What is G.I.M and why should I worry about parasites in my Gut

“One of those most difficult things for people wanting to fix their digestion is getting rid of stubborn parasites, viruses, bacterial, and fungal infections! Often popularized as SIBO, people suffer simply from an overgrowth of harmful microorganisms. This huge barrier to gut health is often overcome with G.I.M, it’s unique ability to destroy these critters along with their biofilms stops them in their tracks. This is one of those ‘aha moments’ for many clients with complex digestive issues ” 

G.I.M™ is a targeted blend of nutrients and botanicals with a long history of use for supporting a healthy microbial balance within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.* This proprietary blend of botanicals includes Tribulus extract, berberine, bearberry extract, black walnut powder, barberry extract, artemisinin, along with magnesium and caprylic acid from magnesium caprylate. Research shows that the bioactive constituents in these botanicals possess properties that may help promote a healthy balance of normal gut flora.*

Formula Highlights Each 1‑capsule serving contains:

• 200 mg of Tribulus extract standardized to contain 40% saponins to support GI microbial balance*

• 100 mg of berberine sulfate and 50 mg of barberry extract standardized to contain 6% berberine to support gut health*

• 150 mg of magnesium caprylate, yielding 120 mg caprylic acid to support the disruption of bacteria cell formations and biofilm synthesis*

• 100 mg of bearberry extract standardized to contain 20% arbutin, 100 mg of black walnut powder, and 15 mg of artemisinin to help support the body’s immune responses*

Ingredient Highlights Tribulus Extract (Tribulus terrestris) is an annual shrub native to warm, subtropical, and desert climates such as Southern Europe, Southern Asia, and the Middle East. It has been used medicinally in traditional Chinese and Indian medicines for centuries.1 It contains many bioactive compounds including saponins and alkaloids that may have health‑promoting properties, such as the support of GI microbial balance.* Tribulus has been shown to exhibit antibacterial activity against several types of pathogenic bacteria and yeast, including Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus vulgaris, Cornybacteria diphtheriae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.1‑6

Berberine Sulfate (Berberis aristata) and Barberry Extract (Berberis spp.) Benefits*:

• Supports a healthy GI microbial balance

• Supports immune health in the GI tract

• Supports gut health

Berberine is a bitter‑tasting, yellow plant alkaloid found in the roots, rhizomes, and stem bark of various plants, including Oregon grape, barberry, and goldenseal. Berberine has been shown to have antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti‑parasitic properties, including properties against potential pathogens in the GI microbiome.7‑13 It has been shown to inhibit the growth of Giardia lamblia, Vibrio cholera, and Entamoeba histolytica.8,9 Studies have also demonstrated its potential to inhibit yeast and several species of bacteria, including C. albicans, S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa.10

A systematic review and meta‑analysis reviewed 13 randomized controlled trials that added berberine in doses ranging from 120 mg to 500 mg to standard triple therapy treatment for 1 to 2 weeks for Helicobacter pylori eradication. The researchers found that the addition of berberine significantly improved H. pylori eradication rates. It also increased the healing rate of peptic ulcers, supported the relief of clinical symptoms, and reduced the incidence of adverse events compared to standard therapy.7

Studies have also demonstrated the potential for berberine to be effective against Clostridium difficile, including as an adjunct therapy alongside vancomycin, helping to prevent a relapsed infection of C. difficile.14,15 Berberine may support GI health by strengthening intestinal tight junctions and reducing gut permeability, an effect observed in human intestinal epithelial cells in vitro.16

Artemisinin (Artemisia annua; Sweet Wormwood) is derived from the inner bark of the Artemisia annua tree. Its common name was dubbed “wormwood,” owing to its noted ability to kill parasitic worms. This compound has long been used as an antimalarial.17 It contains many bioactive compounds that may promote health and support a healthy microbial balance, including flavonoids, eriodicytol, luteolin, and quercetin.18 Studies have demonstrated its efficacy against parasites that induce GI symptoms and various pathogenic bacteria and fungi, including S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, E. faecalis, Enterobacter cloacae, E. coli, S. typhimurium, and C. albicans.18,19 It has also been shown to be effective against a range of viruses, including human cytomegalovirus, Epstein‑Barr virus, herpes simplex type 1, and hepatitis B and C.20‑22 Artemisinin also supports antioxidant status and immune function.18*

Black Walnut Extract (Juglans nigra) has a long history of use as an intestinal antiparasitic (vermifuge, anthelmintic) in botanical medicine. It also possesses activity against common bacterial and fungal pathogens that occur in GI dysbiosis. There have been at least six distinct bioactive compounds with antibacterial effects identified in black walnuts, some of which are also antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic/antiprotozoal.23,24 These include glansreginin A, azelaic acid, quercetin, and eriodictylol‑7‑O‑glucoside.23 Black walnut extract has been shown to be effective against S. aureus.23 Black walnut extract also has potent anti‑inflammatory effects and was shown to inhibit secretion of several inflammatory cytokines in cultured human promonocytes.25

Bearberry Extract (Arctostaphylos uva‑ursi) grows in subarctic northern climates in Asia, North America, and Europe, and its medicinal use dates back to the 13th century. Uva‑ursi contains a compound called arbutoside, which is converted in the gut and liver to hydroquinone. Hydroquinone has antiseptic effects in the GI and urinary tracts.26,27 Uva‑ursi has been shown to have antibacterial action against pathogenic organisms including P. aeruginosa.27,28

Caprylic Acid is a medium‑chain fatty acid containing eight carbon atoms found naturally in coconut and palm kernel oils and breast milk. Due to its relatively short chain length, caprylic acid is able to penetrate and disrupt bacterial cell membranes and reduce biofilm formation.29,30 It has been shown to be effective against inhibiting the growth of C. difficile.31 It has also been found effective against inhibiting C. albicans and its biofilm formation.3

References

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13. Wang YX, Yang L, Wang HQ, et al. Synthesis and evolution of berberine derivatives as a new class of antiviral agents against Enterovirus 71 through the MEK/ERK pathway and autophagy. Molecules. 2018;23(8):2084. doi:10.3390/molecules23082084.

    
    

14. Lv Z, Peng G, Liu W, Xu H, Su J. Berberine blocks the relapse of Clostridium difficile infection in C57BL/6 mice after standard vancomycin treatment. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015;59(7):3726-3735. doi:10.1128/AAC.04794-14.

    
    

15. Wultańska D, Piotrowski M, Pituch H. The effect of berberine chloride and/or its combination with vancomycin on the growth, biofilm formation, and motility of Clostridioides difficile. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020;39(7):1391-1399. doi:10.1007/s10096-020-03857-0.

    
    

16. Gu L, Li N, Li Q, et al. The effect of berberine in vitro on tight junctions in human Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. Fitoterapia. 2009;80(4):241–248. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2009.02.005.

    
    

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18. Abiri R, Silva ALM, de Mesquita LSS, et al. Towards a better understanding of Artemisia vulgaris: botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological and biotechnological potential. Food Res Int. 2018;109:403–415. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2018.03.072.

    
    

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20. Naß J, Efferth T. The activity of Artemisia spp. and their constituents against Trypanosomiasis. Phytomedicine. 2018;47:184–191. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2018.06.002.

    
    

21. Efferth T, Romero MR, Wolf DG, Stamminger T, Marin JJ, Marschall M. The antiviral activities of artemisinin and artesunate. Clin Infect Dis. 2008;47(6):804–811. doi:10.1086/591195.

    
    

22. Liu X, Cao J, Huang G, Zhao Q, Shen J. Biological Activities of Artemisinin Derivatives Beyond Malaria. Curr Top Med Chem. 2019;19(3):205–222. doi:10.2174/1568026619666190122144217.

    
    

23. Ho KV, Lei Z, Sumner LW, et al. Identifying antibacterial compounds in black walnuts (Juglans nigra) using a metabolomics approach. Metabolites. 2018;8(4):58. doi:10.3390/metabo8040058.

    
    

24. Ellendorff T, Brun R, Kaiser M, Sendker J, Schmidt TJ. PLS-prediction and confirmation of hydrojuglone glucoside as the antitrypanosomal constituent of Juglans spp. Molecules. 2015;20(6):10082–10094. doi:10.3390/molecules200610082.

    
    

25. Ho KV, Schreiber KL, Vu DC, et al. Black walnut (Juglans nigra) extracts inhibit proinflammatory cytokine production from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human promonocytic cell line U-937. Front Pharmacol. 2019;10:1059. doi:10.3389/fphar.2019.01059.

    
    

26. Yarnell E. Botanical medicines for the urinary tract. World J Urol. 2002;20(5):285–293. doi:10.1007/s00345-002-0293-0.

    
    

27. Tolmacheva AA, Rogozhin EA, Deryabin DG. Antibacterial and quorum sensing regulatory activities of some traditional Eastern-European medicinal plants. Acta Pharm. 2014;64(2):173–186. doi:10.2478/acph-2014-0019.

    
    

28. Cybulska P, Thakur SD, Foster BC, et al. Extracts of Canadian first nations medicinal plants, used as natural products, inhibit Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with different antibiotic resistance profiles. Sex Transm Dis. 2011;38(7):667–671. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0b013e31820cb166.

    
    

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30. Kim HW, Rhee MS. Response surface modeling of reductions in uropathogenic Escherichia coli biofilms on silicone by cranberry extract, caprylic acid, and thymol. Biofouling. 2018;34(6):710–717. doi:10.1080/08927014.2018.1488969.

    
    

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32. Lee JH, Kim YG, Khadke SK, Lee J. Antibiofilm and antifungal activities of medium-chain fatty acids against Candida albicans via mimicking of the quorum-sensing molecule farnesol. Microb Biotechnol. 2021;14(4):1353-1366. doi:10.1111/1751-7915.1371.