Abstract
Proanthocyanidins are among the most abundant constituents in pine bark extracts (PBEs). This review summarizes medical research on PBEs from Pinus pinaster, Pinus radiata, Pinus massoniana, and other less well characterized species. The precise mechanisms of the important physiologic functions of PBE components remain to be elucidated, but there is evidently great potential for the identification and development of novel antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, neuroprotective, and anticancer medicines. Although toxicological data for PBEs are limited, no serious adverse effects have been reported. PBEs, therefore, may have potential as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals and should be safe for use as food ingredients.
Footnotes
- Received October 10, 2014.
- Accepted January 14, 2015.
This study was supported by the National University Students Innovation Training Program [Grant 1500107070 (to Y.-Y.L.)]; and the Yangfan Project of the Tongji University School of Medicine [Grant 2012YF05 (to Y.-Y.C.)]. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
- Copyright © 2015 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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Physiology and Toxicology of Pine Bark Extracts
