Raintree's Amazon Vitality
Natural Herbal Supplement

Raintree's Amazon Vitality
120 Capsules

Suggested Retail Price: $31.95
Sale Price: $28.95

Amazon Vitality is Guaranteed!

We guarantee that Amazon Vitality is:

• Formulated and/or prepared based upon the documented ethnic uses of the plant ingredients;
• The correct species of plants shown on labels and marketing literature;
• Sustainability wild harvested or organically grown in South America;
• The freshest and highest quality of plant ingredients possible;
• Free of any excipients, preservatives, binders, fillers or contaminates.

Keep your cells young, healthy, and vital with this dynamic formula of 8 rainforest plants documented with cellular protective actions for the skin, brain, liver, kidneys, gastric tract, heart, and immune system.

Raintree Nutrition's Amazon Vitality provides 650 mgs of potent rainforest herbs in each capsule - rich in active and beneficial phytochemicals which occur naturally in these plants and is unconditionally guaranteed. Amazon Vitality formula contains a proprietary blend of calaguala (Polypodium leucotomos) rhizome, samambaia (Polypodium decumanum) leaf and rhizome, chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niruri) whole herb, cat's claw vine bark, fedegoso (Cassia occidentalis) whole herb, picão preto (Bidens pilosa) whole herb, gervâo (Stachytarpheta sp) whole herb, and tayuya (Cayaponia tayuya) root. For more information about Amazon Vitality, please refer to the Amazon Vitality PDF Product Brochure.

Sold in bottles with 120 capsules per bottle, the suggested dosages is 1-2 capsules twice daily.

AMAZON VITALITY INGREDIENTS and RESEARCH INFORMATION

Calaguala (Polypodium leucotomos) and Samambaia (Polypodium decumanum)
A herbal extract of these rare rainforest ferns is manufactured and sold in Europe (under the name anapsos) as a herbal drug for the treatment of psoriasis, and more recently, for dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. A 1997 U.S. patent and several in vivo clinical studies report that the plants protect against brain cell degeneration, promotes repair of damaged brain cells in Alzheimer's and dementia patients, and provides a protective effect to brain cells in general. In a double-blind placebo human trial researchers reported in 2000 that patients with senile dementia improved cognitive performance, increased the blood supply to the brain, and also increased the electrical impulses in the brain. In animal studies, the plants reduced the amount of amyloid plaque (linked to the progression of Alzheimer's) in the brains of rats and mice, as well as prevented the formation of amyloid deposits in the brains of laboratory animals. The same cellular protective effects to brain cells seems to extend to skin cells as well. Another U.S. patent was filed in 1997 which indicated these rainforest ferns are effective in preventing sunburn and skin damage (taken internally, as well as applied topically prior to exposure). Its protective effect was reported to be due, in part, to an antioxidant effect, as well as by protecting and increasing the amount of elastin in skin cells. One of the human studies confirming this activity was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital's dermatology department. Another studies conducted at Harvard medical school, reported that when the plant extract was applied topically it helped to avoid skin damage and sun-associated skin aging, as well as reduced the number of UV-induced skin tumors in mice. The Harvard researchers sugessted that samambaia may help prevent skin damage at low dosages while higher dosages may actually reverse the loss of normal elastic fibers associated with intrinsic aging of the skin.
Álvarez, X. A., et al. "Anapsos improves learning and memory in rats with Beta-Amyloid (1-28) deposits in the hippocampus" in Progress in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, Ed. Fisher, A., Yoshida, M. and Hannin, I., Plenum Press, New York, pp. 699-703 (1998).
Álvarez, X. A., et al. "Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study with anapsos in senile dementia: effects on cognition, brain bioelectrical activity and cerebral hemodynamics." Methods Find. Exp. Clin. Pharmacol. 2000; 22(7): 585–94.
Gonzalez, S., et al. "Inhibition of ultraviolet-induced formation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, erythema and skin photosensitization by Polypodium leucotomos." Photodermatol. Photoimmunol. Photomed. 1996; 12(2): 45–56.
Gonzalez, S., et al. "Topical or oral administration with an extract of Polypodium leucotomos prevents acute sunburn and psoralen-induced phototoxic reactions as well as depletion of Langerhans cells in human skin." Photodermatol. Photoimmunol. Photomed. 1997; 13(1–2): 50–60.
Alcaraz, M. V., et al. "An extract of Polypodium leucotomos appears to minimize certain photoaging changes in a hairless albino mouse animal model. A pilot study." Photodermatol. Photoimmunol. Photomed. 1999; 15(3–4): 120–26.
Fernandez-Novoa, L., et al. "Effects of Anapsos on the activity of the enzyme Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase in an animal model of neuronal degeneration." Methods Find. Exp. Clin. Pharmacol. 1997; 19(2): 99–106.
Vasange, M., et al. "The fern Polypodium decumanum, used in the treatment of psoriasis, and its fatty acid constituents as inhibitors of leukotriene B4 formation." Prostaglandins Leukotrienes Essent. Fatty Acids 1994; 50: 279–284.
Vasange, M., et al. "A sulphonoglycolipid from the fern Polypodium decumanum and its effect on the platelet activating factor receptor in human neutrophils." J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1997; 49(5): 562–617.
Ferrer, M. Y., et al. "Water-soluble fractions of Phlebodium decumanum and its use as nutritional supplement in AIDS and cancer patients." U.S. patent no. 6,228,366; 2001.
Quintanilla, A. E., et al. "Pharmaceutical composition of activity in the treatment of cognitive and/or neuroimmune dysfunctions." U.S. patent no. 5,601,829; 1997.
Pathak, et al. "Polypodium extract as photoprotectant." U.S. patent no 5,614,197 1997

Chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niruri, amarus)
One test tube study and four animal studies documented that extracts of chanca piedra effectively protected against liver damage from introduced chemical liver toxins. Three human clinical studies reported that chanca piedra provided liver protective, liver repair, and liver detoxifying actions in children and adults with hepatitis and jaundice. An animal study documented that chanca piedra almost doubled the life span of mice with liver cancer while a different research group tried to induce liver cancer in mice that had been pre-treated with a water extract of chanca piedra. Their results indicated the chanca piedra extract dose-dependently lowered tumor incidence, levels of carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes, levels of liver cancer markers, and liver injury markers. Both of these studies suggest that the plant has a better ability to prevent cancer rather than a direct ability to kill cancer cells. It may well be that chanca piedra's documented ability to stop cells from mutating plays an important factor in this reported anticancerous activity. In several animal and test tube studies, chanca piedra was shown to stop or inhibit cells from mutating in the presence of chemical substances known to create cellular mutations and DNA strand breaks (which can lead to the creation of cancerous cells). One of these studies also indicated that chanca piedra inhibited several enzyme processes peculiar to cancer cells' replication and growth, rather than a direct toxic effect of killing the cancer cell. This cellular-protective quality was evidenced in other research which indicated that chanca piedra protected against chemically-induced bone marrow damage in mice, as well as against radiation-induced damage in mice.
Kumar K. B., et al. "Protective effect of an extract of Phyllanthus amarus against radiation-induced damage in mice." J. Radiat. Res. 2004 Mar; 45(1):133-9.
Raphael, K. R. "Anti-mutagenic activity of Phyllanthus amarus (Schum. & Thonn.) in vitro as well as in vivo." Teratog. Carcinog. Mutagen. 2002; 22(4): 285–91.
Prakash, A., et al. "Comparative hepatoprotective activity of three Phyllanthus species, P. urinaria, P. niruri and P.simplex, on carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in the rat." Phytother. Res. 1995; 9(8): 594–96.
Syamasundar, K. V., et al. "Antihepatotoxic principles of Phyllanthus niruri herbs." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1985; 14(1): 41–4.
Sreenivasa, R. Y., "Experimental production of liver damage and its protection with Phyllanthus niruri and Capparis spinosa in white albino rats." Probe 1985; 24(2): 117–19.
Sripanidkulchai, B., et al. "Antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects of Phyllanthus amarus." Phytomedicine 2002; 9(1): 26–32.
Rajeshkumar, N. V. "Antitumour and anticarcinogenic activity of Phyllanthus amarus extract." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2002; 81(1): 17–22.
Dhir, H., et al. "Protection afforded by aqueous extracts of Phyllanthus species against cytotoxicity induced by lead and aluminium salts." Phytother. Res. 1990; 4(5): 172–76.

Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)
This amazing rainforest vine has become quite popular in the U.S. for it's patented ability to boost immune function. In addition to its immunostimulant benefits, researchers have reported that cat's claw can aid in DNA cellular repair and prevent cells from mutating; it also can help prevent the loss of white blood cells and immune cell damage caused by many toxins and drugs. Some of the newer research indicates that cat's claw might be helpful to people with Alzheimer's disease by reducing amyloid plaque normally found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Another research group recently reported that cat's claw's immune-stimulating alkaloids, pteropodine and isopteropodine, might have other properties and applications. They reported that these two chemicals have shown to have a positive modulating effect on brain neurotransmitters called 5-HT(2) receptors. These receptor sites are targets for drugs used in treating a variety of conditions, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, chronic pain conditions, and obesity.
Lemaire, I., et al. "Stimulation of interleukin-1 and -6 production in alveolar macrophages by the neotropical liana, Uncaria tomentosa (uña de gato)." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1999; 64(2): 109–15.
Sheng, Y., et al., "DNA repair enhancement of aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa in a human volunteer study." Phytomedicine 2001; 8(4): 275–82.
Sheng, Y., et al., "Enhanced DNA repair, immune function and reduced toxicity of C-Med-100, a novel aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2000; 69(2): 115–26.
Rizzi, R., et al. "Mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of Uncaria tomentosa and its extracts." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1993; 38: 63–77.
Rizzi, R., et al. "Bacterial cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of Uncaria tomentosa and its extracts. Antimutagenic activity of Uncaria tomentosa in humans." Premiere Colloque Européan d'Ethnopharmacologie, Metz, France, March 22–24, 1990.
Castillo, G., et al. "Pharmaceutical compositions containing Uncaria tomentosa extract for treating Alzheimer's disease and other amyloidoses." Patent-Pct. Int. Paol. 1998; 00 33,659: 67pp.
Mohamed, A. F., et al. " Effects of Uncaria tomentosa total alkaloid and its components on experimental amnesia in mice: elucidation using the passive avoidance test." J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 2001; 52(12): 1553–61.

Fedegoso (Cassia occidentalis)
Fedegoso has been the subject of recent clinical research for its beneficial effects on the liver and immune system. Two research groups published three studies citing the beneficial effects of fedegoso in human patients with liver toxicity, hepatitis, and even acute liver failure. Other researchers published four different animal studies indicating that fedegoso had the ability to protect the liver from various introduced chemical toxins, normalize liver enzymes and processes, and repair liver damage. Some of this research has also reported significant immunostimulant activity by increasing humoral immunity and bone marrow immune cells in mice, and protecting them from chemically-induced immunosuppression. These researchers and others also reported the cellular protective actions of fedegoso. In this research, fedegoso was able to prevent or reduce the mutation of healthy cells in the presence of laboratory chemicals which were known to mutate them.
Sharma, N., et al. "Protective effect of Cassia occidentalis extract on chemical-induced chromosomal aberrations in mice." Drug Chem. Toxicol. 1999; 22(4): 643–53.
Saraf, S., et al. "Antiheptatotoxic activity of Cassia occidentalis." Int. J. Pharmacog. 1994; 32(2): 178–83.
Jafri, M. A., et al. "Hepatoprotective activity of leaves of Cassia occidentalis against paracetamol and ethyl alcohol intoxication in rats." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1999; 66(3): 355–61.
Bin-Hafeez, B., et al. "Protective effect of Cassia occidentalis L. on cyclophosphamide-induced suppression of humoral immunity in mice." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2001; 75(1): 13–18.
Sharma, N., et al. "In vitro inhibition of carcinogen-induced mutagenicity by Cassia occidentalis and Emblica officinalis." Drug Chem. Toxicol. 2000; 23(3): 477–84.

Picão preto (Bidens pilosa)
This rainforest plant has been documented with antioxidant and cellular protective actions. A research group in Taiwan reported that a picão preto extract was capable of protecting the liver of rats from various introduced toxins known to cause liver injury. This research group had previously demonstrated picão preto's anti-inflammatory actions in animals a year earlier. A Brazilian research group confirmed the anti-inflammatory activities in mice and attributed them to an immune modulation effect (noting the extract reduced the amount of pro-inflammatory immune cells in human blood in a previous study). In addition, other research demonstrated that a picão preto extract inhibited prostaglandin-synthesis and cyclooxygenase (COX) activities. Both are chemical processes in the body which are linked to inflammatory diseases. Picão preto was also documented to prevent hypertension in rats fed a high-fructose diet, and to lower the resulting (elevated) blood pressure and triglyceride levels. In hypertensive rats (including high dietary salt-induced hypertension), extracts of the plant significantly lowered blood pressure—without having an effect on heart rate and urine volume.
Abajo. C. "In vitro study of the antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of aqueous infusion of Bidens pilosa." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Aug; 93(2-3): 319-23.
Wu, L. W., et al. "Polyacetylenes function as anti-angiogenic agents." Pharm. Res. 2004 Nov;21(11):2112-9.
Dimo, T., et al. "Leaf methanol extract of Bidens pilosa prevents and attenuates the hypertension induced by high-fructose diet in Wister rats." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2002; 83(3): 183–91.
Usami E, et al. "Assessment of antioxidant activity of natural compound by water- and lipid-soluble antioxidant factor." Yakugaku Zasshi. 2004 Nov;124(11):847-50.
Chiang, Y. M., et al. "Metabolite profiling and chemopreventive bioactivity of plant extracts from Bidens pilosa." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Dec;95(2-3):409-19.
Chin, H. W., et al. "The hepatoprotective effects of Taiwan folk medicine ‘ham-hong-chho' [Bidens pilosa] in rats." Am. J. Chin. Med. 1996; 24(3–4): 231–40

Gervâo (Stachytarpheta sp)
This tropical herb contains a plant chemical called verbascoside. In laboratory studies, this powerful antioxidant has been documented with brain cell protective, antiviral, antibacterial, liver protective, heart protective, and antitumorous effects. A flavonoid in gervâo called scutellarein has been documented with heart protective, anti-inflammatory and antiviral actions. Another flavonoid found in gervâo called hispidulin been reported to have liver detoxifing actions and helps to normalize sticky blood. Testing the plant extract, researchers reported it demonstrated antacid and antiulcerous effects in mice stating it had a protective effect to the gastric tract by increasing intestinal motility, protecting against ulcers from various chemical agents, and inhibiting gastric secretion.
Alvarez, E., et al. "Inhibitory effects of leaf extracts of Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (Verbenaceae) on the respiratory burst of rat macrophages. Phytother. Res. 2004; 18(6): 457-62.
Sheng, G. Q., et al. "Protective effect of verbascoside on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells." Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2002; 451(2): 119–24.
Ferrandiz, M. L., et al. "Hispidulin protection against hepatotoxicity induced by bromobenzene in mice." Life Sci. 1994; 55(8): PL145–50.
Schapoval, E. E., et al. "Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of extracts and isolated compounds from Stachytarpheta cayennensis." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1998; 60(1): 53–9.
Zhou, J., et al. "Ventricular remodeling by Scutellarein treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats." Chin Med. J. (Engl.). 2002; 115(3): 375–77./

Tayuya (Cayaponia tayuya)
Novel antioxidant chemicals have been discovered in tayuya and named cayaponosides (24 distinct cayaponosides have been discovered thus far). These phytochemicals have been documented to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and, more recently, to have anticancerous potential. The National Cancer Center Research Institute in Tokyo, Japan reported that five cayaponosides in tayuya exhibited significant anti-tumor-promoter activity in screening tests. Another cucurbitacin found in tayuya, cucurbitacin R, has been studied extensively in Russia. There it is cited as a powerful adaptogen, preventing stress-induced alterations in the body. Other flavone phytochemicals in tayuya have been reported act as potent scavengers of free radicals, providing an antioxidant effect as well as protecting against damage induced by gamma-radiation.
Panosian, A., et al. "On the mechanism of action of plant adaptogens with particular reference to cucurbitacin R diglucoside." Phytomedicine 1999; 6(3): 147Q–55.
Vrinda, B., et al. "Radiation protection of human lymphocyte chromosomes in vitro by orientin and vicenin." Mutat. Res. 2001; 498 (1–2): 39–46.
Ruppelt, B. M., et al. "Pharmacological screening of plants recommended by folk medicine as anti-snake venom—I. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities." Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 1991; 86 (Suppl. 2): 203–5.
Rios, J. L., et al. "A study of the anti-inflammatory activity of Cayaponia tayuya root." Fitoterapia 1990; 61(3): 275–78.
Huguet, A. I., et al. "Superoxide scavenging properties of flavonoids in a non-enzymic system." Z. Natur. Forsch. 1990; 45(1–2): 19–24.