Introduction
Pine Bark Extract is an extract from the barks of the pines.
The barks peeled from the pines are harvested, ground and
extracted. They have a high content of compounds known as
OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins). Since French researcher,
Dr. Jack Masquelier isolated OPCs from peanut skin in ***7,
OPCs is found in many plants and has been declared to be a
potent antioxidant of non-toxic, non-mutagenic,
non-carcinogenic, and free of side effects according to a
review of numerous researches. Pine bark has been proved to
be a new resource of OPCs, the OPCs extracted from the pine
bark does not show any difference in quality and functions
except for mild dissimilarity in appearance.
Available Specification
OPC *5%
Pharmacological function
The antioxidant capacity of Pine bark Extract comes from
proanthocyanidins (oligomeric proanthocyanidins) (OPCs). With
an antioxidant power *0 times stronger than Vitamin C and *0
times stronger than Vitamin E, OPCs is known as a powerful
antioxidant to neutralize free radicals,which play a major
role in degenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases,
impaired vision, sun damage and premature aging.
1. Cardiovascular Diseases
Researches have assured that OPCs helps strengthen
capillaries, arteries and veins, which endows it several
important clinical applications. OPCs appear to stabilize the
walls of blood vessels, reduce inflammation, and generally
support tissues containing collagen and elastin.
1) Atherosclerosis:
It has been proved that the oxidation of LDL plays an
important role in atherosclerosis. By its excellent
antioxidant activity, OPCs eliminates damages that free
radicals, as well as collagenase and elastinase do to the
arteries, thus prevents or reverses atherosclerosis. Animal
evidence suggested that OPCs can slow or reverse
atherosclerosis.
2).Venous Insufficiency (Varicose Veins)
Varicose Veins refers to the situation when blood pools in
the legs, causing pain, heaviness, swelling, fatigue, and
unsightly visible veins. By strengthening capillary and
reduce capillary osmosis, OPCs can relieve the pain and
swelling of venous insufficiency. For the same reason, OPCs
is recommended as a treatment for hemorrhoids as well. There
is also some evidence that OPCs can be useful for the
swelling that often follows injuries or surgery. OPCs appears
to speed the disappearance of swelling, by strengthening
damaged blood and lymph vessels that are leaking fluid.
A double-blind placebo-controlled study of *2 subjects found
that OPCs, taken at a dose of **0 mg 3 times daily,
significantly improved major symptoms, including heaviness,
swelling, and leg discomfort. Over a period of 1 month, *5%
of the participants treated with OPCs improved substantially.
Another placebo-controlled study that enrolled **4
individuals with varicose veins also found that treatment
with OPCs produced results superior to those of placebo.
3) Retinopathy/Vision Improvement
The capacity of OPCs in strengthening capillary and reduce
capillary osmosis is effective for patients suffering from
stroke and retinopathy. OPCs has been proved to improve
retinopathy caused by diabetics, atherosclerosis,
inflammation and aging. It has also been reported that OPCs
can speed vision recovery after strong light, and improve
vision acuity of those who suffer from eye fatigue because of
long-time computer using.
A *-week, controlled (but not blinded) study evaluated the
ability of OPCs to improve night vision in normal subjects.In
this trial of **0 healthy volunteers, those who received **0
mg per day of OPCs showed improvements in night vision and
glare recovery as compared to untreated subjects.
2. Aging/Alzheimer Disease
Because OPCs can easily pass the Blood-Brain Barrier, it can
effectively inhibit the damage that free radicals do to the
brain organism, so that Alzheimer Disease is prevented and
reversed.
3. Skin Care
Because of its antioxidant activity, OPCs is thought to
prevent the skin from excessive ultraviolet radiation and
free radicals. Considerable evidences indicate that OPCs
protects and strengthens collagen and elastin of the skin, so
that wrinkle is prevented and elasticity of the skin is kept.
OPCs in cream form is a popular treatment for aging skin, on
the theory that by repairing elastin and collagen they will
return skin to a more youthful appearance.
4. Anti-cancer, Anti-inflammation and Anti- allergic
Activity
Since free radicals play a vital role in tumor formation,
OPCs is reasonably used for its anti-cancer activity. Also
for its inhibition of inflammatory factors such as PG, *-HT
and Leukotriene, as well as selective binding to connective
tissue of the joints to relieve pain and swelling, OPCs is
helpful for kinds of arthritis. The anti-allergic activity of
OPCs is thought to be the result of anti-histamine. Compared
with other anti-allergic drugs, OPCs has the same efficacy
and does not have the same side effects such as drowsiness.
