From Pycnogenol
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®.
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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