Douglas Laboratories Pycnogenol 120 Capsules

Pycnogenol 120 Capsules. Pycnogenol capsules provided by Douglas Laboratories supplies 25 mg of a pure patented pine bark extract from Horphag Research Ltd. Pycnogenol is the registered trademark of Horphag Research and is the name given to their patented antioxidant complex produced solely from pine bark which contains a unique mixture of proanthocyanidins (a bioflavonoid) organic acids and other active compounds. Other proanthocyanidin extracts may want to call themselves pycnogenol but they can't legally. Pycnogenol is a unique product recognized by U.S. and international patents covering its innovative methods of extraction preparation and biological applications.Pycnogenol is made exclusively from the bark of the European coastal pine Pinus maritima which grows along the Atlantic coast of southern France. The nutrient-rich bark is processed by gentle water extraction through a solvent-free method which recovers all the water soluble components and maximizes bioavailability.Pycnogenol is one of the most powerful natural freeradical scavengers yet discovered. As such it reduces oxidative damage to vital tissues and helps maintain a healthy capillary system. Pycnogenol's antioxidant activity is many times more effective than that of vitamin C and vitamin E. Pycnogenol enhances the effectiveness of vitamins C and E and can be taken together with these vitamins for added benefit.Pycnogenol is composed of water-soluble proanthocyanidin dimers trimers and oligomers catechin and epicatechin and naturally-occurring organic acids such as ferulic acid and caffeic acid. Pycnogenols proanthocyanidins are a highly specialized group of bioflavonoids unique in their ability to form condensation products. The dimeric proanthocyanidins are the most potent anti-free radical agents. Although the organic acids such as caffeic acid inhibit the formation of many reactive oxygen species less than the dimeric proanthocyanidins they are more effective than vitamin C in this regard. The