As the popularity of health supplements and “superfoods” soars, medical research plays an important role in determining the medicinal applications of these traditional remedies. Scientists have found that buckwheat liquor, a traditional Chinese elixir, contains the antioxidant compound quercetin. This compound is getting attention for its range of health applications, including the treatment of liver disease and Alzheimer’s.
From “Superfood” to Medicine
Seeds like quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat have been staples in traditional cuisine for centuries. But recently, they have gained renewed attention in culinary circles as healthier alternatives to traditional grains like wheat. Buckwheat, in particular, is enjoying a moment in the spotlight after a study conducted by researchers from Osaka University in Japan revealed its medicinal potential.
The study focused on traditional Chinese buckwheat liquor, a concoction enriched with various herbal medicine extracts. The research was aimed at determining whether the elixir induced a process called autophagy, which contributes to cleaning and renewing the body at a cellular level. Autophagy is a topic of great interest because of its implications for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.
Lead author of the study, Sumiko Ikari, elaborated, "We already knew that tartary buckwheat liquor, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine, can decrease antioxidants in mice, and that it has some antibacterial effects. What we wanted to find out in this study is whether it also affects autophagy."
Autophagy and Cellular Renewal
In their investigation into the autophagic properties of buckwheat, the researchers treated skin cells (epithelial cells) and liver cells with tartary buckwheat extract. Their focus was on how various markers of autophagy responded to this treatment.
The results showed that the tartary buckwheat extract did indeed stimulate autophagy in cells. Takeshi Noda, the senior author, noted, "We found that treating cells with the extract stimulated the formation of autophagosomes,” specialized structures that carry out cellular cleaning and renewal.
Delving deeper, the researchers identified a specific component within tartary buckwheat extract that appeared to be the driving force behind these effects: quercetin. In fact, quercetin administered by itself produced the same impact as the buckwheat extract.
Even more intriguing, both tartary buckwheat extract and quercetin exhibited the ability to prompt liver cells to clean up protein aggregates, a process known as aggrephagy. Sumiko Ikari concluded, "Our findings suggest that tartary buckwheat extract and quercetin induce not only autophagy but also aggrephagy."
This is important because several diseases are associated with the build-up of protein aggregates. Quercetin could hold potential as a treatment for these conditions, which include alcoholic liver disease and Alzheimer's.
The Antioxidant Properties of Quercetin
Quercetin is not a newcomer to the scene of health supplements. Found in various fruits and vegetables, it has long been recognized for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Prior studies have even drawn connections to possible anti-aging effects.
Cellular aging is a significant concern for modern medicine as it leads to age-related decline and chronic diseases. Antioxidants like quercetin have been found to neutralize free radicals that are linked to cell damage, effectively slowing the aging of cells.
In another study, quercetin and similar compounds were shown to have a significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. The compound was successfully used in organ transplants to reduce the rejection rate of older organs. It did this by reducing the buildup of senescent cells, which are also seen in the aging process, suggesting that quercetin might hold the key to addressing age-related issues.
Conclusion
By examining these traditional medicines through the lens of modern science, researchers are discovering tangible benefits. The applications for general health and for the treatment of diseases are promising. Although more data and investigation is needed, natural supplements such as quercetin have the potential to bring people closer to the universal goal of longevity and well-being.
Sources
This article was originally published in Certainty News www.certaintynews.com/article/buckwheat-liquor-may-offer-anti-aging-properties
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