Below are a few
articles that I found regarding "Pycnogenol":
A Powerful Antioxidant
Pycnogenol® (Proanthocyanidins): A Powerful New
Antioxidant
by Richard A. Passwater, Ph. D.
The power and versatility of pycnogenol
is impressive. Discussed in
my book, "The New Supernutrition," are the benefits in chapters
on
slowing aging, preventing cancer, preventing heart disease,
improving skin, preventing senility, preventing cataracts and
relieving arthritis. [1] This great versatility is due to more
than
pycnogenol being a potent antioxidant. Pycnogenol's benefits
are
also due to it being a unique bioflavonoid and vitamin C
"helper."
In vitro studies show that pycnogenol is fifty times more
powerful
than vitamin E and twenty times more powerful than vitamin C. [2]
In
vivo studies also prove that pycnogenol is extremely effective as
an
antioxidant, but comparisons are much more difficult to
evaluate.
[4] As an effective antioxidant, pycnogenol helps our bodies
resist
blood vessel and skin damage, inflammation and other damage cause
by
free radicals.
However, pycnogenol does more than protect! It helps repair!
The
demonstrated benefits of pycnogenol include the following: a.
strengthens capillaries, arteries and veins, b. improves
circulation
and enhances cell vitality, c. reduces capillary fragility,
diabetic
retinopathy, varicose veins & edematous legs, d. improves
skin
smoothness and elasticity, e. improves joint flexibility, and
f.
fights inflammation
Pycnogenol is relatively new in the United States, but it has
been
researched extensively in Europe and has been available as a
nutritional supplement in Europe (Belgium, Denmark, England,
France,
Finland, Holland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and
Switzerland),
Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and the Far East (Singapore
and
Korea) for several years. Its safety has been well studied and
its
benefits documented in many European scientific and medical
journals.
During October 4-6, 1990, an international symposium on
pycnogenol
was held in Bordeaux, France with scientists from the United
Kingdom
and France presenting their new research to scientists from
around
the world. Dr. David White of the University of Nottingham
(England)
discussed cholesterol and foam cell control with pycnogenol.
Dr.
White referred to pycnogenol as "the atherosclerosis
antidote."
Also, Dr. Stewart Brown of the University of Nottingham
discussed
how pycnogenol's free-radical scavenging effect slows cell
mutagenesis. Another interesting research report presented at
the
international symposium was by Dr. Duncan Bell of Ipswich
Hospital
(England). Dr. Bell, a gastroenterologist, reported on the
anti-stress action of pycnogenol and how it prevents ulcer
formation.
This article covers some of the background and basics of
pycnogenol
and "The New Supernutrition" discusses its applications more
specifically.
BACKGROUND Pycnogenol (pronounced pick-nah-geh-nol) is a
patented
blend of nutrients found in fruits, vegetables and other plants.
[5]
Pycnogenol works synergistically with vitamin C - a vitamin C
"helpmate" - enhancing its activity.
In 1534, Quebec Indians cured French explorers led by Jacque
Cartier
of scurvy by feeding them tea from the needles and bark of
certain
pine trees. [6] The 110 man crew was blocked by ice in what is
now
known as the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They were forced to subsist on
a
diet mostly of salted meat and biscuits, completely devoid of
fruits
and vegetables. Soon scurvy killed Cartier's crew. The needles
contained a small amount of vitamin C and the bark contained
flavanols which potentiate the antiscorbutic effect of vitamin
C.
Although the bioflavonoids of pycnogenol can be extracted from
grapes and other fruits and vegetables, the patented commercial
source is the bark of the European coastal pine (Pinus maritma
or
Pinus pinaster).
Flavonoids are members of the flavonol family compounds.
Flavonoids
are semi-essential, secondary food factors. There are over
20,000
bioflavonoids registered in Chemical Abstracts. Research through
the
years has led scientists to particular members of the flavonoid
family that are believed to be the most effective vitamin C
potentiators. This family of non-toxic water-soluble, highly
bioavailable bioflavonoids differ from other flavonoids, and
hence,
has its own family name, "proanthocyanidins." In man,
proanthocyanidins are found in saliva within one hour after
ingesting them by capsule. [7]
Proanthocyanidins include catechins, epicatechin, flavon-3-ols,
and
oligomers of the A and B series of condensed tannins. The
oxidation
index - the ratio of oxygen to hydrogen - in the heterocycle is
one-to-five. [8]
Pycnogenol is actually a blend of oligomeric and monomeric
proanthocyanidins. The blend is 85% oligomeric
proanthocyanidins, 8%
monomeric proanthocyanidins and 7% water. [5]
There are dozens of published studies of pycnogenol's safety
and
benefits. Its safety and toxicity has been fully tested,
including
mutagenic and carcinogenic studies at expert centers such as
the
Pasteur Institute. [9,10] Pycnogenol has been found to be
non-toxic,
non-teratogenic, non-mutagenic, non-carcinogenic and
non-antigenic.
[5] Proanthocyanidins have been used for more than thirty years
with
no signs of toxicity. The LD 50 is 3 grams per kilogram of body
weight. Nutritional supplementation is usually 30 to 150
milligrams
daily. The safety of pycnogenol was reviewed in depth by Dr.
Peter
Rohdewald of the Pharmacology Institute of the University of
Munster
(Germany) during the October 1990 International Pycnogenol
Symposium
in Bordeaux.
ANTIOXIDANT Free radicals are chemical fragments that cause
body
damage that can lead to nearly fifty disease conditions
including
accelerated aging, cancer, heart disease and arthritis.
Pycnogenol
may turn out to be one of the most powerful free radical
scavengers
available as a nutrient.
Studies have shown that pycnogenol is fifty times more powerful
than
vitamin E and twenty times more potent than vitamin C in
standard
tests.
In a standard in vitro (test tube, not in the human body) test,
pycnogenol proved to be fifty times more powerful than vitamin
E.
This test measures the ability of compounds to scavenge
(neutralize)
free radicals such as DPPH. [2] The researchers demonstrated
that
pycnogenol was also a potent scavenger of oxygen free radicals
such
as superoxide, hydroxyl and peroxide radicals.
In another standard in vitro test, pycnogenol proved to be 20
times
more powerful than vitamin C. This test measures the ability of
compounds to counteract oxygen free radicals by measuring the
amount
of TNB dye decolorized. [3] Pycnogenol was also shown to be a
powerful antioxidant in vivo (animal models and tissue cultures)
as
well. [4]
BLOOD VESSELS Pycnogenol improves peripheral circulation,
restores
lost capillary activity, and strengthens weak blood vessels.
[11-15]
Blood vessels become more resilient with adequate
proanthocyanidin
nourishment. By reducing capillary fragility, pycnogenol helps
prevent bruising and improves varicose veins. [16,20]
Pycnogenol
enhances vitamin C activity in capillary wall membranes and
strengthens collagen in the capillaries. Also, capillary
resistance
and permeability are improved by pycnogenol. [17] In addition,
pycnogenol reduces venous insufficiency, reduces restless legs
and
diminishes lower leg blood volume. [18,19]
A single 100 milligram supplement of pycnogenol increased
capillary
resistance by 140 percent. Vascular sensitivity was improved 82
percent by a single supplement of pycnogenol. [20]
Improved circulation also enhances cell vitality helping to
restore
vitality and vigor.
ATHEROSCLEROSIS "ANTIDOTE" The collagen-rich, connective tissue
in
artery walls is protected and stimulated for repair by
pycnogenol.
[21] Studies show that pycnogenol is protective against early
atherosclerosis. [22-25] Pycnogenol reduces histamine
production,
thereby helping artery linings resist attack by mutagens,
oxidized
LDL-cholesterol and free radicals.
As discussed earlier, recent research by Dr. David White of the
University of Nottingham shows that pycnogenol reduces
cholesterol
and foam cell formation and is thus an "atherosclerosis
antidote."
The initiation of atherosclerosis is thought by many
researchers
today, including Dr. White and myself, to result from injury to
the
layer of endothelial cells which normally form the luminal
surface
of blood vessel walls. Such injury disturbs local vascular
homeostases resulting in platelet deposition, aggregation and
release of factors which promote smooth muscle proliferation
and
eventual fibrosis. The damaged endothelium also become permeable
to
lipoproteins, particularly low density lipoproteins (LDL) and
macrophages which invade the site of injury, accumulate
cholesterol
as cholesterylester, and develop into foam cells.
Eventually, a rather complicated structure, the atherosclerotic
plaque, develops consisting of lipids (fats), complex
carbohydrates,
blood, blood products, fibrous tissue and calcium deposits. A
raised
blood LDL-cholesterol concentration has been recognized by many as
a
major risk factor for heart disease because it appears to be
the
donor of cholesterol deposited in the atherosclerotic
plaque.
The accumulation of LDL-borne cholesterol by macrophages is
something of a paradox, however, since the cell has few
LDL-receptors and is able to down regulate the receptor number
when
the LDL-cholesterol concentration is increased. The resolution
of
this paradox may lie in the observation that certain
modifications
of LDL produce a molecule which is no longer recognized by the
LDL
receptor but by a non-regulated scavenger receptor. Macrophages
can
then accumulate cholesterol from this modified LDL.
Antioxidants can prevent or slow the accumulation of
cholesterol
that is due to the modification or oxidation of LDL. I
discussed
this in my previous article where I reported on the
beta-carotene
study. Dr. White has found that pycnogenol inhibits the in
vitro
oxidation of human LDL.
SKIN Collagen is the main skin protein and is responsible for
skin
texture and elasticity. Pycnogenol reactivates damaged collagen
and
protects it against further attack by free radicals and the
collagen-degrading enzymes, the elastases and collagenase.
[26-28]
Pycnogenol binds to collagen fibers and realigns them to a more
youthful, undamaged form. This protective action of pycnogenol
helps
to prevent the early facial wrinkles that occur due to skin
inelasticity.
Thus, pycnogenol is an oral cosmetic to help keep skin smooth
and
elastic. Actually, it was dermatological and phlebological
disorders
that started Dr. Jacques Masquelier of Bordeaux University to
begin
research with pycnogenol. He treated 45 patients having eczema,
ulcerated varicose veins and related disorders.
BRAIN FUNCTION Pycnogenol is important to brain function, not
only
because it protects blood vessels, but also because it is one of
the
few dietary antioxidants that readily crosses the blood-brain
barrier to directly protect brain cells. The strengthening of
capillaries and other blood vessels helps protect against
stroke.
Pycnogenol has significantly increased the lifespan of rats that
are
genetically hypertensive and prone to early death due to stroke.
[2]
Protection of brain cells will help memory and reduce senility.
There are indications that even sluggish memories are improved,
perhaps due to better circulation and cell nourishment.
DIABETES Diabetics are prone to vascular fragility. Pycnogenol
reduces vascular fragility. Pycnogenol has been licensed in
France
for years for treating diabetic retinopathy. German medical
researcher, Dr. H.C.W. Leydecker found that pycnogenol compares
favorably with any other current treatments for diabetic
retinopathy. [29]
EYESIGHT In addition to improvement in diabetic retinopathy, a
small-scale clinical study conducted by Dr. Emilio Balestrazzi
of
the University of Aquila concluded, "the overall clinical
judgment
on pycnogenol compared with the control groups treated with
placebo,
and taking account of all the clinical judgment on pycnogenol
compared with the control groups treated with placebo, and
taking
account of all the clinical and instrumental tests and the
absence
of side-effects, is to be considered beneficial, in as much as
all
patients benefitted to a varying degree from the treatment. In
fact,
the effects on the resistance and the peripheral capillary
permeability of the vessels have shown themselves to be positive
in
improving the functioning of the retina.
INFLAMMATION AND SPORTS INJURIES The ability of pycnogenol to
improve joint flexibility and repair the collagen in connective
tissue should be of interest to athletes. Plus pycnogenol
reduces
inflammation due to injury. Many bioflavonoids inhibit the
enzymes
and prostaglandins that lead to inflammation. Pycnogenol
inhibits
histamine release and thus reduces inflammation, stress ulcers
and
arterial damage.
OTHER PROMISING APPLICATIONS Pycnogenol also has been shown to
inhibit tumor promotion in skin. [5] As mentioned earlier,
recent
research by Dr. Stewart Brown of the University of Nottingham
shows
that pycnogenol's radical scavenging effect slows cancer
mutagenesis. Because pycnogenol prevents excessive histamine
release, it has been shown to reduce stress ulcers in the
stomach
and intestine by 82 percent. [30] This has been confirmed by
Dr.
Duncan Bell of Ipswich Hospital as mentioned earlier.
In Finland, pyncogenol is very popular for alleviating hay
fever
symptoms. [31] Several anecdotal reports claim that arthritics
feel
improvement overnight with a bed-time dose of 120-150 milligrams
of
pycnogenol.
REFERENCES 1. "The New Supernutrition" Passwater, Richard A.,
Pocket
Books, NY, (May 1991) - 2. Condensed tannins scavenge active
free
radicals. Uchida, S., et al. Med. Sci. Res. 15:831-2 (1987) -
3.
Radical scavenger effect (RSE) of proanthocyanidins. Masquelier,
J.
and Laparra, J. Proanthocyanidine et redicaux libres (1985) -
4.
Hemmung der prostaglandinsynthetase durch flavonoids und
phenolderivate im vergleich mit deren oxygen
radikalfangereigenschaften. Baumann, Joachim, et
al. Arch. Pharm.
(Weinheim) 313:330-7 (1980) - 5. U.S. Patent 4,698,360 [Oct. 6,
1987] 6. Voyages au Canada Jacque Cartier - 7. Laparra et al.
Acta
Therapeutica 4:233 (1978) - 8. Flavonoids et pycnogenols
Masquelier,
J. et al. Internat, J. Vit. Nutr. Res. 49 (3) 307-11 (1979) -
9.
Mutagenicity of proanthocyanidins. Yu, C.L. and Swaminathan, B.
Food
Chem. Toxicol. 25 (2) 135-9 (1987) - 10. Cytotest Cell Research
Gmbh
& Co., project 143010, University of Aquila
Pharmaco-Toxicologica
Report (Dr. G.C. Pantaleoni) and others. - 11. Dartenus et al.
Bordeaux Med. 13:903 (1980) - 12. Beylot et al., Gaz. Med. de
France
87:2919 (1980) - 13. Biard et al., Medicine Prat. 786:62 (1980)
-
14. Baracco et al., Gax Med. de France 88:2035 (1981) - 15.
Laparra
et al., Expertise Pharmachologique (1978)
Patents & Trademarks Pycnogenol® is a registered trademark
of
Horphag Research Limited, and is protected by U.S. Patent
#4,698,360
and International Patents by Horphag Research Limited.
DISCLAIMER
Information and statements have not been evaluated by the Food
&
Drug Administration. Products offered are not intended to
diagnose,
treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplements are
intended solely for nutritional support and individual results
may
vary.
Fountain of Youth
Is It The Fountain Of Youth?
by Dr. Cichoke
Lost a step or two? Can't read the morning paper as well?
Forgot
your best friend's phone number? Joints stiff and aching? Any
new
wrinkles? What could be the solution to these problems?
Pycnogenol®
(pronounced pik nah' je nol) might be the answer. Today,
Pycnogenol®
is being used against heart disease, circulatory disorders,
skin
problems, brain dysfunction, stress, inflammation, sports
injuries,
hay fever, diabetic retinopathy, cancer and arthritis to name a
few.
These conditions are caused, at least in part, by free radicals.
But
what are free radicals?
Free radicals destroy cells by damaging their membranes. The
cells
can't function properly, nor reproduce. Nutrients can't get in
and
waste can't get out. Tissue is damaged which accelerates aging.
Free radicals can fuse molecules together, making the molecules
unable to function properly. In the skin, this causes a loss of
elasticity and smoothness, leading to wrinkles. Free radical
damage
is what we recognize as aging, and, according to Dr. Jeffrey
Bland,
is implicated in more than 60 diseases.
By eliminating (breaking down) these free radicals, we can
assist
our bodies in returning us to a healthy state, to live longer,
happier, pain-free lives. We all have free radicals in our
bodies
and we can eliminate them by taking antioxidants.
The accumulation of cholesterol (due to the modification or
oxidation of low density lipoproteins - LDLs) can be prevented,
or
slowed down, by antioxidants.
Pycnogenol® is a powerful scavenger of free radicals and an
antioxidant. It can counteract the effects of aging and acts as
a
protector against today's environmental toxins (such as
radiation,
pesticides, pollution, heavy metals, etc.). Made from the bark
of
pinus maritimus (French maritime pine), Pycnogenol® is pure and
natural, having no solvent residues or additives. Taken orally,
it
works with vitamin C to enhance vitamin C's activity.
Pycnogenol ®is not new. In 1535, Jacques Cartier (exploring what
is
now Canada) saw many of his crew members die from scurvy. The
local
Indians taught him to prepare a brew made from the bark and
needles
of the Ameda pine, which returned the men to health.
400 years later, Professor Jacques Masquelier discovered that
pine
bark (Pycnogenol®'s source) contains a special class of
water-soluble bioflavonoids (proanthocynidins). These
bioflavonoids
have powerful antioxidant properties and can help rid the body
of
free radicals.
Pycnogenol® inhibits formation of the enzymes that cause
allergies
and inflammations, thereby reducing histamine production. For
this
reason, many people use Pycnogenol® in the treatment of
allergies.
In fact, in Finland, it is popular for use against hay fever.
Pycnogenol® is also helpful in improving circulation. When you
are
injured or have muscle cramps, the damaged area needs more
oxygen.
This demand must be met by your capillaries, (tiny blood
vessels
which bring in fresh oxygenated red corpuscles and carry away
used
blood).
To do this rapidly and efficiently, your capillaries must be
healthy. In the case of injury, your capillaries are damaged,
resulting in swelling and bruising. The sooner your capillaries
return to normal, the sooner bruises, swellings and pain
disappear,
the sooner you get back into action. Your best hope is to keep
your
circulatory system in as healthy a state as possible and when
an
injury occurs, to help it respond quickly.
Helping the lining of arteries resist attachment by mutagens
(which
can cause cardiovascular disease), Pycnogenol® restores the
strength
of the capillaries and improves circulation, making it easier
for
each cell to get the nutrients needed. Improved circulation is
especially valuable to stroke victims, diabetics, arthritics,
smokers, women taking oral contraceptives and people with
swollen,
edematous legs.
Pycnogenol® also has a unique ability to bond to collagen
fibers.
All cells in the human body are glued together with collagen.
Pycnogenol® helps these collagen fibers rebuild their
cross-links
and reverse some of the damage done over the years by injury
and
free radical attack. Further, Pycnogenol® inhibits the body's
enzymes that break down collagen. Pycnogenol® helps return
flexibility to skin, arteries, capillaries, joints and other
tissues
by restoring collagen.
The human body cannot survive without vitamin C. Pycnogenol®
actually activates vitamin C and helps put it to work fast,
continuing to work on its own long after vitamin C passes out of
the
body. Pycnogenol® works to maintain the integrity of blood
vessels,
particularly the capillaries, and exerts a powerful
anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, antiaging effect.
Vitamins C and E have long been regarded as effective
antioxidants.
According to Richard Passwater, Ph.D., in standard in vitro
studies
(test tube, not in the human body), Pycnogenol® proved to be 50
times more powerful than vitamin E and 20 times more powerful
than
vitamin C in the ability to scavenge (neutralize) free radicals.
In
addition, Pycnogenol® remains in the blood stream for 72 hours
(unlike vitamins E and C which pass quickly through the
system),
thus giving extended free radical protection.
Studies show that Pycnogenol® is rapidly absorbed and
distributed
throughout the body: within 20 minutes, much of Pycnogenol® is
absorbed and on its way to tissues; within one hour of ingestion,
it
can be detected in saliva. Because it is acidic, Pycnogenol® is
highly compatible with human digestion.
In addition, according to Passwater, Pycnogenol® is a
nonantigenic,
nonmutagenic, noncarcinogenic and nonteratogenic substance.
Unlike virtually all other dietary products, the beneficial
effects
of Pycnogenol® cross the blood brain barrier to protect the
blood
vessels in the brain from oxidation, thus having strong
possibilities in fighting senility.
Pycnogenol® has long been used in France, Finland, Holland,
Germany,
Italy, Singapore, Korea, Argentina and Switzerland and has just
recently been marketed in the United States (see the end of
this
report).
In many countries, women take Pycnogenol® as an oral cosmetic
to
fight wrinkles before they begin. It helps keep their skin
elastic,
smooth and more wrinkle-free by restoring the skin's collagen
and
protecting it from free radical attack and enzymatic degradation.
In today's fast paced, highly stressful, polluted environment,
diseases from free radical damage are a fact of life. To combat
this
damage, free radical scavengers are essential. For good health,
antioxidants such as Pycnogenol®, vitamins C and E are critical
for
daily usage. After all, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of
cure."
[Dr. Cichoke is a chiropractic physician in Portland, Oregon
and
author of over 100 scientific articles. He is a well-known
writer,
lecturer and researcher on health and nutrition.]
When purchasing Pycnogenol® for your family or your own
personal
use, read the bottle labels carefully. Make sure that the label
contains the Horphag registered trademark symbol along with
Horphag's protected U.S. Patent #4,698360 and International
Patents.
Make sure that the label contains the Horphag registered
trademark
symbol along with Horphag's protected U.S. Patent #4,698360 and
International Patents.
DISCLAIMER
Information and statements have not been evaluated by the Food
&
Drug Administration. Products offered are not intended to
diagnose,
treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplements are
intended solely for nutritional support and individual results
may
vary.
