Present systematic review and meta- analysis suggested Pycnogenol consumption can decrease the level of CRP and have anti-inflammatory effect .
Pycnogenol is a st and ardized extract from the bark of the French maritime pine .
The aim of the present systematic review and meta- analysis was to clarify the effect of Pycnogenol supplementation on C-reactive protein ( CRP ) concentration .
Inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 activity by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion of French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol).
There is evidence from several studies that supplementation with French maritime pine bark extract ( Pycnogenol ) improves inflammatory symptoms in vivo . However , the molecular pharmacological basis for the observed effects has not been fully uncovered yet . Direct inhibitory effects of plant extracts or components upon cyclooxygenase ( COX ) activity have been repeatedly reported , but the question remained whether sufficiently high in vivo concentrations of bioactive compounds could be achieved in humans . The purpose of the present study was to determine a possible inhibition of the enzymatic activity of COX-1 and COX-2 by serum sample s of human volunteers after intake of French maritime pine bark extract .  This methodology considered that the serum sample s would contain any bioavailable active principle . Therefore , we obtained blood sample s before and after 5 days administration of 200 mg  Pycnogenol to five healthy humans . The plasma moderately inhibited both COX-1 and COX-2 activities ex vivo . In a second approach , 10 volunteers received a single dose of 300 mg Pycnogenol . Only 30 min after ingestion of the pine bark extract the serum sample s induced a statistically significant increase in the inhibition of both COX-1 ( P < 0.02 ) and COX-2 ( P < 0.002 ) . This suggests a strikingly rapid bioavailability of bioeffective compounds after oral intake of the extract . Thus , we provide evidence that Pycnogenol exerts effects by inhibition of eicosanoid generating enzymes which is consistent with reported clinical anti-inflammatory and platelet inhibitory effects in vivo . The next challenge is to identify the active principle(s ) that are rapidly bioavailable in human plasma
Present systematic review and meta- analysis suggested Pycnogenol consumption can decrease the level of CRP and have anti-inflammatory effect .
Pycnogenol is a st and ardized extract from the bark of the French maritime pine .
The aim of the present systematic review and meta- analysis was to clarify the effect of Pycnogenol supplementation on C-reactive protein ( CRP ) concentration .