Wissenschaftliche Studien

Pycnogenol^® as an Antioxidant

Pycnogenol^® has been demonstrated in various studies to be one of the most powerful natural antioxidants. At the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Lester Packer showed that Pycnogenol^® is more powerful than vitamins C and E. Dr. Packer found that Pycnogenol^® is so powerful that it recycles oxidized (spent) vitamin C back to the bioactive form and protects vitamin E from oxidation. Furthermore, Dr. Benjamin La (Loma Linda University, CA) discovered that Pycnogenol^® stimulates production of antioxidant enzymes inside cells, thus reinforcing their own first defense line against free radicals.

An in vitro study carried out at the University of Tokyo, Japan, showed that Pycnogenol^® is a dramatically more powerful antioxidant than any other antioxidant tested to protect fragile lipids of the eye (figure 1).

Bibliography

Neuronal apoptosis (early cell death) is induced by the amyloid-ß-peptide in the brain of Alzheimer patients. In vitro experiments demonstrated an inhibition of cell death of neurons by Pycnogenol^®.
Peng, Q.L., Buz’Zard, A.R. and Lau, B.H.S. (2002) Pycnogenol^® protects neurones from amyloid ß peptide-induced apoptosis.Molecular Brain Research, 104: 55-65.

Pycnogenol^® blocks oxidative modification of cellular proteins more effectively than other antioxidants.
Kim, J., Chehade, J., Pinnas, J.L., and Mooradian, A.D. (2000)Effect of select antioxidants on malondialdehyde modification of proteinsNutrition, 16: 1079-1081.

Pycnogenol^® by virtue of its high content of procyanidins is more potent antioxidant than other herbal-sourced antioxidants containing relatively higher content of regular flavon(ol)s. This fact is explained on structural and functional basis.
Bors, W., Michel C and Stettmaier, K (2000)Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of radical species of proanthocyanidins and gallate esters.Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 374 (2): 347-355.

Pycnogenol^® delays the aging process as shown by an increased life-span of fruit flies.
Shuguang, L., Xinwen, Z., Sihong, X. and Gulati, O.P. (2003) Role of Pycnogenol^® in aging by increasing the DrosophilaÂ’s life-span.European Bulletin of Drug Research, 11(3): 39-45.

5. Pycnogenol^® improves learning impairment and loss of memory, common symptoms of the ageing process.
Liu, F., Zhang, Y., and Lau, B.H.S. (1999)Pycnogenol^® improves learning impairment and memory deficit in senescence-accelerated mice.Journal of Anti-aging Medicine, 2 (4): 349-355.

Pycnogenol^® in addition to its free radical scavenging property, modulates the production of nitric oxide radicals in activated inflammatory cells.
Virgili, F., Kobuchi, H. and Packer, L. (1998)Procyanidins extracted from Pinus maritima (Pycnogenol^®) scavengers of free radical species and modulators of nitrogen monoxide metabolism in activated murine raw 264.7 macrophages.Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 24 (7/8): 1120-1129.

Pycnogenol^® in combination with other antioxidants administered as a dietary supplement increases life-span of mice. The findings support its beneficial effects against neurogenerative diseases.
Veurink, G., Liu, D., Taddei, K., Perry, G., Smith, M.A., Robertson, T.A., Hone, E., Groth, D.M., Atwood, C.S. and Martins R.N. (2003) Reduction of inclusion body pathology in ApoE-deficient mice fed a combination of antioxidants. Free Radicals Biology and Medicine, 34(8): 1070-1077.

Pycnogenol^® in combination with whey increases antioxidative capacity of plasma.
Janisch, K., Hippeli, S., Dornisch, K., Kern, S. and Elstner, E.F. (2002)Determination of the antioxidative potential of human plasma after supplementation with Pycnogenol^® and whey.Food Research International, 35: 257-266.

Pycnogenol^® increases antioxidant capacity and lowers cholesterol in obese volunteers in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Devaraj, S., Vega-López, S., Kaul, N., Schönlau, F., Rohdewald, P. and Jialal, I. (2002)Supplementation with a pine bark extract rich in polyphenols increases plasma antioxidant capacity and alters plasma lipoprotein profile.Lipids 37 (10): 931-934.

Pycnogenol^® inhibits the effect of oxidative stress and minimises hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage in vitro.
Nelson, A.B., Lau, B.H.S., Ide, N. and Rong, Y. (1998)Pycnogenol^® inhibits macrophage oxidative burst, lipoprotein oxidation and hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage.Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 24 (2): 139-144.

Pycnogenol^® is an efficient antioxidant due to the relative stability of its corresponding radical and its regeneration by vitamin C and vitamin E homologue Trolox.
Guo, Q., Zhao, B. and Packer, L. (1999)Electron spin resonance study of free radicals formed from a procyanidin-rich pine (Pinus maritime) bark extract, Pycnogenol^®.Free Radical Biology Medicine, 27 (11-12): 1308-1312

Pycnogenol^® is proven an excellent radical scavenger of enzymatically produced hydroxyl and singlet oxygen free radicals, two of the most dangerous free radicals.
Elstner, E.F. and Kleber, E. (1990)Radical scavenger properties of leucocyanidine.In: Das NP, ed. Flavonoids in Biology & Medicine III: Current issues in Flavonoid Research: National University of Singapore Press (1990): 227-235.

Pycnogenol^® is shown to be the strongest hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenger among other extracts tested. In addition, Pycnogenol^® is resistant to heat and ascorbate oxidase.
Noda, Y., Anzai, K., Mori, A., Kohno, M., Shinmei, M. and Packer, L. (1997)Hydroxyl and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities of natural source antioxidants using the computerized JES-FR30 ESR spectrometer system.Biochem. & Mol. Biol. Int., 42 (1): 35-44.

Pycnogenol^® lowers blood glucose and increases intracellular antioxidant defense mechanism in diabetic rats.
Maritim, A., Dene, B.A., Sanders, R.A., Watkins, J.B. (2003) Effect of Pycnogenol^® treatment on oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J. Biochem. Mol. Toxicol., 17(3): 193-199.

Pycnogenol^® produces significant reduction in vascular damage caused by ß-amyloid protein. ß-amyloidosis is one of the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease(AD). This explains the role of Pycnogenol^® in reducing the risk of AD.
Liu, F., Lau, B.H.S., Peng, Q. and Shah, V. (2000)Pycnogenol^® protects vascular endothelial cells from ß-amyloid-induced injury.Biol. Pharm. Bull, 23 (6): 735-737.

Pycnogenol^® prolongs the lifetime of vitamin C more than other flavonoids.
Cossins, E., Lee, R. and Packer, L. (1998)ESR studies of vitamin C regeneration, order of reactivity of natural source phytochemical preparations.Biochem Mol. Biol. Int., 45 (3): 583-597.

Pycnogenol^® protects ?-tocopherol in endothelial cells.
Virgili F., Kim, D. and Packer, L. (1998)Procyanidins extracted from pine bark protect ?-tocopherol in ECV 304 endothelial cells challenged by activated RAW 264.7 macrophages: role of nitric oxide peroxynitrite.FEBS letters, 431:315-318.

Pycnogenol^® protects intestinal mucosa against radiotherapy induced damage: histo-morphological evidence in rats.
Ramos, F.M. Schönlau, F., Novaes, P.D., Manzi, F.R., Bóscolo, F.N. Almeida, S.M. (2006)Pycnogenol^® protects against ionizing radiation as shown in the intestinal mucosa of rats exposed to X-rays.(Submitted in PTR)

Pycnogenol^® protects retina of the eye against damage caused by oxidative stress. The effect is more pronounced when compared to other antioxidant bioflavonoids. Pycnogenol^® enhances the effects of other antioxidants like Coenzyme Q10 when combined together.
Chida, M., Suzuki, K., Nakanishi-Ueda, T., Ueda, T., Yasuhara, H., Koide, R. and Armstrong, D. (1999)In vitro testing of antioxidants and biochemical end-points in bovine retinal tissue.Ophthalmic Research, 31: 407-415.

Pycnogenol^® protects the endothelial cells which line the blood vessels from free radicals damage. Damage to endothelial cells is considered a prime cause for atherosclerosis.
Rong Y., Li, L., Shah, V. and Lau, B.H.S. (1995)Pycnogenol^® protects vascular endothelial cells from t-butyl hydroperoxide induced oxidant injury.Biotechnology Therapeutics, 5 (3 & 4): 117-126.

Pycnogenol^® scavenges superoxide radicals in vitro and inhibits oedema in vivo. The anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activities are closely correlated.
Blazso, G., Gabor, M., Sibbel, R. and Rohdewald, P. (1994)Anti-inflammatory and superoxide radical scavenging activities of a procyanidins containing extract from the bark of Pinus pinaster sol. And its fractions.Pharm. Parmacol. Lett., 3: 217-220.

Pycnogenol^® selectively enhances activity of intracellular antioxidative enzymes.
Bayeta, E. and Lau, B.H.S. (2000)Pycnogenol^® inhibits generation of inflammatory mediators in macrophages.Nutrition Research, 20: 249-259.

Pycnogenol^® shows free radical scavenging activity against reactive oxygen species. It inhibits the generation of pro-inflammatory mediators confirming the anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory profile of Pycnogenol^®.
Cho, K-J., Yun C-H., Yoon, D-Y., Cho, Y-S., Rimbach, G., Packer, L and Chung A-S. (2000)Effect of bioflavonoids extracted from the bark of Pinus maritime on proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated raw 264.7.Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 168: 64-71.

Pycnogenol^® slows down the aging related process of decline in activities of immune- and blood cells generating systems and restores their functions to normal.
Liu, F.J., Zhang, Y.X. and Lau B.H.S. (1998)Pycnogenol^® enhances immune and haemopoietic functions in senescence-accelerated mice.CMLS, Cell. Mol. Life. Sci., 54: 1168-1172.

Pycnogenol^® stimulates synthesis of antioxidative enzymes insidecells of the arteries thereby doubling the amount of antioxidativeenzymes.
Wei, Z. H., Peng, Q. L. and Lau, B.H. S. (1997)Pycnogenol^® enhances endothelial cell antioxidant defenses.Redox Report, 3(4): 219-224.

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