Pycnogenol Lowers Glucose

WURZBURG, GermanyResearchers at the Universität Würzburg, Institut für Pharmazie und Lebensmittelchemie found French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol®, Natural Health Science) to have a glucose-lowering effectkey to diabetes mellitus. Researchers analyzed the inhibitory activity of Pycnogenol, green tea extract and acarbose toward a-glucosidase. Furthermore, they explored different fractions of Pycnogenol containing compounds of diverse molecular masses from polyphenolic monomers, dimers and higher oligomers to discover Pycnogenol exhibited the highest inhibitory activity (IC50 about 5 mg/mL) on a-glucosidase compared to green tea extract (IC50 about 20 mg/mL), and acarbose (IC50 about 1 mg/mL). The inhibitory action of Pycnogenol was stronger in extract fractions containing higher procyanidin oligomers. Researchers propose that the oligomeric fraction of maritime pine bark extract also has the potential to exhibit local effects in the gastrointestinal tract by inhibiting aglucosidase thereby contributing to improved glycemic control; and conclude results contribute to the explanation of clinical antidiabetic effects of Pycnogenol (Diab Res Clin Pract; DOI:10.1016/j.diabres.2006.10.011).