General Description
Pycnogenol is the trademarked name for an extract of the French
maritime (Landes) pine tree. This extract is a rich source of flavonoid
compounds called proanthocyanidins (also called "OPCs" for oligomeric
proanthocyanidins or "PCOs" for procyanidolic oligomers). These
compounds have powerful antioxidant properties, which can be very
beneficial for cells and tissues throughout the body. Although PCOs
are found in a wide variety of plants, the best supplemental sources
are Pycnogenol and grapeseed extract. The PCO concentration of Pycnogenol
ranges from 80 to 85 percent.
Health Applications
History and Traditional Use
The benefits of PCOs were first brought to light in 1534, when French
explorer Jacques Cartier led an expedition up the Saint Lawrence
River. Trapped by ice and forced to subsist on rations of salted
meat and biscuits, Cartier's crew began to exhibit signs of scurvy,
a severe vitamin C deficiency disease whose cause was unknown at
the time. Cartier and his crew survived, thanks to the advice of
a Native American who showed them how to make a tea from the bark
and needles of pine trees. More than 400 years later, Jacques Masquelier,
a professor at the University of Bordeaux, read of Cartier's experience
and decided to investigate the nutritive qualities of pine bark.
He discovered that pine bark contains powerful antioxidant compounds
(PCOs), and patented a method to extract them in 1951.1
Since that time, Pycnogenol has become a popular dietary supplement
for improving the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms.
Chemical Composition
The active components of Pycnogenol are proanthocyanidins (PCOs),
which make up 80 to 85 percent of the extract.
Antioxidant Activity
The health benefits of Pycnogenol stem from its high antioxidant
concentration. Proanthocyanidins are among the most powerful antioxidants
ever discovered, showing greater free-radical scavenging abilities
than vitamins C and E in laboratory studies.2
Research shows that Pycnogenol complements the activity of vitamins
C and E, helping them retain their antioxidant potency.3,4
PCOs can be very beneficial for cardiovascular health, because
they inhibit the oxidation of LDL (the "bad" cholesterol). Oxidized
LDL is a major contributor to atherosclerosis, which can lead
to heart attack or stroke. Their ability to promote circulation
can make PCOs helpful for people suffering from venous insufficiency,
with clinical studies showing significant improvement of symptoms
in as little as ten days.5
Dosage/Toxicity
For daily antioxidant support, 50 mg of Pycnogenol per day is
suitable for most people, although people with special health
concerns often take as much as 300 mg per day. Pycnogenol has
no known toxicity and is very well tolerated in this dosage range.
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