13 AMAZING plant-based organic acids with health benefits. Fulvic acid

Fulvic acid was once abundant in our fruits and vegetables, but are now barely detectable in today's produce. In this article you will learn about 13 beneficial plant-based organic acids contained in fulvic acid that have immense health benefits.

Fulivc acid is the main active component in shilajit, an ancient Ayurvedic remedy for various ailments. Shilajit as been referred to as "The Destroyer of Weakness" in ancient texts because of it purported ability to help heal many conditions.

Science has demonstrated that shilajit's potent effects come from fulvic acid. Tests have shown that shiljit contains about 0.96-8% fulvic acid. Fulvic acid is a unique complex nutrient structure developed by Nature. It takes the perfect conditions to be created such as geographical location, geological conditions and millions and millions of years. This special compound may hold a panacea of health benefits as evidenced by thousands of scientific studies.

It contains over 80 beneficial nutrients such as:

• antioxidants
• electrolytes
• trace minerals
• probiotics
• prebiotics
• enzymes
• amino acids
• organic acids
• natural detoxifiers
• and more

Fulvic acid was once abundant in our fruits and vegetables, but are now barely detectable in today's produce. In this article you will learn about 13 beneficial plant-based organic acids contained in fulvic acid that have immense health benefits:

1. GALLIC ACID

Gallic acid, an antioxidant, is an anti-inflammatory agent. Gallic acid inhibited inflammation in vivo (Hsiang et al., 2013), and, in vitro, the inhibition of inflammation by gallic acid was attributed to gallic acid’s potential ability to scavenge free radicals, among other potential attributes that work against inflammation (Kroes, Van Den Berg, Quarles van Ufford, Van Dijk, & Labadie, 1992).

Exhibiting neuroprotective effects, gallic acid prevented oxidative stress-related injury in neurodegenerative diseases (Lu, Nie, Belton, Tang, & Zhao, 2006).

Gallic acid inhibits pro-inflammatory gene expression in rheumatoid arthritis (Yoon et al., 2013).

Gallic acid is cytotoxic to cancer cells, and, by nature of its composition, can selectively target the cancer cells it has distinguished from normal cells (Inoue et al., 1995). Gallic acid has been shown to induce cancer cell death in different cancer cell lines, and, in addition, it has inhibited tumor growth in vivo. (Ji et al., 2009, p. 7596; Kawada et al., 2001, p. 847). (Cell death is a necessary part of life; in cancer, cell death becomes non-functioning...)

The mechanism by which gallic acid contributes to cancer cell death is via protein regulation, upregulating a protein that programs cell death and downregulating a protein that inhibits cell death (Liang et al., 2014). 

2. CAFFEIC ACID

Caffeic acid can act as an effective anti-inflammatory drug, having specific immunopharmacological activity by modulating inflammatory gene expression (Yang et al., 2013, p. 4). Caffeic acid may be helpful in the prevention or mitigation of chronic disease of the heart muscle and could provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticoagulant effects in the cardiac tissue of diabetic subjects (Chao, Hsu, & Yin, 2009, p. 7).

Caffeic acid significantly decreased microscopic lesion scores and inflammation in the colon, and therefore may help prevent colitis (Ye et al., 2007). The anticancer properties of caffeic acid may have an effect against breast cancer, contributing to the reduction of breast cancer tumor growth (Rosendahl et al., 2015, p. 1877).

Preventing the proliferation of fibrosarcoma cells, caffeic acid led to increased levels of reactive oxygen species (which suppress tumors at higher levels) and also led to the reprogramming of cancer cells that resulted in cancer cell death and lower levels of cancer cell replication. Caffeic acid has potent anticancer properties (Rajendra Prasad, Karthikeyan, Karthikeyan, & Reddy, 2011).

3. FUMARIC ACID

Somewhat low doses of orally administered fumaric acid protect from inflammatory responses, possibly due to its modulating actions inside the intestinal tract, and suggesting that fumaric acid is an anti-inflammatory agent (Shakya, Singh, Chatterjee, & Kumar, 2014, p. 176).

The esters of fumaric acid have a beneficial effect on and are licensed in Europe for the treatment of psoriasis; they have been used for this in Europe since 1959. The 2009 German evidence-based guidelines for psoriasis treatment recommended fumaric acid esters as a first-line treatment for moderate to severe manifestations of a common form of psoriasis, and they have become the most prescribed treatment for psoriasis (Balak, 2015). Fumaric acid esters are also effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, suggesting that fumaric acid esters demonstrate immunomodulatory and also neuroprotective mechanisms (Moharregh-Khiabani, Linker, Gold, & Stangel, 2009).

The beneficial effects of the esters of fumaric acid are evidence to be through an antioxidative mode of action (Gold, Linker, & Stangel, 2012). Fumaric acid had a marked effect on the production of cancer of the liver; all test subjects that were given fumaric acid and a known carcinogen exhibited no tissue cancer in the liver, whereas the many control group subjects did develop liver carcinomas (Akao & Kuroda, 1990; Kuroda, Terao, & Akao, 1987). 

4. SHIKIMIC ACID

Shikimic acid (and its derivatives) have anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects (Tang et al., 2009; Xing et al., 2012; Chang et al., 2003; Aghil et al., 1992), amongst other effects (Chen, Hou, Li, Zu, & Yang, 2014, p.1). The pretreatment of liver cells with shikimic acid led to the reversal of oxidative damage in liver cells by action of mechanisms that supported cellular defense mechanisms and antioxidant activity, amongst other important supportive actions (Mannaa et al., 2014).

Shikimic acid is a component of the production of the popular antiviral drug called oseltamivir, or, Tamiflu (Estévez & Estévez, 2012). Tamiflu is the only oral drug sanctioned for influenza treatment (Borah, 2015, p. 1675). Shikimic acid lessened neurologic deficit, decreased brain swelling, increased cerebral blood flow and imparted other benefits to subjects with middle cerebral artery thrombosis and indicating a protection of cerebral function (Ma et al., 1999, pp. 702-704).

Shikimic acid has an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, showing that Shikimic acid has potential as an antibacterial agent(Bai et al., 2015). A derivative of shikimic acid also supported the immune system against E. coli, and is proposed as a potential medicine (Davies et al., 1994). Shikimic acid is also an effective analgesic (Lin, Lan, Wei, Liao, & Wei, 2008; Zhang, 1989).

5. CINNAMIC ACID

Cinnamic acid derivatives show high antioxidant potential and are indicated as potential therapies for diseases related to the oxidative degradation of lipids (Sharma, 2011, p. 410), mostly due their ability to scavenge free radicals well (Sova, 2012). One study resulted in the highest level of antioxidant capacity against damage caused by a pesticide via the prevention and reduction of oxidative stress (Mousa, Khudier, Mohammad, Sabbar, & Ahmed, 2013).

Cinnamic acid prevented damage from this mutagen by stopping its ability to mutate genes and also by stopping the mutation of genes after the genes have been damaged to an extent (Mousa, Khudiar, Muhsin, Sabbar, & Ahmed, 2014, p. 7). Forms of cinnamic acid have neuroprotective effects against oxidative damage, even at low levels of application (Chavarria et al., 2015).

Trans-cinnamic acid is a bacteriostat (Sharma, 2011, p. 409)—or, a substance that prevents bacteria from proliferating—but is also an antibacterial—as in, it can also kill bacteria (Narasimhan, Belsare, Pharande, Mourya, & Dhake, 2004). Derivatives of cinnamic acid have also been reported to have antiviral and antifungal properties (Sova, 2012).

Also, cinnamic acid and its derivatives have shown promise as potential treatments for anxiety, hyperglycemia, diabetes, liver protection and lowering cholesterol levels as well as against parasites and tuberculosis, amongst other uses (Sharma, 2011). 

6. FERULIC ACID

Ferulic acid and a few derivatives have been proven effective as antioxidants, antimicrobials, antiinflammatories, liver protectants, neuroprotectants, anticancer agents, antidiabetic agents and promoters of reduced cholesterol levels in the blood... (Brenelli de Paiva, Goldbeck, Dantas dos Santos, & Marcio Squina, 2013, p. 405) As an antioxidant, ferulic acid can prevent induced liver toxicity, mainly by preventing oxidative stress injury to the liver (Wang, Sheng, Ji, & Wang, 2014, p. 545).

Ferulic acid supplementation is emerging as a therapeutic response to Alzheimer’s disease, reducing oxidative damage as a free radical scavenger and protein build-up in the brain as an amyloid inhibitor (Mancuso et al., 2007; Sgarbossa, Giacomazza, & Di Carlo, 2015).

In Type II diabetic adult subjects, ferulic acid (known for its antidiabetic property) improved insulin sensitivity and liver-based formation of glycogen from sugar, among other functions that help to maintain sugar homeostasis (Narasimhan, Chinnaiyan, & Karundevi, 2015). Ferulic acid has specific protective effects against the (effects of) diabetes-related kidney damage (Sun et al., 2016, p. 14; Fujitaa et al., 2008; Choi et al., 2011).

Ferulic acid has neuroprotective effects, reducing the size of the area of dead brain tissue (due to a lack of blood supply or oxygen to the brain) and increasing neurological scores, in part due to its ability to suppress superoxide radicals (Cheng et al., 2008).

Sperm vitality and motility is enhanced with ferulic acid, which is beneficial for both fertile and infertile people, and it is recommended as a potential cure for infertility related to reduced sperm motility (one of the major causes of infertility) (Zheng & Zhang, 1997).

7. BENZOIC ACID

A form of benzoic acid interferes with cell-to-cell interaction processes and therefore inhibiting the invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells (Shibata et al., 2000). Benzoic acid derivatives have antioxidant capacity against free radicals (Velika & Kron, 2012). One inventor has demonstrated that benzoic acid derivatives selectively target cancer cells and destroy tumor tissue, causing complete cell death in tumor tissue (U.S. Patent No. US 7183269 B2, 2007).

Benzoic acid derivatives have an effect in alleviating pain and other adverse effects of sickle cell anemia, seemingly having anti-sickling properties (Pierre, Moses, & Peter, 2015, p. 3).Benzoic acid derivatives inhibit an influenza enzyme that is key to the ability of influenza to infect the host (Atigadda et al., 1999).

8. PROTOCATECHUIC ACID

Protocatechuic acid could be protective against cancer growth and is recommended as a potential cancer chemopreventive (Tanaka, Tanaka, & Tanaka, 2011). The chemopreventive action of protocatechuic may in part be due to its inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, tumor growth and biomarker manifestation (Tanaka, Kojima, Suzui, & H, 1993; Tanaka, Kojima, Kawamori, & Mori, 1995; Tseng et al., 1998).

Protocatechuic acid induces antioxidant or detoxifying gene expression, helping reinforce internal defenses against oxidation (Varì et al., 2011). As an antioxidant, protocatechuic acid helps protect nerve cells from oxidative damage and had neuroprotective properties that indicate its potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (Guan, Bao, Jiang, & An, 2006; Guan, Ge, Liu, & Cui, 2009; Guan et al., 2011).

Protocatechuic acid can selectively induce liver lining cancer cell death (Yip, Chan, Pang, Tam, & Wong, 2006). As a potent anticancer agent, protocatechuic acid can also halt invasion, retard growth and cause programmed cell death in breast, lung, liver, cervix and prostate cancers (Yin, Lin, Wu, Tsao, & Hsu, 2009).

Protocatechuic acid effectively promotes the growth of joint cartilage cells, which generally have poor regenerative capacity and which will, if left to degenerate, develop into osteoarthritis (Luo et al., 2015, p. 1865).

Protocatechuic acid has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in arthritis and other join-related diseases (Lende et al., 2011). 

9. ACETIC ACID

In the first report of successful local chemical treatment for prostate cancer, direct injection of acetic acid successfully obliterated prostate cancer tumors, suggesting such a therapy for use in early prostate cancer and in nonoperative, localized cases of advanced prostate cancer (Bhullar et al., 2013). The performance of form of acetic acid against inflammation is comparable, if not better than, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen (Khedr, Shehata, & Mohamed, 2014).

Acetic acid derivatives were found to have a longer activity time than indomethacin, a typical drug with anti-fever, anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions (Sharma & Ray, 2008) and were also free of the gastrointestinal toxicity that is common to NSAIDs (Sharma & Ray, 2007).

Acetic acid completely eradicates antibiotic-tolerant bacteria that are resistant to traditional treatments and the mature biofilms that such bacteria produce on prosthetics, making it the one of the only effective, nontoxic measures of treating biofilms involved in chronic infections, with the added benefit of contributing to wound-healing promotion (Bjarnsholt et al., 2015, pp. 364-371).

Acetic acid is ideal for use in treating burn wounds in patients who live in parts of the world with limited resources; it is effective at low dilutions and does not become less active with evaporation, in addition to having good antibacterial activity against a range of bacteria (Fraise, Wilkinson, Bradley, Oppenheim, & Moiemen, 2013).

Acetic acid, which has been used for over 6000 years for the treatment of burn wounds and as an antiseptic, showed comparable and, in some cases, greater bactericidal properties, with an effect on a wide range of bacteria and even at low concentrations (Ryssel et al., 2009).

Test scores indicating the amount of glucose in the blood (after a meal) and insulin response scores were significantly reduced when starchy meals were supplemented with acetic acid (given as vinegar), probably via the mechanism of a delayed gastric emptying rate (Liljeberg & Björck, 1998). Vinegar abated high blood sugar following a meal by twenty percent when compared to the placebo control (Johnston, Steplewska, Long, Harris, & Ryals, 2010). 

10. MALIC ACID

Malic acid has a critical role in ATP production, and may be deficient in fibromyalgia; fibromyalgia symptoms may be caused by a process that results in a deficiency in malic acid and other substances that are necessary for ATP synthesis (Abraham & Flechas, 1992).

Significant reductions in all major pain and tenderness measurements were recorded in a trial of a tablet that was eighty percent malic acid for the treatment of fibromyalgia (Russell, Michalek, Flechas, & Abraham, 1995).

Malic acid contributed to the prevention or breaking up of clots in the blood vessels and/or heart in vitro (Zhang, Zhaio, & Bian, 2013), contributed to a significant anti-blood clot effect in vivo and contributed to a significant reduction in recovery time (Zhang, Zhao, & Bian, 2014). Malic acid contributed to a protective effect on the heart during a heart attack (Khazanov, Kiseliova, Vasiliev, & Chernyschova, 2008). The protective effect of malic acid against the injury resulting from a heart attack may be due to its anti-inflammatory properties, its direct benefits to the heart muscle cells and/or its antiplatelet aggregation (“blood thinning”) activity (Tang et al., 2013, pp. 4-9). 

11. PHENYLACETIC ACID

Phenylacetic acid was (produced, in this case, by a bacterial strain that was isolated from Korean fermented soybean cooking paste and was) proven to have strong antimicrobial properties that countered bacteria and yeast like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans (Kim et al., 2004). 

A form of phenylacetic acid was shown to have more powerful effects against inflammation, pain and fever than aspirin and ibuprofen, and was also shown to have a low chance of causing ulcers in the stomach or gut (Atkinson & Leach, 1976). Diclofenac, first synthesized in 1973, is a currently and commonly used (often as an over-the-counter) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)--used to reduce inflammation and pain--that is derived from phenylacetic acid. In a study done at one clinic, giving craniotomy patients a dose of diclofenac before surgery significantly lowered pain scores and additional pain-killing/inflammation-reducing drug requirements at all periods of the study, including in the five days following the operations, when difficult-to-treat headaches are otherwise common (Molnár et al., 2015).

Phenylacetic acid and its derivatives, commonly under study as anticancer agents, scavenge free radicals in addition to promoting cell differentiation, since cancer leads to poor differentiation (Glód & Grieb, 2005, p. 266).

12. SUCCINIC ACID

Succinic acid could inhibit cell death in the heart after a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the heart by increasing the protein expression in heart muscle cells (Tang et al., 2014).

Succinic acid contributed to the prevention or breaking up of clots in the blood vessels and/or heart in vitro (Zhang, Zhaio, & Bian, 2013), contributed to a significant anti-blood clot effect in vivo and contributed to a significant reduction in recovery time (Zhang, Zhao, & Bian, 2014).

In cases of women with chronically inflamed uteri who were experiencing an upsurge in pain and inflammation, succinic acid derivatives reduced levels of inflammatory protein-signalers (secreted by immune system cells) in the blood and related affective anxiety disorder symptoms (Volchegorskii, Pravdin, & Uzlova, 2014).

A form of succinic acid, known by its trade name cytoflavin, is often used in treatment of stroke and other diseases related to the brain and its blood vessels (Awake Brain: Quality Nootropics, 2016). Cytoflavin effectively treated the side effects of mild brain injury and brain concussion, reducing pain, pain-killing and sedative drug use, anxiety, depression and abnormal physical weakness and improving tested neurocognitive performance, sleep quality, attention and information processing (Skoromets & Pugacheva, 2010). Cytoflavin, tested clinically during the acute phase of cranial stroke, resulted in higher social and functional activities scores, better short- and long-term memories and better overall health (Shestakov, Kosenkova, Kichigina, Larikova, & Starikova, 2011). Cytoflavin in cases of spinal disease resulted in faster pain relief, improved emotional states and the restoration of previously imbalanced nerve sensitivity (Stetsura, Sholomov, Schukovsky, Salina, & Likhacheva, 2015).

A succinic acid derivative, when used as part of treatment for acute gastrointestinal infections led to a more immediate cessation of associated symptoms, like vomiting and diarrhea (Tikhonova, Liapina, & Shul'diakov, 2013).

Many clinical trials have tested derivatives of succinic acid in addition to the common treatment for chronic viral hepatitis, resulting in boosted antioxidant activity, better scores on treatment measurement indices and higher levels of efficacy of treatment (Stel'makh, Radchenko, & Kozlov, 2011).

In elderly cases of type II diabetes, succinic acid derivatives had a moderating effect on blood sugar levels, alleviated shaking, relieved diabetes-caused nerve damage symptoms and improved the overall quality of life (Odin, Belikova, & Pushkova, 2002).

A derivative of succinic acid has been found to be an inhibitor against several strains of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), interfering with the virus propagation, in vitro (Chang et al., 1991). 

13. LACTIC ACID

Lactic acid-producing bacteria (Lactobacillus species) have the ability to lower cholesterol levels in the blood (Buck & Gilliland, 1994).

Lactic acid bacteria may reduce risk of cancer, preventing cancer from flourishing, possibly by mechanism of the related reduction in enzymes that convert procarcinogens into carcinogens (Fernandes & Shahani, 1990).

A type of lactic acid-producing bacteria, when administered over eight weeks to human test subjects infected with H. pylori, a bacterium that lives in the digestive tract and often leads to ulcers, resulted in significant overall improvement. Thus, it was concluded that this lactic acid bacterium had a diminishing effect on H. pylori, in addition to reducing inflammation of the stomach lining (Sakamotoa et al., 2000).

A strain of lactic acid-producing bacteria has an enhancing effect on the body’s cellular immune response and is suggested a potentially useful, immune boosting dietary supplement (Sheih, Chiang, Wang, Liao, & Gill, 2001).

This same strain was more specifically discovered to confer the immune-supporting benefits of inhibiting or preventing pathogen growth (Jones & Versalovic, 2009, p. 5; Spinler et al., 2008) and is also a promising therapy for both infantile colic (Savino, Pelle, Palumeri, Oggero, & Miniero, 2007) and infantile-childhood eczema (Abrahamsson et al., 2007; Gromert & Axelsson, 2009; Forsberg, Abrahamsson, Björkstén, & Jenmalm, 2013). 

Source (thank you): https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1354/7841/files/FULVIC_MINERAL_COMPLEX_-_ORGANIC_ACIDS_AND_THEIR_BENEFITS.pdf

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