Nattokinase

Nattokinase is a potent fibrinolytic enzyme extracted and highly purified from a traditional Japanese food called Natto. Natto is a fermented cheese-like food that has been used in Japan for over 1000 years for its popular taste and as a folk remedy for heart and vascular diseases. Natto is produced by a fermentation process by adding Bacillus natto, a benefical bacteria, to boiled soybeans. The resulting Nattokinase enzyme, is produced when Bacillus natto acts on the soybeans. While other soy foods contain enzymes, it is only the natto preparation that contains the specific nattokinase enzyme.

Doctor Hiroyuki Sumi had long researched thrombolytic enzymes searching for a natural agent that could successfully dissolve thrombus associated with cardiac and cerebral infarction (blood clots associated with heart attacks and stroke). Sumi discovered nattokinase in 1980 while working as a researcher and majoring in physiological chemistry at University of Chicago Medical School. After testing over 173 natural foods as potential thrombolytic agents, Sumi found what he was looking for when Natto was dropped onto artificial thrombus (fibrin) in a Petri dish and allowed it to stand at 37° C (approximately body temperature). The thrombus around the Natto dissolved gradually and had completely dissolved within 18 hours. Sumi named the newly discovered enzyme "Nattokinase", which means "enzyme in Natto". Sumi commented that nattokinase showed "a potency matched by no other enzyme."

The human body contains several enzymes that promote the formation of blood clots, but it produces only one enzyme - plasmin - that dissolves them. Unfortunately, like many other beneficial enzymes, plasmin diminishes as we grow older. The properties of nattokinase closely resemble the fibrin dissolving ability of plasmin. Nattokinase enhances the body's natural ability to fight blood clots in several different ways, because it so closely resembles plasmin and it dissolves fibrin directly. In addition, it also enhances the body's production of both plasmin and other clot-dissolving agents, including urokinase, Nattokinase, can help prevent that hardening of arteries with oral dose. This may be very important because the fibrin accumulation associated with endothelial cells can eventually interfere with oxygen and nutrient transfer to body cells and removal of waste products. Hence, fibrin accumulation on the vascular endothelialining interferes with the primary functions of the blood and may be a critical factor in aging.

By clearing fibrin from the vascular endothelial cells, Nattokinase may help as an anti-aging enzyme. The coagulative clogging of the cerebral blood vessels due to aging is one of the causes of dementia. Thrombotic diseases typically include cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, cardiac infarction and angina pectoris, and also include diseases caused by blood vessels with lowered flexibility, including senile dementia and diabetes (caused by pancreatic dysfunction). Hemorrhoids are considered a local thrombotic condition. Cardiac infarction patients may have an inherent imbalance in that their thrombolytic enzymes are weaker than their coagulant enzymes. Nattokinase holds great promise to support patients with such inherent weaknesses in a convenient and consistent manner, without side effects such as increased bleeding. The studies have shown that Nattokinase brings about improvement in circulation of blood.

The Nattokinase is a powerful fibrinolytic enzyme obtained from fermentation. The Nattokinase is manufactured by controlled fermentation, followed by a sophisticated down stream process of recovery. The recovery process involves various types of filtration, concentration and steps to make enzyme useful for pharmaceutical applications and finally spray drying to fine free flowing powder form.

THERAPEUTIC USE:

• A potent fibrinolytic enzyme helps in prevention of strokes
  
• Has strong anti-oxidant effect, which could cure the stress impairement in the stomach
  
• Antibacterial Properties - helps clean the bowels

INDICATIONS:

• Prevention of Heart Attacks, Strokes and Senility
• Prevention of Osteoporosis
• Prevention of Cancer
• Antibiotic Effects
• Improvement in Digestion and Prevention of Intestinal Disorders
• Anti-aging Effects and Prevention of Obesity

Natto, a fermented soybean derivative, a soy cheese that has been a staple in the Japanese diet, contains an important enzyme named Nattokinase, which helps maintain healthy blood. Blood has a sticky quality that helps it clot and stop the bleeding from wounds. When a wound occurs, blood platelets rush to the wound site and cause a series of reactions that produce strands of fibrin. These fibrin strands form a thin, web-like structure that covers the wound and stops the bleeding.

Research has established that these fibrin strands are the main cause of sluggish blood, so researchers next began looking for a substance that would act to maintain healthy levels of fibrin. That breakthrough discovery was Nattokinase, a natural, food-based supplement that supports healthier fibrin levels so that blood flows at a faster rate, reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Blood clots (or thrombi) form when strands of protein called fibrin accumulate in a blood vessel. In the heart, blood clots cause blockage of blood flow to muscle tissue. If blood flow is blocked, the oxygen supply to that tissue is cut off and it eventually dies. This can result in angina and heart attacks. Clots in chambers of the heart can mobilize to the brain. In the brain, blood clots also block blood and oxygen from reaching necessary areas, which can result in senility and/or stroke.

Thrombolytic enzymes are normally generated in the endothelial cells of the blood vessels. As the body ages, production of these enzymes begins to decline, making blood more prone to coagulation. This mechanism can lead to cardiac or cerebral infarction, as well as other conditions. Since endothelial cells exist throughout the body, such as in the arteries, veins and lymphatic system, poor production of thrombolytic enzymes can lead to the development of thrombotic conditions virtually anywhere in the body.

3D Structure of NattoSEB