The Unique Benefits of Ecklonia Cava Extract
Ecklonia Cava Extract, or ECE, is a standardized series of molecules that originate from Ecklonia cava, a specific species of brown algae. ECE represents a unique variety of polyphenols known as phlorotannins, which have a unique structure that promotes biological activities not obtained from land-based plants.
Many scientists believe that ECE is a unique type of antioxidant. They estimate that Ecklonia Cava Extract is stronger than green tea extract by a factor of 10 to 100 times. It is also 40% fat soluble, which lets its effects be spread throughout more of the body than other antioxidants. It also stays in the blood significantly longer than other antioxidant compounds – up to twelve hours, by some estimates. The ORAC value, or antioxidant score, of Ecklonia Cava Extract is also very high: 8300 mol TE/100g.
ECE is known as a superantioxidant. Its polyphenols have up to eight interconnecting rings, compared to the four rings of green tea catechins. This contributes to its powerful free-radical scavenging ability. Also, it has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Ecklonia Cava Extract is thought to have a unique radical scavenging ability against Peroxynitrite. This free radical has been linked to a variety of conditions: fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, and many more. ECE also demonstrates activity against oxidized LDL and contains other important inflammatory mediators.
Ecklonia Cava Extract was administered to a group of established fibromyalgia patients in an 8-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. The participants reported positive results: higher energy levels, sounder sleep, reduced pain, improvement in general condition, and more good days per week. They study also indicated that ECE increased overall nighttime sleep, and reduced the time it took to fall asleep in these patients.
ECE also shows promise in aiding in weight loss and fighting obesity. Ecklonia Cava Extract reduced body fat and increased physical activity in obese laboratory rats. In a study of young adults given an ECE-containing beverage, they reported increased muscle mass and lowered body fat. It also has been shown to contain compounds capable of promoting healthy cholesterol levels, providing cardiovascular protection, and scavenging free radicals in the bloodstream.
Improvements in brain function have also been demonstrated with subjects given Ecklonia Cava Extract – notably, memory, relaxation, and alertness. It has been shown to increase blood flow in the carotid artery, increase alpha waves in the brain, and prevent sleepiness during daytime activities. Ecklonia Cava Extract has been shown to protect neural cells and enhance brain activity in regions related to memory formation. In a rat study, ECE inhibited beta-amyloid formation in the brain, a substance which accumulates in Alzheimer’s disease.
There are possibly many more benefits of Ecklonia Cava Extract that are yet to be discovered. Current studies reveal that it may help in treating diabetes, erectile dysfunction, arthritis, allergies, asthma, and inflammation. Other discoveries about this unique and powerful antioxidant may be just around the corner.