Grape Seed (Vitis vinifera L. & V.coignetieae)/Pine Bark (Pinus maritima) Extracts

(Proanthocyanidins)

Family: Vitaceae

• Jennifer Baker
• Allison Solomon

Chemical Composition

Active Component = proanthocyanidins*

Synonyms =

• Oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OCP)
• Procynidolic oligomers (PCO)
• Pycnogenol® (pick-nah-geh-nol)

* There are approximately 20,000 combinations of bioflavonoids

• one group, proanthocyanidins are vastly superior because they are water-soluble & have an increased F.
• the proanthocyanidins can be extracted from pine bark, grape seed and some other fruits and
• vegetables

Grape Seed extracts contain 92-95 % proanthocyanidins

Pine Bark extracts contain 80-85% proanthocyanidins

Pharmacology

• Increases absorption of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

• Vitamin C is essential in maintaining healthy connective tissues and integrity of cell walls. Vitamin C deficiency = scurvey; signs include swollen and bleeding  gums and later on subcutaneous bleeding.

• Decreases capillary permeability and fragility (i.e. strengthens vessels) by:

• Protecting against free radical assault
• Enhancing vitamin C

• Free radical /oxidant scavenger

• Free radicals are highly reactive forms of oxygen produced when O2 loses an electron as it is processed into energy. Energy conversion is not 100% efficient (little mistakes happen) and free radicals are made. When metabolic rates are increased (ex: exercise) more free radicals are produced which can damage tissue (thus, feeling of soreness after exercise). These highly reactive oxygen molecules steal electrons from cell walls, stimulating a chain reaction creating more free radicals (lipid peroxides).

• Proanthocyanidins are able to neutralize/trap free radicals/lipid peroxides and noncompetitively inhibit xanthine oxidase (the primary generator of oxygen free radicals)

• Inhibits destruction of collagen

• Collagen is the primary protein constituent of connective tissue. It is also found in skin, bone, cartilage and ligaments.

• Proanthocyanidins prevent collagen destruction by:

1. cross-linking collagen fibers which leads to reinforcement
2. prevent collagen damage by free radicals because of their antoxidant activity
3. inhibit cleavage of collagen by enzymes (hyaluronidase, elastase and collagenase) secreted by leukocytes during inflammation

• Prevent release of compounds that cause inflammation and allergies

1. hisatmine
2. prostaglandins
3. leukotrienes

Clinical Applications

• Reduce risk of heart disease, cancer, accelerated aging and arthritis
• Prevent development of atherosclerosis and possibly lower cholesterol
• Reduce vericose veins (hemorrhoids), edema/swelling of legs
• Treat venous insufficiency
• Improve skin smoothness
• Protect against sun damage
• Effective against psoriasis
• Effective against hay fever
• Anti-inflammatory agent
• Improve joint flexibility
• Increase exercise tolerance and reduce post exercise pain
• Reduce diabetic retinopathy
• Reduce frequency and severity of colds
• Acts against stomach ulcers and inflammation

Toxicities

• No side effects published

Bagchi Study

Grape seed, vitamin C and vitamin E were assessed for their scavenging abilities against oxygen free radicals.  The concentration-dependent scavenging property of the products was also assessed.  Free radicals were generated biochemically using xanthine oxidase. Chemiliminescence assay was used as the index for scavenging activity.  Results reveal grape seed is the more potent scavenger of free radicals compared to vitamin C and vitamin E.

References

Zimmerman M. Grape seed standardized extract. L & H Vitamins Inc. Health Newsline; 10. Long Island City, NY.

Pycnogenol: The supreme antioxidant. The Healthy Cell News; Fall/Winter 1996 (6).

Murray MT. The Healing Power of Herbs. Prima Publishing. Rocklin, CA. 1995, 185-191.

Bagchi D, Garg A, Krohn FL, Bagchi M, Tran MX, Stohs SJ. Oxygen free radical scavenging abilities of viamins C and E, and a grape seed proanthocyanidin extract in vitro. Research Communications in Molecular Pathology and Pharmacology. 1997;95(2),179-87.

Internet addresses:

http://www.smartbasic.com/glos.news/3GrapePAC.html

http://home.unicomp.net/~1schiele/proadesc.htm

http://www.crl.com/~tyman/captain_pinebark/book.html

http://www.weir.net/~rcowan1/grapine.htmwww.stevemorrow.com/opc-85.htm

http://www.lhsusa.com/TMMPinBar.html

http://lonezone.com/HEALTH?HERV/p21.txt