Pine Bark Extract Proanthocyanidins and Pine Bark logogriph.

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   Basic Botanical Data of Pine Bark:

 Official Latin Name: Pinus strobus
 Common Name:Pinus maritima, P. pinaster,white pine,French Marine Pine Bark Extract, French Maritime Pine Bark Extract, Leucoanthocyanidins, OPC, Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins, PCO, Pinus maritima, Pinus pinaster, Procyandiol Oligomers, Procyanodolic Oligomers, Pycnogenol, Pygenol
 Part Used:Bark
 Chemistry: 95% Pycnogenol
 Pycnogenol is a water-soluble flavonoid, or polyphenol, complex with powerful antioxidant properties and effects on reducing blood clotting.Proanthocyanidins (also known as leucoanthocyanidins and pycnogenols) are a form of polyphenol, which is in turn a form of bioflavonoid. Proanthocyanidins are at least 15 to 25 times more powerful than vitamin E in neutralizing the iron and oxygen species free radicals that attack lipids.
 Pine trees are evergreen conifers (cone-bearing trees) that originate almost exclusively in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Pines are the source of many commercial products. Pine medicinal preparations are made from the essential oil of distilled leaves, from the resin and its derivatives produced from the bark, and from the short (3-5 cm) sprouts collected in the spring.
 


 Basic Botanical Data of Pine Bark.
 Pine Bark Extract Information - Pine Bark Extract, A Powerful Antioxidant.:
  What Is Pine Bark Extract?What Is OPCs Pine Bark Extract?
  The History of PCO:Pine Bark Extracts or Grape Seed Extract?
  Beneficial Effects of PCO?  Physiology and Historical Uses:  Important differences between Grape Seed and Pine Bark:
 Health Benefits of Pine Bark Extract?.
 Pine Bark Extract (Pinus Pinaster) and OPCs?:
 Famous benefits and Some known application of Pine Bark Extract:
  Benefits in Brief:  Some known Scientific Support:  Preventing and treating Chronic Venous Insufficiency:
  Strengthens blood vessels protect eyes:  Strong Antioxidant activity:  Helpful for other chronic conditions:
  Skin Disorder treatment: Sexual Health and Performance:.
 Optimal Brain Function and Proanthocyanidins:
 Natural Hair Loss Treatments and OPCs:
 About Anthocyanins and Proanthocyanins:Flavonoid groups
 Pine Bark Extract:Suggestions and Administration:
 Research update of Pine Bark Extract Proanthocyanidins related.


   Pine Bark Extract Information - Pine Bark Extract, A Powerful Antioxidant.:

   What Is Pine Bark Extract?What Is OPCs Pine Bark Extract?

 Pycnogenol is a patented (and very expensive) form of pine bark extract that is aggressively marketed by lots of different vendors.
 The active ingredients in these products are proanthocyanidins or flavan-3-ols, and don't ask me how to pronounce those words. These chemicals come from a class of protective compounds that we normally get in fruits and vegetables. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) have a number of properties. First, they appear to help Vitamin C work better in the brain. Vitamin C is needed for the synthesis of the neurotransmitters norepinephirine, dopamine and serotonin, which are involved with ADD. Vitamin C also protects the brain against free-radical damage, so the Vitamin C/OPC combination acts as an antioxident. Vitamin C also helps the body chelate toxic heavy metals so that they can be flushed from the body. This is all coming from the book cited below, so don't be thinking I actually understand it.
 OPCs also act as natural anti-histamines, block inflammation and boost the immune system. They also reportedly affect the metabolic enzymes that regulate neurotransmitters, and they appear to inhibit the breakdown of norepinephrine and dopamine. Some recent studies have shown that ADD is associated with a faster than average reuptake (breakdown) of dopamine, so perhaps this is the most important factor in how OPCs help.
 Masquelier termed the active components of the pine bark "pycnogenols". This term was used to described an entire complex of proanthocyanidin complexes found in a variety of plants including pine bark, grape seed, lemon tree bark, peanuts, cranberries and citrus peels. The term "pycnogenols" is now considered obsolete in the scientific community to describe these compounds giving way to the terms proanthocyanidins, oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes(OPCs) and procyanidolic oligomers(PCO).
 An alternative source for PCOs is Pycnogenol (pik-NODGE-en-all), the brand name for a PCO derived from the bark of the maritime pine. Experts compare its health benefits to those of grape seed extract, and in fact many research studies examining the therapeutic effects of PCOs have relied on the use of Pycnogenol. It's more expensive than grape seed extract, however.
 


   The History of PCO:Pine Bark Extracts or Grape Seed Extract?

 In 1534, French explorer Jacques Cartier was leading an expedition up the Saint Lawrence river. Trapped by ice, Cartier and his crew was forced to survive on a ration of salted meat and biscuits. Cartier's crew began to exhibit signs and symptoms of scurvy-a severe deficiency of Vitamin C. At the time, the cause of scurvy was unknown. Fortunately for Cartier and the surviving members of his crew, they came across a Native American who told them to make tea from the bark and needles of pine trees. As a result, Cartier and his men survived.
 More than 400 years later, Professor Jacques Masquelier of the University of Bordeaux, France, read the book Cartier wrote detailing his expedition. Intrigued by Cartier's story, Masquelier and others believed and concluded that pine bark must contain some Vitamin C as well as be a good source of bioflavonoids which can exert Vitamin C- like effects.
 The modern episode commenced 400 years later in 1950 when the French Professor Jacques Masquelier of the University of Bordeaux was doing work on bioflavonoids, read Cartiers book and recognized the signs of a bioflavonoid. Masquelier and his colleagues identified a class of bioflavonoids which he baptized with a generic name, pycnogenols.
 Unfortunately, the scientific community has tended to ignore the name pycnogenols and prefers the scientific term proanthocyanidins, or oligomeric proanthocyanidin complex (OPC).

 Masquelier termed the active components of the pine bark "pycnogenols". This term was used to described an entire complex of proanthocyanidin complexes found in a variety of plants including pine bark, grape seed, lemon tree bark, peanuts, cranberries and citrus peels. The term "pycnogenols" is now considered obsolete in the scientific community to describe these compounds giving way to the terms proanthocyanidins, oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes(OPCs) and procyanidolic oligomers(PCO).
 Masquelier patented the method of extracting PCOs from pine bark in France in 1951 and from grape seeds in 1970. The PCOs extract from grape seeds emerged as the preferred source based on extensive research between 1951 and 1971, as well as intensive research from 1972 to 1978. The intense research in the 1970's was conducted with the goal of gaining the approval as a medicinal agent by the French Equivalent of the FDA. Detailed analytical, toxicity, pharmacological and clinical studies were performed on the PCOs derived from grape seeds.
 Both PCOs from grape seeds and pine bark have been marketed in France for decades. Sales for the grape seed extract are roughly 400 times greater than those for the pine bark.
 Pycnogenols (or OPCs) are found in the bark of certain trees, in grape seeds, in many types of berries, in certain beans, etc. Because the south of France was blessed with two of the richest sources of pycnogenols--grapes and the
 French Maritime Pine--Professor Masquelier had abundant raw material. In 1951, he patented a method of extracting pycnogenols from pine bark, and in 1970 extended this same technique to cover grape seed. For a number of reasons, however, all research, clinical trials, and the present French pharmaceutical form have used grape seed extract, and in France, where the product has been on the market for years, OPC from grape seeds outsells that from pine bark about 5:1.
 


   Beneficial Effects of PCO?

 The most celebrated effects of PCOs in the United States are its potent antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects. Antioxidants and free radical scavengers prevent against free radical or "oxidative" damage. Free radical damage has been linked to the aging process and virtually every chronic degenerative disease including heart disease, arthritis and cancer. Fats and cholesterol are particularly susceptible to free radical damage. When damaged, fats and cholesterol form toxic derivatives known as lipid peroxides and cholesterol epoxides respectively. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects of PCOs were discovered by Masquelier in 1986.
 While the therapeutic potential of PCOs is quite broad due to its antioxidant activity, PCOs are used in Europe primarily in the treatment of venous and capillary disorders including venous insufficiency, varicose veins, capillary fragility and vascular disorders of the retina. A recent study has shed more light on the exact mechanisms underlying these clinical applications of PCOs.
 The study featured two primary goals: (1) to determine the free radical scavenging activity of PCOs and (2) to determine the inhibitory effects of PCOs on xanthine oxidase ( the primary generator of oxygen derived free radicals) and the lysosomal enzyme system which governs the release of enzymes which can damage the connective tissue framework which acts as a protective sheath surrounding capillary walls.
 The results of some very sophisticated tests provide a detailed explanation on the vascular protective action of PCOs and provide a strong rationale for their use in vascular disease. In these studies, PCOs demonstrated an ability to:

   


 Trap hydroxyl free radicals.
 Trap lipid peroxides and free radicals.
 Markedly delay the onset of lipid peroxidation.
 Bind to free iron molecules, thereby preventing iron-induced lipid peroxidation.
 Inhibit production of free radicals.
 Inhibit the damaging effects of the enzymes (eg. hyaluronidase, elastase, collagenase etc) which can degrade connective tissue structures.
 In regards to the antioxidant action of PCO, the activity of PCOs is much greater than that of Vitamin C and Vitamin E. From a cellular perspective, one of the most advantageous features of PCOs free radical scavenging activity is that because of its chemical structure it is incorporated within cell membranes. This physical characteristic along with its ability to protect against both water and fat soluble free radicals provides incredible protection to the cells against free radical damage.
 The researchers concluded their discussion with the following comment: "These findings, together with those of other investigators, provide a strong rationale for using these compounds in the therapeutic managements of microvascular disorders."
 


   Physiology and Historical Uses:

  Physiology:

 Free radicals do damage in the capillaries in two ways: (1) by inactivating a compound called a 1-antitripsin, whose role is to restrain the enzymes that break down collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, and (2) by turning the fats in the cell membranes rancid (lipid peroxidation).

 Proanthocyanidins protect both the 1-antitripsin and the lipids by neutralizing the specific types of free radicals most likely to damage them, and may also directly inhibit the damaging enzymes. Collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid make up much of the inner wall and supporting matrix of the capillaries; when they are in good shape the capillaries stretch to let red blood cells through the tight places and do not let the fluids in the blood leak out.

 Pro-anthocyanidins have shown a marked tendency to accumulate in tissues with high contents of glycosaminoglycans (complex amino sugars), such as capillary walls and skin. This may also apply to cartilage and synovial fluid. Proanthocyanidins have also shown antimutagenic effects in vitro at high concentrations (250 mcg/ml).

  Historical Uses:

 Pine Bark extract is used for its free radical fighting capabilities, and for a variety of conditions related to capillary health and permeability. It is synergistic with vitamin C_ which is more potent and absorbed more rapidly when used together with Proanthocyanidins. Proanthocyanidins have been indicated for:
   poor distribution of microcirculatory blood flow in the brain and heart;
   altered capillary fragility and permeability (in diabetes mellitus);
   chronic arterial/venous insufficiency in the extremeties;
   altered platelet aggregation and other characteristics of blood flow in capillaries;
   breakdown in the elastic fibers of the capillaries (collagen and elastin) due to free radical and enzyme action;
   microangiopathy of the retina, edema of the lymph nodes, varicose veins and other symptoms of the problems listed above;
   the cumulative effects of aging and reducing the risk of degenerative diseases.


   Important differences between Grape Seed and Pine Bark:There are some important differences.

  Antioxidant advantage: In the words of Professor Masquelier, developer and patentee of both OPC products announced: . . ."I underline that in 1986 I discovered that grape seed has an intense free radical scavenging effect (FRSE) on radical oxygen species. These discoveries were laid down in my U.S. Patent (no 4,698,360) of Oct. 6 1987, 'Radical Scavenging Effect of Proanthocyanidins' . . . The tests showed that in this respect OPC from Grape seed has an advantage over OPC from Pine bark. OPC from grape seed contains the gallic esters of proanthocyanidins (in particular: Proanthocyanidin B2-3'-O-gallate). These proanthocyanidins -esters have been recently described as the most active substances in the battle against free radicals." October 1991 Martiliac, France (Procyanidines de France). Independent research by Dr Ricardo Da Silva showed "Proanthocyanidin B2-3'-O-gallate" available only in grape seed was found the most effective compound in trapping free radicals.

  Strength: Pycnogenol (Pine tree) has an OPC strength ranging from 80-85% compared with Grapeseed normally marketed at 90-95%. Be careful that the Grapeseed is 95%. A slight difference in favour of grapeseed. Research points toward the fact that proanthocyanidin 100% purity is non-mutagenic. Thus the range 90-95% for maximum benefit.

   Health Benefits of Pine Bark Extract?.

  OPCs Block Atherosclerosis:

 The role of oxidation in atherogenesis--development of hardened arteries--is becoming clearer. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL) damage the cells that line blood vessel walls by provoking numerous responses including inflammation, smooth muscle cell proliferation and clotting mechanisms, all of which lead to atherosclerosis.
 Proanthocyanidins offer hope. A grape seed extract with 50 percent OPCs and 50 percent phenolic acids prevented such oxidation of pig LDL in vitro.OPCs may also prevent atherosclerosis in other ways. For example, two recent in vitro studies found that a patented pine bark extract modulated the release of nitric oxide, which affected the dilation diameter of blood vessels.
 Researchers compared the effects of patented pine bark extract OPCs with aspirin on smoking-induced platelet aggregation in three groups of smokers. They found that platelet aggregation was inhibited by both 500 mg aspirin as well as 100-125 mg pine bark extract. Because of the increased bleeding time caused by aspirin, the authors conclude that pine bark offers an "advantageous risk-benefit ratio."


  Cancer Protection and body cleaning:

 In vitro studies suggest OPCs also provide cancer protection. OPCs in Vaccinium-family berries, including blueberry, lingonberry and cranberry, block tumor growth by preventing protein synthesis in tumor cells, which prevents them from multiplying.
 Betel nut (Areca catechu), a stimulant chewed by millions of Asians, also contains OPCs. In a small study, two people consumed 300 mg each of the nitrosamine precursors sodium nitrate and L-proline. Afterwards, their urine contained 14.7 and 10.9 mcg of N-nitroso-L-proline. In the second experiment, the subjects consumed the nitrosamine precursors and chewed a quarter of a betel nut. Their subsequent urine samples showed no nitrosamines. The researchers note that OPCs may play a major role in natural cancer prevention.
 Proanothocyanins may also protect against viruses. In in vitro studies, OPCs from hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) killed the herpes (HSV-1) and HIV viruses.
 Proanthocyanidins also protect the body from toxins. Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is a potent liver toxin, annually causing 75,000 cases of poisoning requiring hospitalization in the United States. Animal experiments showed that a week of pretreatment with 100 mg/kg of a patented grape seed extract prevented liver damage from acetaminophen. Organ damage was assessed by studying liver cells for damage and also by monitoring the animal's health.
 


  Proanthocyanidins and Beauty:

 Proanthocyanidins may do even more than prevent disease; they may make us more youthful looking. Oxidation damage causes most visible signs of aging in our skin. By preventing this damage, skin will stay younger looking. One way to achieve this is to reduce the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) light. Sunscreen products have incorporated a variety of antioxidants with the intent that they will prevent sun injury to the skin. In one study, grape seed OPCs exerted a solo antioxidant effect at a level of potency on a par with vitamin E--protecting different polyunsaturated fatty acids from UV light-induced lipid peroxidation.26 In this same study, the grape OPCs synergistically interacted with vitamin E, recycling the inactivated form of the vitamin into the active form and thus acting as a virtual vitamin E extender.
 Part of the aging process is the degradation of skin by the enzyme elastase, which is released with the inflammatory response. OPCs specifically block elastase, thus maintaining the integrity of elastin.
 Protecting us from atherosclerosis, cancer and environmental toxins while helping us maintain a youthful appearance--is there anything more we could ask from a plant compound? What about a sweet taste? Proanthocyanadins deliver here, too. Rhizomes of the Indonesian fern Selliguea feei contain the proanthocyanidin selligueain A, which is about 35 times as sweet as sugar.
 The health benefits of OPCs have prompted some researchers to suggest they should have an official "recommended optimal intake." Doses used in many animal experiments are 100 mg/kg of body weight, which is equivalent to between 50 and 200 mg for the average adult, according to Bagchi. With the prevalence of refined foods today, our intake is much lower than the amount we likely evolved with, but there has been little attempt to quantify current OPC intake. One exception is the German National Food Consumption Survey, which found Bavarians consume an average of 3.7 mg/day of OPC.
 Proanthocyanidins show tremendous promise. However, we still have much research to do before there is a single pill to keep us feeling healthy and looking youthful. Fortunately, consumers don't need to wait for the results of large-scale clinical trials to begin enjoying the benefits of proanthocyanidins. These compounds are available today in food and supplements.
 


   Pine Bark Extract (Pinus Pinaster) and OPCs?:

 Pine Bark Extract (Pinus Pinaster) contains Oligomeric proanthocyanidins - also known as OPCs - which are antioxidants that help neutralize unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals. Although the majority of the studies conducted on OPCs have been done in cell culture (test tube) and animals, their ability to reduce free radical damage and oxidative stress suggest that they may be particularly effective in reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and a number of the chronic diseases associated with aging.
 Some individuals also report allergy relief and improvements in memory and mental clarity from taking OPCs, though clinical studies on these subjects appear to be lacking at present. Several manufacturers promote OPCs as a natural remedy for ADHD, but there are no published controlled trials evaluating their effectiveness or safety in treating children or adults with ADHD.

 The most common use of pine bark extract is to prevent and treat a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency. Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when valves in the veins that carry blood back to the heart are weak or damaged and blood collects in the veins of the legs. This collection of blood can lead to varicose veins, spider veins, or sores on the legs. Results that are more serious can include blood clots in the legs. Bioflavonoids called proanthocyanidins in pine bark extract help keep veins and other blood vessels from leaking. Because it strengthens the walls of all blood vessels, pine bark extract may also be effective for slowing retinopathy, the gradual break down of the retina in the eyes. Individuals with arteriosclerosis (a build up of fatty deposits in the arteries), diabetes, or other conditions that increase the likelihood for damage to the small blood vessels in the eyes are more likely to have serious vision problems as a result of blood vessel damage.


 Pine bark extract has antioxidant activity. Therefore, taking it helps to limit free radicals -- chemicals that are produced during the breakdown of foods in the body and that can damage cells. Since exercise can produce free radicals, some athletes use pine bark extract to improve their exercise performance. Similarly, some men use pine bark extract because its antioxidant effects are thought to improve fertility by increasing sperm quality and movement. Because pine bark extract may increase the body's production of nitric oxide, a chemical involved in male sexual response, it may also be useful in treating erectile dysfunction.

 Some evidence appears to show that pine bark extract could be helpful for other chronic conditions. In a small study of individuals with no medical problems, taking pine bark extract for 12 weeks resulted in lower blood pressure and thinner blood. In studies of animals with artificially-induced diabetes, injected pine bark extract produced significant reductions in blood sugar levels. Other studies have shown some effectiveness for pine bark extract in relieving pain for women with abdominal pain due to endometriosis. In laboratory and animal studies, pine bark extract may also have enhanced immune function. In other laboratory studies, pine bark extract appeared to prevent the accumulation of proteins similar to those associated with Alzheimer's disease. While clinical research continues for these conditions, no definitive results prove that pine bark extract is effective for any of them.

 Oral pine bark extract may help to even out the tone of skin that has been darkened by various pigmentation disorders such as melasma. In China, a prescription product containing pine bark extract has been approved for treating skin pigmentation conditions. In the United States, pine bark extract is included in a number of face creams that claim to fight aging or restore wrinkled skin, but these claims are not documented by scientific research. Pine bark extract is also being investigated to determine if it can help prevent sunburn and skin damage from sun exposure.
 


   Famous benefits and Some known application of Pine Bark Extract:

  Pine Bark Extract Proanthocyanidins Benefits in Brief:
 Antioxidant:Greater protection against free radicals and DNA damage than is provided by vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene;
 Cardioprotection (reduces risk of athersclerosis)
 Reduces cancer risk
 Improves vascular strength (stronger blood vessels)
 Reduces edema (inflammation/swelling)
 Promotes eye health (reduces risk of macular degeneration and cataracts)
 Selective toxicity to human breast-, lung-, and gastric-cancer cells;
 Protection against drug-induced liver and kidney damage, tobacco-induced DNA damage, UV-induced skin damage, and chemotherapy-induced toxicity;
 Prevention of heart damage from oxygen deprivation; strengthening blood vessels, repairing varicose veins, reducing leg edema, enhancing microcirculation;
 Stimulation of collagen synthesis, protection and restoration of damaged membranes and connective tissue, including the blood-brain barrier;
 Prevention, amelioration, or reversal of chronic pancreatitis, asthma, lupus, diabetic retinopathy, and deep vein blood clots.
 

 Extensive research has shown that ingredients found within the Pine Bark Extract have positive results in the following areas of human health;

  a. Allergies, Histamine Response and Inflammation as in Allergic Reaction and Hay Fever.
  b. Capillary Protection both in strengthening weakened capillaries and in minimizing damage occurring during strenuous physical activity.
  c. Inflammation, Edema and Varicosity.
  d. Skin Health, Collagen Reactivation and U.V. Radiation Damage
  e. Heart Disease both in reducing cholesterol deposition on arterial walls and the antioxidant effect of reducing stickiness of platelets and reducing clotting problems.
  f. Cancer prevention and treatment in as far as the antioxidant properties protect the body against the activities of carcinogens and free radical damage to DNA.

 Other more recent studies are showing other important ways Pine Bark Extract helps maintain optimal health. These include;

  a. Brain Function in as far as the bio-flavonoids pass through the blood brain barrier and are available to maintain the health of brain cells and facilitate oxygenation to improve memory.
  b. Illnesses like Ulcers, Diabetes, Arthritis and protection from Viral Attacks.
  c. I have researched the benefits to children diagnosed with A.D.D and A.D.H.D (Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Atention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) over the past five years with extremely positive results.


  Some known Scientific Support:

 Arthritis- Pycnogenol has been fairly well studied for its role in reducing oxidative damage. For example, some evidence suggests that pine bark extract may be effective in reducing damage to skin caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. In cell-culture studies Pycnogenol seems to interfere with the expression of cell proliferation and stress response genes ¨C meaning that it may be helpful in reducing cancer cell growth and in modulating chronic inflammation. In human studies, Pycnogenol has cardiovascular benefits by preventing excessive platelet aggregation (blood clotting) caused by cigarette smoking and stress. One study showed that 100 mg of Pycnogenol was as effective as 500 mg of aspirin for reducing platelet aggregation ¨C yet Pycnogenol does not seem to have the same effect on prolonging bleeding times, as aspirin can

 Collagen Protection- OPCs effectively protect collagen structures in several ways. They reinforce the collagen matrix of connective tissue, protect against free radical damage, and inhibit collagen damage caused by inflammation and infection. OPCs have been shown to be effective in cases of psoriasis and the hyper-pigmentation disorder melasma (chloasma).

 Antioxidant Activity- OPCs protect against free-radical damage, suggested to be a major cause of the ageing process. The antioxidant effect is 50 times greater than that of vitamin C and E. A major advantage of these molecules is that they are taken up into the cell membranes and protect against both water- and fat soluble free-radicals.

 Venous Support- Good clinical evidence has shown OPCs to be effective in treating venous insufficiency, varicose veins, capillary fragility, and disorders of the retina. OPCs appear to improve blood circulation through collagen support and nitric oxide (NO) production.


 Visual Function- Studies in healthy volunteers has shown that an intake of 200mg/day of OPCs significantly improved visual performance in dark and after glare tests. A number of European studies have shown that OPCs from pine bark, greatly improved symptoms in patients with diabetic retinopathies, maculopathies, and other visual dysfunctions.

 Cardio Protective - OPCs protect fat and cholesterol from oxidation, thus reducing arterial damage leading to heart disease. OPCs have also been shown to lower cholesterol levels, shrink the deposits in the arteries, inhibit platelet aggregation, and inhibit angiotensin 1-converting enzyme (ACE) - much the same effect as ACE inhibitor drugs used in blood pressure regulation. Data suggests that OPC supplementation is effective in reducing systolic blood pressure in mildly hypertensive patients.

 Strengthening the blood vessels: by stabilizing the cell membrane structures, particularly collagen - the intracellular "glue" that literally holds our tissues together.
 Anti-inflammatory: helpful in the treatment of arthritis.
 Allergies: inhibits the enzyme responsible for releasing histamines.
 Anti-Aging: improves youthful skin tone by improving the integrity of the collagen fibres and attacks free radicals.
 


  Preventing and treating Chronic Venous Insufficiency:

 Preventing and treating a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency is currently the most common use of pine bark extract. Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when valves in the veins that carry blood back to the heart are weak or damaged and blood collects in the veins of the legs. This collection of blood may cause painful, tired, itchy, or heavy feelings in the legs. Results that are more serious can include varicose veins, swelling, leg sores, or blood clots in the legs.

 Pine bark extract helps to control chronic venous insufficiency in two ways. First, chemicals called proanthocyanidins (or polyphenols) in pine bark extract help keep veins and other blood vessels from leaking. In addition, pine bark extract has anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is often a response to irritation, injury, or infection and it usually includes pain, redness, and swelling in the area of the damage. Inflammation, which can occur within body tissues as well as on the surface of the skin, contributes to chronic venous insufficiency.

  Strengthens the walls of all blood vessels and protect eyes:

 Because it strengthens the walls of all blood vessels, pine bark extract may also be effective for slowing retinopathy, which is the gradual break down of the retina in the eyes. Individuals with arteriosclerosis (a build up of fatty deposits in the arteries), diabetes, or other conditions that increase the likelihood for damage to the small blood vessels in the eyes are more likely to have serious vision problems as a result of blood vessel damage.


  Strong Antioxidant activity:

 Pine bark extract also has antioxidant activity. Therefore, taking it helps to limit free radicals:potentially harmful chemicals that are produced during the breakdown of foods in the body. Since exercise can also produce free radicals, some athletes use pine bark extract with the hope of improving their exercise performance. Similarly, some men use pine bark extract because its antioxidant effects are thought to boost fertility by increasing sperm quality and movement. Because pine bark extract may increase the body's production of nitric oxide, a chemical involved in male sexual response, it may also be useful in treating erectile dysfunction.

  Helpful for other chronic conditions:

 In a small study of individuals with no medical problems, taking pine bark extract for 12 weeks generally resulted in lower blood pressure and thinner blood.
 Two studies have found that blood levels of LDL ( cholesterol were lowered among individuals who took pine bark extract)
 Other studies have shown that it may be somewhat effective at relieving abdominal pain for women with endometriosis.
 Results of a very small study of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) found that pine bark extract improved concentration and reduced restless behavior.
 One small pilot study of individuals with migraine headaches showed that taking a combination product containing pine bark extract, vitamin C, and vitamin E for three months helped to reduce the number and intensity of migraines.
 In studies of animals with artificially induced diabetes, injected pine bark extract produced significant reductions in blood sugar levels.
 Other animal studies found that pine bark extract may enhance immune function.
 Very early results of other laboratory studies appear to show that pine bark extract prevented the accumulation of proteins similar to those associated with Alzheimer's disease.


  Skin Disorder treatment:

 Oral pine bark extract may help to even out the tone of skin that has been darkened by various pigmentation disorders such as melasma. In China, a prescription product containing pine bark extract has been approved for treating skin pigmentation conditions. In the United States, pine bark extract is included in a number of non-prescription face creams that claim to fight aging or restore wrinkled skin, but these claims are not documented by scientific research. Pine bark extract is also being investigated to determine if it can help prevent sunburn and skin damage from sun exposure.

  Sexual Health and Performance:

 Antioxidants improve sperm mobility and motility.
 OPCs stimulate NITRIC OXIDE production in the arteries - an essential process needed for healthy male penile erection. The drug VIAGRA works in the same way through increasing nitric oxide. For optimum effects, OPCs along with ARGININE is suggested in cases of erectile dysfunction.
 An intake of 200mg of OPCs has been shown to improve healthy sperm by 100% in 90 days.
 Studies using 60mg OPCs have shown up to 80% improvements in pain reduction in those with endometriosis, period pain, and post-operative gynaecological surgery.
 The antioxidant Pycnogenol improved the quality and function of sperm in men with fertility problems by a mean of 38% and 19%, respectively, after only 90 days of use, according to a new landmark clinical trial being published in the October 2002 issue of the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, giving infertile couples new hope and a new alternative to more invasive procedures.

 Brain Function- As well as their potent antioxidant effects, OPCs help maintain neurotransmitters functioning longer and improve the micro-circulation in the brain. The increase in NITRIC OXIDE may also improve learning ability and memory through its effects as a neurotransmitter. Early evidence suggests that OPCs are effective in Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD). These positive results are due to the effects of increased neurotransmitter lifespan, NO production, and improved brain micro-circulation.
 


   Optimal Brain Function and Proanthocyanidins :

 Grape seed extract provides a rich source of proanthocyanidins, chemical 'cousins' of the more well-known bioflavonoids. Proanthocyanidins have special value for brain health for at least two reasons - their free radical-quenching antioxidant effects and their collagen-protecting effects.
 In some test models, proanthocyanidins are 50 times more potent antioxidants than the two most famous antioxidants, vitamins C and E. Sophisticated tests have shown proanthocyanidins to be powerful quenchers of the hydroxyl radical, the most damaging of all common free radicals, as well as lipid peroxides (rancid fats). Proanthocyanidins have also been shown to markedly delay the onset of lipid peroxidation and to effectively chelate iron ions. Free iron ions are some of the most powerful promoters of lipid peroxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical production. This is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of Parkinsons disease, one of the most common neurological diseases of the aged.

 The structure and function of the brain make it especially susceptible to free radical damage. Neurons are unusually rich in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), the most polyunsaturated fat in the human body. Greater polyunsaturation equals greater ease of free radical damage. This damage is especially prone to occur to neuronal cell membranes - down which electric currents must pass - and to mitochondrial membranes, mitochondria being the 'power plants' that generate the ATP energy that powers all aspects of our brains and bodies. In the very act of 'burning' food to liberate ATP energy in the mitochondria, electron 'sparks' are released that promote free radical damage to polyunsaturate-rich mitochondrial membranes, the 'walls' that cover and define the mitochondrial shape and structure. Free radical-damaged mitochondria are poor energy producers; yet our brain neurons must collectively produce and use 20% of the bodys total ATP output. So,grape seed extract proanthocyanidins probably help brains gradually, over weeks to months, recover to the higher brain energy level needed to sustain mental focus and concentration.

 The other known benefit to the brain that proanthocyanidins offer derives from proanthocyanidins ability to protect collagen structures. Collagen and elastin are the proteins that serve as 'cement' to hold together the cells that make up blood vessel walls. Proanthocyanidins inhibit enzymes such as hyaluronidase, collagenase and elastase that can break down the collagen structure of blood vessel walls.1 This fact is especially important for brain health, due to the blood-brain barrier.
 Capillaries (the tiniest blood vessels that feed individual cells) in the brain are different from capillaries elsewhere in the body. All non-brain capillaries possess 'slit pores' - openings between the patchwork quilt-like mosaic of cells which form blood vessel walls. These slit pores allow nutrient molecules to diffuse from the capillary blood into the fluid which bathes all cells, and thence into the cells themselves. Brain capillaries lack this feature, however. All the cells making up the brain capillary walls are tightly 'stitched' together through their supporting collagen-elastin ground substance 'cement'.

 Nutrient molecules can only pass from the capillary blood to the surrounding brain cells with the help of ATP energy-driven carrier molecules. These act like ferry boats to take nutrients from the blood side of the capillary cell wall, through the capillary lining cell, to the outside of the capillary cell wall, where the nutrient molecules are then picked up by special non-neuronal brain cells called 'glial cells', which then pass the nutrients to the neurons (the electrically active brain cells) for their use. This blood-brain barrier provides a special degree of protection from toxins, as well as blood level fluctuations of nutrients that might disregulate key brain processes. This is especially important for neurons. While all other cell types create their own replacements our whole life long - e.g. new skin cells and intestinal lining cells every 3-5 days, new red blood cells every 4 months, even new bone cells over several years - our bodies create no new neurons after age two. Thus, brain cells are literally irreplaceable. Even if we live to be 100, we will still have the exact same original neurons we had at age two, minus those that died off along the way. Parkinsons disease occurs when 70-80% of a small group of dopamine-using neurons have died off in a brain region called the 'substantia migra'. Thus, anything that safely and effectively preserves and protects the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, also preserves and protects the life, health and function of our precious, irreplaceable neurons.


 Grape seed extract proanthocyanidins can protect the collagen-elastin 'cement' that holds the brain capillary cells together, with no 'leaky holes' from the damaging action of both free radicals and collagen-elastin dissolving enzymes that leak out from damaged or dying cells. Thus, proanthocyanidins are powerful protectors of blood-brain barrier integrity. The seamless, holeless integrity of the blood-brain barrier is the basis for the integrity of our brain structure and function. Autopsy studies have shown that various forms of brain disease and damage can literally create tiny holes in the blood-brain barrier . This allows toxins (such as neurotoxic pesticide residues on our food) and excesses of certain nutrients (such as sodium) to leak into brain cells, with results ranging from mild disruption of function (as in ADD) to neuronal death.

 Proanthocyanidins are extremely safe, natural compounds found in many foods - although at levels too low to provide major benefit. Grape Seed Extract and Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol) are the two main commercial sources of concentrated proanthocyanidins A proanthocyanidin called B2-3-O-gallate is present only in Grape Seed Extract, not in pine bark, and is the most powerful specificproanthocyanidin yet discovered.1 Grape Seed Extract is also significantly less expensive than Pycnogenol, and so is arguably the best proanthocyanidin source. An 'economy level' dose of proanthocyanidins is 30-50 mg per day, while 100 mg is a more truly therapeutic dosage. In Europe, where grape seed extract proanthocyanidins have been used clinically and studied for over 20 years, doses from 100 to 400 mg per day are routinely used. Proanthocyanidins are virtually non-toxic at any affordable dose, with grape allergy being the one possible cause for caution.
 


   Natural Hair Loss Treatments and OPCs:

 Pine bark and grape seed contain the flavonoids OPCs, which offer antioxidant protection against heart disease and cancer.

 Proanthocyanidins--more technically oligomeric proanthocyanidins and, hence, the OPC moniker--are a class of flavonoids. Formerly called "condensed tannins," all proanthocyanidins are chemically similar, the only differences being slight changes in shape and attachments of their polyphenol rings. In nature, a jumble of different proanthocyanidins is always found together, ranging from individual units to complex molecules of many linked units (oligomers).
 OPCs are found in many woody plants. The two most common sources of proanthocyanidins are grape seeds (Vitis vinifera) and the white pine (Pinus maritima, P. pinaster) of southern Europe. Grape seeds can have 7 to 15 percent more OPCs than pine bark and can be more potent as well as more economical.1 OPCs are also abundant in blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha), as well as in apples, berries, barley (and beer made from it), bean hulls, chocolate, rhubarb, rose hips and sorghum.
 Proanthocyanidins deserve their stellar reputation as antioxidants that quench free radicals and potentiate other antioxidants. In one in vitro study, the OPCs in a patented pine bark extract prolonged the life span of vitamin C by 400 percent.2 Another in vitro study showed that exposing blood vessel linings to pine bark OPCs boosted their vitamin E content by 15 percent.3 Grape seed has also shown recycling and potentiating effects. The test tube-based activity of vitamin E, in a system mimicking cell membranes, has shown enhancement by grape seed OPCs.4
 A recent mouse study by Debasis Bagchi, Ph.D., and colleagues at the Creighton University School of Pharmacy in Omaha, Neb., also found that a patented grape seed extract protected tissue from oxidation better than the antioxidant vitamins C and E or beta-carotene.

 Proanthocyanidins may do even more than prevent disease; they may make us more youthful looking. Oxidation damage causes most visible signs of aging in our skin. By preventing this damage, skin will stay younger looking. One way to achieve this is to reduce the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) light. Sunscreen products have incorporated a variety of antioxidants with the intent that they will prevent sun injury to the skin. In one study, grape seed OPCs exerted a solo antioxidant effect at a level of potency on a par with vitamin E--protecting different polyunsaturated fatty acids from UV light-induced lipid peroxidation.26 In this same study, the grape OPCs synergistically interacted with vitamin E, recycling the inactivated form of the vitamin into the active form and thus acting as a virtual vitamin E extender.
 Proanthocyanidins show tremendous promise. However, we still have much research to do before there is a single pill to keep us feeling healthy and looking youthful. Fortunately, consumers don't need to wait for the results of large-scale clinical trials to begin enjoying the benefits of proanthocyanidins. These compounds are available today in food and supplements.

 Proanthocyanidins promote hair follicle cell proliferation and the anagen phase of hair growth:
 In recently published research, Takahashi et al examined 1000 different plant products to determine if any of them could influence hair growth. They determined that proanthocyanidins extracted from grape seeds promoted the proliferation of hair cells by 230%. They also determined that proanthocyanidins converted the telogen (non-growing) phase of hair growth into the anagen (growing) phase of hair growth. In this experiment, proanthocyanidins displayed hair-cycle-converting activity which was similar to that of minoxidil.
 We are now investigating the possibility of the use of proanthocyanidins as agents for curing androgenic alopecia.

 Several selective protein kinase C inhibitors including procyanidins promote hair growth:
 Procyanidin oligomers selectively promote growth of murine hair epithelial cells in vitro and stimulate anagen induction in vivo. We report here the possible relationship between the protein kinase C-inhibiting activity of procyanidins and their hair-growing activity.
 Of the procyanidins, procyanidin B-2 and procyanidin C-1, which selectively inhibit protein kinase C, intensively promote hair epithelial cell proliferation in vitro and stimulate anagen induction in vivo.
 On the other hand, procyanidins, which inhibit both protein kinase C and A, showed relatively low activity in in vitro and in vivo evaluations. We also found that calphostin C, which is a selective inhibitor of protein kinase C, possesses hair epithelial cell growth-promoting activity in vitro and anagen phase-inducing hair-growing activity in vivo.
 Other selective protein kinase C inhibitors, such as hexadecylphosphocholine, palmitoyl-DL-carnitine chloride, and polymyxin B sulfate, also show marked anagen phase-inducing hair-growing activity in vivo.
 Nonselective protein kinase inhibitors, such as staurosporine and K252a, inhibit the growth of hair epithelial cells. 1,2-Dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol, a protein kinase C activator, dose-dependently decreases the growth of hair epithelial cells.
 


   About Anthocyanins and Proanthocyanins:Flavonoid groups

 Anthocyanins and their precursors Proanthocyanins (also called condensed tannins) are chemically related to quercetin, and they are another class of flavonoids that are excellent antioxidants with similar benefits to other bioflavonoids. Pycnogenol, which comes from the bark of the French Maritime Pine (pinus maritima), is a particularly promoted and well-known source of proanthocyanidins. While their cost is several times that of citrus bioflavonoids, tablet sizes are only a fraction of those containing other types of flavonoids, so they are easier to take for individuals with swallowing difficulties, or children.
 Anthocyanidins are found in tea, beets, cherries, plums, red grapes, hawthorn, and some berries, (cyanidin, delphinidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, petunidin, malvidin).
 Proanthocyanidins are found in tea, bilberry, apple, pear, grape seed, pine bark, beer, red wine, cranberry, red beans, (procyanidin, prodelphinidin, propelargonidin).
 Proanthocyanidin is a name for a class of bioflavaniods. In 1936, this bioflavinoid was classified and referred to as Vitamin P, although it didn¡¯t gain official vitamin category status. The common link between the bioflavaniods, of which there are about 20,000 different ones, is that they contain a benzene-pyran-phenolic acid molecular nucleus (referred to as flavin) as part of their much larger molecular structure. Proanthocyanidins have been sold as nutritional/therapeutic supplements in Europe for almost a quarter of a century. Their introduction to the United States has been relatively recent.
 


  Flavonoid groups:

 Flavonoids are a diverse group of polyphenolic compounds existing naturally in plants. They are divided into twelve main sub-groups by their structural class. Main groups of flavonoids are flavonols, flavanones, flavones, anthocyanidins and catechins.
 Simple flavonoids are able to join together to form other flavonoids. For example, the very simple group of monomeric flavonoids called catechins are able to join together to make bigger molecules.
 There are different types of catechins and they bond together in various ways to form different compounds with very different characteristics. Two catechins joined together are called a dimer and three catechins bonded together a trimer and so on up to oligomers and polymers.
 These new compounds are called proanthocyanidins, or condensed tannins. Catechins are the building blocks for proanthocyanidins and the number of the latter is almost endless.
 


   Pine Bark Extract:Suggestions and Administration:

 Potential applications:Skin health / sun protection (reduces inflammation of UV exposed skin), wound healing, economy class syndrome / long car journeys, varicose veins, eye health- cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, capillary fragility, micro-vascular disorders, oedema, allergies, hypertension, atherosclerosis, elevated cholesterol, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, ADD/ADHD, anti-mutagenic (DNA protective).

  Dosage and Administration:

 It is suggested that 25-100mg OPCs will provide synergy for general antioxidant protection. Therapeutic levels are in the range of 0.5 - 1.0mg per pound of body weight. Best taken in divided doses.

 Pine bark extract is commonly used in Europe and Asia. Standardized commercial preparations were introduced to the U.S. market in the late 1980s. Standardization by the manufacturer should assure the same amount of active ingredient in every batch of the commercial preparation. Generally, pine bark extract capsules, tablets, or oral liquid forms should contain between 85% and 90% of proanthocyanidins (also known as polyphenols), the active ingredient of pine bark extract. Lotions or creams usually contain between 0.5% and 2% of pine bark extract.

 Generally,100 to 200 mg daily for 7 to 10 days, then 60 to 100 mg daily, or as desired. Usage ranges from 30 mg per day (venous-lymphatic insufficiency) to 300 mg per day (eye stress from use of video display terminal) in studies reporting significant results.


 Dosing varies, but typical doses used in clinical studies include:
  For chronic venous insufficiency: 45 mg to 360 mg per day -- usually divided into three doses.
  For retinopathy: 50 mg three times a day
  For uneven skin tone: 1 mg to 1.7 mg per kilogram of body weight per day (a kilogram is about 2 1/4 pounds)
  For exercise enhancement: 200 mg three times a day
  For male infertility caused by low sperm count: 200 mg once a day
  For coronary heart disease: 150 mg three times a day
  For high cholesterol: 120 mg three times a day
  For abdominal pain in women: 30 mg to 60 mg once a day

  Toxicity: Proanthocyanidins are almost completely non-toxic both in acute dosage (LD50>4,000mg/kg in rats & mice) and high long-term dosage (no toxic effects at 60 mg/kg/day for 12 months in dogs and 6 months in rats). They have no potential for causing mutations or birth defects, and have no adverse effect on fertility, pregnancy or nursing.

  Precautions:

 Individuals who have autoimmune conditions should not take pine bark extract due to its effects on the immune system. Some autoimmune conditions include: Crohn's disease;Multiple Sclerosis (MS);Psoriasis;Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA);Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE);Type 1 diabetes.
 Not enough is known about how pine bark extract affects a developing baby to recommend its use in pregnant women. Breast-feeding women should also avoid taking pine bark extract because it may pass to the baby in breast milk. No studies of pine bark extract have been conducted in young children, so its potential effects for them are unknown.

  Side Effects: Few side effects have been reported with the use of pine bark extract. The most frequently reported side effects have been mild gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea or upset stomach.

  Interactions:

 Because it can enhance immune system function, pine bark extract may interfere with the effects of drugs used to suppress the immune system after organ transplants or in other conditions. Taking pine bark extract is not recommended for individuals who take drugs such as:
  azathioprine (Imuran),CellCept,cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune),Prograf,Rapamune,Zenapak

 It is best not to take pine bark extract and corticosteroids at the same time. Corticosteroids are used for a variety of inflammatory conditions including arthritis, asthma, cancer, eye conditions, and skin infections. Commonly prescribed corticosteroids include:
  beclomethasone (Beconase, Vancenase),dexamethasone (Decadron),hydrocortisone,methylprednisolone (Medrol),prednisolone,prednisone,triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort)

 No interactions have been reported between pine bark extract and non-prescription drugs, other herbal supplements, or foods. However, despite a number of studies that have been conducted in humans, its possible interactions with drugs, foods, and other dietary supplements are not understood completely. Be sure that your doctor and pharmacist are aware of all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use pine bark extract or any other herbal supplement.

  Safety and Acute toxicity:Pine Bark Extract.

 Acute toxicity(LD50):Pine Bark Extract.OPCs
 LD50-Lethal dose,50 percent kill.Oral.Rodent-mouse.>4000 mg/kg.
 LD50-Lethal dose,50 percent kill.Oral.Rodent-rat.>4000 mg/kg.

 Chronic toxicity:Pine Bark Extract.OPCs
 Chronic toxicity test.Oral.Dogs.Dose/Period:60 mg/kg/day.12 Months.No toxic effects.
 Chronic toxicity test.Oral.Rats.Dose/Period:60 mg/kg/day.6 Months.No toxic effects.
 Proanthocyanidins are almost completely non-toxic both in acute dosage (LD50>4,000mg/kg in rats & mice) and high long-term dosage (no toxic effects at 60 mg/kg/day for 12 months in dogs and 6 months in rats). They have no potential for causing mutations or birth defects, and have no adverse effect on fertility, pregnancy or nursing.

 Toxicology studies done from the 1970s right through to the 1990s have shown no toxicity beyond that found in very large doses of normal food and other human nutrients. The Pine Bark Extract is very concentrated indeed and I advise not exceeding the recommended dose levels. As with most herbal medicines there is absolutely no benefit in very large doses of substances. The body is completely unable to assimilate excessive doses of any substance and over certain levels often the normal benefits are reversed. Toxicology studies suggest that acute toxicity could occur in a 75Kg adult male at a dose level of approximately 336,000mg or more than 250 times my maximum recommended dose.


  Scientific References:

  1.Pine Bark Extract Proanthocyanidins and Pine Bark logogriph.