Origin
French Maritime Pine is made from the bark of Pinus pinaster Aiton, subsp. atlantica des Villar, Fam. Pinaceae, a species of pine that grows along the Bay of Biscay in northern France. The bark is thick, brownish-red in color, with deep fissures obtained from monocultures that grow over a period of 30-50 years.
Bioactive principles
Maritime Pine extract contains polyphenolic compounds consisting mainly of procyanidins (catechin, taxifolin and oligomers with 7 or more flavonoid units) that exert significant antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Memorens® contains a dry extract of Pinaster Pine titrated at 95% in OPC (proanthocyanidol oligomers).
Therapeutic properties
Maritime Pine extract exerts protective effects against oxidative stress, both by increasing the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes and by acting as a free radical scavenger.
Mechanism of action
Maritime Pine extract exerts its protective antioxidant activity by increasing the synthesis of enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase that degrade the products of oxidative stress.
Maritime Pine also possesses anti-inflammatory activity by preventing the release of pro-inflammatory mediators regulated by oxidative stress such as the enzyme inducible NO synthase, which produces a high amount of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory activity.
Tolerability
Maritime pine is well tolerated.
Mild side effects such as intestinal upset, dizziness, headache have been reported.