Carnivora: Pharmacology and Clinical Efficacy of a Most Diverse Natural Plant Extract

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Nov, 2001  by Helmut Keller

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Carnivora, a patented phytonutrient and extract of the venus flytrap plant, Dionaea muscipula, has been used clinically for over 25 years.* Biologically active compounds in the extract are essential to healthy immune systems and support healthy cardiovascular functions in the body. At higher doses, the extract has been shown to have immodulatory, tumorcidal, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic and antibiotic properties.

I first discovered the venus flytrap plant in 1973 while traveling through Maine to spend a vacation with my family. I had just completed a one-year internship at the Schlossberg Cancer Hospital, which is linked to the University of Munich. While there I had the opportunity to treat patients with many forms of conventional chemotherapy and radiation, but was appalled by the horrific side effects I witnessed. On my way through Maine, I stopped at a flower shop where I happened to observe a venus flytrap plant capturing insects. I stood fascinated by this process and watched for some time. I recalled my recent experiences at Schlossberg and reasoned that perhaps this plant contained substances that could digest primitive tumor cells and other pathogenic forms.

Now 28 years later, the pharmacology of venus flytrap extract has been extensively studied and evaluated in both animal and human studies. A variety of compounds have been isolated from this phytonutrient by Thin Layer Chromatography, Silica Gel Chromatography and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography. Chemical analyses of these preparations have shown that the naphthoquinones, plumbagin, 3-chloroplumbagin and droserone, as well as hydroplumbagin glucoside are among the main constituents. It takes 350 grams (3/4 lb.) of whole fresh plant to yield 2.3 mg. of droserone, 286 mg. of plumbagin, 3.6 mg. of 3-chioroplumbagin and 116 mg. of hydroplumbagin glucoside. Other components include quercetin, amino acids, (arginine, asparagines, threonine, glutamic acid, cysteine, serine and others), bile salts (cholic acid and chenodesoxycholic acid) and formic acid. Interestingly, no active proteases responsible for the digestion of the insects have been isolated from either the fresh plant or lyophilized juice. From this mo st eccentric plant comes an array of constituents that support the body's natural immune system and which have also been shown to be effective therapeutic agents for immune deficient and autoimmune disorders.

Key Components

Droserone:1, 4-Naphthoquinone derivate; Spasmolytic, coughblocking, antibiotic properties.

Hydroplumbagin:Hydroplumbagin-4-O-B-glucopyranoside; Immune modulation, stimulation.

Formic acid: Mono carbon acid; Antiseptic properties.

Quercetin (Flavonoid): Quercetin-3-O-galactoside, -3-O-glucoside, -3-0-rutinoside; Via a specific pathway in the human body, these components contribute to the regulation of immune modulation and stimulation, support the circulatory system and maximize the efficiency of heart function.

Myricetin (Flavonoid): Myricetin-OH; Same properties and actions as Quercetin.

Gallic acid derivates: Cholic acid, deoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid; Aid in emulsification of fat by supporting the efficacy of lipases, immunestimulative action aids chronic conditions.

Amino Acids

Arginine:(S)-2-amino-5-guanidinopentane acid; Essential in childhood, plays an important role in the uric acid cycle, liver-protective, turns into the homologue of lysine which is essential to mitochondrial function and to the production of creatine and putrescine, the pre-stage of spermine and spermidine which stabilize the DNA structure in human spermatozoa.

Asparagine: Aminosuccinamic acid; Amino donator, proteinogen amino acid.

Threonine:(2S,3R)-2-amino-3-hydroxybutane acid; Essential human nutrient; metabolizes to ketobutyrate and glycine; regulates cholesterol; protein element.

Glutamine:(S)-2-amino-glutaric acid; Donator of amino groups; detoxifying end product of ammonia metabolism; source of gamma amino-butyrate (neurotransmitter); acceptor molecule of ammonia detoxification.

Alanine:(S)-2-amino acid; Key function as most important glucogenic amino acid, it is essential to catalyze and block harmful enzymes.

Cysteine:(R9)-2-amino-3-mercaptopropionic acid; Causes acid urine, source of sulfate; high concentration in the brain; essential for fetus and premature children.

Serine:(S9)-2-amino-3-hydroxypropionic acid; Glycoproteins; component of immune globulins (antibodies).

Histidine:(S)-2-amino-3-imidazol-4-yl-propan acid; Metabolizes to histamine.

Proteases:Enzymes that split proteins and peptides, protein kinases that block protein synthesis.

Lipopolysaccharides:Originate from biosynthesis of polysaccharides which are bound to lipids; Retinol has similar characteristics.

Phyto hormones: The source of progesterones and estrogens are tiny immeasurable amounts of steroids in the genuine pressed juice of Dionaea muscipula.

Pharmacologically, the Carnivora constituents plumbagin and hydroplumbagin have been shown to be immunomodulatory versus simply "immune enhancing." In vitro and in viva stimulation of human lymphocytes and granulocytes in pico and femtogram quantities have been reported in several studies. For example, Kreher, et al. demonstrated that human lymphocytes, incubated together with hydroplumbagin glucoside for 88 hours in picogram quantities (a trillionth of a gram), showed a distinct rise in their proliferative ability (as demonstrated by incorporation of tritiated thymidine.) In studies performed at the KTB Tumor Research Institute at the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Tumor Biology, Freiberg, Germany, Carnivora was shown to selectively attack poorly differentiated cells by inhibiting their mitochondrial ATP synthesis and by interfering with protein kinase production resulting in apoptosis. Carnivora also supports macrophage production and activity and stimulates phagocytosis. In immune monitoring studies c onducted by Zytognost GmbH in Munich, Germany, researchers reported that the effects of venus flytrap juice could be characterized as immunomodulatory as demonstrated mainly by a decrease of suppressor cells and simultaneous increase in helper cells." Persons treated with Carnivora also show significant increases in natural killer cells as demonstrated in clinical studies performed since the 1970's. This suggests that Carnivora does not just simply "enhance" the immune system, but is multi-dimensional in its ability to modulate the entire system by increasing the efficiency of the helper:suppressor ratio thereby maintaining a more effective immune response.