Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Info/exper. w/ pycnogenol

Question:

I am interested in references to any articles which have been published on pycnogenol.  I had just become aware of this product when a friend was informed that her cancer had returned, so have even more reason to be interested now.  I am also interested in any personal experiences from people who have had success with pycnogenol.  I would appreciate any responses as soon as possible . . . time is of the essence.  Thanks.

Response:

I am interested in references to any articles which have been published on pycnogenol.

Overview and some current abstracts Anthocyanosides, anthocyanins, and procyanidins are water-soluble plant-derived flavonoids which have been widely studied for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vascular actions.    The oligomeric procyanidins (OPC’s) are mixtures of water-soluble oligomers, usually dimers and trimers of the cyanins (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin.  They are found in many plants, including Cola acuminata (cola), vaccinium vitis-idaea (cranberry), Vitis vinefera (grape), and the bark of the maritime pine (Pinus pilaster or Pinus maritima).  The OPC’s have demonstrated capillary protective action through stabilization of collagen, and possess significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.  Incubation of collagen fibers with OPC’s significantly increased the number of crosslinks and delayed thermal denaturation. These effects were three to five times greater for OPC’s than either (+)-catechin or condensed tannin.  Binding of OPC’s to elastin has also been shown to inhibit its degradation by elastases during the inflammatory process.  OPC’s have demonstrated profound antioxidant activity against both the DPPH radical and the superoxide ion in vitro, and were found to be approximately 50 times more potent than vitamin E under the same conditions. REFERENCES    Natural Products as Medicinal Agents, Hippokrates Verlag, Stuttgart, 1980; pp 243-256    Les Praticien 400:63, 1981    Biochem Pharmacol 33:3933, 1984    Med Sci Res 15:831, 1987    University of Florence, Unpublished observations, 1989    University of Aquila, Unpublished observations, 1989 ABSTRACTS *"Endotelon" refers to a 95% oligomeric proanthocyanidin product extracted from grape seeds. Natural products as medicinal agents During the winter of 1534, the French explorer Jaques Cartier and his crew avoided scurvy by using Anneda, an Indian medicine probably containing ascorbic acid and procyanidins.  Four centuries later, Szent-Gyorgyi was misguided in proposing citrin [lemon flavonoid compound] as a second antiscorbutic factor, for flavonoids are devoid of true vitamin-like behavior.  On the other hand, pycnogenols, widely found in old empirical antiscorbutic remedies, seem more appropriate in this respect, since they are active per os, bioavailable, linked to various living tissues, and concerned with essential metabolic pathways.  As histidine decarboxylase inhibitors, pycnogenols lower the histamine level in the aortic endothelium and are believed to protect it against the vascular permeability alterations occurring early in the atherogenic process. Masquelier J.  Natural products as medicinal agents.  Planta Med 242S-256S; 1980. Flavonoids and pycnogenols Pycnogenols is the term put forward by the authors to designate flavan-3-ol derivatives, so as to distinguish these substances, upon chemical and pharmacological grounds, from the heterogenous group of flavonoid compounds. Masquelier J, et al.  Flavonoids and pycnogenols.  Int J Vitam Nutr Res 49:307-311; 1979. Double-blind study of Endotelon in chronic venous insufficiency This article reports a double-blind study comparing procyanidolic oligomers (Endotelon) with semi-synthetic diosmin in 50 patients with symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency.  Both substances were effective in peripheral venous insufficiency but there was a statistically significant advantage in favor of procyanidolic oligomers (Endotelon) with regard to rapidity and duration of action. Delacrois P.  Double-blind study of Endotelon in chronic venous insufficiency.  La Revue De Med 27:28-31; 1981. Effect of Endotelon in postoperative edema. Results of a double-blind study with placebo on a group of thirty-two patients This article reports on a double-blind test versus a placebo to assess the prophylactic effect of these compounds on the formation of postoperative edema following face-lifting.  The main criteria was the speed of disappearance of the edemas after the operation.  A statistically significant difference (p=0.01) was found in favour of the active ingredient.  The mean figures were 11.4 days for the treated group and 15.8 days for the control group. Baruch J.  Effect of Endotelon in postoperative edema. Results of a double-blind study with placebo on a group of thirty-two patients.  Ann Chir Plast Esth

Filed under: PCO

Related Posts

• Okay, TNT,,, where are you two?
• herbal remedies?
• Disappointed with Doctor
• Intro and Questions...(long) (pg/mc ment.)
• So Damn Scared To Start Again.... (m/c)
• Fretless Guitar??????
• LOSING HOPE
• How do I find old postings??
• Today's RE appointment (pg ment)
• Termites are everywhere!