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Copyright 1995 by Michael T. Murray, from the book, The Healing Power of Herbs Prima Publishing, Rocklin, CA. Order at better bookstores or call (800) 632-8676
The History of PCO In 1534, French explorer Jacques Cartier was leading an expedition up the Saint Lawrence river. Trapped by ice, Cartier and his crew was forced to survive on a ration of salted meat and biscuits. Cartier's crew began to exhibit signs and symptoms of scurvy-a severe deficiency of Vitamin C. At the time, the cause of scurvy was unknown. Fortunately for Cartier and the surviving members of his crew, they came across a Native American who told them to make tea from the bark and needles of pine trees. As a result, Cartier and his men survived. More than 400 years later, Professor Jacques Masquelier of the University of Bordeaux, France, read the book Cartier wrote detailing his expedition. Intrigued by Cartier's story, Masquelier and others believed and concluded that pine bark must contain some Vitamin C as well as be a good source of bioflavonoids which can exert Vitamin C- like effects. Masquelier termed the active components of the pine bark "pycnogenols". This term was used to described an entire complex of proanthocyanidin complexes found in a variety of plants including pine bark, grape seed, lemon tree bark, peanuts, cranberries and citrus peels. The term "pycnogenols" is now considered obsolete in the scientific community to describe these compounds giving way to the terms proanthocyanidins, oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes(OPCs) and procyanidolic oligomers(PCO). In the United States (Australia???), the term Pycnogenol is a registered trademark of Horphag Ltd.,Guernsey, UK and refers to the procyanidolic oligomer (PCO) extracted from the bark of the French maritime pine. Masquelier patented the method of extracting PCOs from pine bark in France in 1951 and from grape seeds in 1970. The PCOs extract from grape seeds emerged as the preferred source based on extensive research between 1951 and 1971, as well as intensive research from 1972 to 1978. The intense research in the 1970's was conducted with the goal of gaining the approval as a medicinal agent by the French Equivalent of the FDA. Detailed analytical, toxicity, pharmacological and clinical studies were performed on the PCOs derived from grape seeds. Both PCOs from grape seeds and pine bark have been marketed in France for decades. Sales for the grape seed extract are roughly 400 times greater than those for the pine bark. Beneficial Effects of PCO The most celebrated effects of PCOs in the United States are its potent antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects. Antioxidants and free radical scavengers prevent against free radical or "oxidative" damage. Free radical damage has been linked to the aging process and virtually every chronic degenerative disease including heart disease, arthritis and cancer. Fats and cholesterol are particularly susceptible to free radical damage. When damaged, fats and cholesterol form toxic derivatives known as lipid peroxides and cholesterol epoxides respectively. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects of PCOs were discovered by Masquelier in 1986. While the therapeutic potential of PCOs is quite broad due to its antioxidant activity, PCOs are used in Europe primarily in the treatment of venous and capillary disorders including venous insufficiency, varicose veins, capillary fragility and vascular disorders of the retina. A recent study has shed more light on the exact mechanisms underlying these clinical applications of PCOs. The study featured two primary goals: (1) to determine the free radical scavenging activity of PCOs and (2) to determine the inhibitory effects of PCOs on xanthine oxidase ( the primary generator of oxygen derived free radicals) and the lysosomal enzyme system which governs the release of enzymes which can damage the connective tissue framework which acts as a protective sheath surrounding capillary walls. The results of some very sophisticated tests provide a detailed explanation on the vascular protective action of PCOs and provide a strong rationale for their use in vascular disease. In these studies, PCOs demonstrated an ability to:
In regards to the antioxidant action of PCO, the activity of PCOs is much greater than that of Vitamin C and Vitamin E. From a cellular perspective, one of the most advantageous features of PCOs free radical scavenging activity is that because of its chemical structure it is incorporated within cell membranes. This physical characteristic along with its ability to protect against both water and fat soluble free radicals provides incredible protection to the cells against free radical damage. The researchers concluded their discussion with the following comment: "These findings, together with those of other investigators, provide a strong rationale for using these compounds in the therapeutic managements of microvascular disorders." Clinical Uses of PCOs. Again the primary uses of PCOs is in the treatment of venous and capillary disorders including venous insufficiency, varicose veins, capillary fragility and vascular disorders of the retina. Good clinical studies have shown positive results in the treatment of these conditions. Based on the relatively recent demonstration of potent antioxidant activity the list of clinical uses of PCOs extract will surely increase. Perhaps the most significant use will eventually be in the prevention of Atherosclerosis( hardening of the arteries characterized by the appearance of cholesterol deposits) and its complications (heart disease and strokes). There are now numerous studies demonstrating the level of antioxidants may be a more significant factor in determining the risk of developing heart disease than cholesterol levels. Antioxidants prevent the oxidation of cholesterol and its carrier proteins as well as prevent the initial damage to the artery which ultimately leads to the process of atherosclerosis( hardening of the arteries). Large-scale studies with Vitamin E, Vitamin C and beta-carotene have shown these antioxidants are capable of significantly reducing the risk of dying of a heart attack or a stroke. For example, in one study of 87,245 nurses it was discovered that nurses who took 100 IU of Vitamin E daily for more than two years had a 41% lower risk of heart disease compared to non-users of Vitamin E supplements. In another study, 39,910 male health care professionals produced similar results: a 37% lower risk of heart disease with the intake of more than 30 IU of supplemental Vitamin E daily. Since PCOs has a greater antioxidant effect compared to Vitamins C and E, it is natural to assume it could offer greater protective effects. There is support for this contention. For example, several studies have shown the protective effects of red wine against heart disease and stroke. The active components in the wine are proanthocyanidins. Also, results from a recent study in 805 men beginning in 1985 demonstrated an inverse correlation between flavonoid intake and death from a heart attack. That is to say. when flavonoid intake was high the risk of having a heart attack was quite low. Conversely, if flavonoid intake was low, the risk of a heart attack was quite high. In addition to preventing damage to cholesterol and the lining of the artery, PCOs extracts have actually been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and shrink the size of the cholesterol deposit in the artery in animal studies. Presumably PCOs extracts may exert similar benefits in humans. PCOs extracts, although in a supplement form, should be thought of as a necessary food in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. Grape Seed vs. Pine Bark Grape seed and pine bark extracts of PCOs are well-defined chemically. Both are excellent sources of proanthocyanidins: grape seed extracts are available which contain a total of 92% or 95% PCOs while the pine bark extracts can vary from 80% to 85%. Although both sources can be used interchangeably, for several valid reasons PCOs extracted from grape seeds have emerged as the preferred source. First of all, the overwhelming majority of the published clinical and experimental studies over the past twenty years have been performed on the grape seed extract, not the extract of pine bark. Professor Jacques Masquelier , the original patent holder for extraction procedures for both sources favours the grape seed extract not the extract of pine bark. It is also interesting to point out that only the PCOs extracted from grape seed is approved for medicinal use in France. In regards to the free radical scavenging activities of PCOs, studies by Professor Masquelier have demonstrated that the grape seed extract is substantially more potent and effective compared to the extract of pine bark. The reason? Only the grape seed extract contains the gallic esters of proanthocyanidins (in particular: proanthocyanidin B2-3'-0-gallate. These compounds are the most active free radical scavenging PCO. They are not present in the pine bark extract but they are found in the PCOs extract from the grape seed. And finally, it is far more economical to extract PCOs from grape seeds than it is from pine bark. As a result, the grape seed extract provides greater value at a lower price. Practical Recommendations Regardless of the source, PCOs extracts can be used to support good health. As a preventive measure and as antioxidant support, a daily dose of 50 mg of either the grape seed or pine bark extract is suitable. When greater support from PCOs are desired, the daily dosage should be increased to 150 to 300mg.
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By: Michael
T. Murray, N.D. 
One of the most beneficial group of plant flavonoids are the proanthocyanidins.
These flavonoids exert many health promoting effects. The most potent
proanthocyanidins are those bound to other proanthocyanidins. When two
proanthocyanidin molecules are linked together it is referred to as a "dimer",
for three it is a "trimer", for four it is a "tetramer".
Collectively mixtures of proanthocyanidin dimers, trimers, tetramers and larger
molecules are referred to as proanthocyanidolic oligomers or PCOs for short.Although PCOs exist in many plants as well as red wine, commercially
available sources of PCOs include extracts from grape seeds and the barks of the
maritime (Landes) pine. This article shall review these benefits of PCOs as well
as answer the
