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.