(Phytochemicals in) Foods to Prevent and Treat diseases - Multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is an inflammation of central nervous system disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are deteriorated, leading to impair of proper conduction of nerve impulse.

Types of food to prevent and treat Multiple sclerosis 
1. Green Tea
TNFalpha, an imflammatory cytokine has been associated with MS is inhibited by antioxidants of green tea, according to the artcle of Alternative Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis by David Steenblock, M.S., D.O(1). Others sugested that the combination therapy of Glatiramer acetate (GA), an immunomodulatory MS therapeutic, and the neuroprotectant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main phenol in green tea, have synergistic protective effects in vitro and in the EAE model(2).

2. Skin and seed of grapes (resveratrol) and olive oil (tyrosol)
In the study to investigate whether polyphenols modulate the expression and activity of the enzymes gelatinases A (MMP-2) and B (MMP-9), involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS),
indicate that the flavonoids and non-flavonoids (flavonoids quercetin (QRC) and cathechins [green tea extract (GTE)] and the non-flavonoids resveratrol (RSV) and tyrosol/hydroxytyrosol (Oliplus)) tested exert their inhibitory effect on MMPs, displaying different mechanisms of action, possibly related to their structure. Therefore, their combined use may represent a powerful tool for the down-regulation of MMPs in the course of MS(3).

3. Turmeric
In the study of Curcuminoids in Neurodegenerative Diseases, by Dr. Kim DS and research team at the Core LifeSource Inc., showed that curcuminoids found in turmeric prevent β-synuclein aggregation in PD; attenuate ROS-induced COX-2 expression in ALS; ameliorate the symptoms of MS, DE and traumatic brain injury, in addition to neurodamages caused by heavy metal poisoning(4). Others suggested that Curcumin, a dietary spice from turmeric, has outstanding anti-inflammation and neuroprotective effects(5).

4. Soy
In the study to investigate the use of genistein for the treatment of the murine model of MS showed that genistein treatment ameliorated significantly the clinical symptoms, modulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, we analyzed the leukocyte rolling and adherence in the CNS by performing intravital microscopy. Genistein treatment resulted in decreased rolling and adhering of leukocytes as compared to the untreated group(6).

5. Etc. 

Sources
(1) http://www.stemcelltherapies.org/multiple_sclerosis_3.htm
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22022398
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21207142
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22742420
(5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20828641
(6) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18602076