Description
AcuIntegra’s V-Defence 2 Formula™ complements it’s namesake (V-Defence Formula™) and is created to support the immune system during recovery from viral infections.
It is composed of herbal extracts from three plants traditionally used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as antiviral and antibacterial remedies, corroborated by contemporary clinical studies.*
When creating V-Defence 2, we once again balanced the ingredients in accordance with TCM principles. Thus the cold, heat-clearing nature of Chinese gall (Galla chinensis; Wu Bei Zi) and Artemisia annua is countered by a warm-natured ginger extract to allow the formula to gently interact with the GI tract.*
What Does our V-Defence 2 Formula™ contain?
Our V-Defence 2 Formula™ contains:
- Galla chinensis (Chinese gall, Wu Bei Zi) extract – 250mg
- Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood, Qing Hao) aerial parts extract – 250mg
- Zingiber officinale (Ginger, Gan Jiang) root extract – 100mg
It comes in a vegan-friendly cellulose capsue.
Like our other nutraceuticals, our V-Defence Formula™ is free from allergens such as gluten, soy, fish, lactose, milk, meat and wheat.
What Is the Recommended Daily Dosage?
We recommend 1 capsule per day or as advised by your healthcare professional. It can be consumed with meals.
What Does the Science Say?
Galla chinensis
Galla chinensis (Chinese gall) are galls on the leaves of the shrub Rhus chinensis (commonly knonw as sumac) which grows in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions including China, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and India [1].
Chinese gall has featured prominently in Traditional Chinese Medicine under the name of Wu Bei Zi, where it is considered a heat-clearing herb with salty sour taste. It is associated with the Kidney, Large Intestine and Lung meridians [2].
In its traditional use, Chinese gall has been used to remedy persistent cough, congestion, inflammation, fever and excessive sweating; bloody sputums, burns, hemorrhoids, oral diseases, skin infections and certain cancers [1].
Modern research corroborates many of it’s traditional uses, noting the following mechanisms as described by Djakpo & Yao’s 2010 review [1]:
- Anti-bacterial activity against, for example, Bacillus subtilis, cereus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans [1,3]
- Anti-viral activity against HIV-1 , hepatis C, HSV (type 1 and 2) as well as SARS-CoV [1,4,5,6]
- Anticancer activity (against prostate and lung cancers and sarcoma to mention a few) and anticarcinogenic properties (e.g. by inhibiting enamel demineralization) [1,7,8,9]
- Support for anti-inflammatory activity by controlling many inflammatory mediators (including histamine, IL-10 and various cytokines) and contributing to pain relief [1,10, 11]
- Antioxidant activity – chinensis was shown to contain the highest antioxidant concentration amongst 112 screened Chinese medicinal plants [1,12]
- Antidiarrheal and hepatoprotective properties; G, chinensis inhibited the binding of coli-produced toxins onto intestinal cells [1,13]
Chemically, G. chinensis is rich in gallotannin, the primary bioactive ones being pentagalloylglucose, 3-galloyl-gallic acid and 4-gaolloyl-gallic acid which are believed to drive many of it’s health benefits [1].
We have included Galla chinensis in our V-Defence 2 Formula™ due to its documented effects for supporting our anti-viral mechanisms.*
Artemisia annua
Known as sweet wormwood, Artemisia annua is an herb native to China but at present grows wild throughout Asia, North America and Europe [14]. A. annua has featured in Chinese pharmacopeia for over two millennia under the name of Quing Hao. The earliest records of its use date from 168BC and suggest it was used as a remedy for hemorrhoids. Newer scriptures note its uses as an anti-inflammatory, anti-febrile and anti-malarial agent [14].
The main bioactive compound of A. annua is artemisinin, one of the most potent anti-malarial compounds known and observed to clear fever twice as rapid (and reduce parasite biomass 1,000 times more effiecient) as other anti-malarials. Artemisin has been chemically synthesized to be used in commercial anti-malarial drugs [14,15].
In addition to its anti-malarial activity, A. annua has been observed to possess qualities such as:
- Anti-viral action against herpes viruses (e.g. Epstein-Barr, HMCV, HSV-1), hepatitis B & C and certain strains of SARS-associated coronaviruses [16,17]
- Anti-parasitic activity against protozoans such as Trypanosoma, Toxoplasma gondii & multiple Schistosoma strains [16]
- Anti-fungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus [16]
- Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activity, in particular against septic inflammation [16,18]
- Anti-cancer activity against certain breast, central nervous system, colon, leukemia, melanoma, ovarian and renal cancer cells [16,19,20]
We have included Artemisia annua in our V-Defence 2 Formula™ to synergistically support your immune system with Galla chinensis.*
Zingiber officinale
Ginger (Zingiber siccatum, Gan Jiang; heat-processed extract of Zingiber officinale) is a powerful plant remedy used for centuries in TCM for the treatment of (among others):
- Infections
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Food poisoning
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Furthermore, ginger is rich in two important phytochemicals: gingerol and Shogaol [21].
Clinical trials have demonstrated that ginger can have powerful antibacterial properties, for example in inhibiting the proliferation of MRSa (Methycyllin-Resistant Staphylococus aureus) through the inhibition of the SaHPPIC (Staphylococcus aureus 6Hydroxymethyl-7-8 dihydropterin) enzyme [22]. This enzyme is essential for the docking of bacteria on cells’ memberane’s and thus their further proliferation.
The presence of ginger not only enhances V-Defence 2 Formula’s anti-bacterial support but also mitigates its potential impact on the gastrointestinal system.*
Scientific References & Relevant Research
[1] Djakpo O, Yao W. Rhus chinensis and Galla Chinensis–folklore to modern evidence: review. Phytother Res. 2010;24(12):1739-47. [PubMed:20564459]
[2] Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry, CA: Art of Medicine Press, 2004, pp. 990-992.
[3] Ahn YJ, Lee CO, Kweon JH, Ahn JW, Park JH. Growth-inhibitory effects of Galla Rhois-derived tannins on intestinal bacteria. J Appl Microbiol. 1998;84(3):439-43. [PubMed: 9721649]
[4] Wang RR, Gu Q, Wang YH, et al. Anti-HIV-1 activities of compounds isolated from the medicinal plant Rhus chinensis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008;117(2):249-56. [PubMed:18343612]
[5] Duan D, Li Z, Luo H, Zhang W, Chen L, Xu X. Antiviral compounds from traditional Chinese medicines Galla Chinese as inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2004;14(24):6041-4.[PubMed:15546725]
[6] Yi L, Li Z, Yuan K, et al. Small molecules blocking the entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus into host cells. J Virol. 2004;78(20):11334-9. [PubMed:15452254]
[7] Kuo PT, Lin TP, Liu LC, et al. Penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose suppresses prostate cancer bone metastasis by transcriptionally repressing EGF-induced MMP-9 expression. J Agric Food Chem. 2009;57(8):3331-9. [PubMed:19320436]
[8] Huh JE, Lee EO, Kim MS, et al. Penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose suppresses tumor growth via inhibition of angiogenesis and stimulation of apoptosis: roles of cyclooxygenase-2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Carcinogenesis. 2005;26(8):1436-45. [PubMed:15845650]
[9] Liu Z, Liu T, Li J, Zhou X, Zhang J. [The effect of Galla chinensis on the demineralization of enamel]. Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2003;34(3):507-9. [PubMed:12910704]
[10] Kim SH, Park HH, Lee S, et al. The anti-anaphylactic effect of the gall of Rhus javanica is mediated through inhibition of histamine release and inflammatory cytokine secretion. Int Immunopharmacol. 2005;5(13-14):1820-9. [PubMed:16275618]
[11] Sun K, Song X, Jia R, et al. Evaluation of Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Water Extract of Models. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018;2018:6784032. [PubMed:29670660]
[12] Cai Y, Luo Q, Sun M, Corke H. Antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of 112 traditional Chinese medicinal plants associated with anticancer. Life Sci. 2004;74(17):2157-84. [PubMed:14969719]
[13] Chen JC, Ho TY, Chang YS, Wu SL, Hsiang CY. Anti-diarrheal effect of Galla Chinensis on the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin and ganglioside interaction. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;103(3):385-91. [PubMed:16213682]
[14] Graziose R, Lila MA, Raskin I. Merging traditional Chinese medicine with modern drug discovery technologies to find novel drugs and functional foods. Curr Drug Discov Technol. 2010;7(1):2-12. [PubMed:20156139]
[15] Willcox M, Bodeker G, Rasoanaivo P et al. Traditional Medicinal Plants and Malaria. CRC Press; 2004.
[16] Ho WE, Peh HY, Chan TK, Wong WS. Artemisinins: pharmacological actions beyond anti-malarial. Pharmacol Ther. 2014;142(1):126-39. [PubMed:24316259]
[17] Li SY, Chen C, Zhang HQ, et al. Identification of natural compounds with antiviral activities against SARS-associated coronavirus. Antiviral Res. 2005;67(1):18-23. [PubMed:15885816]
[18] Wang J, Zhou H, Zheng J, et al. The antimalarial artemisinin synergizes with antibiotics to protect against lethal live Escherichia coli challenge by decreasing proinflammatory cytokine release. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2006;50(7):2420-7. [PubMed:16801421]
[19] Efferth T, Dunstan H, Sauerbrey A, Miyachi H, Chitambar CR. The anti-malarial artesunate is also active against cancer. Int J Oncol. 2001;18(4):767-73. [PubMed:11251172]
[20] Efferth T, Sauerbrey A, Olbrich A, et al. Molecular modes of action of artesunate in tumor cell lines. Mol Pharmacol. 2003;64(2):382-94. [PubMed:12869643]
[21] Bode AM, Dong Z. The Amazing and Mighty Ginger. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 7. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/
[22] Rampogu S, Baek A, Gajula RG, et al. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) phytochemicals-gingerenone-A and shogaol inhibit SaHPPK: molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and in vitro approaches. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2018;17(1):16. [PubMed:29609660]
