AC-11 & DNA Repair
AC-11 & DNA REPAIR
Safe, all natural and water soluble AC-11® is a powdered, bioactive rainforest plant extract that, when ingested as a dietary supplement or applied topically as a cosmeceutical, helps the body to repair sun and environmental stress-related damage to DNA, and slow down the process of skin aging. A gift from the rainforest, AC-11® is the perfect joining of nature’s secrets with advanced phytonutrient science.
AC-11® derives from Uncaria tomentosa, a plant indigenous to the rainforest. We create AC-11® using a patented, proprietary “aqueous hot water extraction” and purification process standardized to a minimum of 8% Carboxy Alkyl Esters (CAE) concentration. CAEs are the complex molecular chains that form the primary active components of AC-11®. They are responsible for approximately 90% of the biological activity in AC-11® relating to DNA repair and immune enhancement.
Our scientists believe that when the body is subjected to stress that may affect the integrity of the DNA (overexposure to the sun for example), AC-11® helps activate enzymes that are instrumental in the repair processes. In a series of peer reviewed scientific and clinical studies conducted by third party laboratories and university medical centers, AC-11® has been shown to help the body’s natural ability to repair DNA.
AC-11® studies moreover show that the CAEs unique to our product not only enhance significantly the body’s natural ability to repair damaged DNA, but also measurably improve natural collagen III production in the skin. Collagen III is a form of collagen associated with soft, supple, youthful-looking skin. As we age, our cells gradually produce less collagen III than they did when we were young. However, laboratory research shows significant, measurable increases in collagen III production in adult skin cells treated with AC-11®
AC-11® also helps to normalize the expression of NF-KB in the cells, thereby regulating cellular response to inflammation. NF-KB is a nuclear transcription factor that influences numerous gene-encoding proteins important in apoptosis (programmed cell death), inflammation and cellular growth. A normal expression of NF-KB minimizes the hazards of excessive oxidative stress. An over-expression of NF-KB triggers increased inflammation.
In a human study, AC-11® demonstrated a positive effect on lymphocytes, increasing their life span and, by implication, enhancing the body’s immune system.
AC-11® differs from all other Uncaria tomentosa products, some of which are sold under the common name “cat’s claw,” in that its molecular composition is distinct by virtue of the Optigenex patented process. AC-11® is relatively alkaloid free (0.05% ) and is the only )product available anywhere containing a patented class of CAE actives shown by extensive research to have healthy aging and natural DNA repair enhancement properties. No other Uncaria tomentosa product can make these claims. AC-11® moreover has been studied for efficacy and safety for over ten years.
AC-11 Discovery
AC-11® and The Science of Phytonutrients
Phytonutrients are the organic components of plants that promote health in humans and animals. Fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and teas are all rich in phytonutrients.
A source of powerful phytonutrients unknown to exist elsewhere in the world is found in the rainforests of Brazil and Peru, often called the “living pharmacy” for the depth, variety and complexity of the plant and animal life forms that have developed there over many thousands of years, and for the breakthrough discoveries that researchers in biochemistry and pharmacological medicine continue to make in studying the wondrous ecosystem of this region.
Safe, all natural and water soluble AC-11® is a patent-protected, bioactive rainforest plant extract that helps the body to repair sun and environmental stress-related damage to DNA, and slow down the process of skin aging. AC-11® is the perfect joining of the rainforest’s secrets with the miracle of today’s advancements in phytonutrient science.
The AC-11® “Rainforest Connection”
AC-11® is derived naturally from Uncaria tomentosa, a vine that grows wild in the Amazon rainforest. We harvest the vine in an ethical manner under the authority of theBrazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) http://www.ibama.gov.br/. This ensures future maintenance of a natural balance in the rainforest. Authorization is granted through an ongoing sustainable management project directed by the government and based upon existing local herb availability whereby the amount of inner bark approved for harvesting is set. The harvest is taken (cut) at a point on the plant approximately three feet above the ground; the plant is then capped to ensure integrity of the root structure and rapid regeneration of the vine. Additionally, new saplings of the Uncaria tomentosa vine are planted in a precise manner to ensure the continued viability in the harvesting area. Optigenex moreover works in cooperation with the Floravida Institutes (Brazil) http://www.floravida.org.br/instituto/ guidelines for biodiversity conservation, environmental education and local community social inclusion.
The Discovery of AC-11®
The method by which AC-11® is formulated was discovered by Ronald W. Pero Ph.D., a widely published scientist, university professor emeritus and expert in the fields of human biochemistry and DNA research. Dr. Pero’s work involving AC-11® was based on more than 30 years of research, including extensive field research on indigenous plant life in the Amazon region of South America.
AC-11® and DNA Care
AC-11® derives from Uncaria tomentosa, a plant indigenous to the rainforest. We create AC-11® using a patented, wholly proprietary “aqueous hot water extraction” and purification process standardized to a minimum of 8% Carboxy Alkyl Esters (CAE) concentration.
CAEs are the complex molecular chains that form the primary active components of AC-11®. They are responsible for approximately 90% of the biological activity in AC-11® relating to DNA repair and immune enhancement. Our scientists believe that when the body is subjected to stress that may affect the integrity of the DNA (overexposure to the sun for example), AC-11® helps activate enzymes that are instrumental in the repair processes. In a series of peer reviewed scientific and clinical studies conducted by third party laboratories and university medical centers, AC-11® has been shown to help the body’s natural ability to repair DNA.
AC-11® studies moreover show that the CAEs unique to our product not only enhance significantly the body’s natural ability to repair damaged DNA, but also measurably improve natural collagen III production in the skin. Collagen III is a form of collagen associated with soft, supple, youthful-looking skin. As we age, our cells gradually produce less collagen III than they did when we were young. However, laboratory research shows significant, measurable increases in collagen III production in adult skin cells treated with AC-11®.
AC-11® also helps to normalize the expression of NF-KB in the cells, thereby regulating cellular response to inflammation. NF-KB is a nuclear transcription factor that influences numerous gene-encoding proteins important in apoptosis (programmed cell death), inflammation and cellular growth. A normal expression of NF-KB minimizes the hazards of excessive oxidative stress. An over-expression of NF-KB triggers increased inflammation.
In a human study, AC-11® demonstrated a positive effect on lymphocytes, increasing their life span and, by implication, enhancing the body’s immune system.
AC-11® differs from all other Uncaria tomentosa products, some of which are sold under the common name “cat’s claw,” in that its molecular composition is distinct by virtue of the Optigenex patented process. AC-11® is standardized, pure, water-soluble and micro-filtered to contain only low weight molecules ( 10,000 Daltons ). AC-11® is relatively alkaloid free (0.05%) and is the only product available anywhere containing a patented class of CAE actives shown by extensive research to have healthy aging and natural DNA repair enhancement properties. No other Uncaria tomentosa product can make these claims. AC-11® moreover has been studied for efficacy and safety for over ten years.
Always Looking for evidence? As scientists, so are we — and we’ve got mounds of it. When your products work, the scientific community takes notice and comes to their own conclusions. Our products are tested in peer-reviewed published studies from laboratories across the nation.
INDEPENDENTLY RESEARCHED AT
Harvard University
Ohio State University
Louisiana State University
University of Colorado Denver
Studies Published in
Free Radical Biology & Medicine
The American Journal of Physiology
Circulation & Medicine
Enzyme Research
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AC-11®?
AC-11® is a patented, all natural, water soluble extract of a tropical plant known as Uncaria tomentosa. The method by which AC-11® is formulated is wholly proprietary to Optigenex. From the raw material of the plant’s inner bark, our product is created through an aqueous hot water extraction process. It is then micro-filtered to remove all alkaloids (leaving less than 0.05%) and other high molecular weight compounds from the primary extract, and also to concentrate and standardize the Carboxy Alkyl Esters (CAEs) – the biologically active principal components in AC-11®. Pure, bioactive AC-11® is the only known plant extract in the world shown by research studies to enhance our natural DNA repair processes. AC-11® is sold for ingestible use and topical application. In topical applications, it is known under the brand name AC-11® and also under the "INCI" (International Nomenclature of Cosmetics Ingredients) names Maltodextrin and C1-8 Alkyl Tetrahydroxycyclohexanoate.
What is DNA?
DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid. It is a double-stranded helix that carries our individual genetic codes.
How important is DNA to our health?
DNA is the most important molecule in the body, and damage to this amazing molecule is the ultimate basis for aging and disease. It is the accumulation of damage to our DNA that accelerates the aging and disease process.
What is Natural DNA Repair?
Natural DNA repair involves a series of enzymatic processes that remove lesions (damage) in our DNA caused by oxidative and non-oxidative stress, thus preserving genetic integrity and normal cell function. These processes begin at conception and end with death and occur several thousand times a day in the body. The more efficient our natural DNA repair processes are, the longer and healthier our lives can be.
What are Carboxy Alkyl Esters (CAEs)?
Carboxy Alkyl Esters (CAEs) are complex molecular chains that have been identified as the primary active components in AC-11®. They are responsible for approximately 90% of the biological activity in AC-11® relating to DNA repair and immune enhancement.
How does DNA repair affect our immune system??
Our immune cells, some of which live long lives, circulate through the body defending it in numerous ways. If the DNA in our immune cells is damaged by oxidative or non-oxidative stress, the cells cannot divide or else may divide in a manner impairing their function. Immune response as a result may be suppressed and disease may be more likely to take hold. This phenomenon is at the core of many age-related diseases.
Doesn’t our genetic inheritance pre-determine our life spans and the gene-related diseases we may encounter in life?
Not necessarily. Our genetic inheritance does not guarantee that we will age exactly the same way as our family members, nor does it ensure that we must succumb to the same gene-related diseases. We can avoid certain environmental and dietary pitfalls that are known to accelerate aging and that may promote or trigger the onset of certain genetically or environmentally-based diseases. For example, we can avoid too much sun, cigarettes, excessive alcohol consumption, and unnecessary exposure to environmental pollutants, as well as try to regulate daily stress in our lives. We can also choose an antioxidant rich diet, supplementing at the same time our nutritional intakes in smart ways to minimize cellular damage and improve the repair mechanisms built in to our cells. While antioxidants and foods rich in antioxidants can reduce the cellular and DNA damage that occurs daily, they cannot repair damage that occurs. AC-11® is the first known natural product shown to improve DNA repair.
What patents have been issued related to AC-11®?
Currently there are six (6) individual patents issued by the United States Patent Office for AC-11®: U.S. Patent Nos. 6,039,949, 6,238,675 B1, 6,964,784 B2, 6,361,805 B2, 7,579,023 B2 and 7,595,064 B2. Our portfolio of patents covers manufacturing, composition and claims, including specifically the patented AC-11® claim for DNA repair. Additional domestic and foreign patent applications are pending. Interested parties may contact Optigenex in writing to request further information.
Are there any artificial ingredients in AC-11®?
No. We advertise AC-11® as all natural precisely because we start with a botanical harvested in a pristine rainforest environment, and the process by which we extract and purify our product uses only pure water drawn from spring sources deep beneath the earth’s surface. No additives or artificial ingredients of any kind are involved in making AC-11®.
How does AC-11® work?
Among other effects, AC-11® promotes certain DNA repair functions in the cell. Although the exact mechanisms of action are not all completely understood, our scientists believe when the body is subjected to stress that may affect the integrity of the DNA (overexposure to the sun for example), AC-11® helps activate enzymes that are instrumental in the repair processes. In a series of peer reviewed scientific and clinical studies conducted by third party laboratories and university medical centers, we have shown that AC-11® helps the body’s natural ability to repair DNA. Links to a number of articles analyzing the science behind AC-11® may be found at AC-11® Science.
Does AC-11® help the body in any other ways?
Yes. AC-11® helps stimulate natural production of collagen III, a form of collagen associated with soft, supple, youthful-looking skin. As we age, our cells gradually produce less collagen III than they did when we were young. However, laboratory research shows significant, measurable increases in collagen III production in adult skin cells treated with AC-11®. AC-11® also helps to normalize the expression of NF-KB in the cells, thereby regulating cellular response to inflammation. NF-KB is a nuclear transcription factor that influences numerous gene-encoding proteins important in apoptosis (programmed cell death), inflammation and cellular growth. A normal expression of NF-KB minimizes the hazards of excessive oxidative stress. An over-expression of NF-KB triggers increased inflammation. Finally, in a human study, AC-11® demonstrated a positive effect on lymphocytes, increasing their life span and, by implication, enhancing the body’s immune system. Links to articles on some of these subjects may be found at AC-11® Science .
What makes AC-11® different from other Uncaria tomentosa products?
AC-11® differs from all other Uncaria tomentosa products, some of which are sold under the common name “cat’s claw,” in that its molecular composition is unique by virtue of the Optigenex patented process. AC-11® is standardized, pure, completely water-soluble and micro-filtered to contain only low weight molecules (10,000 Daltons). AC-11® is relatively alkaloid free (0.05%) and is the only product available anywhere containing a patented class of CAE actives shown by extensive research to have healthy aging and natural DNA repair enhancement properties. No other Uncaria tomentosa product can make these claims. AC-11® moreover has been studied for efficacy and safety for over ten years.
How is the manufacture of AC-11® quality controlled?
AC-11® as sold strictly conforms to the unique specifications set by our manufacturing methods and standardization claims. We perform all of the standard industry-accepted tests to ensure that our product meets requirements for sale in the United States and other centers of commerce throughout the world. To make AC-11® we engage the services of Centroflora Group in Botucatu, Brazil, a U.S. Department of Agriculture approved and ISO 9002 certified facility operated in accordance with FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) regulations and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards, and one of the finest facilities in the world for the production of phytotherapic extracts. Using proprietary equipment conceived and developed by our company, AC-11® is manufactured by Centroflora under state-of-the-art conditions and we warrant our product’s conformance to its specifications as well as to applicable governmental regulations. Interested parties may contact Optigenex in writing to request further information.
HTTP://WWW.CENTROFLORA.COM.BR/
Is there any toxicity shown with AC-11®?
No. The LD-50 of AC-11® is greater than 8,000mg/kilogram. The recommended daily dosage of AC-11® in “stand alone” form is between 350 and 700mg (250 mg. minimum in products combining AC-11® with other active ingredients) for a person weighing 150-200 lbs. (70-90 kilograms). AC-11®’s purity is due to the clean, contaminant and chemical toxin-free rainforest environment in which the plant is harvested and processed, as well as the patented Optigenix molecular sieving (filtration) process. By contrast, mild toxicity with long term use often is observable in other “Uncaria” products, especially the water-insoluble, alkaloid based extracts. For more detailed information, interested parties may contact Optigenex in writing to request the company’s AC-11® “Efficacy and Safety” profile (study report).
Is AC-11® Bio-Sustainable?
Yes. AC-11® is derived naturally from Uncaria tomentosa, a vine that grows wild in the Amazon rainforest. We harvest the vine in an ethical manner under the authority of the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) . http://www.ibama.gov.br This ensures future maintenance of a natural balance in the rainforest. Authorization is granted through an ongoing sustainable management project directed by the government and based upon existing local herb availability, whereby the amount of inner bark approved for harvesting is set. The harvest is taken (cut) at a point on the plant approximately three feet above the ground; the plant is then capped to ensure integrity of the root structure and rapid regeneration of the vine. Additionally, new saplings of the Uncaria tomentosa vine are planted in a precise manner to ensure the continued viability in the harvesting area. Optigenex moreover works in cooperation with the Floravida Institutes (Brazil) http://www.floravida.org.br/instituto guidelines for biodiversity conservation, environmental education and local community social inclusion.
Peer Reviewed Oral Studies, Data and Articles
Introduction of Apoptosis and Inhibition of Proliferation in Human Tumor Cells Treated with Extracts of Uncaria tomentosa. (Sheng, Pero, Amiri, and Bryngelsson: Anticancer Research 1998) View Study
Enhanced DNA repair, immune function and reduced toxicity of AC-11® (CMED-100®), a novel aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa. (Sheng, Bryngelsson and Pero: Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1999) View Study
Treatment of chemotherapy-induced leukopenia in a rat model with aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa. (Shen, Pero, Wagner: Phytomedicine 2000) View Study
DNA repair enhancement of aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa in a human volunteer study. (Sheng, Homgren, Pero 2001) View Study
Persistent response to pneumococcal vaccine in individuals supplemented with a novel water soluble extract of Uncara tomentosa, C-Med-100®. (Lamm, Sheng and Pero: Phyomedicine 2001) View Study
Serum Thiols as a Surrogate Estimate of DNA Repair Correlates to Mammalian Life Span. (Pero, Hoppe, Sheng: Journal of Anti-aging Medicine, 2000) View Study
An active ingredient of Cat’s Claw water extracts Identification and efficacy of quinic acid. (Sheng, Akesson, Holmgren, Bryngelsson, Giampapa, Pero: Ethnopharmacology 2005) View Study
Brunswick Labs, Certificate of Analysis, ORAC Value AC-11 View Study
Comparison of a Broad Spectrum Anti-Aging Nutritional Supplement with and without the Addition of a DNA Repair Enhancing Cat’s Claw Extract. (Pero, Giampapa and Vojdani: Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine 2002) View Study
The Serum Thiol Test: Evidence Supporting the Contention That Serum Thiol Concentrations Are Predictive of DNA Repair Capacity. (In House Study 2005) View Study
AC-11® and NF-KB-inhibition…an additional pathway for why AC-11® improves our natural DNA repair processes. (In house data 2005 and summary 2012) View Study
Identification and Quantification of Components in Extracts of Uncaria tomentosa by HPLC-ES/MS. (Montoro, Carbone, Quiroz, De Simone and Pizza: Phytochem anal. 2004) View Study
Surrogate Indication of DNA Repair in Serum After Long Term Chiropractic Intervention-Retrospective Study. (Campbell, Kent, Bane, Amiri, Pero: Journal Vertebral Subluxation Res. 2005) View Study
C-Med 100®, a hot water extract of Uncaria tomentosa, prolongs lymphocyte survival in vivo. (Akesson, Pero, Ivars: Phytomedicine 2003) View Study
An extract of Uncaria tomentosa inhibiting cell division and NF-kB activity without inducing cell death. (Akesson, Lindgren, Pero, Leanderson, Ivars: International Immunopharmacology 2003) View Study
Quinic acid is a biologically active component of Uncaria tomentosa extract C-Med 100®. (Akesson, Lindgren, Pero, Leanderson, Ivars: International Immunopharmacology 2004) View Study
Formulation and in vitro/in vivo evaluation of combining DNA repair and immune enhancing nutritional supplements. (Pero, Amiri, Sheng, Welther and Rich: Phytomedicine 2005) View Study
Antioxidant Metabolism Induced by Quinic Acid. Increased urinary Excretion of Tryptophan and Nicotinamide, (Pero, Lund, Leanderson: Phytotherapy Research 2008) View Study
