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Source In the past several years, extracts of the seeds of wine grapes (Vitus vinifera) have become very popular in various dietary supplements. Look for grapeseed extracts alone, or in combination with other ingredients in antioxidant, skin, venous support, or eye products. Trade names such as Activin® and Vinox® have popularized these extracts. The term pycnogenol, while somewhat interchangeable with PCOs, is now used almost exclusively with the PCOs derived from the French Maritime Pine bark. Function; Reasons For Use Best known for its antioxidant properties, some assays show grapeseed extract to be several times "better" than vitamin C or E in this respect. The active component is thought to be the molecules referred to as PCOs (procyanidolic oligomers), or OPCs from the original French description of these molecules. Grape seed extract is rapidly absorbed and distributed throughout the body, even across the blood-brain barrier. It has also shown to have anti-inflammatory and antimutagenic (anti-cancer) properties. Grape seed extract also offers free radical protection in cells with limited blood flow, such as linings of inflamed joints, elastin and neurons. It protects elastin from age-related degradation. |
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