About Grape seed (scroll down)
About Chlorophyll (scroll down)
About Mangosteen (scroll down)
About Pycnogenol (scroll down)
 A free radical is a molecule containing oxygen which has an unpaired electron, creating an uneven electrical charge. This molecule tries to rebalance itself by robbing neighboring molecules and triggers a dangerous set of reactions that can damage cell membranes, prOteins carbohydrates and DNA (the genetic material of the cell). This reaction continues until free radical is neutralized by an antioxidant. Anti-oxidant Compounds that protect against cell damage inflicted by molecules called oxygen-free radicals, which are a major cause of disease and aging. Grape Seed Vitis vinifera |
NATURE'S MOST POTENT ANTIOXIDANT & RICH SOURCE OF OPC’s
(OLIGOMERIC PROANTHOCYANIDINS )
20X more powerful than Vitamin C
50X more powerful than Vitamin E And Beta Carotene
Grape Seed (Vitis Vinifera), also known as Red Wine Extract, is an important source of one of nature’s most potent antioxidants – Proanthocyanidins (also called OPCs for Oligomeric Procyanidins, or PCOs for Procyanidolic Oligomers). These nutritionally valuable substances have been utilized to treat deteriorating diseases and conditions with great success. Grape Seed helps vitamin C enter the body’s cells, thus strengthening the cell membranes, and protecting the cells from oxidative damage. Research has shown that Proanthocyanidins (which are bioflavonoids) are anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, and antiallergenic, and are major free radical scavengers. Proanthocyanidins help promote tissue elasticity, help heal injuries, reduce swelling and edema, restore collagen and improve peripheral circulation. Proanthocyanidins also help prevent bruising, strengthen weak blood vessels, protect against atherosclerosis, and reduce histamine production. Grape seeds strengthen and support cardiovascular function, and improve the performance of the nervous system and immune system.
Grape Seed Extract has a number of benefits that have been written about extensively in medical journals. These include the following: Protection against cardiovascular disease. Grape Seed Extract reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke and helps improve peripheral and central circulation. It reduces varicose veins, repairs artery and vascular lining and aids in resistance to bruising. Grape Seed Extract improves visual acuity and enhances the benefits of vitamins. Grape Seed Extract enhances the immune system, reduces inflammation and helps control allergic responses; GSE improves joint flexibility and prostate function, reduces mental aging and enhances energy. Grape Seed Extract is a powerful antioxidant that protects against environmental pollution and toxins. It reduces free radical damage to the skin helping prevent wrinkles and reduces the risk of cancer.
Chemistry
95% Proanthocyanidins – phenolic compounds in the form of polymers or oligomers, built of flavan-3-ol units, such as catechin, epicatechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, afzelechin and epiafzelechin.
Botanical Description
Grown in warm, temperate regions of the world. It produces clusters of pale green flowers. The fruit has green, yellow or reddish-purple skins and two to four seeds inside the pulpy flesh.
Indicated for
Ageing, allergies, arm and leg numbness or tingling, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, allergies, blood vessel damage, cataracts, cancer prevention, diabetes, eczema, endemtriosis, eye-strain, fibromyalgia, gum disease, haemorrhoids, hair problems, hardening of arteries, hayfever, heart disease prevention, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, HIV, hives, impotence, improving circulation, leg cramps, lupus, muscular degeneration, preventing degenerative diseases, promotes healing, psoriasis, retinopathy, ulcers, varicose veins.
Grape Seed Health Benefits
Grape Seeds contain a remarkable bioflavonoid known as Proanthocyanidin. Recently, it was discovered that Proanthocyanidin is 20 times more powerful than Vitamin C and 50 times more powerful than Vitamin E and Beta Carotene.
Delays Ageing
As we grow older, the body’s inherent production of antioxidant enzymes decreases. As this happens, your skin becomes leathery and wrinkled. Your arteries lose their elasticity. Your joints and cartilages stiffen. Your vision becomes cloudy. Your spine becomes stooped and every part of your body gradually ages and deteriorates.The role of antioxidant is to deactivate free radicals and stop the cellular and tissue damage they cause. Proanthocyanidin from grapes seeds are among the most potent antioxidant free radical deactivators ever discovered. You can dramatically slow down ageing process and protect your connective tissues from free radical damage by adding Proanthocyanidin to your daily diet.
To a large extent, youthfulness is determined by the suppleness of the body’s connective tissues. Connective tissue is the meshwork that holds your body together. In infants and youth, it is soft, smooth, and elastic. It consists of long chains of mucopolysaccharides, called glycosaminoglycans, chondroitin sulfate, collagen, and elastin. As these tissues are, they oxidize and become cross-linked and rigid, losing their elasticity.
Studies have demonstrated that Proanthocyanidin bioflavonoid have a selective affinity for connective tissue. By binding to the glycosaminoglycans, collagen, and elastin, Proanthocyanidin bioflavonoid protect them from oxidation and inflammatory damage. Additionally, when combined with vitamin C, Proanthocyanidin bioflavonoid create a favorable environment for the biosynthesis of new collagen and elastin.
You are only as young as your connective tissue. This is why some people look prematurely old before their time and others youthful. Think of the cowboy in the desert with his sun-worn and wrinkled face that is as hard as leather. Then recall the soft and supple skin of a newborn baby or even a young model. The difference is the amount of oxidation, or free radical damage, that has occurred to the connective tissue. Now you know the secret of youthfulness and that you can do something about it.
Skin Care
In some practices, it has seen grape seed oil extract OPC work wonders with skin conditions. It can provide dramatic relief from the aggravating symptoms of both eczema and psoriasis. OPS has even found its way into the realm of cosmetology. For several years, women’s journals have been publishing advertisements of the anti-ageing beauty products designed to prevent premature aging of the skin through the use of anti-oxidant. Here again, OPC can play a major role because of its potent antioxidant ability and because it is so readily absorbed into the connective tissue of the skin. It can help protect the skin form ultra-violet radiation damage that leads to wrinkles and skin cancer and because they stabilize collagen and elastin, Proanthocyanidin can help to improve the elasticity or youthfulness of the skin.Grape seed extract proanthocyanidins fight skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema. Certain components within the skin--collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid--participate in keeping it healthy, PCOs help keep these substances in good shape by blocking enzymes that might disrupt their chemical structure. In this way, grape seed extract may be useful in treating inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis. Its flavonoids also inhibit allergic reactions that can generate such skin problems such as eczema.People taking grape seed oil extract proanthocyanidin have noticed that it helps notify their skin and reduce cellulite, reducing dimpling, even stretch marks, and old scars.
Eyes
Your eyes are called the windows of your soul. Those windows let light in. the ultraviolet radiation of the sun’s rays causes free-radical damage to the lens and retina of the eye. As the proteins in your lens oxidize, they form a thickened lens known as a cataract that eventually obscures the vision. The majority of the elderly U.S. population displays some degree of cataracts and 40,000 Americans are blind due to cataracts.
Grape seed extract proanthocyanidins slow progression of macular degeneration and cataracts. Grape seed extract improves blood flow in the eye’s tiny vessels, where certain eye diseases can cause blockages an impairments that result in vision damage. Cataracts are an example. The extract’s antioxidant powers are of particular value in warding off the free-radical damage so frequently cited as the leading cause of macular degeneration.
Clinical studies have shown that antioxidants can halt cataract progression. In one study, a daily dose of 1000mg of vitamin C resulted in a significant reduction of cataract development. In another study, Bilberry extract, which is a good source of Proanthocyanidin, plus vitamin E, stopped the progression of cataract formation in 97% of the patients tested. Since proanthocyanidin is 20 times more potent than vitamin C an 50 times more potent than vitamin E as an antioxidant, and because of its selective affinity for collective tissue, including that of the lens of the eye, this is recommended to anyone over the age of 50.
Grape seed extract proanthocyanidins ease eye strain. People who stare at computer monitors for extended periods may benefit from taking grape seed extract. The findings of one recent study indicate that 300mg, taken daily, will ease eyestrain and enhance perception of contrast after just 60 days.
Anti-Ulcer
FunctionProanthocyanidin has been shown to heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers, whether they are spontaneous or caused by aspirin, sterois or NSAID drugs. Proanthocyanidin binds to the connective tissue of the mucosal membranes leading to rapid healing of ulcerogenic erosions.
Free Radical Fighter
Free Radical Fighter
In 1986, Dr. Masquelier made perhaps his greatest discovery ever. He discovered that proanthocyanidin has an intense, free radical scavenging effect. In order to understand the magnitude of the discovery of this potent antioxidant extracted from the grape seeds, you need to understand a little about free radicals. Free radicals are produced from normal oxygen metabolism within the body and from exposure to certain chemicals, environmental pollutants, sunlight, radiation, burns, cigarette smoke, drugs, alcohol, viruses, bacteria, parasites, dietary fats, and more. Free radicals are oxygen molecules with a missing or unpaired electron which spins erratically throughout the body, damaging every tissue they bounce into until they are finally quenched by an antioxidant such as vitamin C or E, beta-carotene, bioflavonoid, or certain enzymes produced by the body.
Free radicals destroy cell membranes, damage collagen and other connective tissues, disrupt important physiological processes, and create mutations in the DNA of cells. Free radicals have been implicated in more than sixty diseases, including heart disease, hardening of the arteries, arthritis, Alzheimer’s Disease, cataracts, and cancer.
Protects against heart disease
Free radicals destroy cell membranes, damage collagen and other connective tissues, disrupt important physiological processes, and create mutations in the DNA of cells. Free radicals have been implicated in more than sixty diseases, including heart disease, hardening of the arteries, arthritis, Alzheimer’s Disease, cataracts, and cancer.
Protects against heart disease
Experimental studies have recently discovered that oxidation of LDL cholesterol is the key factor leading to hardening of the arteries and heart disease. Vitamin E has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of this oxidation. In fact, a study conducted by the World Health Organization determined that a low level of vitamin E was a better predictor of heart disease risk that a high cholesterol level.
May help prevent Cancer
Although grape seed oil extract is not a cure cancer, experimental evidence has been available or a long time showing that antioxidants like OPC greatly reduce the incidence of all types of cancer. One study showed that the risk of developing cancer is 11.4 times greater for those with low vitamin E and selenium levels. OPC protects cellular DNA from oxidative damage and cell mutations which can lead to cancer. OPC’s ability to bind to cell membranes may also protect them from the attachment of cancer-causing hormones. Although grapeseed oil extract in and of itself is not a cure for cancer, it potentiates the body’s ability to fight and prevent cancer. It protects the cells that do fight cancer, the white blood cells known as the natural killer cells. Proanthocyanidin is also known to work synergistically with vitamin C to increase the length of time white blood known as natural killer cells can fight cancer.
Anti-inflammatory
ActionOne of the first things that doctors noticed was the anti-inflammatory effects of Proanthocyanidin. These effects were described as early as 1950. They are produced in part by the antioxidant effect of Proanthocyanidin as well as by inhibiting the release and synthesis of compounds that promote inflammation such as histamine, serine proteases, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes.
Proanthocyanidin selectively binds to the connective tissue of joints, stopping the pain of arthritis by preventing swelling and healing the damaged tissue. I have seen remarkable results in treating both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and Proanthocyanidin.
Anti-allergic Action
Physicians also noticed that Proanthocyanidin produce a potent anti allergic action in many of the patients. This action is related to the antihistamine effect, as well as the ability of Proanthocyanidin to strengthen the cell membranes of the mast cells that contain the allergic chemicals. This prevents them from over-reacting or becoming hypertensive to pollens and food allergens. They have used grape seed extract with dramatic results in their practice to treat severely allergic patients. One of the greatest benefits in using Proanthocyanidin rather that antihistamine drugs is that it does not cause any drowsiness or mental dullness. Many of their patients who had tried everything else first told me that the grape seed oil extract provided total relief from the misery of their allergy symptoms.
Anti-histamine Action
The antihistamine action of Proanthocyanidin is medicated by an inhibiting effect on the enzyme histadine decarboxylase which is responsible for the production of histamine. This is enhanced by Proanthocyanidin’s ability to block hyaluronidase, the enzyme that facilitates the release of histamine into body tissues.
Lungs
Asthma and emphysema have also been found to benefit from the use of proanthocyanidins. Asthma is largely caused by an allergic reaction within the bronchial tubes that leads to bronchial constriction an excessive mucous excretion.
Due to its ability to inhibit histamine and other inflammatory chemicals, researchers have found proanthocyanidin to be very effective in the treatment of asthma.
The use of grape seed oil extract proanthocyanidin in their practice has also proven to be very effective in reducing the coughing, wheezing, weakness, weight loss, mucous and recurring respiratory infections that are usually associated with emphysema. Apparently, proanthocyanidin reduces the inflammation and damage if the air sacs of patients with emphysema.
Nervous System
Physicians have recently begun to report that many of their patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) improve significantly while on OPC. Many studies have also demonstrated that patients with MS have reduced activity levels of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. OPC has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier where it may protect the nervous tissue from the brain from oxidation. This could explain why many older patients taking OPC report improved mental clarity.
Hemorrhoids
This blood vessel strengthening effect of grape seed extract may also help to prevent and treat hemorrhoids and treat a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency, which occurs when valves in the veins that carry blood back to the heart are weak or damaged. The blood that collects in the veins of the legs can lead to varicose veins, spider veins, or sores on the legs.
Cholesterol
A recent study of 38 smokers indicates that PCOs may function as effectively as aspirin in keeping blood cells from sticking together and forming blood clots (called as anticoagulant effect). And the PCOs posed no risk of gastrointestinal irritation or bleeding generally associated with aspirin. Interestingly, another preliminary study using grape seed oil extract indicating that using 2 tablespoons a day to replace other oils in cooking could increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol by 14% and reduce triglycerides by 15% in just four weeks.
Chlorophyll
Liquid Oxygenated Sunshine
Mangosteen Fruit
Recent studies have shown that drinking wine has a protective effect against heart disease. For months, scientist debated whether it was the grapes of the alcohol that provided the protective benefits. Then in February of 1995, a study published in the journal Circulation, of the American Heart Association, showed that six glasses of grape juice was as effective as two glasses of wine in preventing heart disease. This offers convincing evidence that it is the OPC from the grapes used to make the wine rather than the alcohol that provide the protective benefits to the arteries and the heart. Grape seeds are the most concentrated source of OPC. As we age, the elastic fibers in our arteries gradually oxidize and become rigid. This hardening of the arteries can lead to high blood pressure. OPC can improve blood vessel elasticity and reduce elevated blood pressure. Some 39 to 40 patients, taking grape seed oil extract OPC, have reported significant reductions in their blood pressure.Vitamin E prevents LDL oxidation because it is a powerful antioxidant. Proanthocyanidin from grape has seed extractbeen shown to be fifty times more potent than vitamin E in its role as antioxidant. It has also been shown to prevent the stickiness of blood platelets that can lead to blood clots and strokes.
May help prevent Cancer
Although grape seed oil extract is not a cure cancer, experimental evidence has been available or a long time showing that antioxidants like OPC greatly reduce the incidence of all types of cancer. One study showed that the risk of developing cancer is 11.4 times greater for those with low vitamin E and selenium levels. OPC protects cellular DNA from oxidative damage and cell mutations which can lead to cancer. OPC’s ability to bind to cell membranes may also protect them from the attachment of cancer-causing hormones. Although grapeseed oil extract in and of itself is not a cure for cancer, it potentiates the body’s ability to fight and prevent cancer. It protects the cells that do fight cancer, the white blood cells known as the natural killer cells. Proanthocyanidin is also known to work synergistically with vitamin C to increase the length of time white blood known as natural killer cells can fight cancer.
Anti-inflammatory
ActionOne of the first things that doctors noticed was the anti-inflammatory effects of Proanthocyanidin. These effects were described as early as 1950. They are produced in part by the antioxidant effect of Proanthocyanidin as well as by inhibiting the release and synthesis of compounds that promote inflammation such as histamine, serine proteases, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes.
Proanthocyanidin selectively binds to the connective tissue of joints, stopping the pain of arthritis by preventing swelling and healing the damaged tissue. I have seen remarkable results in treating both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and Proanthocyanidin.
Anti-allergic Action
Physicians also noticed that Proanthocyanidin produce a potent anti allergic action in many of the patients. This action is related to the antihistamine effect, as well as the ability of Proanthocyanidin to strengthen the cell membranes of the mast cells that contain the allergic chemicals. This prevents them from over-reacting or becoming hypertensive to pollens and food allergens. They have used grape seed extract with dramatic results in their practice to treat severely allergic patients. One of the greatest benefits in using Proanthocyanidin rather that antihistamine drugs is that it does not cause any drowsiness or mental dullness. Many of their patients who had tried everything else first told me that the grape seed oil extract provided total relief from the misery of their allergy symptoms.
Anti-histamine Action
The antihistamine action of Proanthocyanidin is medicated by an inhibiting effect on the enzyme histadine decarboxylase which is responsible for the production of histamine. This is enhanced by Proanthocyanidin’s ability to block hyaluronidase, the enzyme that facilitates the release of histamine into body tissues.
Lungs
Asthma and emphysema have also been found to benefit from the use of proanthocyanidins. Asthma is largely caused by an allergic reaction within the bronchial tubes that leads to bronchial constriction an excessive mucous excretion.
Due to its ability to inhibit histamine and other inflammatory chemicals, researchers have found proanthocyanidin to be very effective in the treatment of asthma.
The use of grape seed oil extract proanthocyanidin in their practice has also proven to be very effective in reducing the coughing, wheezing, weakness, weight loss, mucous and recurring respiratory infections that are usually associated with emphysema. Apparently, proanthocyanidin reduces the inflammation and damage if the air sacs of patients with emphysema.
Nervous System
Physicians have recently begun to report that many of their patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) improve significantly while on OPC. Many studies have also demonstrated that patients with MS have reduced activity levels of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. OPC has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier where it may protect the nervous tissue from the brain from oxidation. This could explain why many older patients taking OPC report improved mental clarity.
Hemorrhoids
This blood vessel strengthening effect of grape seed extract may also help to prevent and treat hemorrhoids and treat a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency, which occurs when valves in the veins that carry blood back to the heart are weak or damaged. The blood that collects in the veins of the legs can lead to varicose veins, spider veins, or sores on the legs.
Cholesterol
A recent study of 38 smokers indicates that PCOs may function as effectively as aspirin in keeping blood cells from sticking together and forming blood clots (called as anticoagulant effect). And the PCOs posed no risk of gastrointestinal irritation or bleeding generally associated with aspirin. Interestingly, another preliminary study using grape seed oil extract indicating that using 2 tablespoons a day to replace other oils in cooking could increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol by 14% and reduce triglycerides by 15% in just four weeks.
Chlorophyll
Liquid Oxygenated Sunshine
is the green coloring matter of plants, is an important natural product,beneficial to humanity. A water soluble form of chlorophyll is employed for the body to gain the health benefits associated with the green liquid extracted from grape seed. It accelerates the healing process, eliminates body odor, improves blood circulation and metabolism and detoxifies contaminants in the body. It also improves and enhances our natural energy state, thereby resulting in improved health and well being. With this combination the effectiveness of OPC is enhanced remarkably.
Health Benefits of Chlorophyll
Health Benefits of Chlorophyll
True enough, chlorophyll has been seen to provide health benefits to those who take them. It has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. Here are some of the known chlorophyll benefits:
• It has been seen to help in the growth and repair of tissues.
• Chlorophyll helps in neutralizing the pollution that we breathe in and intake everyday - a good supplement for smokers
• It efficiently delivers magnesium and helps the blood in carrying the much needed oxygen to all cells and tissues.
• It is also found to be useful in assimilating and chelating calcium and other heavy minerals.
• It had been seen to have a good potential in stimulating red blood cells to improve oxygen supply.
• Along with other vitamins such as A, C and E, chlorophyll has been seen to help neutralize free radicals that do damage to healthy cells.
• Chlorophyll is also an effective deodorizer to reduce bad breath, urine, fecal waste, and body odor.
• It may reduce the ability of carcinogens to bind with the DNA in different major organs in the body.
• Chlorophyll may be useful in treating calcium oxalate stone ailments
• It possesses some anti-atherogenic activity as well.
• It can be used to treat infected wounds naturally.
• These are only a few of the multitude benefits that chlorophyll can do to the body.
• It has antimutagenic and anti-carcinogenic properties so that it may be helpful in protecting your body against toxins and in reducing drug side effects.
• It has been seen to help in the growth and repair of tissues.
• Chlorophyll helps in neutralizing the pollution that we breathe in and intake everyday - a good supplement for smokers
• It efficiently delivers magnesium and helps the blood in carrying the much needed oxygen to all cells and tissues.
• It is also found to be useful in assimilating and chelating calcium and other heavy minerals.
• It had been seen to have a good potential in stimulating red blood cells to improve oxygen supply.
• Along with other vitamins such as A, C and E, chlorophyll has been seen to help neutralize free radicals that do damage to healthy cells.
• Chlorophyll is also an effective deodorizer to reduce bad breath, urine, fecal waste, and body odor.
• It may reduce the ability of carcinogens to bind with the DNA in different major organs in the body.
• Chlorophyll may be useful in treating calcium oxalate stone ailments
• It possesses some anti-atherogenic activity as well.
• It can be used to treat infected wounds naturally.
• These are only a few of the multitude benefits that chlorophyll can do to the body.
• It has antimutagenic and anti-carcinogenic properties so that it may be helpful in protecting your body against toxins and in reducing drug side effects.
Mangosteen Fruit
Garcinia Mangostana
The Research on Xanthones:
Xanthones have been the subject of quite a degree of research for several decades. They're found in a select number of rain forest plants and dark red fruits and even things like the purple kumara, (sweet potato) a staple of the Maori in New Zealand for centuries. Xanthones are found in abundance in the pericarp or rind, of the Mangosteen fruit. The smooth, purple/dark red covering that was traditionally ground with ancient mortars and used to heal infection, turns out to be very high in beneficial Xanthones and potent antioxidants.
The two most beneficial Xanthones found in the Mangosteen have been named Alpha Mangostin and Gamma Mangostin. When isolated and thoroughly tested by researchers, these two Xanthones have been found to carry a host of benefits. According to professional journals such as Free Radical Research, Journal of Pharmacology, and the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, these Xanthones have a significant effect on cardiovascular health; are naturally antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory; and are amongst the most powerful antioxidants found in nature.
Research laboratories around the world have now been helping us understand how the Mangosteen fruit imparts such wonderful benefits. Modern science is just catching up with what herbal doctors have already known for centuries about Mangosteen.
Pycnogenol
Pinus maritima
The accumulated knowledge of centuries of ancient Asian medicine has been passed down from generation to generation and also passed on to early European explorers and settlers. Consequently it is no wonder that so much recent modern scientific research has been conducted on the Mangosteen and the beneficial properties of the pericarp (rind).
An enormous amount of modern study and research has been channelled toward unlocking the secrets of this remarkable fruit. Scientists have actually identified the major compounds found in the Mangosteen that are responsible for its healthful characteristics.
These days, just about everybody knows about free radicals and the damage they wreak on the body and most would know, to counteract the effects of free radicals, we need a diet high in antioxidants. Free radicals attack the cells in our bodies every second of every day, whilst antioxidants work actively with the immune system to repair the damage before cellular degeneration occurs. If the balance between free radical attack and the body's ability to overcome free radical activity is weighted on the side of the free radicals... well... you are destined for early onset of metabolic disease and a premature death!
Much has been made of the extensive antioxidant properties of vitamins, especially Vitamin C and Vitamin E. But did you know the beneficial effects of synthetic vitamins are extremely questionable? Recent scientific research clearly indicates that anyone relying on synthetic vitamins to maintain their health, experience little or no benefit. Conversely, synthetic vitamins taken in larger doses in the mistaken belief that more is better, may in fact make you feel much worse and result in a deterioration of health and even premature death. Proven whole but did you know there exists many whole food antioxidants that are much more powerful than any combination of synthetic vitamins? The key to good health is not to take synthetic vitamin supplements but to supplement with one of these life-enhancing antioxidants is found in Mangosteen pericarp and is called Xanthone. In fact, there's a whole family of Xanthones, with some of the most dynamic found in the whole fruit Mangosteen which includes the pericarp. While most people know about the antioxidant benefits of Vitamins C and E from whole foods, far fewer are aware of the incredibly potent antioxidant power of Xanthones and many other phyto-chemicals. Xanthones are natural plant chemical substances that have recently won high praise from numerous scientists and researchers. Xanthones have been studied for their medicinal potential, since they demonstrate a number of health giving properties and are proving to be significant substances for good health.The Research on Xanthones:
The two most beneficial Xanthones found in the Mangosteen have been named Alpha Mangostin and Gamma Mangostin. When isolated and thoroughly tested by researchers, these two Xanthones have been found to carry a host of benefits. According to professional journals such as Free Radical Research, Journal of Pharmacology, and the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, these Xanthones have a significant effect on cardiovascular health; are naturally antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory; and are amongst the most powerful antioxidants found in nature.
Research laboratories around the world have now been helping us understand how the Mangosteen fruit imparts such wonderful benefits. Modern science is just catching up with what herbal doctors have already known for centuries about Mangosteen.
Pinus maritima
What is Pycnogenol? Have you heard about it already?
Unique extract of the bark of French maritime fine tree; French maritime fine trees grows in South Western France – 2.5 million acres; Rich source of a distinct group of highly bioavailable and bioactive flavonoids; Has remarkable health benefits
Pycnogenol is being distributed by Horphag around the world and is added as ingredient for more than 200 products.
In the Philippines alone, Pycnogenol is being marketed as stand alone product, Super Pycno, and is an active ingredient of Café Samericano, Anneda Milk Tea and other cosmetic products.
Why Pycnogenol Today is Considered the most potent and powerful Anti Oxidant, It is now most prescribed by many Doctors as Best natural health product that would reduce your risk to more than 60 diseases and improve, Cure your Health Problem, boost your immunity against such illnesses and make you look, feel and live better! A food Supplement that helps cure any diseases.
10x more potent than Grape Seed
40x more potent than Vitamin E !!!
350x more potent than Vitamin C !!!
1000x more potent than Lipoic Acid !!!
There are more than 200 scientific/ clinical studies being conducted regarding the health benefits of Pycnogenol. Scientists around the world found out that Pycnogenol helps to prevent or even reverse the state of various diseases. Horphag compiled a bibliography of said independent studies on the following health concerns:
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
VENOUS DISORDERS
CHOLESTEROL LOWERING
DIABETIC SYNDROME
EYE HEALTH
INFLAMMATION
JOINT HEALTH
ALLERGY AND ASTHMA
MENSTRUAL DISORDERS, PREGNANCY ASSOCIATED PAIN
SPORTS AND ENDURANCE
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)
SKIN CARE
ORAL HEALTH CARE
ECONOMY CLASS SYNDROME
ANTI-AGING
FERTILITY
ANTI-MICROBIAL AND ANTI-VIRAL ACTIVITY
IMMUNOLOGY
BIO-AVAILABILITY AND METABOLISM
What is PYCNOGENOL?
Pycnogenol® (pic-noj-en-all) is the brand name for a premium herbal supplement ingredient extracted from the bark of the French maritime pine tree. That special pine bark is loaded with a concentrate of active bioflavonoids, which are also found in fresh fruits and vegetables. The extract from the pine bark is a potent blend of active compounds. Extensive research over a period of more than 35 years was dedicated to safety of Pycnogenol® and to substantiate the manifold benefits for human health of this extraordinary extract. Purity and potency of Pycnogenol® are continuously monitored and Horphag Research guarantees its constant high quality. (www.pycnogenol.com)
The Pycnogenol Story
For generations, certain tribes of North American Indians used bioflavonoids extracted from the bark of pine trees for a variety of disorders. Because of its marvelous healing properties, they called this pine the Annedda, or "tree of life." These native Americans, who routinely ate deer as their primary source of nutrition, when confronted with scarcity of meat asked themselves. Where does the deer get its strength? They discovered that deer stripped away pine tree bark and were able to derive life-giving nutrients from its organic composition. It was also observed that devastating diseases such as scurvy did not afflict those who ate the bark, leaves or needles of this pine tree. In 1535, Jack Cartier learned of the medicinal value of the bark, which remained relatiely unknown until 20 or 30 years ago, when scientists reviewed his notes and commenced research. Cartier became caught in the bitter snows of Quebec, while attempting to navigate the St .Lawrence River. Cartier and his crew subsisted on hard biscuits and cured meat and eventually came down with what was believed to be scurvy. Scurvy is an abhorrent disease which causes a very slow and agonizing death. Several of Cartier's men died before they were approached by the Quebec Indians who prepared a tea they called "Annedda" from the bark of a certain native pine tree. The ment took the tea and used its leaves as poultices. Their recovery was almost immediate.What must have seemed like miraculous substance was technically, nothing more than vitamins with bioflavonoids naturally inherent to pine tree.The
Unique extract of the bark of French maritime fine tree; French maritime fine trees grows in South Western France – 2.5 million acres; Rich source of a distinct group of highly bioavailable and bioactive flavonoids; Has remarkable health benefits
Pycnogenol is being distributed by Horphag around the world and is added as ingredient for more than 200 products.
In the Philippines alone, Pycnogenol is being marketed as stand alone product, Super Pycno, and is an active ingredient of Café Samericano, Anneda Milk Tea and other cosmetic products.
Why Pycnogenol Today is Considered the most potent and powerful Anti Oxidant, It is now most prescribed by many Doctors as Best natural health product that would reduce your risk to more than 60 diseases and improve, Cure your Health Problem, boost your immunity against such illnesses and make you look, feel and live better! A food Supplement that helps cure any diseases.
10x more potent than Grape Seed
40x more potent than Vitamin E !!!
350x more potent than Vitamin C !!!
1000x more potent than Lipoic Acid !!!
There are more than 200 scientific/ clinical studies being conducted regarding the health benefits of Pycnogenol. Scientists around the world found out that Pycnogenol helps to prevent or even reverse the state of various diseases. Horphag compiled a bibliography of said independent studies on the following health concerns:
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
VENOUS DISORDERS
CHOLESTEROL LOWERING
DIABETIC SYNDROME
EYE HEALTH
INFLAMMATION
JOINT HEALTH
ALLERGY AND ASTHMA
MENSTRUAL DISORDERS, PREGNANCY ASSOCIATED PAIN
SPORTS AND ENDURANCE
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)
SKIN CARE
ORAL HEALTH CARE
ECONOMY CLASS SYNDROME
ANTI-AGING
FERTILITY
ANTI-MICROBIAL AND ANTI-VIRAL ACTIVITY
IMMUNOLOGY
BIO-AVAILABILITY AND METABOLISM
What is PYCNOGENOL?
Pycnogenol® (pic-noj-en-all) is the brand name for a premium herbal supplement ingredient extracted from the bark of the French maritime pine tree. That special pine bark is loaded with a concentrate of active bioflavonoids, which are also found in fresh fruits and vegetables. The extract from the pine bark is a potent blend of active compounds. Extensive research over a period of more than 35 years was dedicated to safety of Pycnogenol® and to substantiate the manifold benefits for human health of this extraordinary extract. Purity and potency of Pycnogenol® are continuously monitored and Horphag Research guarantees its constant high quality. (www.pycnogenol.com)
The Pycnogenol Story
For generations, certain tribes of North American Indians used bioflavonoids extracted from the bark of pine trees for a variety of disorders. Because of its marvelous healing properties, they called this pine the Annedda, or "tree of life." These native Americans, who routinely ate deer as their primary source of nutrition, when confronted with scarcity of meat asked themselves. Where does the deer get its strength? They discovered that deer stripped away pine tree bark and were able to derive life-giving nutrients from its organic composition. It was also observed that devastating diseases such as scurvy did not afflict those who ate the bark, leaves or needles of this pine tree. In 1535, Jack Cartier learned of the medicinal value of the bark, which remained relatiely unknown until 20 or 30 years ago, when scientists reviewed his notes and commenced research. Cartier became caught in the bitter snows of Quebec, while attempting to navigate the St .Lawrence River. Cartier and his crew subsisted on hard biscuits and cured meat and eventually came down with what was believed to be scurvy. Scurvy is an abhorrent disease which causes a very slow and agonizing death. Several of Cartier's men died before they were approached by the Quebec Indians who prepared a tea they called "Annedda" from the bark of a certain native pine tree. The ment took the tea and used its leaves as poultices. Their recovery was almost immediate.What must have seemed like miraculous substance was technically, nothing more than vitamins with bioflavonoids naturally inherent to pine tree.The
Benefits:
protects against dangerous molecules known as radicals, which speed up the aging process and set the stage for heart disease, cancer and more than 60 other diseases.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF PYCNOGENOL, RESEARCH FINDS
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE ACTIVITIES
Korean scientists found that pycnogenol had anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities, as pycnogenol showed inhibitory effects on the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 by regulating redox-sensitive transcription factors. [1]
ANTI-OXIDATIVE ACTIVITIES
Pycnogenol was found to have strong free radical-scavenging activities against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. [2] In a study, pycnogenol prevented vascular endothelial cells from injury induced by an organic oxidant t-butyl hydroperoxide and inhibited macrophage oxidative burst, plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, and hydroxyl radical-induced plasmid DNA damage. [3] When, pycnogenol was added to cigarette filters and free radicals were found to be depleted in a dose dependent manner. [4] A significant increase in oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) was observed in plasma throughout a pycnogenol supplementation period. The average melasma area of 30 patients was found decreased by 25.86 +/- 20.39 mm and the average pigmentary intensity decreased by 0.47 +/- 0.51 unit after pycnogenol supplementation (25 mg, 3 times a day) for 30 days. The general effective rate was 80%. [5] Pycnogenol chewing gums significantly reduced gingival bleeding and led to no increases in plaque accumulation in a double-blinded study. [6] Actually, most of pycnogenol benefits found are related to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities.
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
Pycnogenol treatment reduced the reactive oxygen species production, apoptosis, p56(lck) specific activity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and improved SLE disease activity index in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLS). [7]
ASTHMA
Asthma is considered as a chronic inflammatory process. Because of pycnogenol's anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, it may have benefits on asthma.
CANCER / TUMOR
Concentrations of Pycnogenol of 0.05-0.2% was applied to the irradiated dorsal skin of kh:hr hairless mice immediately after exposure resulted in dose-dependent reduction of the inflammatory sunburn reaction. Pycnogenol lotions applied postirradiation also reduced this immunosuppression . Chronic exposure to UV on 5 days/week for 10 weeks induced skin tumors from 11 weeks in both control mice and in mice receiving daily applications of 0.05% Pycnogenol, but tumor appearance was significantly delayed until 20 weeks in mice receiving 0.2% Pycnogenol. Consequently, they concluded that topical Pycnogenol offered significant and dose-dependent protection from UV-induced acute inflammation, immunosuppression and carcinogenesis, when applied to the skin after daily irradiation.[10] A research group compared the response of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and normal human mammary cells (MCF-10) to apoptosis in the presence of pycnogenol. They plated out MCF-7 and MCF-10 cells in culture dishes and grown in medium containing 0, 40, or 80 micrograms pycnogenol/ml culture medium. They detected the apoptosis by morphology, chromatin condensation, nuclear DNA fragmentation, DNA strand breakage or apoptotic bodies. They found that DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in MCF-7 cells treated with pycnogenol than the untreated cells while pycnogenol did not significantly alter the number of apoptotic cells in MCF-10 samples. In conclusion, pycnogenol selectively induced death in human mammary cancer cells (MCF-7) and not in normal human mammary MCF-10 cells. [11] Pyconogenol is a strong anti-oxidant; it may also benefit on conditions such as thrombosis, platelet aggregation and retinopathy.
Forty patients with diagnosed CVI were treated with 360 mg pycnogenol per day over 4 weeks. A significantly reduction of the circumference of the lower limbs and significantly improved subjective symptoms (e.g. pain, cramps, night-time swelling, feeling of "heaviness", and reddening of the skin) and a significant decrease in cholesterol and LDL values in the blood were observed, whereas HDL remained unaffected. [15]
In another study, researchers found that cigarette smoking increased heart rate and blood pressure and this increases could not be prevented by pycnogenol or aspirin consumption just before smoking. However, increased platelet reactivity yielding aggregation 2 hours after smoking could be prevented by 500 mg aspirin or 100 mg pycnogenol from a study of 22 German heavy smokers. Similar findings was also obtained from another group of 16 American smokers. [16] While, another group showed that a single dose of pycnogenol reduced platelet aggregation in cigarette smokers in a dose-response fashion. [17] Spadea L and Balestrazzi E., Cattedra di Clinica Oculistica, Italy, recruited 20 patients in a double-blind study randomly treated with placebo or Pycnogenol (50 mg x 3/day for 2 months) and another 20 patients in a open study treated with Pycnogenol at the same dose schedule. They found a beneficial effect of Pycnogenol on the progression of retinopathy. With placebo, the retinopathy progressively worsened and the visual acuity significantly decreased. With pycnogenol-treatment, the retinal function stopped to deteriorate and visual acuity significantly recovered. They both thought that the mechanism might be related to its free radical (FR) scavenging, anti-inflammatory and capillary protective activities. They considered that pycnogenol might bind to the blood vessel wall proteins and mucopolysaccharides and produce a capillary 'sealing' effect, leading to a reduced capillary permeability and oedema formation. [19] Kobayashi et al, University of California, Berkeley , have shown that antioxidant therapy was beneficial to neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease and cerebral ischemia. Glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in HT-4 neuronal cells was due to oxidative stress caused by depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH). Consequently, they demonstrated that a wide variety of antioxidants inhibit glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in HT-4 neuronal cells. They found that low concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and its analogs were highly effective in protecting neuronal cells against cytotoxicity. Purified flavonoids and herbal extracts of Gingko biloba and pycnogenol were also effective. [21].
CHOLESTEROL
Devaraj S et al, University of California, Davis, tested the effect of Pycnogenol supplementation on measures of oxidative stress and the lipid profile in humans. And, they found that a significant increase in oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) in plasma throughout the supplementation period and the ORAC value returned to baseline after the 4-wk washout period. They also found that Pycnogenol significantly reduced LDL-cholesterol levels and increased HDL-cholesterol levels in plasma of two-thirds of the subjects. [22]. Hasegawa N, Nagoya Bunri College, Japan, found that pycnogenol inhibited the expression of glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. Consequently, he considered pycnogenol inhibits the accumulation of lipid droplets in adipose tissue. [24] Pycnogenol also significantly reduced LDL-cholesterol levels and increased HDL cholesterol levels in plasma of two-thirds of the human subjects. [25]
DIABETIC
Researchers in Kenya found that pycnogenol treatment significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations in diabetic rats. Elevated hepatic catalase activity in diabetic rats was restored to normal levels after pycnogenol treatment [26] Liu X et al, Guang An Men Hospital of Chinese Medical Science Research Institute, Beijing, PR China conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multi-center study was performed with 77 diabetes type II patients to investigate anti-diabetic effects of the French maritime pine bark extract, Pynogenol. They found that supplementation with 100 mg Pycnogenol for 12 weeks, during which a standard anti-diabetic treatment was continued, significantly lowered plasma glucose levels as compared to placebo. And, it also improved endothelial function. [28]
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Relaxation of the cavernous smooth muscle is required for penile erection, while nitric oxide triggers such relaxation. Stanislavov R and Nikolova V. Seminological Laboratory SBALAG, Bulgaria, investigated the possibility of overcoming erectile dysfunction (ED) by increasing the amounts of endogenous NO. Pyconogenol is known to increase production of NO by nitric oxide syntase together with L-arginine as substrate for this enzyme. They orally administered 40 men, aged 25-45 years, with pycnogenol and L-arginine. They found that treatment with a combination of L-arginine and Pycnogenol for the following month increased the number of men with restored sexual ability to 80%. And, 92.5% of the men experienced a normal erection, after the third month of treatment. They concluded that oral administration of L-arginine in combination with Pycnogenol causes a significant improvement in sexual function in men with ED. [29]
SPERM QUALITY AND FUNCTION
Roseff SJ, West Essex Center for Advanced Reproductive Endocrinology, NJ, found that the mean sperm morphology following Ham's F-10 capacitation increased by 38% following a pycnogenol treatment (200 mg daily for 90 days) to 19 subfertile men, and the mannose receptor binding assay scores improved by 19%. [30]
WOUND HEALING AND SCAR FORMATION
Blazso G et al, University of Szeged, Hungary, applied pycnogenol to experimental wounds inflicted on healthy rats by means of a branding iron. They found that 1% Pycnogenol significantly shortened the wound healing time as well as the diameter of the scars. And, the wound healing time was found to be dose-dependent. [31]
AGING
Buz'Zard AR et al, Loma Linda University, CA, established an in vitro model using genetically-engineered keratinocytes to screen natural compounds for the ability to stimulate HGH secretion. They found that a combination of equal amounts of L-arginine and L-lysine, aged garlic extract (Kyolic), S-allyl cysteine and Pycnogenol significantly increased secretion of HGH in this in vitro model. [33]
PYCNOGENOL SIDE EFFECTS
Probably, pycnogenol is safe with limited or no side effect. Studies reported no side effects of pycnogenol include [1] using pycnogenol for 40 men suffered from erectile dysfunction for 3 months [34] [2] using pycnogenol for patients patients suffered from chronic venous insufficiency. [35] [3] using pycnogenol for 30 women suffered from melasma. [37]
Pycnogenol® is one of the most researched food supplements and has passed extensive safety tests. Toxicity test results demonstrated that Pycnogenol® is safe, even at high doses for long periods of time. To date, no serious adverse side effects had been observed or reported in clinical trials. Mild side effects as gastro-intestinal discomfort, headache, nausea and dizziness were seldom reported. Because of its astringent taste, which occasionally causes minor stomach discomfort, it is best to take Pycnogenol® with or after meals. Pycnogenol® is certified kosher and has earned Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status for applications in functional foods and beverages in the U.S. (www.pycnogenol.com)
protects against dangerous molecules known as radicals, which speed up the aging process and set the stage for heart disease, cancer and more than 60 other diseases.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF PYCNOGENOL, RESEARCH FINDS
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE ACTIVITIES
Korean scientists found that pycnogenol had anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities, as pycnogenol showed inhibitory effects on the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 by regulating redox-sensitive transcription factors. [1]
ANTI-OXIDATIVE ACTIVITIES
Pycnogenol was found to have strong free radical-scavenging activities against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. [2] In a study, pycnogenol prevented vascular endothelial cells from injury induced by an organic oxidant t-butyl hydroperoxide and inhibited macrophage oxidative burst, plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, and hydroxyl radical-induced plasmid DNA damage. [3] When, pycnogenol was added to cigarette filters and free radicals were found to be depleted in a dose dependent manner. [4] A significant increase in oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) was observed in plasma throughout a pycnogenol supplementation period. The average melasma area of 30 patients was found decreased by 25.86 +/- 20.39 mm and the average pigmentary intensity decreased by 0.47 +/- 0.51 unit after pycnogenol supplementation (25 mg, 3 times a day) for 30 days. The general effective rate was 80%. [5] Pycnogenol chewing gums significantly reduced gingival bleeding and led to no increases in plaque accumulation in a double-blinded study. [6] Actually, most of pycnogenol benefits found are related to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities.
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
Pycnogenol treatment reduced the reactive oxygen species production, apoptosis, p56(lck) specific activity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and improved SLE disease activity index in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLS). [7]
ASTHMA
Asthma is considered as a chronic inflammatory process. Because of pycnogenol's anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, it may have benefits on asthma.
CANCER / TUMOR
Concentrations of Pycnogenol of 0.05-0.2% was applied to the irradiated dorsal skin of kh:hr hairless mice immediately after exposure resulted in dose-dependent reduction of the inflammatory sunburn reaction. Pycnogenol lotions applied postirradiation also reduced this immunosuppression . Chronic exposure to UV on 5 days/week for 10 weeks induced skin tumors from 11 weeks in both control mice and in mice receiving daily applications of 0.05% Pycnogenol, but tumor appearance was significantly delayed until 20 weeks in mice receiving 0.2% Pycnogenol. Consequently, they concluded that topical Pycnogenol offered significant and dose-dependent protection from UV-induced acute inflammation, immunosuppression and carcinogenesis, when applied to the skin after daily irradiation.[10] A research group compared the response of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and normal human mammary cells (MCF-10) to apoptosis in the presence of pycnogenol. They plated out MCF-7 and MCF-10 cells in culture dishes and grown in medium containing 0, 40, or 80 micrograms pycnogenol/ml culture medium. They detected the apoptosis by morphology, chromatin condensation, nuclear DNA fragmentation, DNA strand breakage or apoptotic bodies. They found that DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in MCF-7 cells treated with pycnogenol than the untreated cells while pycnogenol did not significantly alter the number of apoptotic cells in MCF-10 samples. In conclusion, pycnogenol selectively induced death in human mammary cancer cells (MCF-7) and not in normal human mammary MCF-10 cells. [11] Pyconogenol is a strong anti-oxidant; it may also benefit on conditions such as thrombosis, platelet aggregation and retinopathy.
Forty patients with diagnosed CVI were treated with 360 mg pycnogenol per day over 4 weeks. A significantly reduction of the circumference of the lower limbs and significantly improved subjective symptoms (e.g. pain, cramps, night-time swelling, feeling of "heaviness", and reddening of the skin) and a significant decrease in cholesterol and LDL values in the blood were observed, whereas HDL remained unaffected. [15]
In another study, researchers found that cigarette smoking increased heart rate and blood pressure and this increases could not be prevented by pycnogenol or aspirin consumption just before smoking. However, increased platelet reactivity yielding aggregation 2 hours after smoking could be prevented by 500 mg aspirin or 100 mg pycnogenol from a study of 22 German heavy smokers. Similar findings was also obtained from another group of 16 American smokers. [16] While, another group showed that a single dose of pycnogenol reduced platelet aggregation in cigarette smokers in a dose-response fashion. [17] Spadea L and Balestrazzi E., Cattedra di Clinica Oculistica, Italy, recruited 20 patients in a double-blind study randomly treated with placebo or Pycnogenol (50 mg x 3/day for 2 months) and another 20 patients in a open study treated with Pycnogenol at the same dose schedule. They found a beneficial effect of Pycnogenol on the progression of retinopathy. With placebo, the retinopathy progressively worsened and the visual acuity significantly decreased. With pycnogenol-treatment, the retinal function stopped to deteriorate and visual acuity significantly recovered. They both thought that the mechanism might be related to its free radical (FR) scavenging, anti-inflammatory and capillary protective activities. They considered that pycnogenol might bind to the blood vessel wall proteins and mucopolysaccharides and produce a capillary 'sealing' effect, leading to a reduced capillary permeability and oedema formation. [19] Kobayashi et al, University of California, Berkeley , have shown that antioxidant therapy was beneficial to neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease and cerebral ischemia. Glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in HT-4 neuronal cells was due to oxidative stress caused by depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH). Consequently, they demonstrated that a wide variety of antioxidants inhibit glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in HT-4 neuronal cells. They found that low concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and its analogs were highly effective in protecting neuronal cells against cytotoxicity. Purified flavonoids and herbal extracts of Gingko biloba and pycnogenol were also effective. [21].
CHOLESTEROL
Devaraj S et al, University of California, Davis, tested the effect of Pycnogenol supplementation on measures of oxidative stress and the lipid profile in humans. And, they found that a significant increase in oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) in plasma throughout the supplementation period and the ORAC value returned to baseline after the 4-wk washout period. They also found that Pycnogenol significantly reduced LDL-cholesterol levels and increased HDL-cholesterol levels in plasma of two-thirds of the subjects. [22]. Hasegawa N, Nagoya Bunri College, Japan, found that pycnogenol inhibited the expression of glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. Consequently, he considered pycnogenol inhibits the accumulation of lipid droplets in adipose tissue. [24] Pycnogenol also significantly reduced LDL-cholesterol levels and increased HDL cholesterol levels in plasma of two-thirds of the human subjects. [25]
DIABETIC
Researchers in Kenya found that pycnogenol treatment significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations in diabetic rats. Elevated hepatic catalase activity in diabetic rats was restored to normal levels after pycnogenol treatment [26] Liu X et al, Guang An Men Hospital of Chinese Medical Science Research Institute, Beijing, PR China conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multi-center study was performed with 77 diabetes type II patients to investigate anti-diabetic effects of the French maritime pine bark extract, Pynogenol. They found that supplementation with 100 mg Pycnogenol for 12 weeks, during which a standard anti-diabetic treatment was continued, significantly lowered plasma glucose levels as compared to placebo. And, it also improved endothelial function. [28]
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Relaxation of the cavernous smooth muscle is required for penile erection, while nitric oxide triggers such relaxation. Stanislavov R and Nikolova V. Seminological Laboratory SBALAG, Bulgaria, investigated the possibility of overcoming erectile dysfunction (ED) by increasing the amounts of endogenous NO. Pyconogenol is known to increase production of NO by nitric oxide syntase together with L-arginine as substrate for this enzyme. They orally administered 40 men, aged 25-45 years, with pycnogenol and L-arginine. They found that treatment with a combination of L-arginine and Pycnogenol for the following month increased the number of men with restored sexual ability to 80%. And, 92.5% of the men experienced a normal erection, after the third month of treatment. They concluded that oral administration of L-arginine in combination with Pycnogenol causes a significant improvement in sexual function in men with ED. [29]
SPERM QUALITY AND FUNCTION
Roseff SJ, West Essex Center for Advanced Reproductive Endocrinology, NJ, found that the mean sperm morphology following Ham's F-10 capacitation increased by 38% following a pycnogenol treatment (200 mg daily for 90 days) to 19 subfertile men, and the mannose receptor binding assay scores improved by 19%. [30]
WOUND HEALING AND SCAR FORMATION
Blazso G et al, University of Szeged, Hungary, applied pycnogenol to experimental wounds inflicted on healthy rats by means of a branding iron. They found that 1% Pycnogenol significantly shortened the wound healing time as well as the diameter of the scars. And, the wound healing time was found to be dose-dependent. [31]
AGING
Buz'Zard AR et al, Loma Linda University, CA, established an in vitro model using genetically-engineered keratinocytes to screen natural compounds for the ability to stimulate HGH secretion. They found that a combination of equal amounts of L-arginine and L-lysine, aged garlic extract (Kyolic), S-allyl cysteine and Pycnogenol significantly increased secretion of HGH in this in vitro model. [33]
PYCNOGENOL SIDE EFFECTS
Probably, pycnogenol is safe with limited or no side effect. Studies reported no side effects of pycnogenol include [1] using pycnogenol for 40 men suffered from erectile dysfunction for 3 months [34] [2] using pycnogenol for patients patients suffered from chronic venous insufficiency. [35] [3] using pycnogenol for 30 women suffered from melasma. [37]
Pycnogenol® is one of the most researched food supplements and has passed extensive safety tests. Toxicity test results demonstrated that Pycnogenol® is safe, even at high doses for long periods of time. To date, no serious adverse side effects had been observed or reported in clinical trials. Mild side effects as gastro-intestinal discomfort, headache, nausea and dizziness were seldom reported. Because of its astringent taste, which occasionally causes minor stomach discomfort, it is best to take Pycnogenol® with or after meals. Pycnogenol® is certified kosher and has earned Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status for applications in functional foods and beverages in the U.S. (www.pycnogenol.com)
