Nattokinase – Serrapeptase – Serra-Natto

Benefits of Nattokinase

In 1980 Japanese researcher Hiroyuki Sumi accidentally discovered that the traditional Japanese food — natto had the ability to dissolve thrombi (blood clots). He and his research group published a paper on the discovery in 1987, describing the “strong fibrinolytic [clot-dissolving] activity” of the fermented soy cheese, natto.

Natto is a traditional Japanese fermented soybean. It is a cheese-like product. The fermentation is accomplished by gram-positive spore-forming bacteria , Bacillus subtilis var. natto (Bacillus natto). Bacillus Natto is a pro-biotic. Natto contains several functional ingredients such as nattokinase, dipicolinic acid and polyglutamic acid. Regular use of Natto and as a medicine may reduce the risk of heart diseases.

Dr. Sumi research group conducted several studies on natto natto and particularly on its active ingredient nattokinase.
In the first study, six men and six women volunteers were fed 200 grams (seven ounces) of natto. The researches used two methods to measure the blood’s fibrinolytic activity. In the euglobulin clot lysis test, a blood sample was taken and the formation of a thrombus (clot) was then artificially stimulated. The time required for the blood to completely dissolve the clot was then measured. The time needed to completely dissolve the clot was cut in half compared to those in the control group. The fibrin plate method was then used on other blood samples. In this test blood was added to a plate with a special polymerized fibrinogen to see how much it would dissolve in four hours. The control group’s blood had no effect in this test, but the natto group’s blood dissolved 15 mm² of fibrinogen in this test.

Second, the Sumi team asked the volunteers to take crude nattokinase tablets for eight days, using the same two tests plus the fibrin degradation product test. They also measured tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) blood levels. These tests further confirmed nattokinase’s clot-busting power, with the men showing an increase in TPA activity as well. While the research team had previously shown that nattokinase had direct fibrinolytic activity, the finding of increased TPA activity, which increases plasmin, showed nattokinase to augment the body’s own fibrinolytic activity.

Last, Dr. Sumi gave one group of dogs nattokinase tablets and another group a placebo. The team then created a thrombus in a major leg vein in each dog which completely blocked the vein, as shown in angiograms. Within five hours the nattokinase-fed dogs had a complete re-opening of their leg vein circulation, while the dogs fed the placebo still had complete vein occlusion (blockage) 18 hours later.

Nattokinase is not recommended for people with bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia or a group of diseases called “hemorrhagic diathesias,” people with ongoing bleeding problems, including ulcers, recent surgery, recent major trauma, or hemorrhoids, anyone who has ever suffered intracranial bleeding.

Serrapeptase Enzyme – a natural anti-inflamatory

Finding a side-effect-free substance that reduces the pain and inflammation associated with fibrocystic breast disease, rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and post-operative swelling has been a dream of a lot of researchers and doctors. It looks like they found the answer in an enzyme produced by the larval form of the silk moth.
Serrapeptase is an enzyme that is produced in the intestines of silk worms to break down cocoon walls. This enzyme is proving to be an alternative to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) traditionally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Its uses have also been extended to the treatment of chronic sinusitis and postoperative inflammation, and some researchers believe the substance can play an important role in arterial plaque prevention and removal.
Besides reducing inflammation, one of serrapeptase enzymes most profound benefits is reduction of pain, due to its ability to block the release of pain-inducing amines from inflamed tissues.

The benefits of serrapeptase enzyme have been studied widely in Europe and Japan. A German double-blind study was conducted to determine the effect of serrapeptase on post-operative swelling and pain. This study involved sixty-six patients who were treated surgically for fresh rupture of the lateral collateral ligament of the knee. On the third post-operative day, the group receiving serrapeptase exhibited a 50 percent reduction of swelling, compared to the controls. The patients receiving serrapeptase also became more rapidly pain-free than the controls, and by the tenth day, the pain had disappeared completely.

Cystic Breast Disease and Serrapeptase Enzyme
Serrapeptase has also been used in the successful treatment of fibrocystic breast disease. In a double-blind study, 70 patients complaining of breast engorgement randomly were divided into a treatment group and a placebo group. Serrapeptase was superior to the placebo for improvement of breast pain, breast swelling and firmness. Nearly eighty-six percent of the patients receiving serrapeptase reported moderate to marked improvement. No adverse reactions to serrapeptase were reported and the researchers concluded that serrapeptase is a safe and effective method for the treatment of breast engorgement.

Befits of Serrapeptase Enzyme when dealing with Sinusitis
Serrapeptase has been shown in clinical studies to benefit chronic sinusitis sufferers thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. In this condition, the mucus in patients’ nasal cavities is thickened and hypersecreted. This thickening causes mucus to be expelled less frequently. Japanese researchers evaluated the effects of serratiopeptidase (30 mg/day orally for four weeks) on the elasticity and viscosity of the nasal mucus in adult patients with chronic sinusitis. Serratiopeptidase reduced the viscosity of the mucus, improving the elimination of bronchopulmonary secretions.

Serrapeptases enzyme role in preventing plaque build-up
Hans A. Nieper, M.D., an internist from Hannover, Germany, studied the effects of serrapeptase on plaque accumulations in the arteries. The formation of plaque involves deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin (a clotting material in the blood) on the inner lining of the arteries. Excessive plaque results in partial or complete blockage of the bloods flow through an artery, resulting in arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, and an ensuing stroke or heart attack. The evidence to support serrapeptases role in preventing plaque build-up is anecdotal.

Studies show theat regardless of whether serrapeptase is used for inflammatory diseases or to prevent plaque build up on the arteries, it is well-tolerated. Thanks to its lack of side effects and anti-inflammatory capabilities, serrapeptase is a logical choice for various conditions.

Clinically serrapeptase is often used with nattokinase to decrease pain and inflammation, by inhibiting release of bradykinin and other factors from inflamed or damaged tissue.  Serra-natto is a plant based enzyme blend with potent nattokinase and serrapeptase. If you are looking for serrapeptase enzymes only, Serra-enzymes contain 40,000U of serrazimes, which makes it the most potent Serrapeptase enzyme on the market.

References

* Fujita, M., K. Nomura, K. Hong, Y. Ito, A. Asada and S. Nishimuro. 1993. Purification and characterization of a strong fibrinolytic enzyme (nattokinase) in the vegetable cheese natto, a population soybean fermented food in Japan. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 197:1340-1347.
* Suzuki, Y., K. Kondo, Y. Matsumoto, B.-Q. Zhao, K. Otsuguro, T. Maeda, Y. Tsukamoto, T. Urano and K. Umemura. 2003. Dietary supplementation of fermented soybean, natto, suppresses intimal thickening and modulates the lysis of mural thrombi after endothelial injury in rat femoral artery. Life Sci. 73:1289-1298
* Tanimoto, H., M. Mori, M. Motoki, K. Torii, M. Kadowaki and T. Noguchi. 2001. Natto mucilage containing poly-[gamma]-glutamic acid increases soluble calcium in the rate small intestine. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 65:516-521.
* Yamashita, T., E. Oda, J. C. Giddings and J. Yamamoto. 2003. The effect of dietary Bacillus natto productive protein on in vivo endogenous thrombolysis. Pathophys. Haemost. Thromb. 33: 138-143.
* Sumi, H., G. Yatagai, S. Ikeda, T. Osugi and M. Maruyama. 2006. Dipicolinic acid in Bacillus subtilis natto and strong anti-H. pylori activity. Clin. Pharma. Thera. 16:261-266.
* Sumi, H. et al. “Enhancement of the fibrinolytic activity in plasma by oral administration of nattokinase.” Acta Haematol 1990, 84: 139-43.
* Fujita, M. et al. “Thrombolytic effect of nattokinase on a chemically induced thrombosis model in rat.” Bio Pharm Bull 1995, 18:1387-91.
* Sherry S, Fletcher AP. Proteolytic enzymes: a therapeutic evaluation. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1960;192);202-26
* Ambrus JC, Lassman HB, De Marchi JJ. Absorption of exogenous and endogenous proteolytic enzymes. Chem Pharmacol Ther 1967;8(3):362-7.
* Majima Y, Inagaki M, Hirata K, Takeuchi K, Morishita A, Sakakura Y. The effect of an orally administered proteolytic enzyme on the elasticity and viscosity of nasal mucus. Arch otorhinolaryngol. 1988;244(6):355-9.
* Mazzone A, et al. Evaluation of Serratia peptidase in acute or chronic inflammation of otorhinolaryngology pathogoly: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial versus placebo. J Int Med Res. 1990;18(5):379-88.

*None of the statements above have been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.