A news item on the 21st of Nov 2011 informed one and all that a group of NZ scientists discovered that an extract could be extracted from Pine bark that could help the brain in many cases. The extract being Enzegenol.
Now isn't that wonderful, how clever of them. Now some 30 years ago a group of scientists discovered that you could extract from Pinus Maritima, Pycnogenol, which is the same thing as Enzegenol.
Some 15 years ago guess what, a wonderful product was released on the NZ market and it was discovered in NZ and guess what. It was an extract from pine bark. Guess what they called it? Yep, Enzegenol.
You have been able to buy Enzegenol for well over 12 years right here in NZ.
PULEZEEZE NZ scientists if you want to know something, bloody Google it. If you don't find what you want to know on Google then start your research. You could save yourself or the taxpayers millions this way.
An Auckland scientist a few months ago extracted millions from the government to research a gene which is another case of if you want to know something Google it. The information he found after spending millions on research was already available on Google. So what's the lesson here. Don't leave money in NZ for research, leave to some kid that can google.
Alastair, Bethlehem.
2 comments
Enzogenol: Latest Research on TBI
Posted on 03-12-2011 08:16 | By Enzogenol
Dear Alastair, Please let me fill in some of the details that have been omitted in the press coverage on the Enzogenol study on traumatic brain injury that received some well deserved coverage from Nov 21. For full disclosure, my name is Dr Matt Frevel. I am the Chief Scientist at ENZO Nutraceuticals Ltd, the producer of the ENZOGENOL pine bark extract. The clinical study you are referring to was not funded by the New Zealand tax payer. It was funded entirely by ENZO Nutraceuticals. Now you will be asking how reliable these research results could possibly be? The answer is, very reliable! Although we funded the study and had some input into its design, we had absolutely no involvement in the actual execution of the research and were only informed of the results after the trial was completed. Carrying out basic and applied clinical research on ENZOGENOL in collaboration with Universities in NZ and overseas has been an important part of our product development. ENZO Nutraceuticals is totally committed to providing well researched and effective health supplements with ENZOGENOL to the public. In order to do this we need to ensure that the health benefits of ENZOGENOL are investigated to the highest scientific standards. We do not want to see our product used for any purpose that it is not effective in! About the press coverage of this new study, which was the result of a press release by AUT, some details were not quite correct as it often happens when science is translated into popular language. Unfortunately, nobody from the press has actually contacted us for comment. The extract was not discovered or made by the researchers in Auckland, Prof. Feigin's group at NISAN, as some articles claimed. It was our ENZOGENOL that was used in this study. Preliminary results of the study were presented to other scientists in November at the Inaugural Stroke and Applied Neuroscience Conference in Auckland. These results are preliminary because the scientists have to do some more analyses on the great amount of data collected during the trial. However, it is already clear that there were significant improvements in the TBI patients that took Enzogenol for six weeks compared to those that took identically looking placebo capsules. These findings are, of course, very exiting for us, and we hope that this knowledge can actually help some people suffering from cognitive deficits post-TBI. You also mentioned another pine bark extract from Pinus Maritima called Pycnogenol. I would like to point out that ENZOGENOL is not the same thing. ENZOGENOL is extracted from local Pinus Radiata bark, and most importantly, it is made by water-only extraction without the use of organic solvents and other chemicals. Because of these differences, ENZOGENOL has its own unique composition, which is why we are researching its properties and health benefits in so much detail. I hope that this response to your letter clarifies some of the issues you mentioned. Best of Health, Matt Frevel
research a waste
Posted on 03-12-2011 15:56 | By algail
Dear Dr Frevel Let me first say that I did not write that the taxpayer paid for the research on Enzegenol I referred to the research on the gene as being paid for by the tax payer. May I suggest you read my posting again and so extrapolate exactly what I did write. Further I didn't infer that the research was not reliable I said it was unnecessary because of the fact that we already have the information from way back when the first research paper I read on Pinus Maritime some 30 to 40 years ago. The findings of the research were basically the same as yours I would suggest. Again further nor did I infer that you were involved in the research. I feel you have read on one side of the coin read too much out of my posting and on the other side of the coin too little. If you read my posting again you will note quite clearly that I did not name any company or person involved in the research if you read it again you will clearly see that. Further I don't question the commitment of the company etc etc. My comments was based around the repeated research that goes on year after year in NZ and overseas. I can't recall how many times a research paper has been released giving breast cancer sufferers new hope and each time it has been Tamoxifin. That is the sort of thing that gets up my nose the waste of money esp taxpayers money when it is funded by the taxpayer. Nor did I infer that Enzegenol or any other similar product is not a good product in fact I have recommended it to patients for the last 30 to 40 years. Granted that I was bit flamboyant in my comment ' Which is the same thing ' It is however pretty close to it and I am sure had the PM research not been done and the extract released for sale in New Zealand the research in Enzegenol would not have come about. My statement that Enzegenol first appeared some 15 years ago however still stands it is not a new discovery. I have recommended it and he PM extract for the very same claims that are currently been made for the last 30 to 40 years. I better make it clear here that I have not been recommending Enzegenol when available for so many years as it only appeared some 15 years ago Regards and jolly good health to you too sir , and a happy xmas. Alastair Bethlehem .
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