pycnogenol and senescence accelerated mice

Doug Skrecky (oberon@vcn.bc.ca)
Thu, 24 Jun 1999 20:42:20 -0700 (PDT)

Authors
Liu FJ. Zhang YX. Lau BH.
Institution
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, California 92350, USA. Title
Pycnogenol enhances immune and haemopoietic functions in senescence-accelerated mice.
Source
Cellular & Molecular Life Sciences. 54(10):1168-72, 1998 Oct. Abstract
Pycnogenol (procyanidin extracted from Pinus maritima) has been shown to be a potent free radical scavenger and an antioxidant phytochemical. The effects of pycnogenol on immune and haemopoietic dysfunction in senescence-accelerated mice (SAM), as a murine model of accelerated ageing, were determined. SAMP8, a strain of senile-prone mice, exhibit learning and memory deficits, immunodeficiency and dysfunction of the haemopoietic system. Oral feeding with pycnogenol for 2 months significantly improved their T- and B-cell function. Pycnogenol also augmented the proliferative capacity of haemopoietic progenitors of bone marrow in SAMP8. These data suggest that pycnogenol may be useful for either retardation or restoration of parameters associated with ageing.