Pycnogenol

Pycnogenol is a patented extract of the bark of the maritime pine, Pinus pinaster, a type of pine tree native to the western and southwestern Mediterranean region. [1] [2]

Pycnogenol contains 65-75% proanthocyanidins. Proanthocyanidins are a class of flavanols, which in turn are a class of flavonoids. [1] [3]

Proanthocyanidins are sold as nutritional and therapeutic supplements and are believed to have numerous health benefits. Proanthocyanidins in maritime pine bark and grape seed have been found to be powerful antioxidants (much more than vitamins C and E) and are believed to strengthen blood vessels and improve the oxygen delivery to cells. [1]

In addition to being found in the maritime pine bark, proanthocyanidins are also found in apples, cinnamon, cocoa beans, grape seed, grape skin (procyanidins and prodelphinidins), red wine, bilberry, cranberry, black currant, green tea, black tea, oakwood (Quercus robur) and other plants. In general, proanthocyanidins often occur in greater quantities in the skin, seeds and seed coverings of plants. [1]

Pycnogenol may have several health benefits, espcially in the arena of blood circulation; however there is increasing scientific support for the claim that in combination with L-Arginine it may have action against erectile dysfunction (ED). Medline states "Limited research suggests pycnogenol, used alone or in combination with L-arginine, might improve sexual function in men with ED. It seems to take up to three months of treatment for significant improvement." However Medline also states that more evidence is required before these claims can be considered fully validated by science. [4]

Pycnogenol - Mechanism of Action

The mechanism for the action of Pycnogenol is generally described as follows: Penile erection is caused by the relaxation of the cavernous smooth muscle. This function in the body is triggered by nitric oxide (NO) in a multi-stage process. Nitric oxide activates guanylate cyclase, a lyase enzyme, which catalyzes cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate) synthesis. cGMP relaxes smooth muscles and increases blood flow. [5] [6] [7]

One of the ways nitric oxide is created in the body is that it is synthesized from L-Arginine and oxygen by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes. The proanthocyanidins in Pycnogenol are believed to stimulate the nitric oxide synthase enzymes in the endothelium. The nitric oxide synthase enzymes then act as a catalyst to synthesize nitric oxide from L-arginine (L-arginine is a direct precursor for NO). [5]

A potential advantage of the proanthocyanidin / L-Arginine treatments is that they may present a more 'natural' treatment for erectile dysfunction than the Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors that are commonly prescribed for ED, and without side effects that may be specific to such drugs. However, this does not automatically mean that supplementation with L-Arginine / proanthocyanidins is safe: Medline lists some potential safety concerns of pycnogenol use, including some interactions with medications. [4]

Pycnogenol - Scientific Studies

A 2011 double-blind parallel group comparison human study from Osaka, Japan, found Pycnogenol® in combination with l-arginine to be effective and safe in Japanese patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction. Subjects took Pycnogenol® @ 60mg/day, l-arginine @ 690mg/day and aspartic acid @ 552mg/day for 8 weeks. [7]

A 2010 Italian study on 124 patients (aged 30-50 years) with moderate ED found that a formulation of pine bark extract and l-arginine aspartate improved erectile function and significantly increased testosterone levels. There was some evidence that erectile function continued to improve the longer the therapy was used. [8]

A 2003 Bulgarian study (Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy) on 40 men aged 25-45 concluded that "oral administration of L-arginine in combination with Pycnogenol causes a significant improvement in sexual function in men with ED without any side effects." However it should be noted that the study was performed on men without confirmed organic erectile dysfunction. [9]

Pycnogenol - safety notes

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Sources:

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proanthocyanidin
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_pine
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavanol
[4] http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/1019.html
[5] http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6565851/description.html
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclic_guanosine_monophosphate
[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanylate_cyclase
[8] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21618639
[9] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20184576
[10] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12851125