Origins
Ecklonia Cava Extract, in short, ECE, is a standardized molecular extract from specific brown, marine algae of the same name, Ecklonia Cava. It is found in large colonies in the ocean off the coasts of Japan and Korea.
Structure
ECE contains phlorotannins, which are a form of unique aquatic polyphenols. Unique due to the fact that they differ from polyphenols that can be extracted from plants found on dry land.
Ecklonia Cava is seen as a ‘super’ free radical scavenger because, in comparison to green tea and other land based plants, as well as Resveratrol, it’s structure bears unique, advantageous features. The structure of an antioxidant is what really determines its power. The particular features found in the structure of an antioxidant that determines its power are the rings that trap electrons and neutralize free radicals. While green tea has four rings, Resveratrol has two rings. Ecklonia Cava on the other hand has eight rings of these polyphenols.
Ecklonia Cava has 40 percent fat-solubility with its polyphenols exhibiting a half life of 12 hours in comparison to polyphenols found in other land based plants, which have a 30 minute half life, hence, the reason for the power of these other antioxidants falling off faster than ECE.
Health Benefits
Ecklonia Cava has the potential to produce antioxidant benefits that are two or three times stronger than that available from other algae-based antioxidants. Other estimates are more generous to ECE, stating that it could be 50 to 100 times stronger than green tea antioxidants.
Other health benefits include the enhancing of blood circulation in the body which is as a consequence of the radical scavenging ability of its component molecules. This, in turn, has the effect of energizing the body and lessening the strain on stiff muscles and joints and improving mental focus and acuity.
ECE has the ability to cross the blood brain barrier faster than other antioxidants.
Ecklonia Cava is used as an anti-inflammatory mediator and is used to fight oxidized LDL cholesterol particles which may lead to metabolic syndrome. It has also been shown to be effective against dangerous free radicals such as peroxynitrite, which contributes to conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chemical sensitivity.
ECE, thus, helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels as the free radicals in the bloodstream are scavenged by its component compounds, improving the body’s cardiovascular well being. Furthermore, Ecklonia Cava has been shown to increase muscle mass and decrease body fat which is of great importance to weight loss regimes and prevention of obesity.
Conclusion and future benefits
In addition to improving alertness, relaxation and the memory, Ecklonia Cava has been shown, in ‘lab rats/mice’ as well as in subsequent trials on humans, to improve other brain functions and activities. This has led to work on its ability to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease as ECE inhibits the substance that accumulates in Alzheimer’s disease sufferers, known as beta-amyloid, from forming in the brain. There is also ongoing work on its treatment of diabetes, allergies, asthma, erectile dysfunction, arthritis and other varied forms of inflammation.