Alfalfa

This section was compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
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One of the most interesting of the phytoalexins is called Medicarpin. It is only found at high concentration in organically grown alfalfa. This compounds have been found to be so effective that a pharmaceutical company patented a synthetic version of it as a therapeutic agent for treating allergic conditions, asthma, cardiovascular disorders, and inflammation. [1] Isn’t that a mouthful? This helps to explain why Alfalfa Complex has been so popular in the Shaklee field for managing respiratory and allergic disorders. [2] 1.   Medicarpin Derivatives and Analogs Free Patents Online http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4704400.html 2.   Pharmacological Effects Of Urinary Products Obtained After Treatment With Saiboku-to, A Herbal Medicine For Bronchial Asthma, On Type IV Allergic Reaction Planta Med. 2000 (Oct); 66 (7): 607-11 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11105563

Alfalfa Articles

   Sparce Vitamin K Spurs Female Bone Loss
          In a new 12-month study, researchers from Osaka Kosei-Nenkin Hospital in Osaka, Japan, measured blood levels of vitamin K, osteocalcin and other markers of bone metabolism in 71 postmenopausal women and 24 menopausal women who were receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Conventional therapy for osteoporosis includes vitamin D, calcium, calcitonin (a hormone that inhibits bone resorption) and estrogen. Because osteoporosis has multiple causes, these substances aren't always sufficient. The authors suggest that vitamin K may prove a useful adjunct to preventing postmenopausal bone loss. Vitamin K can either be obtained as a supplement or from foods such as alfalfa.

Alfalfa Abstracts

   Medicarpin, a legume phytoalexin, stimulates osteoblast differentiation and promotes peak bone mass achievement in rats: evidence for estrogen receptor ß-mediated osteogenic action of medicarpin
J Nutr Biochem. 2011 (Feb 16) [Epub ahead of print]
Dietary isoflavones including genistein and daidzein have been shown to have favorable bone conserving effects during estrogen deficiency in experimental animals and humans. We have evaluated osteogenic effect of medicarpin (Med); a phytoalexin that is structurally related to isoflavones and is found in dietary legumes. Together, our results demonstrate Med stimulates osteoblast differentiation likely via ERß, promotes achievement of peak bone mass, and is devoid of uterine estrogenicity. In addition, given its excellent oral bioavailability, Med can be potential osteogenic agent.


   Alfalfa Seeds Lower Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
and Apolipoprotein B Concentrations in Patients with
Type II Hyperlipoproteinemia
Atherosclerosis 1987 (May);   65 (1-2):   173–179
Fifteen patients with hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP), types IIA (n = 8), IIB (n = 3) and IV (n = 4) were given 40 g of heat prepared alfalfa seeds 3 times daily at mealtimes for 8 weeks with otherwise unchanged diet. In patients with type II HLP alfalfa treatment caused after 8 weeks a maximal lowering of pretreatment median values of total plasma cholesterol from 9.58 to 8.00 mmol/l (P less than 0.001) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from 7.69 to 6.33 mmol/l (P less than 0.01), which corresponds to decreases of 17% and 18%, respectively.


   Interactions of Alfalfa Plant and Sprout Saponins
with Cholesterol in Vitro and in Cholesterol-fed Rats
Am J Clin Nutr 1984 (Jun);   39 (6):   917–929
The in vitro interactions of saponins from alfalfa plant and alfalfa sprouts with cholesterol and the effects of alfalfa plant and sprout and saponin-free alfalfa plant on diet-induced liver cholesterol accumulation, bile acid excretion, and jejunal and colonic morphology were examined.


   Alfalfa Saponins and Alfalfa Seeds. Dietary Effects
in Cholesterol-fed Rabbits
Atherosclerosis 1980 (Nov);   37 (3):   433–438
Since alfalfa meal prevents hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in rabbits and alfalfa saponins prevent the expected rise in cholesterolemia induced by dietary cholesterol in monkeys, the experiments being reported here were performed to determine whether alfalfa saponins affect atherogenesis in rabbits.


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Since 8-18-2001

Updated 11-12-2011