28th May 2009
Boost The Immune System With Arabinogalactan AG
Larch Extract is a member of the carbohydrate family. It’s a natural polysaccharide that is made up of many galactose and arabinose sugar units linked together in a ratio of 6 galactose units to 1 arabinose unit.
Arabinogalactan AG naturally occurs in small amounts in many plants and plant-based foods such as fruits, carrots, radishes, wheat flour and coffee beans. In most plants, it is found within the sturdy walls that surround each plant cell. It may be bound to proteins and other complex molecules in the cell wall. Extracting and isolating the arabinogalactan from plant cell walls requires chemicals and mechanical treatments. These chemicals or processes may alter the arabinogalactan to a certain degree.
Polysaccharides are often found in many medicinal herbs used for immune enhancement, including Echinacea and Astragalus. AG is a fine, dry, off-white powder with a mildly sweet taste that mixes well with liquids. This safe and effective phytochemical is FDA approved for use as a dietary fiber and as a food additive. There are no known reports of toxicity. Credit for introducing larch AG into clinical practice goes to the distinguished naturopathic physician, Dr. Peter D’Adamo.
Larch AG acts as a food supply to friendly intestinal bacteria. Like the well known fructooligosaccharides (FOS), AG is considered a “prebiotic.” The non-absorbed fiber is eagerly fermented by the distal gut microflora, resulting in an elevated production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) primarily butyrate, but also propionate. SCFAs are critically important to the health of the colon and are the principal energy source (butyrate) for the colonic epithelial cells. Many clinicians use prebiotics to prevent and treat intestinal conditions like diverticulosis, leaky-gut, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as well as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
Many plants both edible and inedible are rich sources of arabinogalactans, including leek seeds, carrots, radishes, black gram beans, pears, maize, wheat, red wine, Italian ryegrass, tomatoes, ragweed, sorghum, bamboo grass and coconut meat and milk. Many herbs with well established immune-enhancing properties, such as Baptisia tinctoria, Thuja occidentalis, Angelica acutiloba and Curcuma longa also contain significant amounts of arabinogalactans.
Arabinogalactans are most abundant in the larch tree and although larch arabinogalactan can be extracted from the wood of two trees (Western larch/Larix occidentalis or Mongolian larch/Larix dahurica), most commercially available arabinogalactan is produced from the former. High grade larch arbinogalactan is composed of more than 90% arabinogalactan. It is a dry, free-flowing powder, with a very slight pine-like odor and sweetish taste. It is 100% water soluble and produces low viscosity solutions. Because of its excellent solubility and mild taste, the powder mixes readily in water and juices and is easily administered.
Arabinogalactan AG is available in capsule, tablet, and liquid powder forms. Look to your local or internet vitamin store for top quality Arabinogalactan AG. Always purchase a name brand to ensure purity.
*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Arabinogalactan AG is not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.
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