Pycnogenol

Grape seed extract, which is another widely used plant extract similar to pycnogenol, contains procyanidins, which have a strong antioxidant activity. 

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WEI z, PENG Q and lau b h s (1997) Pycnogenol enhances endothelial cell antioxidant defences Redox Report 3, 147-55. 

Passwater RA (2005) Pycnogenol nature s most versatile supplement. Jack ChaUem Series Editor, Basic Health Publications Inc, North Bergen, NJ, USA... 

Moini, H., Guo, Q., and Packer, L., Enzyme inhibition and protein-binding action of the procya-nidin-rich french maritime pine bark extract, pycnogenol effect on xanthine oxidase, J. Agric. 

Packer, L. and C. Colman The Antioxidant Miracle, Put Lipoic Acid, Coq 10, Pycnogenol, and Vitamins E and C to Work for You, John Wiley Sons. Inc., New York. NY, 1999. 

The effects of pycnogenol on circulation can be seen as the outcome of two different activities — relaxation of arterial walls and increase of capillary resistance. The combination of these effects results in an increase of peripheral blood flow and a facilitation of microcirculation. Early studies suggested a strong vasoactivity of procyanidins extracted from sources such as wine and grape seed, which have recently been confirmed for pycnogenol. 

Pycnogenol inhibits platelet aggregation induced by cigarette smoking without the adverse effect on bleeding time that characterizes aspirin use. 

Pycnogenol enhances microcirculation and reduces capillary resistance in spontaneous hypertensive animals. 

Pycnogenol reduces the production of interleukin-6 and restores the activity of natural killer cells in retrovirus-infected animals. Pycnogenol delays the development of immune dysfunctions secondary to retrovirus infection by restoring the imbalanced cytokine secretion by T helper 1 and T helper 2 cells. 

Pycnogenol affects the activity of nitric oxide synthase and the production of nitric oxide in murine macrophages (RAW 264.7 cell line) activated by endotoxin (the lipopolysaccharide) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-... 

Packer, L., Rimbach, G., and Virgili, F. Antioxidant activity and biologic properties of a procyanidin-rich extract from pine (Pinus martima) bark, pycnogenol, Free Radic. Biol. Med., 27, 704—724, 1999. 

Pycnogenol (procyanidins extracted from Pinus maritima)... 

Analgesics Capsaicin, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, pycnogenol... 

In addition, 125 mg of the herbal alternative to aspirin, namely pine bark extracts4 containing bio-pycnogenol, have the same effect as 500 mg aspirin as an anti-blood clotting agent. It is an alternative for people who have stomach ulcers. 

Pycnogenols are a heterogeneous group of flavonoids from French maritime pine bark. The name pycnogenols is a term which was given for the designation of flavan-3-ol derivatives by Masquelier et al. [70]... 

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