Chemistry behind Pain
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Gout and Arthritis Pain Tart cherries are well known for their ability to relieve pain for gout and arthritis sufferers. As a natural gout or arthritis remedy tart cherries offer treatment without the side effects of traditional pain relief. See some testimonials on the effectiveness of Tart cherry juice in the diet for gout. Or see others questions about Tart Cherries and gout and arthritis. Flavanoids Independent Lab Verifies Cancer-Fighting Agents in Cherries Researchers at Brunswick Laboratories (Wareham, Mass.) verified the natural antioxidants present in Montmorency tart cherries, the leading U.S. tart cherry variety. Lead researcher Dr. Boxin Ou also confirmed the presence of substantial quantities of melatonin. He also identified two important flavonoids — isoqueritrin and queritrin — and documented the presence of ellagic acid in cherries. Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring plant phenolic that is known as a potent anti-carcinogenic/anti-mutagenic compound. Clinical tests conducted at the Hollings Cancer Institute at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) show that ellagic acid may be the most potent way to prevent cancer. It also may inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and arrest the growth of cancer in subjects with a genetic predisposition for the disease. The flavonoids — isqueritrin and queritrin — act as antioxidants as do the anthocyanins. They work to eliminate by-products of oxidative stress and thereby slow the aging process. Information on this research projects being conducted on cherries was compiled by David Ropa, a consultant with Thomas J. Payne Market Development. The Chemistry Behind Pain Fighting Aspirin vs. Cherries When pain from arthritis and gout strikes the body, most people don't care how their medicine works, as long as it does work. What many pain sufferers take for granted is the complex chemical process that allows their pain medication to work. It's the same chemistry that is making tart cherries the preferred "medication" for a booming generation of pain sufferers. Drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They work by inhibiting two enzymes, cyclooxygenase I and II (popularly known as COX 1 and COX 2), which are produced by the body as a response to pain. NSAIDs prevent chemical messages from binding to cyclooxygenase. The normal messages are not delivered, so the body does not feel the pain and doesn’t become inflamed.[1] Unfortunately, many patients must take pain medication daily, which can cause numerous side effects, including upset stomachs, vomiting, kidney damage and, possibly, ulcers. This is because NSAIDs inhibit both COX 1 and COX 2, but the COX 1 enzyme is also important for maintaining normal cell function within several organs.[2] Tart cherries contain flavonoid compounds that function in the same manner as NSAIDs and can inhibit both COX enzymes. However, research also shows that flavonoids can protect against stomach damage, unlike their NSAID counterparts.[3] It is suspected that the high levels of antioxidants found in cherries, particularly melatonin, provide a protective function and prevent unwanted symptoms. This may make concentrated cherry products superior to over-the-counter pain relief because cherries block pain in the same manner and reduce potential side-effects.[4]
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