Pine proanthocyanidins

Studies have shown that phenylpropanoid metabolism can be stimulated by ozone. The activity of PAL increased in soybean [91], Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) [92], and parsley (Petroselinum crispum L.) [93] soon after treatment with 150-200 nmol O3 mol 1. Rapid increases in transcript levels for PAL in response to ozone have been observed in parsley [93], Arabidopsis thaliana L. Heynhold [94] and tobacco (Nicoticma tabacum L.) [95]. Transcript levels for 4-coumarate CoA ligase (4CL), the last enzyme in the general phenylpropanoid pathway, increased commensurately with PAL transcripts in ozone-treated parsley seedlings [93]. Phenolic compunds reported to accumulate in leaf tissue in response to ozone include hydroxycinnamic acids, salicylic acid, stilbenes, flavonoids, furanocoumarins, acetophenones, and proanthocyanidins [85, 92, 93, 96, 97]. 

Tannins 1. hydrolysable tannins 2. condensed tannins Sumac (Rhus Sp.) oak (Quercus sp.) chestnut (Castanea sp.) alder (alnus sp.) Pineaceae family such as pine, spruce, hemlock Also called 1. gallotannins because they from esters with gallic acid 2. hydrated flavonols or proanthocyanidins Historically labeled as tanning agents... 

Pycnogenol (= Pine bark Pinus maritima (Pinaceae) [bark] proanthocyanidins)... 

Antioxidant and disease prevention capacities of proanthocyanidins from cocoa, grape seed, cranberries, and Pycnogenols (French pine... 

There is a general consensus that analysis of fresh material yields results which come closest to the natural distribution pattern in plants. Since this approach is not feasible in most cases suitable preservation procedures must be employed. Advantages and disadvantages of such procedures with respect to polyphenol analysis have been reviewed by several authors [47-49]. The procedure keeping the chemical composition as close as possible to the natural state is lyophilization. A study of the extractability of proanthocyanidins in the bark of several pines (Pinus sp.) showed no difference between freshly collected samples and freeze-dried samples. On the other hand drying at room temperature resulted in an increase in extractability in one sample [50]. Increased extractability after drying at room temperature compared to fresh material has also been... 

One relatively new discovery is the power of pine bark in treating disease. Pine bark is higher than any other plant except grapeseed in proanthocyanidin, a powerful antioxidant and potentiator of vitamin C. Free radicals have been implicated in scores of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer s disease, Parkinson s disease, arthritis, cataracts, heart disease, and stroke. The human immune system uses antioxidants to deactivate and eliminate free radicals from our bodies. This antioxidant... 

The data on hazelnut proanthocyanidins are limited. Recently, Gu et al. [49] found that some tree nuts are good sources of proanthocyanidins with contents ranging from 0.05 in chesmut to 500.7 mg/100 g in hazelnut (Table 13.4). The order of total proanthocyanidin concentration content in tree nuts was as follows hazelnut > pecan > pistachio > almond > walnut > cashew > chestnut. No proanthocyanidins have been detected in Brazil nut, macadamia, and pine nut [49]. Among the proanthocyanidins, polymers are most abundant in hazelnut and some other tree nuts such as ahnond, pecan, and pistachio. Average intake of proanthocyanidins is estimated at 58mg/100g in the United States [49]. 

Source From U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Database for the Proanthocyanidin Content of Selected Foods, August 2004, Published online at http //www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/ foodcomp (accessed September 28, 2006) Gu, L., Kelm, M.A., Hammerstone, J.F., Beecher, G., Holden, J., Haytowitz, D., Gebhardt, S., and Prior, R.L., J. Nutr., 134, 613, 2004. Note Data are expressed as means + SD (n = 4-8) on a fresh weight basis Brazil nut, macadamia, and pine nut contain undetectable amounts of proanthocyanidins nd, not detected PC, Procyanidins PD, Prodelphinidins PP, Propelargonidins. 

Another concern has been that the hydroxylation patterns of the dihydro-flavonols and flavonols are often not reflected in the co-occurring proanthocyanidins. In the barks of southern pines for example, dihydromyricetin and myricetin are prominent constituents of the outer bark (151). However, the proanthocyanidins and condensed tannins have only very small proportions of prodelphinidin units (146). It is probable that the pool of dihydro flavonols used in reduction to flavan-3,4-diols and flavan-3-ols occurs prior to the hydroxylation at C-5. ... 

Nyman B F 1985 Protein-proanthocyanidin interactions during extraction of Scots pine needles. Phytochemistry 24 2939-2944... 

Holly, A.W. et al.. Comparison of proanthocyanidins in commercial antioxidants Grape seed and pine bark extracts, J. Agric. Food Chem., 55, 148, 2007. 

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