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Composition, efficacy, and safety of spinach extracts
Liat Lomnitski1, Margalit Bergman, Abraham Nyska
1Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
Nutrition and Cancer
|December 24, 2003
Summary
Spinach contains a potent antioxidant mixture (NAO) that surpasses other antioxidants in studies. This natural mixture is safe, non-mutagenic, and shows promise in preventing cancer, supporting spinach consumption.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Spinach leaves possess bioactive compounds like flavonoids, offering antioxidative, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Spinach extracts demonstrate protective benefits for the central nervous system and anticancer properties, contributing to antiaging functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the chemical composition and health benefits of spinach.
- To present data on the safety and efficacy of spinach extracts and a specific antioxidant mixture (NAO).
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of a water-soluble natural antioxidant mixture (NAO) from spinach.
- Comparative analysis of NAO's antioxidative activity against known antioxidants (green tea, NAC, BHT, vitamin E) in vitro and in vivo.
- Safety assessment of NAO, including mutagenicity and toxicity studies in animal models.
Main Results:
- NAO demonstrated superior antioxidative activity compared to green tea, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and vitamin E.
- NAO proved to be nonmutagenic, well-tolerated in mice, rats, and rabbits, with no observed target-organ toxicity or side effects.
- Experimental models indicated promising anticarcinogenic effects of NAO against skin and prostate cancer.
Conclusions:
- Spinach extracts contain a potent, safe, and effective natural antioxidant mixture (NAO).
- NAO exhibits significant antioxidative and anticarcinogenic properties, supporting its inclusion in the human diet for health benefits.