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Fight Cataracts, Cancer, and Improve Heart Function: Grape Seed Extract OPCs Do It All!

Grape seed extract has been shown to:


 

  • Help reduce risk of cataracts5
  • Provide potent antioxidants67
  • Reduce risk of, and even reverse, atherosclerosis8910
  • Provide cardiovascular support1112
  • Support vascular strength and flexibility131415
  • Reduce edema (inflammation and swelling)161718
  • Protect against cancer19202122

Grape seed extract (GSE) (Vitis vinnifera) is simply an extract from grape seeds from red grapes. Grape seeds have a high content of compounds known as oligomeric proanthocyanidins—better known as OPCs—which are also found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, including cranberries, blueberries, bilberries, and green and black tea. These naturally occurring antioxidants have been shown to exert a broad spectrum of biological, pharmacological and therapeutic activities against free radicals and oxidative stress.2 Also, OPCs are distinct from other flavonoids because their simple chemical structure allows them to be readily absorbed into the bloodstream.

Most OPC nutritional supplements are made from grape seed extract or the bark of maritime pine (Pycnogenol), although GSE usually contains a total of 92% or 95% OPCs, compared to pine bark extracts which contain 80% to 85%. GSE has emerged as the preferred source of OPCs, which makes sense, especially since the overwhelming majority of the published clinical and experimental studies over the past 20 years have been performed on GSE, not the extract of pine bark.3

The Discovery of OPCs

In 1951, Jacques Masquelier of the University of Bordeaux was inspired to investigate the constituents of pine trees after coming across a story that reads something like this:

In 1532, a French explorer and his crew were trapped by ice in the Saint Lawrence River. A Native American suggested they make tea from the needles and bark of a local pine tree, which saved many of the men from developing scurvy.4

When Masquelier extracted OPCs from the bark of the maritime pine, he found that they could duplicate many of the functions of vitamin C. He named 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, cranberries and citrus peels. Instead of using the term pycnogenols to describe these compounds, the scientific community now uses the terms proanthocyanidins, oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs) and procyanidolic oligomers(PCO).3

Masquelier patented the method of extracting OPCs from pine bark in France in 1951 and from grape seeds in 1970. Extensive research on the OPC extract from grape seeds went on between 1951 and 1971, as well as intensive research from 1972 to 1978. The research in the 1970s was carried out with the goal of getting the approval for grape seed extract to be classified as a medicinal agent in France.

Today, although pine bark extract is still sold in France, sales for the grape seed extract are approximately 400 times higher and it remains the only OPC with the status of a medicinal agent3 —the equivalent of a FDA approval.

Benefits

Grape seed extract is considered to be a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from premature aging and disease. Research shows that GSE is beneficial in many areas of health, and is even capable of promoting youthful skin, cellular health, elasticity, and flexibility. OPCs also improve blood circulation by strengthening capillaries, arteries, and veins.1

 

A number of recent scientific studies also demonstrate that grape seed extract OPCs reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and a number of the chronic diseases associated with aging. Although most of the studies conducted on GSE have been done in vitro (cell cultures tested in a test tube) and on animals, more studies are being done on humans, and the results are extremely promising.

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Editor's Note:

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This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a physician before embarking on a dietary supplement program.

References

  1. Shi J, Yu J, Pohorly JE, Kakuda Y. Polyphenolics in grape seeds-biochemistry and functionality. J Med Food. 2003 Winter;6(4):291-9. 

    Abstract ↑

  2. Bagchi D, Bagchi M, Stohs SJ, Das DK, Ray SD, Kuszynski CA, Joshi SS, Pruess HG. Free radicals and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract: importance in human health and disease prevention.Toxicology. 2000 Aug 7;148(2-3):187-97. 

    Abstract ↑

  3. Murray, Michael T. "PCO Sources: Grape Seed vs Pine Bark." The Healing Power of Herbs. Prima Publishing, Rocklin, CA. 1995. 

    ↑

  4. Murray M, Pizzorno J. Procyanidolic oligomers. In: Murray M, Pizzorno J, eds. The Textbook of Natural Medicine. 2nd ed. London: Churchill Livingston; 1999:899-902. 

    ↑

  5. Yamakoshi J, Saito M, Kataoka S, Tokutake S. Procyanidin-rich extract from grape seeds prevents cataract formation in hereditary cataractous (ICR/f) rats. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Aug 14;50(17):4983-8. 

    Abstract ↑

  6. Simonetti P, Ciappellano S, Gardana C, Bramati L, Pietta P. Procyanidins from Vitis vinifera seeds: in vivo effects on oxidative stress. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Oct 9;50(21):6217-21. 

    Abstract ↑

  7. Chidambara Murthy KN, Singh RP, Jayaprakasha GK. Antioxidant activities of grape (Vitis vinifera) pomace extracts. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Oct 9;50(21):5909-14. 

    Abstract ↑

  8. Shafiee M, Carbonneau MA, Urban N, Descomps B, Leger CL. Grape and grape seed extract capacities at protecting LDL against oxidation generated by Cu2+, AAPH or SIN-1 and at decreasing superoxide THP-1 cell production. A comparison to other extracts or compounds. Free Radic Res. 2003 May;37(5):573-84.

    Abstract ↑

  9. Hagen, Pat. "Fresh Heart for Red Wine Drinkers" The Scientisthttp://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20011231/02

    ↑

  10. Institute of Food Technologists. 
    http://www.ift.org/cms/?pid=1000707

    ↑

  11. Sato M, Maulik G, Ray PS, Bagchi D, Das DK. Cardioprotective effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin against ischemic reperfusion injury. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1999 Jun;31(6):1289-97. 

    ↑

  12. Vigna GB et al. "Effect of a standardized grape seed extract on low-density lipoprotein susceptibility to oxidation in heavy smokers."Metabolism. 52, 10:1250-7, 2003. (http://www.ncbi.nih.gov) 

    ↑

  13. Dartenuc JY, Marache P, Choussat H. Resistance Capillaire en Geriatrie Etude d'un Microangioprotecteur. Bordeaux Médical1980;13:903-7 [in French]. 

    ↑

  14. Delacroix P. Etude en Double Avengle de l'Endotelon dans l'Insuffisance Veineuse Chronique. Therapeutique, la Revue de Medicine 1981;27-28 Sept:1793-802 [in French]. 

    ↑

  15. Thebaut JF, Thebaut P, Vin F. Study of Endotelon in functional manifestations of peripheral venous insufficiency. Gazette Medicale1985;92:96-100 [in French]. 

    ↑

  16. Baroch J. Effect of Endotelon in postoperative edema. Results of a double-blind study versus placebo in 32 female patients. Ann Chir Polast Esthet 1984;29:393-5 [in French]. 

    ↑

  17. Pecking A, Desprez-Curely JP, Megret G. Oligomeric grape flavanols (Endotelon®) in the treatment of secondary upper limb lymphedemas [translated from French]. [Source unknown]. 1989:69-73. 

    ↑

  18. Parienti J-J, Parienti-Amsellem J. Post-traumatic edemas in sports: a controlled test of Endotelon® [translated from French]. Gaz Med Fr.1983;90:231-236. 

    ↑

  19. Laurent C, Besancon P, Auger C, Rouanet JM, Caporiccio B. Grape seed extract affects proliferation and differentiation of human intestinal Caco-2 cells. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Jun 2;52(11):3301-8. 

    Abstract ↑

  20. Sharma G, Tyagi AK, Singh RP, Chan DC, Agarwal R. Synergistic anti-cancer effects of grape seed extract and conventional cytotoxic agent doxorubicin against human breast carcinoma cells. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2004 May;85(1):1-12. 

    Abstract ↑

  21. Singh RP, Tyagi AK, Dhanalakshmi S, Agarwal R, Agarwal C. Grape seed extract inhibits advanced human prostate tumor growth and angiogenesis and upregulates insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3. Int J Cancer. 2004 Feb 20;108(5):733-40. 

    Abstract ↑

  22. Agarwal C, Singh RP, Dhanalakshmi S, Agarwal R. Anti-angiogenic efficacy of grape seed extract in endothelial cells. Oncol Rep. 2004 Mar;11(3):681-5.

    Abstract ↑

  23. Wren AF, Cleary M, Frantz C, Melton S, Norris L. 90-day oral toxicity study of a grape seed extract (IH636) in rats. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Mar 27;50(7):2180-92. 

    Abstract ↑

  24. Yamakoshi J, Saito M, Kataoka S, Kikuchi M. Safety evaluation of proanthocyanidin-rich extract from grape seeds. Food Chem Toxicol. 2002 May;40(5):599-607. 

    Abstract ↑

  25. Bagchi D, et al. Free radicals and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract: importance in human health and disease prevention.Toxicology. 2000 Aug 7;148(2-3):187-97. 

    Abstract ↑