Pycnogenol, a Plant Extract for Womens Health

Abstract

Peter Rohdewald

The extract from the bark of the French maritime pine (Pinus pinasterAiton, subsp. atlantica), marketed as Pycnogenol® (Horphag Research, Ltd.), offers a wide range of benefits for women’s health and well-being. The present review summarizes results of clinical studies related to sex-specific diseases and troubles, affecting the reproductive system, as well as to some sex related diseases, which are more prevalent in women compared to men. The sex-specific diseases and troubles, which could be ameliorated by Pycnogenol, comprise dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, and low-back pain during pregnancy, post-partum hemorrhoids, menopausal symptoms and sexual behavior. The sex-related diseases, manifesting themselves predominantly in women, and having successfully treated with Pycnogenol, are venous diseases, as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and ulcers, osteoarthritis (OA) and cosmetic problems. The review reports significant results from clinical studies listed above and discusses the findings in brief. Results suggest that Pycnogenol, grace of its improvement of endothelial health and its anti-inflammatory properties, contributes to an improvement of women’s health in a non-hormonal way. Pycnogenol presents a safe and versatile food supplement.

PDF