Maritime Pine

Scientific Name(s): Pinus pinaster Aiton., Pinus radiata
Common Name(s): Enzogenol, Maritime pine extract, Monterey pine extract, Pine bark extract, Pycnogenol

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 14, 2021.

Clinical Overview

Use

Pine bark extract demonstrates antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions and has been studied for a wide range of clinical conditions, including asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chronic venous insufficiency, cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction. However, the publication of many methodologically weak clinical trials makes it difficult to provide unequivocal support for the use of pine bark extract for any condition.

Dosing

Doses of pine bark extract have been studied in clinical trials, most commonly at 150 mg per day in 3 divided doses.

Contraindications

Contraindications have not yet been identified.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Information regarding safety and efficacy during pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Pine bark extract is generally well tolerated, with occasional minor gastric discomfort, dizziness, nausea, and headache.

Toxicology

Pine bark extract is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) based on data from animal studies and clinical trials; however, few studies evaluate safety as a primary outcome.

Scientific Family

• Pinaceae (Pine)

Botany

P. pinaster Aiton (previously termed Prunus maritima Mill.) and P. radiata are medium-sized pines growing up to 30 m tall with bright red-brown, deeply fissured bark. They have stout needles occurring in clusters and produce oval cones 10 to 20 cm long. The pine tree is native to the western and southwestern Mediterranean regions but has rapidly naturalized to other countries, including the United States, England, South Africa, and Australia. The largest man-made forest in the world, the 900,000 hectare Les Landes on the Atlantic coast of southwestern France, is populated almost entirely by P. pinaster.1, 2

History

In 1535, a French explorer is reputed to have used tea made from the bark of the maritime pine to treat scurvy among his sailors when his ship became icebound. The extract has been used for anemia, inflammation, and cardiovascular conditions. Pine bark has been used as a food source in emergencies. Pine bark extract is available without a prescription in the US health food stores and pharmacies, as well as from online sources.2, 3, 4, 5

Chemistry

Pine bark extract is composed of 80% to 85% proanthocyanidins, the monomers catechin and taxifolin (5%), and phenolic acids, including derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids (2% to 4%). Depending on the extraction process and the source Pinus species used (P. radiata or P. pinaster), the exact composition will vary. Geographical and seasonal variation is also expected. Pine bark is boiled with saturated sodium chloride, cooled, and extracted with ethyl acetate. After concentration, the solution is precipitated with chloroform. This process is repeated several times to remove condensed tannins. In some studies, the extracted compounds are designated procyanidiol oligomers. The phenolic acids are derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids. Confusion previously arose when grape seed extract was marketed as containing "pycnogenol." Maritime pine extract is included in the United States Pharmacopeia.2, ...