A compound found in green tea may help shield brain health, a new study shows.

For the study, researchers focused on amyloid plaques (substances known to damage brain cells and cause loss of memory, language, and motor function). Amyloid plaques are associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease.

In a series of lab experiments, the scientists found that a combination of the green tea compound epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and a chemical called DAPH-12 caused amyloid structures to break apart and dissolve. The study's authors suggest that EGCG shows promise in the treatment of amyloid-based diseases, but caution that the compound's effects need to be further explored in other studies.

In an earlier study, published in 2006, researchers analyzed tea consumption among 1,0003 older adults and discovered that those who drank the most green tea were the least likely to show signs of weakened brain function.

Green tea may also protect against gum disease and stroke, according to other previous research.

A combination of curcumin (a compound found in the curry spice turmeric) and piperine (a substances derived from black peppers) could help protect against breast cancer by targeting stem cells, according to a recent study.

In lab experiments, scientists discovered that applying curcumin and piperine to breast cells helped decrease the number of stem cells (which are known to promote tumor growth) while having no effect on normal cells. By limiting the number of stem cells, the study's authors suggest, it may be possible to inhibit tumor growth.

In past research on animals, curcumin has been found to help reduce risk of progestin-accelerated breast cancer (a type of breast cancer thought to be particularly common among women receiving a combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy).

Other studies indicate that curcumin may help lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, cataracts, and skin cancer.

New research shows that an extract of pine bark may benefit people in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. A leading cause of blindness among people with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy occurs when leaky blood vessels damage the retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye).

For the study, researchers treated 46 diabetic patients with daily doses of the pine bark extract (called Pycnogenol) or a placebo tablet for three months. All patients had early-stage retinopathy, which is marked by swelling resulting from capillaries leaking fluid into the retina.

Study results showed that 18 of the 24 participants treated Pycnogenol had improvement in their vision, while no such improvements were observed in the placebo group. What's more, all 22 patients in the placebo group maintained the same swelling they'd had at the start of the study.

The study's authors suggest that pine bark extract may help stimulate circulation in the retina and inhibit swelling, which in turn may improve vision.

Cigarettes made with a blend of medicinal herbs and tobacco are no healthier than regular cigarettes, a new study finds. Increasingly popular throughout the world, herbal cigarettes are marketed as safer and less addictive than regular cigarettes.

For the study, researchers compared 135 people who smoked herbal cigarettes with 143 people who smoked regular cigarettes. Analyzing the participants' urine samples, they found no significant difference in four key markers that indicate delivery of nicotine and carcinogens.

Sizing up study members' responses to a questionnaire about their cigarette choices, the researchers also found that 24 percent of participants switched to herbal cigarettes because they believed the products to be a healthier alternative. What's more, most people who switched to herbal cigarettes reported an increase in the number of the cigarettes they smoked daily.

There are a number of natural remedies that may be helpful to those attempting to quit smoking. These include acupuncture, St. John's wort, ginseng, and hypnotherapy.