Pine Bark Extract Proanthocyanidins and Pine Bark Uses.

Pine Bark Extract:Suggestions and Administration.:

Pine Bark Extract INCI Name Pinetree extract CAS 000000-14-0 French Marine Pine Bark Extract French Maritime Pine Bark Extract Leucoanthocyanidins OPC Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins PCO Pinus maritima Pinus pinaster Procyandiol Oligomers Procyanodolic Oligomers Pycnogenol Pygenol Pine Bark Extract.Proanthocyanidins Pinus Strobus Bark extract.Proanthocyanidin B2 photo picture image Potential applications:Skin health / sun protection (reduces inflammation of UV exposed skin), wound healing, economy class syndrome / long car journeys, varicose veins, eye health- cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, capillary fragility, micro-vascular disorders, oedema, allergies, hypertension, atherosclerosis, elevated cholesterol, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, ADD/ADHD, anti-mutagenic (DNA protective).

Dosage and Administration:

It is suggested that 25-100mg OPCs will provide synergy for general antioxidant protection. Therapeutic levels are in the range of 0.5 - 1.0mg per pound of body weight. Best taken in divided doses.

Pine bark extract is commonly used in Europe and Asia. Standardized commercial preparations were introduced to the U.S. market in the late 1980s. Standardization by the manufacturer should assure the same amount of active ingredient in every batch of the commercial preparation. Generally, pine bark extract capsules, tablets, or oral liquid forms should contain between 85% and 90% of proanthocyanidins (also known as polyphenols), the active ingredient of pine bark extract. Lotions or creams usually contain between 0.5% and 2% of pine bark extract.

Generally,100 to 200 mg daily for 7 to 10 days, then 60 to 100 mg daily, or as desired. Usage ranges from 30 mg per day (venous-lymphatic insufficiency) to 300 mg per day (eye stress from use of video display terminal) in studies reporting significant results.

Dosing varies, but typical doses used in clinical studies include:
For chronic venous insufficiency: 45 mg to 360 mg per day -- usually divided into three doses.
For retinopathy: 50 mg three times a day
For uneven skin tone: 1 mg to 1.7 mg per kilogram of body weight per day (a kilogram is about 2 1/4 pounds)
For exercise enhancement: 200 mg three times a day
For male infertility caused by low sperm count: 200 mg once a day
For coronary heart disease: 150 mg three times a day
For high cholesterol: 120 mg three times a day
For abdominal pain in women: 30 mg to 60 mg once a day

Toxicity:Proanthocyanidins are almost completely non-toxic both in acute dosage (LD50>4,000mg/kg in rats and mice) and high long-term dosage (no toxic effects at 60 mg/kg/day for 12 months in dogs and 6 months in rats). They have no potential for causing mutations or birth defects, and have no adverse effect on fertility, pregnancy or nursing.

Precautions:

Individuals who have autoimmune conditions should not take pine bark extract due to its effects on the immune system. Some autoimmune conditions include: Crohn's disease;Multiple Sclerosis (MS);Psoriasis;Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA);Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE);Type 1 diabetes.

Not enough is known about how pine bark extract affects a developing baby to recommend its use in pregnant women. Breast-feeding women should also avoid taking pine bark extract because it may pass to the baby in breast milk. No studies of pine bark extract have been conducted in young children, so its potential effects for them are unknown.

Side Effects:Few side effects have been reported with the use of pine bark extract. The most frequently reported side effects have been mild gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea or upset stomach.

Interactions:

Because it can enhance immune system function, pine bark extract may interfere with the effects of drugs used to suppress the immune system after organ transplants or in other conditions. Taking pine bark extract is not recommended for individuals who take drugs such as:

azathioprine (Imuran),CellCept,cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune),Prograf,Rapamune,Zenapak

It is best not to take pine bark extract and corticosteroids at the same time. Corticosteroids are used for a variety of inflammatory conditions including arthritis, asthma, cancer, eye conditions, and skin infections. Commonly prescribed corticosteroids include:

beclomethasone (Beconase, Vancenase),dexamethasone (Decadron),hydrocortisone,methylprednisolone (Medrol),prednisolone,prednisone,triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort)

No interactions have been reported between pine bark extract and non-prescription drugs, other herbal supplements, or foods. However, despite a number of studies that have been conducted in humans, its possible interactions with drugs, foods, and other dietary supplements are not understood completely. Be sure that your doctor and pharmacist are aware of all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use pine bark extract or any other herbal supplement.

Safety and Acute toxicity:Pine Bark Extract.

Acute toxicity(LD50):Pine Bark Extract.OPCs
LD50-Lethal dose,50 percent kill.Oral.Rodent-mouse.>4000 mg/kg.
LD50-Lethal dose,50 percent kill.Oral.Rodent-rat.>4000 mg/kg.

Chronic toxicity:Pine Bark Extract.OPCs
Chronic toxicity test.Oral.Dogs.Dose/Period:60 mg/kg/day.12 Months.No toxic effects.
Chronic toxicity test.Oral.Rats.Dose/Period:60 mg/kg/day.6 Months.No toxic effects.

Proanthocyanidins are almost completely non-toxic both in acute dosage (LD50>4,000mg/kg in rats and mice) and high long-term dosage (no toxic effects at 60 mg/kg/day for 12 months in dogs and 6 months in rats). They have no potential for causing mutations or birth defects, and have no adverse effect on fertility, pregnancy or nursing.

Toxicology studies done from the 1970s right through to the 1990s have shown no toxicity beyond that found in very large doses of normal food and other human nutrients. The Pine Bark Extract is very concentrated indeed and I advise not exceeding the recommended dose levels. As with most herbal medicines there is absolutely no benefit in very large doses of substances. The body is completely unable to assimilate excessive doses of any substance and over certain levels often the normal benefits are reversed. Toxicology studies suggest that acute toxicity could occur in a 75Kg adult male at a dose level of approximately 336,000mg or more than 250 times my maximum recommended dose.

Reference:

Pine Bark Extract Proanthocyanidins and Pine Bark Uses.

This article written and edited via herbalist of MDidea Extracts Professional. They run a range of online descriptions about this herb,including general information related and summarized updating discoveries from findings of professional scientisits this field related.Describe style aimed to form a useful detecting literature space where the intertwined threshold and related questions raise out and visualize themselves.

♣ last edit date:08th,Oct.2010.