Total Nutraceutical Solutions, Inc. (TNS), announced today that the company has started evaluating several proprietary mushroom compounds for activity in controlling the development of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). TNS was informed by Model Biosystems, Inc. (MBS), San Clemente, CA, that a recent experiment in Drosophila melanogaster flies (Drosophila) showed that certain TNS proprietary mushrooms had unusual anti-inflammatory activity. MBS was of the opinion that TNS should evaluate these mushroom samples in a special MBS biologic model for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This proprietary AD model uses a genetic mutant of Drosophila that was developed in the laboratory of Dr. Krishna Bhat, University of Texas, Galveston, Texas. This unique live model system can evaluate the activity of a given compound/ingredient in controlling biologic reactions and compounds that are associated with the development of human AD. The organic whole food mushrooms developed by TNS are being studied, pursuant to a signed research agreement, dated Friday, October 30, 2009, in a double-blinded investigator protocol; the total study will involve over 1,000 Drosophila with 120 organisms in each test group.
Drosophila melanogaster, or fruit-fly is widely used in scientific and medical research. Its importance for human health was recognized by the award of the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1995, for work on the genetic control of early embryonic development. Mutant flies with defects in any of several thousand genes are available, and the entire genome has recently been sequenced. Drosophila helped in the development of drugs to combat pathogens responsible for a range of diseases from skin infections to pneumonia and meningitis. Recent research with fruit-flies has focused on the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, particularly because of the similarity between human and fly brains and the conservation of the AD genetic pathway.
"The discovery and development of organic whole foods that positively impact or help prevent diseases are welcome breakthroughs in healthcare, as more and more people demand natural alternatives to prevent disease," stated Marvin S. Hausman MD, CEO, TNS. "We believe that the unique, proprietary technology developed by TNS and used in the production of our natural organic specialty mushrooms, contributes significantly to the potential success of this new Alzheimer's disease study to be undertaken by TNS and MBS."
"I am pleased that MBS is able to offer TNS the services of our biotechnology testing in their research and development of natural organic mushrooms for alternative medical approaches to preventing human diseases," stated Malli Varanasi, President, MBS. "Alzheimer's disease is a terrible human affliction and new preventative measures would be well-received by all people."
About Model Biosystems, Inc.:
Model Biosystems is a U.S.-based research center - company interested in harnessing the power of biotechnology for the benefit of humankind. Our main facilities are located on the Veterinary School campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore, an IT and Biotechnology hub, popularly known as the Silicon Valley of India. The primary goal of Model Biosystems is to offer services to the scientific community in the area of model systems, which will serve to advance our understanding of the genetic regulation of normal development and diseases affecting humans. The knowledge thus obtained can be used to discover new drugs to cure various types of genetic diseases
About Total Nutraceutical Solutions, Inc.:
Total Nutraceutical Solutions, Inc. (TNS), is an emerging nutraceutical company with a focus on discovering, formulating and marketing products composed primarily of organic natural mushroom compounds that contain bioactive nutrients for potential health benefits. TNS develops production and analytic technologies for food and nutritional supplements composed primarily of mushrooms and their mycelial biomasses. Novel clinical models and biomarkers are used to show nutritional and clinical efficacy of our products. In addition to preventative healthcare formulations and nutritional approaches to a wide variety of human conditions and illnesses, TNS also develops and acquires breakthrough nutritional tools and products in the fields of animal husbandry and livestock feeds.
Any statements contained in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks associated with the transaction described in this press release, and other risks identified in the filings by Total Nutraceutical Solutions (TNS), Inc., with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Further information on risks faced by TNS are detailed in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and in its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These filings are or will become available on a website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov. The information contained in this press release is accurate as of the date indicated. Actual results, events or performance may differ materially. TNS does not undertake any obligation to publicly release the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.