Pycnogenol: An Antioxidant Multitasker
How does the flavonoid-rich dietary supplement, known as Pycnogenol®, help strengthen the body? UC Berkley researchers examined this plant extract to see what makes it tick biologically.
Pycnogenol is obtained from the bark of the French maritime pine, Pinus maritima. It’s composed of a mixture of flavonoids, mainly procyandins and phenolic acids, which studies have found to be highly bioavailable — meaning our bodies can absorb them easily. Here’s why: Pycnogenol has greater biologic effects than its components do individually, indicating that they interact synergistically.
Together these components provide a host of health benefits, including special cardiovascular benefits. Pycnogenol acts as a vasorelaxant (blood vessel relaxer) and enhances circulation by increasing capillary permeability. It has also showed to have strong free radical scavenging activity against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.
This is important because Pycnogenol modulates nitric oxide metabolism — which can effect circulation and the nervous system.
Therefore, potential applications of Pycnogenol in immune and circulatory disorders as well as in neurodegenerative disease are possible. In addition, Pycnogenol can bind to proteins, altering their structure and thereby modulating the activity of key enzymes and proteins involved in metabolic pathways. (Packer L, Rimbach G, Virgili F. Free Radic Biol Med. 1999 Sep;27(5-6):704-24.)
The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: If you’re looking for an antioxidant supplement that can multi-task, Pycnogenol is worth trying! It’s primarily known and used for its heart health benefits, but research is revealing additional body-wide benefit associated with this extraordinary compound.
