherry Compounds Show Promising Results In Alzheimer's Test
TRAVERSE CITY -- Cerise Nutraceuticals LLC, a subsidiary of Pleva International Inc., received notification that the manuscript based on the research conducted on the micro-activeceutical compounds found in the patented Cerise Total Body Rhythm Capsules on Alzheimer's models at Central Michigan University has been published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.
The title of the publication, in the April 2013 issue, is "Combinatorial Treatment of Tart Cherry Extract and Essential Fatty Acids Reduces Cognitive Impairments and Inflammation in the mu-p75 Saporin-Induced Mouse Model in Alzheimer's Disease."
In November 2006, students and faculty in CMU's Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center teamed up with Cerise Nutraceuticals and its CEO, Ray Pleva, to research opportunities to treat people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases by testing the Total Body Rhythm compounds. The compounds contain the micro-activeceutical cherry powder and Omega 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty acids from emu/kalaya oil and Omega 3 from mercury free cold water fish oil.
Cerise Nutraceuticals has formulated a patented micro-activeceutical that is 48 times stronger in ORAC potency than fresh cherries which provides the antioxidant boost by utilizing a specialized manufacturing process.
A micro-activeceutical cherry concentrate is also available and is 30 times stronger in ORAC potency than fresh cherries. Cerise Nutraceuticals is positioned to provide this high potency compound to the national market to enhance functional foods and beverages.
This first of the two-part research project was spearheaded by Dr. Justin Oh-Lee to seek ways to deliver natural biological compounds, such as those found in Cerise products, to address the symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease.
The second part of the project was led by Gary Dunbar to test the efficacy of Cerise compounds in reducing memory deficits associated with Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease.
The results of both studies have been extremely encouraging and have resulted in the preparation of journal publications. However, the manuscript specifically focusing on Alzheimer's disease now published in the Journal of Medicinal Food is the first for CMU on the Cerise compounds.
Said Jessica Matchynski, a graduate student who worked under the direction of Dunbar: "It feels wonderful to have the work recognized at this level. There is so much effort put into a study, the design, the application, the analysis, it is always great to have that recognized by the public. It would mean so much if the work of my team and I was able to play a role in alleviating the detriments of Alzheimer's disease. We have a long way to go, but these could be the first steps in the right direction."
Added Dunbar, professor of psychology and director of the Neuroscience Program and the Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center at CMU stated: "This project offered additional hands-on meaningful research experience, not only for Jessica, but for a host of undergraduate students who worked with her. Providing our students with meaningful and relevant research that addresses important issues for people in Michigan and beyond is one of our most important missions at CMU. This is an excellent example of student-centered research that has increased our understanding of how dietary supplements of powerful antioxidants from tart cherry extract, combined with essential fatty acids from emu and Nordic fish oils, found in the Cerise Total Body Rhythm, may be able to significantly reduce memory deficits that results from neurodegenerative processes in Alzheimer's disease."
In the past 25 years, Ray Pleva has made an ongoing study of the health benefits of cherries. After inspiring the research that identified the first antioxidant in cherries, he's been the sparkplug behind getting additional research that found a total of 17 antioxidant compounds in cherries. Cerise Nutraceuticals was formed in 2004 to include a family of lotions and supplements with cherries as the main ingredient. More at www.plevainternational.com.
Said Pleva: "I am very proud of the research results. We worked diligently to secure grant money for our Cerise and CMU's research and it was worth every ounce of effort. Our activeceutical compounds have tremendous benefits and do not produce any side-effects. For those suffering from these terrible diseases, the medication today always comes with side-effects. We are anxious for human studies so we can make a difference as soon as possible."
Cindy Pleva-Weber, CIO of Pleva International, said the company is grateful to CMU for its research, and "we feel that their work on our compounds will someday provide a better quality of life for those suffering from neurological diseases."
And the research will continue. Said Dunbar: "We have already started a couple of follow-up projects to this initial study. Two of the undergraduates, Tiffany Reinke and Amanda Laberdee, who both worked closely with Jessica this last year, are completing projects using the same Cerise compound but testing to see if the treatment works as well when given to male, as well as female, mice and using shorter vs. longer-term treatment schedules, and at different ages (i.e., 8 months vs. 12 months). The initial findings from these two studies is that the Cerise works well in all of these conditions. These are important findings, because there is considerable controversy in the Alzheimer's literature as to whether antioxidant supplements can reduce the memory deficits or slow the progression of this disease. Our findings suggest that when the powerful antioxidants from the micro-activeceutical tart cherry extract is combined with essential fatty acids they can reduce the severity of memory deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease."
