The bark and branch wood of the critically-endangered Narra trees have antioxidant properties that can help improve the lives of millions of Filipinos, a study conducted by the De La Salle University (DLSU) Dasmariñas College of Pharmacy indicated.
The research paper, disclosed during a recent media presentation at a hotel in Quezon City, was aimed at determining the different production processes that would be most efficient to the Narra sample without sacrificing the efficacy of the product in improving consumer health and wellness.
Using the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC), a method developed by scientists at the National Institute of Health and Aging to measure the antioxidant capacity of different foods, the research team decided to measure and compare the ORAC scores of each process combination.
The ORAC score is also the unit of measure of antioxidants which is the body’s natural defense versus harmful compounds that are linked to multiple illnesses, including weakened immunity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
The study revealed that the ORAC scores of all methods tested displayed similarly high levels of antioxidant potency.
“There is a list by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Narra extract, based on the ORAC score, ranks among the 10 percent foods that have antioxidant properties. That means to say that the Narra extract is number one in the Philippines when it comes to antioxidant properties if we look at the ORAC score,” said Sigfredo Mata Professor Contributing Editor of the Narra research.
Timothy Bengala, professor and primary investigator of the Narra research, also cited the health benefits of pterostilbene according to the study by Xu et al in 2021.
Based on the study, pterostilbene, a potent antioxidant, is proven to be effective as immune-enhancing, anti-asthma, anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-ulcer, and anti-allergy.
As early as 2002, Narra has been found to have medicinal value and was used as the main ingredient of a dietary supplement to improve thequality of life of those with diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, bladder stones and infectious diseases.
DSLU head of marketing and founding Dean Alicia Catabay said;“One company selling Narra supplements is Ecarma. For these companies like Ecarma, this study on Narra can really help [their credibility.
There are many other supplements on the market that have no studies showing their effectiveness. Ecarma will have similar characteristics in the study.”
Narra food supplements are available at select drug stores and on e-commerce websites.