Pycnogenol is a patented nutrient supplement extracted from the bark of European coastal pine Pinus maritima. Pycnogenol consists of flavonoids, catechins, procyanidins and phenolic acids. which are also found in many herbs. It is quite possible that many of the health benefits of Pycnogenol can also be obtained from other herbs.

Pycnogenol, 50 mg - Nature's Way

Pycnogenol is a natural product made from the bark of the European coastal pine, Pinus maritima. Pycnogenol is rich in proanthocyanidins, a special class of water-soluble antioxidant flavonoids, which are excellent free radical scavengers. Proanthocyanidins are believed to play an important role in maintaining good health.

Pycnogenol Pine Bark Extract


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Twice a month you will receive an email with several new studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D. We will mention research updates on health benefit of Pycnogenol as it relates to health improvement.

 

Pycnogenol Supplement Facts:
Pycnogenol - 50 mg * Pine, dried extract (bark)

Suggested Use: take 1 Pycnogenol tablet a few times a week, or as recommended by your health care provider.
* Pycnogenol daily value not established.

Pycnogenol Health Benefit - Human studies
The benefit of Pycnogenol may extend to several conditions. Pycnogenol has been evaluated in diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic blood vessel health, menopausal symptoms, asthma, dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain), reduction of thrombophlebitis during long flights, and hypertension.

Pycnogenol and menopause symptoms
Dr. Han-Ming Yang of Ham-Ming Hospital in Taiwan have found Pycnogenol reduces menopause symptoms such as fatigue, headache, and vaginal dryness when given over a period of several months. Pycnogenol is an extract of the bark of the French maritime pine tree (Pinus pinaster), which contains a high concentration of antioxidant compounds that help prevent cell damage. Pycnogenol may improve blood flow by enhancing blood vessel dilation. The dosage of Pycnogenol was 100 mg twice a day. The Pycnogenol capsules were provided by the product manufacturer, Switzerland-based Horphag Research. Blood tests indicated improvement in antioxidant levels. Scandinavian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2007.

Pycnogenol and Hypertension
A study published in the October journal of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis and Hemostasis shows Pycnogenol reduced edema, a side effect of antihypertensive medications. According to Dr. Gianni Belcaro, lead researcher of the study, some patients taking antihypertensive medications are believed to suffer from edema as a side-effect. This happens because the antihypertensive medications cause blood vessels to dilate, which allows easier blood flow and thus lowers blood pressure. However, as a side-effect this causes blood to pool in the vessels of the lower legs. In result they stretch and liquid seeps into tissue causing swelling (edema). Results of this study show Pycnogenol to improve blood circulation, avoiding blood pools and reducing edema. The study sampled 53 hypertensive patients at the G D’annunzio University in Italy. All patients suffered from edema of their ankles and feet as a result of antihypertensive medications and were taking medications at the same dosage for at least four months. Twenty-three patients were being treated with ACE inhibitors (brand names Mavik, Altace) and 30 patients were being treated with nifedipine (calcium channel blockers) (brand names Adalat, Procardia). The eight week study sampled 27 patients with 150 mg Pycnogenol treatment per day versus an equivalent dosage of placebo for the remaining 26 patients. Blood vessels causing edema of the lower legs were measured using a strain gauge plethysmography (a general instrument for determining and registering variations in the size of an organ or limb). Patients were first measured in supine position then while standing up. After an eight week Pycnogenol treatment, patients treated with ACE inhibitors experienced a 35 percent decrease of ankle swelling while patients being treated with nifedipine experienced a 36 percent decrease of ankle swelling. According to Dr. Belcaro, Pycnogenol helps defy a major side-effect of antihypertensive medication. Furthermore, Pycnogenol has a blood pressure-lowering effect itself and thus helps to achieve a healthy cardiovascular system. Pycnogenol was chosen for the study because it has demonstrated its effectiveness with conditions such as edema, DVT and blood circulation improvement in many clinical trials. In 2005, a study published in Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis showed Pycnogenol to be effective in reducing edema during long airplane flights lasting 7-12 hours. In 2004, a study published in Life Sciences revealed patients who took prescribed high blood pressure medication were able to cut the dosage in half when they supplemented with Pycnogenol. Pycnogenol is a natural plant extract originating from the bark of the Maritime pine that grows along the coast of southwest France and is found to contain a unique combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids, which offer extensive natural health benefits. The extract has been widely studied for the past 35 years and has more than 220 published studies and review articles ensuring safety and efficacy as an ingredient. Today, Pycnogenol is available in more than 600 dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products worldwide.

Pycnogenol enhances nitric oxide production which leads to an improvement in blood vessel dilation and an increase in blood flow and oxygen supply to muscles.

Pycnogenol and Diabetic Microangiopathy
Improvement of diabetic microangiopathy with pycnogenol: A prospective, controlled study.
Angiology. 2006 Aug-Sep;57(4):431-6. Vascular Lab and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, G D'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara University, San Valentino Vascular Screening Project, Faculty of Motory Sciences, L'Aquila University, Italy.
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of oral Pycnogenol (Horphag Research Ltd, United Kingdom) in patients with diabetic microangiopathy. Patients without a history of diabetic ulcerations were treated with Pycnogenol. Patients received oral Pycnogenol (50 mg capsules, 3 times daily for a total of 150 mg daily for 4 weeks). A group of 30 patients was included (severe microangiopathy); 30 comparable patients were observed as controls (no treatment during the observation period). All patients had signs and symptoms of diabetic microangiopathy. After 4 weeks, microcirculatory and clinical evaluations showed a progressive decrease in skin flux at rest in the foot (indicating an improvement in the level of microangiopathy), a significant decrease in capillary filtration, and a significant improvement in the venoarteriolar response in all treated subjects. There were no visible effects in controls except a slight reduction in skin flux at rest in the foot. Treatment was well tolerated in both groups. In conclusion, this study confirms the clinical efficacy of Pycnogenol in patients with diabetic microangiopathy.

Pycnogenol for menopause
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of Pycnogenol on the climacteric syndrome in peri-menopausal women.
Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2007;86(8):978-85. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ham-Ming Hospital, Taiwan.
French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) was found to alleviate menstrual pain and reduce hyperactivity in clinical studies. These results suggest the possibility to observe positive effects in treating climacteric syndrome. Some 200 peri-menopausal women were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, and treated with Pycnogenol (200mg) daily. All menopause symptoms improved, antioxidative status increased and LDL/HDL ratio was favourably altered by Pycnogenol. No side effects were reported. Pycnogenol may offer an alternative method to reducing menopause symptoms without unwanted effects.

Pycnogenol and Venous Ulcers
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the healing of venous ulcers in three groups of 16 patients: one group received placebo tablets, another group received Pycnogenol tablets and the final group received both Pycnogenol tablets and local topical treatment of the wound with Pycnogenol powder. All three groups received compression stockings to counteract swelling and had their ulcers cleaned and disinfected. Over a six-week period, the groups were regularly monitored and researchers found the group treated with Pycnogenol tablets, the ulcer size was reduced to just 11 percent of the original size -- a startling difference from the placebo group. And, the group who supplemented with Pycnogenol and used the topical Pycnogenol powder resulted in complete healing of the ulcer. Although venous ulcers occur in a small percentage of the population, just 1 percent, age, obesity and prolonged standing can contribute to poor vein health and chronic venous insufficiency which is becoming a growing concern. The researchers saw definite wound closing within 6 weeks in the patient group who orally and topically supplemented with Pycnogenol. Pycnogenol not only accelerated the healing process by lowering the swellings of the ulcer, but demonstrated a measurable oxygen increase around the skin of the wound demonstrating Pycnogenol’s effect on better blood circulation. Additional venous studies with Pycnogenol have been published showing the efficacy of Pycnogenol in helping patients prevent the development of edema (leg and ankle swelling) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) during long-distance flights. The study showed that Pycnogenol not only prevented thrombosis in legs but also significantly lowered the typical swellings of ankles and feet, which are common to most people on long airplane flights. These results were published in the November 2004 and July 2005 issues of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis / Hemostasis. Pycnogenol® is a natural plant extract originating from the bark of the Maritime pine that grows along the coast of southwest France and is found to contain a unique combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids, which offer extensive natural health benefits. The extract has been widely studied for the past 35 years and has more than 180 published studies and review articles ensuring safety and efficacy as an ingredient. Today, Pycnogenol is available in hundreds of dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products worldwide. The study was published in the November/December 2005 issue of Angiology.

Pycnogenol and endometriosis
A report in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine reveals that Pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, reduces symptoms of endometriosis by 30 percent. The study, held at Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Ishokawa, Japan, sampled 58 women ages 21-38 who underwent operations for endometriosis within six months prior to the study. After confirming regular menstruation and ovulation for three months before treatment, patients were examined before and at 4,12, 24 and 48 weeks after treatment began to check for symptom control (pain, urinary and bowel symptom, breakthrough bleeding). Patients were randomized to two groups: Pycnogenol(r) and Gn-RHa. Patients who supplemented with Pycnogenol took 30 mg capsules orally twice daily for 48 weeks immediately after morning and evening meals. Patients who received the Gn-RHa therapy received injected leuprorelin acetate depot, 3.75 mg intracutaneously, six times every four weeks for 24 weeks. (Leuprorelin treatment completely blocks estrogen in the body and must be discontinued after 24 weeks because of side effects). Both treatment groups showed no differences at start of treatment and reported severe pain, pelvic tenderness and pelvic indurations. After four weeks, Pycnogenol slowly reduced all symptoms from severe to moderate. Treatment with Gn-RHa reduced the scores more efficiently but after 24 weeks post-treatment a relapse of symptoms occurred. Gn-RHa suppressed menstruation during treatment, whereas no influence on menstrual cycles was observed in the Pycnogenol group. Gn-RHa lowered estrogen levels drastically and in contrast, the estrogen levels of the Pycnogenol group showed no systematic changes over the observation period. In addition, five women in the trial taking Pycnogenol actually got pregnant," Dr. Takafumi Kohama, a lead researcher of the study said.
About Pycnogenol(r)

Pycnogenol(r) is a natural plant extract originating from the bark of the maritime pine that grows along the coast of southwest France and is found to contain a unique combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids, which offer extensive natural health benefits. The extract has been widely studied for the past 35 years and has more than 220 published studies and review articles ensuring safety and efficacy as an ingredient. Today, Pycnogenol(r) is available in more than 600 dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products worldwide.

Pycnogenol side effects
No significant Pycnogenol side effects have been reported thus far.

Pycnogenol laboratory studies
Pycnogenol has been studied in the laboratory in leukemia and inflammatory bowel disease.

Pycnogenol Research Update
Inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 activity by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion of French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol).
Biomed Pharmacother. 2005 Oct 26;
There is evidence from several studies that supplementation with French maritime pine bark extract ( Pycnogenol ((R)) ) improves inflammatory symptoms in vivo. However, the molecular pharmacological basis for the observed effects has not been fully uncovered yet. Direct inhibitory effects of plant extracts or components upon cyclooxygenase (COX) activity have been repeatedly reported, but the question remained whether sufficiently high in vivo concentrations of bioactive compounds could be achieved in humans. The purpose of the present study was to determine a possible inhibition of the enzymatic activity of COX-1 and COX-2 by serum samples of human volunteers after intake of French maritime pine bark extract. This methodology considered that the serum samples would contain any bioavailable active principle. Therefore, we obtained blood samples before and after 5 days administration of 200 mg Pycnogenol to five healthy humans. The plasma moderately inhibited both COX-1 and COX-2 activities ex vivo. In a second approach, 10 volunteers received a single dose of 300 mg Pycnogenol. Only 30 min after ingestion of the pine bark extract the serum samples induced a statistically significant increase in the inhibition of both COX-1 and COX-2. This suggests a strikingly rapid bioavailability of bioeffective compounds after oral intake of the extract. Thus, we provide evidence that Pycnogenol exerts effects by inhibition of eicosanoid generating enzymes which is consistent with reported clinical anti-inflammatory and platelet inhibitory effects in vivo. The next challenge is to identify the active principle(s) that are rapidly bioavailable in human plasma.

Pycnogenol induces differentiation and apoptosis in human promyeloid leukemia HL-60 cells.
Leuk Res. 2005 Jun;29(6):685-92. Epub 2005 Jan 19.
In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor effects of Pycnogenol on HL-60, U937 and K562 human leukemia cell lines. We found that Pycnogenol inhibited cell proliferation dose- and time-dependently, and the IC(50)s of Pycnogenol on HL-60, U937 and K562 cells were 150, 40 and 100mug/ml, respectively. When HL-60 cells were incubated with low concentrations of Pycnogenol for 24h, a prominent G0/G1 arrest was observed, followed by gradual accumulation of sub-G0/G1 nuclei. Pycnogenol induced HL-60, U937 and K562 cell apoptosis at their respective IC(50)s after 24h of treatments. Pretreatment of z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 specific inhibitor, not only decreased caspase-3 activity but also reduced the percentage of apoptotic cells induced by Pycnogenol. This indicated that caspase-3 activation was involved in Pycnogenol induced-apoptosis. In conclusion, Pycnogenol induced differentiation and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Our data suggest that Pycnogenol could serve as a potent cancer chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agent for human leukemia.

Pycnogenol stimulates lipolysis in 3t3-L1 cells via stimulation of beta-receptor mediated activity.
Phytother Res. 2004 Dec;18(12):1029-30.
The influence of pycnogenol on the glycerol released into the medium in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 cells was studied. After incubation for 2 h, pycnogenol stimulated glycerol release in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with the beta-receptor antagonist, propranolol, significantly reduced pycnogenol-induced lipolysis in a dose-dependent manner. When fully differentiated 3T3-L1 cells were incubated with pycnogenol, the cyclic adenosine monophosphate content significantly increased. These data suggested that pycnogenol has strong lipolytic effects via stimulation of beta-receptor mediated activity.

Therapeutic efficacy of pycnogenol in experimental inflammatory bowel diseases.
Phytother Res. 2004 Dec;18(12):1027-8.
Pycnogenol was administered for 10 days by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats fed an elemental diet, then inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was induced by intrarectal administration of ethanol 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Twelve hours after TNBS treatment, the rats were killed, the colon was assessed by a macroscopic damage score and mucosa homogenate was assayed for myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The supplementation of pycnogenol significantly inhibited the macroscopic damage score and MPO activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that pycnogenol ameliorates TNBS-induced inflammation by radical scavenging activity, and may have beneficial effects as a supplement in enteral nutrition for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Pycnogenol as an adjunct in the management of childhood asthma.
J Asthma. 2004;41(8):825-32. Lau BH, Riesen SK, Truong KP, Lau EW, Rohdewald P, Barreta RA.
Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study involving 60 subjects, aged 6-18 years old, was conducted over a period of 3 months to determine the effect of Pycnogenol (a proprietary mixture of water-soluble bioflavonoids extracted from French maritime pine) on mild-to-moderate asthma. After baseline evaluation, subjects were randomized into two groups to receive either Pycnogenol or placebo. Subjects were instructed to record their peak expiratory flow with an Assess Peak Flow Meter each evening. At the same time, symptoms, daily use of rescue inhalers (albuterol), and any changes in oral medications were also recorded. Urine samples were obtained from the subjects at the end of the run-in period, and at 1-, 2-, and 3-month visits. Urinary leukotriene C4/D4/E4 was measured by an enzyme immunoassay. Compared with subjects taking placebo, the group who took Pycnogenol had significantly more improvement in pulmonary functions and asthma symptoms. The Pycnogenol group was able to reduce or discontinue their use of rescue inhalers more often than the placebo group. There was also a significant reduction of urinary leukotrienes in the Pycnogenol group. The results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of Pycnogenol as an adjunct in the management of mild-to-moderate childhood asthma.

Analgesic efficacy of French maritime pine bark extract in dysmenorrhea: an open clinical trial.
J Reprod Med. 2004 Oct;49(10):828-32.
To clarify the effect of Pycnogenol (Horphag Research, Switzerland), French maritime pine bark extract, on menstrual pain. We treated 47 patients with menstrual pain, aged 21-45 years, with Pycnogenol at 30 mg (2 capsules) orally twice a dysmenorrl day. The administration of Pycnogenol began on the eighth day of the first menstrual cycle and continued until the seventh day of the third menstrual cycle. Improvement was evaluated by measuring scores of symptoms during the first and second, and first and third menstrual cycle using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: Treatment with Pycnogenol lowered the pain scores for abdominal pain significantly (p < 0.05) as compared to pretreatment values. Pain relief in the second cycle of treatment was better as compared to the first cycle of treatment, as indicated by a higher level of significance (p < 0.01) and lower median pain score. The number of days with abdominal pain showed a trend toward fewer days with pain; however, the difference failed to reach significance. Relief of back pain was not that pronounced during the first cycle treated with Pycnogenol; the pain scores were not significantly different from those in the pretreatment period. However, continuation of treatment during the second cycle produced significant pain relief. The number of days with back pain decreased. The number of days with pain was significantly lower in the second cycle of treatment with Pycnogenol. Pycnogenol has a potential analgesic effect on menstrual pain.

Prevention of venous thrombosis and thrombophlebitis in long-haul flights with pycnogenol.
Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2004 Oct;10(4):373-7.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) and its prophylaxis with an oral anti-edema and antithrombotic agent (Pycnogenol, Horphag, Research Management SA, Geneva, Switzerland) in long-haul flights, in subjects at moderate to high-risk of DVT and SVT. The study pre-included 244 pre-selected subjects; 211 were included (33 were excluded for several reasons due to logistic problems) and 198 completed the study; 13 subjects were lost for follow-up at the end of the flight, all for non-medical problems (i.e., for difficult connections). All subjects were scanned within 90 minutes before the flight and within 2 hours after disembarking. Subjects were supplemented with 100 mg Pycnogenol per capsule. Treatment subjects received two capsules between 2 and 3 hours before flights with 250 mL of water; two capsules were taken 6 hours later with 250 mL of water and one capsule the next day. The control group received comparable placebo at the same intervals. The flight duration was on average 8 hours and 15 minutes (SD 55 min) (range, 7.45-12.33). In the control group there were five thrombotic events (one DVT and four superficial thromboses) while only nonthrombotic, localized phlebitis was observed in the Pycnogenol group (5% vs. no events. The ITT (intention to treat) analysis detects 13 failures in the control group (eight lost to follow up + five thrombotic events) of 105 subjects (12.4%) vs. five failures (4.7%; all lost, no thrombotic events) in the treatment group (p<0.025). No unwanted effects were observed. In conclusion, this study indicates that Pycnogenol treatment was effective in decreasing the number of thrombotic events (DVT and SVT) in moderate-to-high risk subjects, during long-haul flights.

Antidiabetic effect of Pycnogenol French maritime pine bark extract in patients with diabetes type II.
Life Sci. 2004 Oct 8;75(21):2505-13.
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. 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. HbA1(c) was also lowered; however, the difference as compared to placebo was statistically significant only for the first month. In the Pycnogenol-group endothelin-1 was significantly decreased, while 6-ketoprostaglandin F(1a) in plasma was elevated compared to placebo. Nitric oxide levels in plasma increased during treatment in both groups, but, differences did not reach statistical significance. Pycnogenol was well-tolerated with ECG, electrolytes, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen remaining unchanged in both groups. Mild and transient unwanted effects were reported for both groups without significant differences. Supplementation of Pycnogenol to conventional diabetes treatment lowers glucose levels and improves endothelial function.

Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, improves endothelial function of hypertensive patients.
Life Sci. 2004 Jan 2;74(7):855-62.
A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group study was performed with 58 patients to investigate effects of French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol, on patients with hypertension. Supplementation of the patients with 100 mg Pycnogenol over a period of 12 weeks helped to reduce the dose of the calcium antagonist nifedipine in a statistically significant manner. The intake of Pycnogenol decreased endothelin-1 concentrations significantly compared to placebo while concentrations of 6-keto prostaglandin F1a in plasma were significantly higher compared to placebo. Values for nitric oxide (NO) in plasma increased in both groups, but the differences were not significant. Angiotensin II concentrations in plasma were lowered in the placebo group to a larger extent than in the Pycnogenol group. Heart rate, electrolytes and blood urea nitrogen were not changed during treatment in both groups of patients. Unwanted effects observed in both groups were of mild and transient nature, such as gastrointestinal problems, vertigo, headache and nausea. Differences in rate of side effects were not statistically significant between the two groups. Study results support a supplementation with Pycnogenol for mildly hypertensive patients.

Treatment of erectile dysfunction with pycnogenol and L-arginine.
J Sex Marital Ther. 2003 May-Jun;29(3):207-13.
Penile erection requires the relaxation of the cavernous smooth muscle, which is triggered by nitric oxide (NO). We investigated the possibility of overcoming erectile dysfunction (ED) by increasing the amounts of endogenous NO. For this purpose, we orally administered Pycnogenol, because it is known to increase production of NO by nitric oxide syntase together with L-arginine as substrate for this enzyme. The study included 40 men, aged 25-45 years, without confirmed organic erectile dysfunction. Throughout the 3-month trial period, patients received 3 ampoules Sargenor a day, a drinkable solution of the dipeptide arginyl aspartate (equivalent to 1.7 g L-arginine per day). During the second month, patients were additionally supplemented with 40 mg Pycnogenol two times per day; during the third month, the daily dosage was increased to three 40-mg Pycnogenol tablets. We obtained a sexual function questionnaire and a sexual activity diary from each patient. After 1 month of treatment with L-arginine, a statistically nonsignificant number of 2 patients (5%) experienced a normal erection. Treatment with a combination of L-arginine and Pycnogenol for the following month increased the number of men with restored sexual ability to 80%. Finally, after the third month of treatment, 92.5% of the men experienced a normal erection. We conclude that oral administration of L-arginine in combination with Pycnogenol causes a significant improvement in sexual function in men with ED without any side effects.

Pycnogenol prevents haemolytic injury in G6PD deficient human erythrocytes.
Phytother Res. 2003 Jun;17(6):671-4.
Glucose6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common X-linked disorder of human erythrocytes where cells have inadequate capacity to destroy peroxides and high susceptibility towards haemolytic changes. Pycnogenol is a proprietary dry extract of the French Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) bark with high ability to scavenge free radicals. In the present study we have investigated if Pycnogenol can protect G6PD deficient erythrocytes against haemolytic cell damage. Our results have shown that Pycnogenol has protective action against a Xenobiotic chemical induced haemolysis in G6PD deficient human erythrocytes.

Pycnogenol inhibits the release of histamine from mast cells.
Phytother Res. 2003 Jan;17(1):66-9.
Oxygen derived free radicals are now increasingly regarded as a primary force of tissue destruction and also have the ability to release histamine from mast cells. Pycnogenol is an extract of the bark of French maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) containing bioflavonoids with a potent ability to scavenge free radicals. Therefore Pycnogenol was investigated for inhibition of histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. Pycnogenol produced a concentration dependent inhibition of histamine release induced by the two secretagogues. Its inhibitory effect on mast cell histamine release was favourably comparable to sodium cromoglycate.

Pycnogenol for diabetic retinopathy. A review.
Int Ophthalmol. 2001;24(3):161-71.
Diabetic retinopathy represents a serious health threat to a rapidly growing number of patients with diabetes mellitus. The retinal microangiopathy is characterised by vascular lesions with exudate deposits and haemorrhages causing vision loss. Pycnogenol, a standardised extract of the bark of the French maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), is known to increase capillary resistance. Pycnogenol has been tested for treatment and prevention of retinopathy in five clinical trials with a total number of 1289 patients since the late 1960's. All of these studies unequivocally showed that Pycnogenol retains progression of retinopathy and partly recovers visual acuity. Treatment efficacy of Pycnogenol was at least as good as that of calcium dobesilate. Pycnogenol was shown to improve capillary resistance and reduce leakages into the retina. Tolerance was generally very good and side effects were rare, mostly referring to gastric discomfort. In conclusion, treatment with Pycnogenol had a favourable outcome in the majority of the patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Pycnogenol emails
Q. Is pycnogenol a vitamin?
 A. Pycnogenol is not a vitamin, rather it is a patented extract from the French Maritime tree bark.

Q. Is Pycnogenol cream effective? What conditions is Pycnogenol useful in dermatology?
 A. I haven't seen much research on Pycnogenol cream and don't yet know the role Pycnogenol would play in dermatology.

Q. I am interested in giving my daughter Pycnogenol, I have heard its properties may be beneficial for her eyes (see signature below) with particular regard to her retinas. What strength should a five year old take and how often? Daughter aged (5), FEVR (Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy) which she inherited along with her good looks and charm, from her Daddy, causing progressive sight loss.
Retinal detachment in left eye, with no sight, right eye severely visually impaired. Registered Blind.
   A. We have no idea what the appropriate Pycnogenol dosage would be and also no idea whether it would help.

Q. I came an article on Pycnogenol mentioned in Newsweek - Nov. 6, 2006 issue - "Today a French maritime pine bark extract called Pycnogenol — a mix of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds — is a fast-growing supplement on the U.S. market, with sales up 25 percent this year to date. Unlike most supplements, which have very little research behind them, Pycnogenol (pic-NOJ-en-ol) has 36 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. The strongest evidence relates to heart health—helping to reduce unwanted clotting, lower "bad" cholesterol and bring down mild hypertension. But the latest studies suggest benefits for diabetes, too. Diabetic patients eventually tend to develop leaky capillaries, which can lead to vision loss, leg ulcers and even amputation of toes or feet. A small study in September found that 150mg of Pycnogenol a day for four weeks helped repair blood vessels and improve capillary blood flow by 34 percent—versus 5 percent for those receiving a placebo. For general health, 25mg to 50mg a day will do. But it won't come cheap (think $30 to $50 a bottle)." Do you think it is safe to take 25 or 50 mg of Pycnogenol daily?
   A. Pycnogenol seems to have good research supporting its benefits, but then again there are hundreds or thousands of beneficial substances in various fruits, vegetables, roots, barks, herbs, etc. We certainly can't take them all. For the time being, I think it is safe to take Pycnogenol 25 mg or 50 one or two times a week with breakfast.

Q. Just want to find out from you if Prelox is natural and safe. I don't like anything like Viagra I only take natural supplements with no side effect like multivitamins. What ingredient is in Prelox?
   A. Prelox is a combination of Pycnogenol and arginine. We have not tested Prelox and therefore do not have first hand experience whether it is effective or safe. There are many more herbs and plant extracts that have a potent aphrodisiac property and we are not sure Pycnogenol falls into that category. However, Pycnogenol could perhaps be useful in dilating blood vessels.

Q. I have a question about dosage for Pycnogenol, 50 mg. tablets. On your website, the suggested dosage is “one tablet a few times a week,” but on the bottle it says, “1 tablet for each 50-60 pounds of body weight for the first week or two. Thereafter, adjust intake to 1 tablet for each 100-120 pounds of body weight.” Which is correct? Also, if I were to follow the instructions on the bottle, and weigh 150 lbs, would 1 tablet be enough? Would 2 be too much? And would the “a few times a week” timetable still hold?
   A. There are no studies that show what the ideal dosage is for Pycnogenol supplementation. As a rule, the suggestions on a bottle tend to be on the higher end of the dosage scale, and they are often written with the understanding that this is the only supplement someone should be taking. However, most people take several supplements a day, and therefore it is safer to take less of any particular supplement when combining several. Having said this, it also depends whether the Pycnogenol is being used as a treatment for a particular condition, in this case the dosage would be higher or more frequent. In summary, there is not enough science to determine the ideal dosage of Pyconogenol and how it combines or interacts with other medicines, herbs, or nutrients, and hence it may be better to take less rather than more.

Q. Thank you for your informative web postings. In reading your post on Pycnogenol, I was interested in the article on Erectile Dysfunction responding to Pycnogenol supplementation. However, I believe you must have a typographical error. It presently says: The study included 40 men, aged 25-45 years, without confirmed organic erectile dysfunction. but then goes on as if these men, indeed, began the study with ED. Is it possible that it should actually say "The study included 40 men, aged 25-45 years, WITH confirmed organic erectile dysfunction?" just wondering, the difference could be important to readers of fine print, and to my family among them.
   A. We reviewed the actual study abstract as presented on Medline and it did say without. IF the abstract is correct as printed, this would mean that the patients had psychological impotence as opposed to organic or physical impotence.
 

Pine Bark Extract 95% Proanthocyanidins