Pycnogenol® is the patented trade name for a water extract of the bark of the French maritime pine ( Pinus pinaster  ssp.  atlantica ), which is grown in coastal south-west France. Pycnogenol® contains oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) as well as several other bioflavonoids: catechin, epicatechin, phenolic fruit acids (such as ferulic acid and caffeic acid), and taxifolin. Procyanidins are oligometric catechins found at high concentrations in red wine, grapes, cocoa, cranberries, apples, and some supplements such as Pycnogenol®.

From Pine bark extract is a potent antioxidant, and may help boost the effects of vitamin C and other antioxidants, UC Berkeley scientists report

BERKELEY — An extract of pine bark has proven to be one of the most potent antioxidants, a property that may explain why pine bark has been used in folk medicine around the world, according to a new report by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley.

Lester Packer and his colleagues at UC Berkeley screened many natural compounds for antioxidant activity and found that pine bark extract, marketed as Pycnogenol® (pik-nah-je-nal), is the most potent of the lot.

Antioxidants are chemicals that deactivate free radicals — highly destructive chemicals that damage cells and contribute to many diseases, ranging from stroke and heart attacks to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Free radicals even contribute to aging.

In the past year and a half, Packer and his colleagues have documented a number of strong antioxidant effects of Pycnogenol that place it among the most potent antioxidants, ranking with vitamins E and C, and lipoic acid.

Packer also recently found that Pycnogenol extends the lifetime of vitamin C in the body, prolonging its beneficial effects as an antioxidant.

I just noticed that Derma E Skin Care is selling Pycnogenol Redness Reducing Serum. This is a topical product that also contains some interesting looking ingredients such as aloe, calendula and arnica montana extract.

Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Allantoin, Pinus Pinaster (Pycnogenol®) Bark Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium (Canadian Willowherb™) Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract (6C), Alteromonas Ferment (Abyssine® 657) Extract, Xanthan Gum, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer (Aristoflex®), Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate.

If anyone gets to try this product please do leave us a comment below. I will be interested to know if pycnogenol is effective in a topical or whether it is better as a supplement.

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Organic food ‘better’ for heart

Flavonoids have been shown to reduce high blood pressure, lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Writing in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the team said nitrogen in the soil may be the key.

Dr Alyson Mitchell, a food chemist at the University of California, and colleagues measured the amount of two flavonoids – quercetin and kaempferol – in dried tomato samples that had been collected as part of a long-term study on agricultural methods.

…

Flavonoids have also been linked with reduced rates of some types of cancer and dementia.

The Food Standards Agency says there is some evidence that flavonoids can help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and they are currently carrying out a study to look at the health benefits in more detail.

However, a spokesperson said there was no evidence that organic food was healthier.

“Our long-standing advice on organic food is there can be some nutrient differences but it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily better for you.”

The RSRP Page on Quercetin tell us that, “Quercetin is an herbal COX and 5-LOX inhibitor that when taken as a supplement may be helpful in controlling inflammation”. The role of Quercetin and other flavonoids in vascular function is an interesting area of study. Whilst there is no direct link yet to rosacea, general vascular health is definitely a good thing for rosacea sufferers.

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Although the mechanism remains to be elucidated, these results suggest caution for hypertensive subjects taking supplements containing combinations of vitamin C and polyphenols.

A subsequent thread on The Rosacea Forum was wanting to downplay the significance of this study.

Some further comments from the Published Article’s Author:

The findings from our study were seen in treated hypertensives with additional cardiovascular risk factors. Although we don’t know the mechanism involved for the blood pressure increase, we are suggesting that people should use caution when considering taking these supplements. This research has been published in a peer-reviewed journal following a rigorous review process.

Dr. Natalie Ward

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Effect of Grape Seed Extract and Quercetin on Cardiovascular and Endothelial Parameters in High-Risk Subjects

Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2004(5): 272–278

Abstract: Grape seed extract (GSE) has in vitro antioxidant activity but whether or not it works in vivo is not clear. In a fully randomised, crossover trial with 4-week treatment periods on 36 men and women with above-average vascular risk, we aimed to demonstrate that 2g/day of GSE (1g of polyphenols) alone, or with 1g/day of added quercetin in yoghurt, favourably alters vascular function, endothelial function, and degree of oxidative damage in comparison to a control yoghurt. GSE alone improved flow-mediated dilatation determined ultrasonically by an absolute 1.1% compared with control. There was no effect of the combination of GSE with quercetin. No other blood or urine measure was altered. Thus sufficient polyphenols from GSE appear to be absorbed to influence endothelial nitric oxide production, and GSE has the potential to favourably influence vascular function.

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A word of warning for anyone who is considering taking Vitamin C and Grape Seed Extract together. Be sure to seek the advice of your doctor first.

The combination of vitamin C and grape-seed polyphenols increases blood pressure: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, Journal of Hypertension 2005 Feb;23(2):427-34.

Background: There is growing evidence that oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. Thus, dietary antioxidants may beneficially influence blood pressure (BP) and endothelial function by reducing oxidative stress.

Objective: To determine if vitamin C and polyphenols, alone or in combination, can lower BP, improve endothelial function and reduce oxidative stress in hypertensive individuals.

Results: A significant interaction between grape-seed and vitamin C treatments for effects on BP was observed. Vitamin C alone reduced systolic BP versus placebo (-1.8 +/- 0.8 mmHg, P = 0.03), while polyphenols did not (-1.3 +/- 0.8 mmHg, P = 0.12). However, treatment with the combination of vitamin C and polyphenols increased systolic BP (4.8 +/- 0.9 mmHg versus placebo; 6.6 +/- 0.8 mmHg versus vitamin C; 6.1 +/- 0.9 mmHg versus polyphenols mmHg, each P < 0.0001) and diastolic BP (2.7 +/- 0.6 mmHg, P < 0.0001 versus placebo; 1.5 +/- 0.6 mmHg, P = 0.016 versus vitamin C; 3.2 +/- 0.7 mmHg, P < 0.0001 versus polyphenols). Endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation, and markers of oxidative damage were not significantly altered.

Conclusion: Although the mechanism remains to be elucidated, these results suggest caution for hypertensive subjects taking supplements containing combinations of vitamin C and polyphenols.

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