White Magic is an all natural weight loss supplement that includes Bauhinia Purpurea Extract, Bacopa Leaf Extract, Phosphatidylserine, Yohimbe bark extract (Pausinystalia johimbe), 7,8 Benzoflavone, and 100mg of Caffeine per capsule. Bauhinia Purpurea Extract: may increase both T3 and T4 thyroid hormones which will result in an increased metabolism and more calories burned. Many people have an impaired conversion of T4 thyroid hormone to the more active T3 hormone due to many factors including stress and dieting which may reduce the metabolic rate by as much as 40% below what is considered normal for that age group and an individual who is hypothyroid and have their thyroid levels increased to optimal levels have been known to increase metabolic rate by 25-50% in some cases [Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR.: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 11th ed., Saunders Elsevier, Philadelpha, PA, 2008]. The extract from the Bauhinia Purpurea plant has been shown in healthy adult animal models to increase T4 by approximately 37% compared to controls, while increasing T3 by 83% [Panda S, Kar A. Withania somnifera and Bauhinia purpurea in the regulation of circulating thyroid hormone concentrations in female mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Nov 1;67(2):233-239]. The study concluded that the plant extract likely assisted in the conversion of T4 to more active T3 hormone. Yet another study found that Bauhinia Purpurea was able to completely restore the decrease in thyroid hormone levels seen when giving healthy adult animal models the drugs, dexamethasone (a potent glucocorticoid) and metformin (an anti-diabetic drug) [Jatwa R, Kar A. Amelioration of metformin-induced hypothyroidism by Withania somnifera and Bauhinia purpurea extracts in Type 2 diabetic mice. Phytother Res. 2009 Aug;23(8):1140-1145]. Moreover, it has been shown when an individual's thyroid hormones are optimized then the lipolytic effects of adrenergic stimulation by caffeine and other stimulants are increased in fat cells [Hellstrom L, Wahrenberg H, Reynisdottir S, et al. Catecholamine-induced adipocyte lipolysis in human hyperthyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Jan;82(1):159-166]. Bacopa Leaf Extract: has been used in ayurvedic medicine to promote healthy mental functions, including intellectual capacity and memory. Studies indicate significant improvements in learning rate, state of anxiety, depression, mental fatigue, memory span, nervousness, insomnia, palpitation, systolic blood pressure; memory consolidation and visual information processing speed; increased retention of newly-acquired information; improvements in visual motor function speed and accuracy, immediate memory recall, perceptual organization and visual motor perception. This plant has also been shown in an animal model to naturally increase thyroid hormone production. In this case, the plant extract was shown to increase T4 levels by approximately 41% compared to controls [Kar A, Panda S, Bharti S. Relative efficacy of three medicinal plant extracts in the alteration of thyroid hormone concentrations in male mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Jul;81(2):281-285]. In this case, however, since there was no increase in T3 seen, the authors concluded that the Bacopa Leaf plant extract directly stimulates the release of T4 from the thyroid gland, as opposed to Bauhinia Purpurea, which increased the conversion of T4 to T3. By combining the two plant extracts, the goal is to create a situation where your body will release more T4, while at the same time more of this newly released T4 will be converted to the more metabolically active T3. Phosphatidylserine: is a phospholipid component and important chemical with widespread functions in the body. It is part of the cell structure and is key in the maintenance of cellular function, especially in the brain. The body can produce phosphatidylserine by base-exchange reactions with phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, but gets most of what it needs from food. PS has been used for Alzheimer's disease, age-related decline in mental function, improving thinking skills in young people, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, preventing exercise-induced stress, and improving athletic performance. In athletes, PS has been shown to improve cognitive functioning [Parker AG, Gordon J, Thornton A, Byars A, Lubker J, Bartlett M, Byrd M, Oliver J, Simbo S, Rasmussen C, Greenwood M, Kreider RB (October 2011). "The effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exercise" International Society of Sports Nutrition 8 (1)], overall performance [Kingsley M, Wadsworth D, Kilduff LP, McEneny J, Benton D (August 2005). "Effects of phosphatidylserine on oxidative stress following intermittent running". Med Sci Sports Exerc 37 (8): 1300–1306. PMID 16118575],[Kingsley MI, Miller M, Kilduff LP, McEneny J, Benton D (January 2006). "Effects of phosphatidylserine on exercise capacity during cycling in active males". Med Sci Sports Exerc 38 (1): 64–71. PMID 16394955],[Jäger R, Purpura M, Geiss K-R, Weiß M, Baumeister J, Amatulli F, Schröder L, Herwegen H (December 2007). "The effect of phosphatidylserine on golf performance". International Society of Sports Nutrition 4 (1)] endocrine response to stress [Starks MA, Starks SL, Kingsley M, Purpura M, Jäger R (July 2008). "The effects of phosphatidylserine on endocrine response to moderate intensity exercise". J Int Soc Sports Nutr 5. PMC 2503954],[Monteleone P, Maj M, Beinat L, Natale M, Kemali D (1992). "Blunting by chronic phosphatidylserine administration of the stress-induced activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in healthy men". Eur J Clin Pharmacol 42 (4): 385–388. PMID 1325348] decreased muscle damage [Fernholz KM, Seifert JG, Bacharach DW, Burke ER, Gazal O (2000). "The Effects of Phosphatidyl Serine on Markers of Muscular Stress in Endurance Runners [abstract]". Med Sci Sports Exerc 32 (4): S321], and decreased soreness and improved well-being following exercise [Fahey TD, Pearl MS (1998). "The Hormonal and Perceptive Effects of Phosphatidylserine Administration During Two Weeks of Weight Training-Induced Over-Training". Biol Sport 15 (2)] in athletes involved in cycling, weight training, golf and endurance running. PS has been reported to be an effective supplement for combating exercise-induced stress by blunting the exercise-induced increase in cortisol levels in a dose dependent manner [Starks MA, Starks SL, Kingsley M, Purpura M, Jäger R (July 2008). PS supplementation promotes a desirable hormonal balance for athletes and might attenuate the physiological deterioration that accompanies overtraining and/or over-stretching [Starks MA, Starks SL, Kingsley M, Purpura M, Jäger R (July 2008). PMC 2503954]. In recent studies, PS has been shown to enhance mood in a cohort of young people during mental stress [Benton D, Donohoe RT, Sillance B, Nabb S (2001). "The Influence of phosphatidylserine supplementation on mood and heart rate when faced with an acute stressor". Nutr Neurosci 4 (3): 169–178. PMID 11842886] and to improve accuracy during tee-off by increasing the stress resistance of golfers [Jäger R, Purpura M, Geiss K-R, Weiß M, Baumeister J, Amatulli F, Schröder L, Herwegen H (December 2007). International Society of Sports Nutrition 4 (1)]. Yohimbe Bark Extract (Pausinystalia Johimbe): the extract Yohimbine acts as an alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist. Since these receptors are present on adipose tissue and inhibit lipolysis, yohimbine has been proposed as a pharmaceutical approach to fat loss [Goldberg MR Robertson D. Yohimbine: a pharmacological probe for study of the a 2-adrenoceptor. Pharmacol Rev 1983;35:143-180]. Yohimbine blocks the pre- and post-synaptic alpha-2 receptors. Blockade of pre-synaptic alpha-2 receptors facilitates the release of several neurotransmitters in the central and peripheral nervous system — thus in the corpus cavernosum — such as nitric oxide and norepinephrine. Thus not only will yohimbine increase vasodilation in adipose tissue to assist in lipolysis but also contribute to the erectile process and improve libido [Saenz De Tejada, I; Kim, NN; Goldstein, I; Traish, AM (2000). "Regulation of pre-synaptic alpha adrenergic activity in the corpus cavernosum". International Journal of Impotence Research. 12 Suppl 1: S20–25. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3900500. PMID 10845761]. According to one study, oral yohimbine supplementation may actuate significant fat loss in athletes [Ostojic SM (2006). "Yohimbine: the effects on body composition and exercise performance in soccer players". Research in Sports Medicine 14 (4): 289–99. doi:10.1080/15438620600987106. PMID 17214405]. There is also evidence to support that yohimbine exhibits dopamine antagonistic properties and serotonin-like properties so that increased energy and feeling of wellness will result. This means that the yohimbine bonds with dopamine receptors and blocks dopamine from reaching the receptors; thereby denying the dopamine response. The brain responds to this reduction in the dopamine response by growing new dopamine receptors and producing more dopamine. ["Yohimbine (PIM 567)". Inchem.org. Retrieved 2013-05-26].
7, 8 Benzoflavone: is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. Benzoflavone has been clinically proven to improve healthy male homone profiles and sexual function [Campbell, Deborah R.; Kurzer, Mindy S. "Flavonoid inhibition of aromatase enzyme activity in human preadipocytes". Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 46 (3): 381–388. doi:10.1016/0960-0760(93)90228-O. PMID 9831487],[Kellis JT Jr, Vickery LE (1984). "Inhibition of human estrogen synthetase (aromatase) by flavones". Science 225 (4666): 1032–1034. doi:10.1126/science.6474163. PMID 6474163]. Increased presence of estrogens in the male and female body has increased since 1950 and particularly since 1980. High estrogen may be environmentally induced through chemicals and hormones found in food, also called xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens ["Xenoestrogens and How to Minimize Your Exposure". organicexcellence.org. Retrieved 04/11/2012]. Thus the use of the 7,8 Benzoflavone may result in keeping excess estrogens in check and allow for decreased water retention and the increased ability to burn abdominal fat. This neuro-active flavone has the ability to pass the blood brain barrier and block the suppression of GnRH release through modulation of the GABAergic receptor complex. The resulting effect along with the anti-aromatase action will enhance emotional well being and a positive mood state [Inger, Björn; et al. (2003). "Increase of Estrogen Dose Deteriorates Mood during Progestin Phase in Sequential Hormonal Therapy". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 88 (5). Retrieved 4 November 2012]. It probably comes as no surprise then that 7,8 Benzoflavone also has the unique ability to reduce production of potentially dangerous and cancer causing estrogenic metabolites, such as 4-hydroxylated quinines [The Honest Herbal: A Sensible Guide to the Use of Herbs and Related Remedies. Tyler VE et al. Pharmaceutical Products Press, New York, 1993]. Other research has shown 7,8 benzoflavone to have positive effects on libido due to its aphrodisiac and anxiolytic (anxiety-relieving) effects [Die Bedeutung der Passionsblume in der Heilkunde. Lutomski J et al. Pharmazie in unserer Zeit 1981;10:45-49],[Preoperative Oral Passiflora Incarnata Reduces Anxiety in Ambulatory Surgery Patients: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Ali Movah, et al. Anesth. Analg., Jun 2008; 106: 1728 - 1732]. Caffeine: is often noted for its ability to increase resting energy expenditure, while also increasing lipolysis and lipid oxidation [Bracco D, Ferrarra JM, Arnaud MJ, et al. Effects of caffeine on energy metabolism, heart rate, and methylxanthine metabolism in lean and obese women. Am J Physiol. 1995 Oct;269(4 Pt 1):E671-E678],[Dullo AG, Geissler CA, Horton T, et al. Normal caffeine consumption: influence on thermogenesis and daily energy expenditure in lean and postobese human volunteers. Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50],[Acheson KJ, Gremaud G, Meirim I, et al. Metabolic effects of caffeine in humans: lipid oxidation or futile cycling? Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jan;79(1):40-46] In addition, it is noted for its ability to increase feelings of energy, alertness, concentration and euphoric effects [Kaplan GB, Greenblatt DJ, Ehrenberg BL, et al. Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and psychomotor effects of caffeine in humans. J Clin Pharmacol. 1997 Aug;37(8):693-703],[Smith A. Effects of caffeine on human behavior. Food Chem Toxicol. 2002 Sep;40(9):1243-1255]. Aside from the benefits that caffeine alone imparts, it can also provide synergistic effects to improve the effectiveness for weight loss when combined with other fat loss ingredients such as what is found in White Magic.
