PYCNOGENOL - MONOGRAPH

[Diggie's Friend]

A monograph is a paper on a single topic. Herbal monographs normally include nomenclature, part used, constituents, range of application, contraindications, side effects, incompatibilities with other medications, dosage, use, and action of the herb.

For doses used for specific conditions in rats, see notations on results under "animals" in Monograph.

http://abc.herbalgram.org/site/DocServer/Pycnog_FullMono012019-final-FULL.pdf?docID=8983

When tested for toxicity, Pycnogenol was found to be very low, at 1000 mg. per 5 kg of body wt. For most conditions this source has been tested in rats the dose was 20 mg. or under. 100 mg. and 150 mg. were used orally daily for set periods of time to treat specific extreme life threatening conditions.



ADVERSE EFFECTS / SAFETY DATA

Preclinical Toxicology

The acute toxicity is low after oral administration in mice, rats, and guinea pigs.122 The most representative median lethal dose (LD50) value, following the current Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines (OECD 423123), is > 5.0 g/kg body weight in rats.122

In chronic toxicity tests (OECD 408124),oral application of up to 1000 mg/kg/day in rats did not produce abnormal clinical or behavioral signs, nor any change in body weight, hematology, clinical biochemistry, or food/water consumption. Furthermore, no pathomorphological changes were found.122

The level of mutagenicity of Pycnogenol was assessed with the OECD 471125 bacterial reverse mutation test (Ames test), the micronucleus assay in mouse bone marrow cells in vivo, and the chromosome aberration assay in human lymphocytes in vitro.122 The results all converge to suggest that Pycnogenol is nonmutagenic.122 These are the published study journal, see info under Results on pg. 73.

Used prophylactically, Pycnogenol can help prevent serious health conditions from developing.

Pycnogenol comes in various dosages, including 30, 50, 100, and 150 mg. etc.... For best absorption split dose between AM & PM feedings.

Recommended maintenance dosage for squirrels, depending on body weight, is 1/16 to 1/8 of a capsule powder daily added to a wet food.

https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Origins-Pycnogenol-Capsules-Count/dp/B00CLYNAUA

[Diggie's Friend]

Pycnogenol for Cardiomyopathy

Oral dose of Pycnogenol used in study of cardiomyopathy in rats:

Oral aqueous solution of Pycnogenol used to treat Cardiomyopathy in rats was and aqueous (liquid solution) of (150mg /kg (b.w)/day) orally for five weeks.

https://jbiochemtech.com/storage/models/article/fBu15zGYIoHxa0CpIgFW5jVN2EE4TWjPnHcaSbliox3qcv8G13 psD2sVh6bM/prophylactic-and-therapeutic-effects-of-pycnogenol-against-doxorubicin-induced-cardiomyopathy-in-r.pdf

Presently the liquid form of Pycnogenol is not available. (See powdered Pycnogenol from "Healthy Origins" 150 mg. capsule)

[Diggie's Friend]

Pycnogenol decreased viral replication in mice with myocarditis.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3195533/

[Diggie's Friend]

Pycnogenol in Diabetes


Diabetes and Complications - Pg. 8

http://abc.herbalgram.org/site/DocServer/Pycnog_FullMono120809_LOW.pdf?docID=1741


In vitro (under glass)



In vitro experiments with alpha-glucosidase were conducted to determine how Pycnogenol clinically-reduces blood sugar in type 2 diabetics.57 Alpha-glucosidase is an enzyme secreted in the duodenum that hydrolyses glucose residues from polysaccharides (starches). Inhibition of the enzyme diminishes absorption of glucose and reduces the post prandial blood glucose peaks. The activity of Pycnogenol was compared to acarbose, a prescription alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. Pycnogenol was found to be a potent inhibitor of alpha-glucosidase, more potent than acarbose (IC50 5.3 μg/mL and 1 mg/mL, respectively).57


Animal (in vivo: in the animal)



Pycnogenol’s effect on diabetes was evaluated in 2 in vivo studies. Healthy rats and rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were treated with 10 mg/kg Pycnogenol intraperitoneally (IP) for 14 days. Pycnogenol significantly reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic rats by 28% (p < 0.05), but not to normal levels.58 In contrast, another study treated streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with Pycnogenol 5 mg/kg orally for 8 weeks and found no significant reduction in blood sugar.59 However, it is noteworthy that the streptozotocin rat model represents type 1 diabetes.

A study evaluating diabetes-related eye disorders treated normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with a low-carbohydrate diet plus Pycnogenol (10 mg/kg, IP for 14 days). The combination treatment reduced the risk of diabetic retinopathy and cataract formation.

[Diggie's Friend]

More on the positive effects of Pycnogenol:

Pycnogenol is actively anti-microbial.


Pycnogenol® exerts anti-microbial activity against a broad range of micro-organisms: gram positive and negative bacteria, as well as yeast [Torras et al, 2005). The minimum inhibitory dose ranged from 20 μg/ml (human dosage), such as for Staphilococcus aureus


Pycnogenol counters the negative effects of irradiation on lining of the bowel in rats.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241692192_The_effects_of_Pycnogenol_R_on_colon_ana stomotic_healing_in_rats_given_preoperative_irradi ation

[Diggie's Friend]

Pycnogenol (PBE) Inhibits Bacterial Growth of Pathogenic Microorganisms


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3203267/


PBE was shown to have antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic prokaryotes (gram negative and positive bacteria), and eukaryotes (fungi and yeasts)(83,84). For instance, growth and adherence of Helicobacter pylori (the gram negative, microaerophilic bacterium) to mucosal cells of the stomach were inhibited by Pycnogenol®, in vitro. In another study, antimicrobial effects of Pycnogenol® against 23 pathogenic microorganisms (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, Aspergillus oryzae, and Salmonella sp.) have been investigated. Consequently, Pycnogenol® inhibited the growth of all tested microorganisms in minimum inhibitory dosages (MID) ranging from 20 to 250 μg/mL(84).

[Diggie's Friend]

Informative overview of the various health benefits of Pycnogenol oral.

https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2014/6/wide-ranging-longevity-benefits-of-pycnogenol


Pycnogenol can directly oppose the excessive oxidative stress produced by diabetes, which is responsible for so much of that disease’s age-accelerating damage. Multiple animal studies demonstrate that Pycnogenol restores to normal the elevated markers of oxidation seen in tissues and organs of diabetic animals, while also restoring normal levels of protective intracellular antioxidant systems.25-27 This has now been shown to lead directly to reductions in inflammatory molecules, including thromboxane, a protein that triggers platelets to clump together with the potential for a dangerous clot to form.28

Finally, Pycnogenol has been shown to inhibit alpha-glucosidase, a key intestinal enzyme that breaks down simple starch into sugars.29 Blocking alpha-glucosidase is an effective way of slowing absorption of glucose into the bloodstream.30

[olorin19]

Pycnogenol has been used as a dietary supplement for humans at least as far back as the late 1980s. And it may well be longer than that.

[Diggie's Friend]

Yes, Pycnogenol has been studied for over 50 years in over 100 studies. It has been found to significantly improve circulation, which improves the health of internal organs. More recently, research has been busy pairing up PYC with pharma drugs to improve their efficacy and lower their negative side effects. PYC has been tested with chemo drugs to reduce their negative side effects also. Side by side, PYC has out-preformed some pharma drugs without their negative side effects. My hubby was on BP drugs for many years, where he had bleeding under the skin of one of his forearms. After he switched to PYC only, the blood went away in one month that had been there It is being studied in clinical trials with pharma drugs to improve the positive effects and reduce their negative ones. The nurse of his pulmonary doctors office was flat out astonished that his BP was in the 120; this with not even the medium higher dose used for this source. I take it without food and have no issues myself. It reduced my cholesterol to normal levels since my youth. As for side effects, gastrointestinal can occur, yet taken with food none found.

Squirrel wise, it is a natural source that squirrels consume in the spring of the year when juveniles and mother squirrels primarily, strip the bark of their food trees to access the inner living cambium layer that contains protein, calcium, and other key nutrients that they need when nuts are not available. This same source was used in my research diet (based upon squirrel and rat research), in support of a member's squirrel diet for many years, having reduced the obese weight to that which was advised for our squirrels many years ago, by our former veterinarian, who advised to support for wilds cared for in captivity have been found to develop the same metabolic disorders as domestic pets do. The squirrel, a smaller southern ssp. of the E. gray squirrel, that the high end of their lifespan is much lower than that of the Northern ssp. of the Eastern gray squirrel, lived to reach 11 years of age.

[Diggie's Friend]

Thought to add that the squirrel, a female that was formerly inactive, became active on this diet and was playful and more gentle than on the prior diet. She never had a UTI, or any other infection; and at age 10 1/2 to have all normal blood values, and no visual abnormalities on X-ray, with good bone density (no MBD).

[Diggie's Friend]

According to the CDC; yeast infections (candida forms) are becoming increasingly harder to defeat.

https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/antifungal-resistant.html#:~:text=Antimicrobial%20resistance% 20happens%20when%20germs,the%20fungus%20Candida%2C %20a%20yeast.


Antimicrobial resistance happens when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. That means the germs are not killed and continue to grow. Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing problem with the fungus Candida, a yeast. Candida infections may resist antifungal drugs, making them difficult to treat.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16161029


Antimicrobial activity of Pycnogenol.

Torras MA, Faura CA, Schönlau F, Rohdewald P.
Phytother Res. 2005 Jul;19(7):647-8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.1662.

Abstract
Pycnogenol, a standardized extract of Pinus pinaster bark, was tested for its antimicrobial activity against 23 different pathogenic prokaryotic (gram-positive and gram-negative) and eukaryotic (yeast and fungi) microorganisms . Pycnogenol inhibited the growth of all the tested microorganisms in minimum concentrations ranging from 20 to 250 microg/mL. Thus, Pycnogenol in concentrations as low as 0.025% could counteract the growth of all the strains investigated in our study. (in application to oral health) These results conform with clinical oral health care studies describing the prevention of plaque formation and the clearance of candidiasis by Pycnogenol.

Through recent research, "Pycnogenol", aka: "Pygenol", was shown to be, "immunomodulatory". This means that the negative effect of viruses like (coronaviruses) post recovery, which can turn up the immune system too high to where it turns on the body, is moderated by (PYC), which reduces the immune response to normal. Likewise, when the body's immune system has dropped too low, no then able to well protect itself well; PYC brings it up to the, 'optimum' range of function. When probiotics were paired with (PYC), it was found to increase the ability of the body to counter harmful bacteria, vs. when each source is given alone.

Beyond food grade organic Chia oil being anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, having a positive Omega 3 ratio to Omega 6 ratio, it is also has been found in pets to be a significant support to the immune system. And though flax seed oil also has a high ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6; it contains, 'goitrogens', that lower the availability of the calcium from the diet to the body. I've been told that this source of organic food grade chia oil, has increased the appeal of the rodent block to some of the pickier eaters.:serene

Adding (PYC) by, "Healthy Origins", "Pet Flora" by "Vitality Science", and Organic food grade Chia oil from, "Foods Alive" to a 'Boo Ball" type recipe, provides significantly greater support to the health of the diet, that feeding it without.

https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Origins-Pycnogenol-Capsules-Count/dp/B00CLYNAUA?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Vitality-Science-Pet-Flora-Gastrointestinal/dp/B005PJN2HO/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?hvadid=651125010705&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1014279&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=13727904908340169890&hvtargid=kwd-20782404257&hydadcr=15945_13650342&keywords=pet%2Bflora%2Bvitality%2Bscience&qid=1703716778&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Foods-Alive-Artisan-Cold-Pressed-Organic/dp/B007788AZA/ref=sr_1_2?crid=7P7F3G0G3RKM&keywords=chia%2Bseed%2Boil%2Bfoods%2Balive&qid=1703716919&sprefix=chia%2Bseed%2Boil%2Bfoods%2Balive%2Caps%2C 162&sr=8-2&th=1

[Diggie's Friend]

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/570183


Research reveals Pycnogenol lowers elevated urinary protein levels and improves blood flow to the kidneys.

This is a significant issue with for squirrels past middle age.

For save for pending conditions/causes leading to end of life, as the kidneys continue to function so does the life.