Pycnogenol Helps Heart

TUSCON, Ariz.French maritimepine extract ( a s Pycnogenol®, from Natural Health Science) impacts cardiac extracellular matrix remodeling induced by L-NAME in mice. Researchers out of University of Arizona, Tuscon, investigated the effect of Pycnogenol supplementation (30 mg/kg) on left ventricular function and my ocar dial extra cellular matrix composition in old C57BL/6N mice following induction of cardiac remodeling by chronic nitric oxide synthase blockade by N Gnitro- l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) administration. L-NAMEt reated mice demonstrated dilated cardio myopathyat compensated state, associated with a significant increase of promatrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 gene expression and activity, a marked decrease in pro-collagen IIIa gene expression, and a subsequent reduction in cardiac total and cross-linked collagen content. Upon supplementation with Pycnogenol in L-NAMEexposed mice, cardiac gene expression patterns for pro-MMP-2, -9, and -13, and MMP-9 activity were significantly decreased, associated with a significant increase in cardiac tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-4 expression. These findings were coincided with a marked increase in myocardial total and cross-linked collagen content, compared with L-NAME-only-treated mice. Moreover, Pycnogenol treatment was associated with reversal of L-NAME-induced alternations in hemodynamic parameters. Researchers noted the data indicates Pycnogenol can prevent adverse myocardial remodeling induced by L-NAME, through modulating TIMP and MMPs gene expression, MMPs activity, and further reduction in myocardial collagen degradation rate. The study was published in Cardiovascular Toxicology (DOI:10.1007/s12012-007-0001-9).