Pino marittimo Pycnogenol®

Pycnogenol® Maritime Pine is the Yamamoto Research supplement containing extract of French maritime pine bark (Pinus maritima and Pinus pinaster), one of the most potentantioxidant complexes found in nature. It consists of a complex blend of proanthocyanidins rich in polyphenols, substances that act synergistically to mutually enhance their antioxidant activity. Its action is, however, multifactorial, and can bring several positive effects for the body's well-being, including counteracting oxidative stress, supporting microcirculation and vein health, protecting the skin from UV rays, counteracting cellular ageing, reducing joint pain, improving athletic performance and tissue oxygenation, and alleviating allergy symptoms.

How does Maritime Pine counteract oxidative stress and free radicals?

Pycnogenol® is a dietary supplement containing a complex of antioxidant substances able to counteract the damage caused by free radicals, substances that are harmful to the body and can cause cellular ageing and the onset of various diseases. Pycnogenol acts by inhibiting an enzyme called xanthine oxidase, which is responsible for the formation of a radical called superoxide. This makes Pycnogenol an effective antioxidant. Pycnogenol also contains oligomeric proanthocyanidins, substances with an antioxidant action even more potent than that of vitamins E and C. These substances are able to block the formation of active oxygen-containing compounds, limiting the activity of harmful enzymes and strengthening blood vessel walls. This can be particularly useful for improving the health of veins and capillaries and preventing the onset of diseases like peripheral venous insufficiency and diabetic retinopathies. In addition, Pycnogenol can protect the skin from free radical damage and improve cognitive function.

Can Maritime Pine be helpful in strengthening capillaries and improving vein health?

Pycnogenol is a dietary supplement with anti-platelet and capillarotropic properties, i.e. that help improve blood circulation and capillary health. These properties make it useful for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease, and peripheral circulation disorders, such as venous insufficiency, tired and heavy legs, and fragile capillaries: it can stimulate normal blood circulation, improving the vasodilation of the blood vessels and easing the burden on the heart.

Pycnogenol® can also be of great help to people suffering from microcirculation problems, such as cellulite and water retention.

One very interesting study has shown that Pycnogenol® can help prevent thrombosis. In this study, 211 passengers on a long-haul flight took Pycnogenol® before and after take-off, and none of them developed thrombosis, unlike the control group who had taken a placebo and in whom five cases of thrombosis were reported.

Can Maritime Pine also be useful for skin health and UV protection?

Pycnogenol® is a food supplement that can be used as a natural support to counteract the damage caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight, such as erythema, photosensitivity and premature akin ageing, and it can be used as a second line of defence after sun creams to protect our skin. Pycnogenol® is also able to bind to proteins like collagen and elastin, protecting them from degradation and the effect of various harmful enzymes. This can help restore the skin’s original elasticity, which is essential for maintaining smooth and youthful skin.

Why is Maritime Pine considered a potent nutraceutical for slowing the ageing process?

Pycnogenol® Maritime pine can also be considered a valuable supplement for slowing ageing, i.e. a product that helps to counteract cellular ageing and maintain long-term health and vitality, as it is a potent antioxidant that reduces free radical damage and oxidative stress, the processes underlying cellular ageing. Taking Pycnogenol® can also promote cardiovascular health, protect the skin from UV damage, keep the skin smooth and youthful, and improve cognitive function, by helping to maintain mental clarity and memory.

Does Maritime Pine really reduce joint pain and inflammation?

Pycnogenol® has been shown to promote joint mobility naturally. Several studies have shown that dietary supplementation with Pycnogenol® can increase joint flexibility and reduce joint inflammation markers. Regular intake of Pycnogenol® can bring a 15.8% decrease in the activation of the pro-inflammatory factor NF-kB, which governs the deployment of all pro-inflammatory molecules (that can cause arthritis). Pycnogenol® also reduces the production of COX-2 enzymes during inflammation, thus helping to reduce joint pain naturally. In addition, in people with osteoarthritis, regular intake of Pycnogenol® reduces the production of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes, which are responsible for the degeneration of cartilage collagen.

How can Maritime Pine also be of use to athletes?

Pycnogenol® Maritime Pine can bring several benefits to athletes. In particular, it:

• can help reduce inflammation and muscle and joint pain after physical activity due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

• can improve blood circulation and Nitric Oxide production, thus increasing the oxygen supply to muscles and improving endurance and physical performance.

• can help reduce the oxidative stress produced by intense physical exertion, consequently protecting muscle cells from free radical damage and promoting muscle recovery.

• can improve cognitive function and concentration, helping athletes maintain mental clarity during physical activity.

• is free of doping substances and can be used safely by all types of athletes.

I have heard that Maritime Pine can also be useful in the allergy field. Is this true?

Yes, Pycnogenol® has also been used in the allergy field. Allergies are excessive immune system reactions to substances it considers harmful, such as pollen, dust, dust mites and animal hair. When an allergic person comes into contact with these allergens, the mast cells release a tissue hormone called histamine, which causes symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, coughing, wheezing and bronchial burning and swelling.

Studies have shown that Pycnogenol® can inhibit the release of histamine by the mast cells when stimulated by an irritant. Pycnogenol® also has anti-inflammatory properties and inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, helping to reduce swelling and facilitate breathing, thus mitigating the effects of histamine release.

Where and how is Pycnogenol® Maritime Pine extract obtained?

Pycnogenol® is extracted from the bark of pines growing in the single-species Landes de Gascogne forest in south-western France. The extraction process is patented and meets the highest quality standards.

Pycnogenol® is a unique blend of active ingredients, including procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids. It is a potent antioxidant, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, stimulates the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid, and promotes the production of endothelial nitric oxide, which helps dilate blood vessels. Pycnogenol® is protected by several international patents and has been extensively studied, with over 420 published, peer-reviewed studies guaranteeing its safety and efficacy. It is used in over 1000 food supplements and health products worldwide, and was patented by Horphag Research Ltd, which has received several awards for its outstanding research and product quality achievements. This ingredient is Kosher certified, Halal certified and self-affirmed GRAS for use in functional foods and beverages. The bark from which Pycnogenol® is extracted is of the highest quality, as no pesticides or herbicides are used in the single-species forest where the pines grow.

Scientific references
Schoonees A, Visser J, Musekiwa A, Volmink J. Pycnogenol(®) for the treatment of chronic disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Feb 15;(2):CD008294. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008294.pub3. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(4):CD008294. PMID: 22336841.

Grether-Beck S, Marini A, Jaenicke T, Krutmann J. French Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol®) Effects on Human Skin: Clinical and Molecular Evidence. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2016;29(1):13-7. doi: 10.1159/000441039. Epub 2015 Oct 23. PMID: 26492562.

Verlaet AA, Ceulemans B, Verhelst H, Van West D, De Bruyne T, Pieters L, Savelkoul HF, Hermans N. Effect of Pycnogenol® on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2017 Mar 28;18(1):145. doi: 10.1186/s13063-017-1879-6. PMID: 28351412; PMCID: PMC5370458.

Gulati OP. Pycnogenol® in Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders. Phytother Res. 2015 Jul;29(7):949-68. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5341. Epub 2015 May 1. PMID: 25931421.

Zhang Z, Tong X, Wei YL, Zhao L, Xu JY, Qin LQ. Effect of Pycnogenol Supplementation on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Iran J Public Health. 2018 Jun;47(6):779-787. PMID: 30087862; PMCID: PMC6077626.

Gulati OP. Pycnogenol® in chronic venous insufficiency and related venous disorders. Phytother Res. 2014 Mar;28(3):348-62. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5019. Epub 2013 Jun 15. PMID: 23775628.

Simpson T, Kure C, Stough C. Assessing the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Pycnogenol® on Cognitive Aging From In Vitro Animal and Human Studies. Front Pharmacol. 2019 Jul 3;10:694. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00694. PMID: 31333448; PMCID: PMC6619435.

Nattagh-Eshtivani E, Gheflati A, Barghchi H, Rahbarinejad P, Hachem K, Shalaby MN, Abdelbasset WK, Ranjbar G, Olegovich Bokov D, Rahimi P, Gholizadeh Navashenaq J, Pahlavani N. The role of Pycnogenol in the control of inflammation and oxidative stress in chronic diseases: Molecular aspects. Phytother Res. 2022 Jun;36(6):2352-2374. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7454. Epub 2022 May 18. PMID: 35583807.