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.