Second Pre-Clinical Published; Substantiates Significant Immune Response with Unigen’s Symetrian™
Second Pre-Clinical Study on Unigen’s Immune Ingredient Published
TACOMA, WASHINGTON – April 16, 2024: The second pre-clinical study of Symetrian™ (UP360) for effective immune support has been published in the Journal of Immunology Research (Volume 2024 | Article ID 9307906). Symetrian™ is a standardized composition from extracts of Aloe vera, Poria cocos mushroom, and Rosemary officinalis.
The study evaluated Symetrian™ as a natural nutritional supplement for a balanced immune response in an accelerated aging in vivo model. Author Dr. Mesfin Yimam, Unigen’s Director of Pre-Clinical Research, observed that a decline in immune response, exhibited in the form of immunosenescence and inflammaging, is an age-associated disturbance of the immune system known to predispose the elderly to a greater susceptibility to infection and poor vaccine response. Polysaccharides and polyphenols from botanicals are known for their immune modulation effects. The 9-week study induced immunosenescence with D-galactose to induce significant oxidative stress that caused atrophy of an important immune organ – the thymus.
Symetrian™ was found to improve the immune response as evidenced by stimulation of innate and adaptive immune responses, increase antioxidant capacity as reflected by augmented SOD and Nrf2, and preserve vital immune organs, such as the thymus, from aging-associated damage. The research findings substantiated the effect Symetrian™ had in activating and maintaining homeostasis of the immune system, both during active infections and as a preventive measure to help prime the immune system. According to Dr. Yimam, the research data warrants further clinical study to explore the potential application of the mushroom-based composition as an adjunct nutritional supplement for a balanced immune response.
Unigen Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Qi Jia, added, “This pre-clinical study of the Aloe and mushroom based composition further demonstrated the efficacy of a natural composition on a model associated with aging by restoration of both innate and adaptive immune responses. It further strengthened the scientific substantiation of the clinically observed UP360 supplementation in helping mount a robust immune response following influenza vaccination (Frontiers in Nutrition; KGK Science, Inc.) and rapidly increasing in immune surveillance and expression of NKT and γδT cell activation markers published in another peer reviewed journal (PLOS ONE; NIS Labs).”
The first pre-clinical report was published May 2023 (J Med Food 2023 May 16. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2022.0136; online abstract available ). Prophylactic oral administration of UP360 to murine models of sepsis and acute inflammatory lung injury improved the survival rate by 62.5%; reduced proinflammatory cytokines and chemokine such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-3; mitigated lung damage severity by 37.9%; and minimized pulmonary edema by 37%. For more information on UP360 (Symetrian™), visit the Symetrian™ product page and read Unigen’s blog post “Reviving the Past: Harnessing Ancient Compounds for Modern Immune Support.”
About Unigen, Inc.
Unigen discovers, develops, and manufactures proprietary natural-product active ingredients for dietary supplements, cosmetic and personal care products, prescription medical food and botanical drug products. The Company discovers its ingredients through its PhytoLogix® high-throughput screening approach applied to a proprietary well-annotated collection of botanicals and a legacy mining approach applied to botanicals having known medicinal benefits.
Mechanism of action, safety, and efficacy are documented with extensive preclinical in vitro and by human clinical studies. Unigen protects its discoveries with issued patents and patent filings in all major territories and manufactures its products to GMP standards. Unigen commercializes its proprietary ingredients through licensing and ingredient supply alliances with commercial partners engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of end-products in each of Unigen’s target markets.
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