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The Role of Botanicals in Cardiovascular Health
Published in Stephen T. Sinatra, Mark C. Houston, Nutritional and Integrative Strategies in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2022
Pycnogenol® (trademark of Horphag Research) is a bioflavonoid-rich extract made from the bark of the French maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton, ssp. atlantica). This proprietary extract has been the subject of more than 100 clinical trials for a variety of health conditions. Preclinical data show that pycnogenol has potent antioxidant, vasodilatory, antithrombotic, collagen stabilizing and anti-inflammatory activities, making it of particular interest for CVI (Gulati 2014). In a 2014 literature review of clinical trials, it was reported that pycnogenol can reduce lower leg edema in CVI, reduce the incidence of deep venous thrombosis during long haul flights, and enhance the healing of venous ulcers and hemorrhoids with topical application and/or oral administration (Gulati 2014). A 2019 8-week study found that pycnogenol significantly improved capillary filtration (RAS), which is directly associated with swelling, as well as oxidative stress, in those taking 150 mg/day of the extract, compared to a group using compression stockings alone (Cesarone et al. 2019). However, a 2020 review concluded that no definitive conclusion could be made for the effect of pycnogenol in CVI due to small sample sizes, limited number of RCTs, and variation in outcome measurements (Robertson 2020).
Nutrition and Nutraceutical Supplements for the Treatment of Hypertension
Published in Stephen T. Sinatra, Mark C. Houston, Nutritional and Integrative Strategies in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2015
Pycnogenol, a bark extract from the French maritime pine, at doses of 200 mg/day resulted in a significant reduction in SBP from 139.9 to 132.7 mmHg (p < .05) in 11 patients with mild hypertension over 8 weeks in a double-blind randomized placebo crossover trial. The DBP fell from 93.8 to 92.0 mmHg. Pycnogenol acts as a natural ACEI, protects cell membranes from oxidative stress, increases NO and improves endothelial function, reduces serum thromboxane concentrations, decreases myeloperoxidase activity, improves renal cortical blood flow, reduces urinary albumin excretion, and decreases HS-CRP.247–251 Other studies have shown reductions in BP and a decreased need for ACEI and CCB and reductions in endothelin-1, HgA1C, fasting glucose, LDL-C, and myeloperoxidase.248,249,251
Pycnogenol
Published in Linda M. Castell, Samantha J. Stear (Nottingham), Louise M. Burke, Nutritional Supplements in Sport, Exercise and Health, 2015
Pycnogenol (also referred to commonly as picnogel or pycnogel) is a combination of active bioflavonoids produced from the bark of the Pinus maritime pine tree. Pycnogenol supplementation has been reported to have a wide array of health benefits, including improved cognitive function, endothelial function, blood pressure regulation and venous insufficiency. Pycnogenol also may act as an anti-inflammatory agent (Rohdewald, 2002; Maimoona et al., 2011). In most instances, reference is made to pycnogenol as a powerful antioxidant due to the proportionally high levels of procyanidins within the compound (Grimm et al., 2004).
Pycnogenol achieves neuroprotective effects in rats with spinal cord injury by stabilizing the mitochondrial membrane potential
Published in Neurological Research, 2020
Lin Tao, Xuan Liu, Wacili Da, Zhengbo Tao, Yue Zhu
Pycnogenol (PYC) is one of the strongest natural antioxidant products identified to date, and it has been confirmed to protect the central nervous system by passing through the blood brain barrier. According to a previous article [8], PYC, which acts as an antioxidant in neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y), alleviated acrolein-induced neurotoxicity and reduced endogenous reactive oxygen species and peroxynitrite levels to inhibit lipid peroxidation. In addition, an animal experiment based on acute brain injury (TBI) showed that PYC has neuroprotective effects and reduces neuronal apoptosis [9]. However, although PYC has great potential as a safe and natural antioxidant for the treatment of central nervous system diseases, the underlying mechanism of these effects is still unclear. In this study, we established a rat model of SCI to confirm the therapeutic effects of PYC and to explore the detailed mechanisms.
Diagnosis and treatment of HCV heart diseases
Published in Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy, 2021
Mohammad Haykal, Akira Matsumori, Ahmed Saleh, Moatez Fayez, Hany Negm, Mohammad Shalaby, Samar Bassuony
There is a need for new trials of therapeutic agents against HCV infections (including HCV-induced heart diseases) based on the new hypothesis that the primary target of HCV infection is the mononuclear cell compartment. In this light, anti-inflammatory therapy by anti-histaminic agents and pycnogenol may be promising therapeutic agents.