# Maritime pine bark extract

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**Maritime pine bark extract** is an extract from the bark of *[Pinus pinaster](/source/Pinus_pinaster)* which is used as a [dietary supplement](/source/Dietary_supplement). It is composed mostly of [proanthocyanidins](/source/Proanthocyanidin).[1] **Pycnogenol** is a trademarked name for a standardized preparation that contains 70% [procyanidins](/source/Procyanidin).

[Meta analyses](/source/Meta-analysis) of the scientific studies of maritime pine bark extract have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support its use for the treatment of any disease.[2]

## History

[Jack Masquelier](/source/Jack_Masquelier) is reported to have read the account of the explorer of [Jacques Cartier](/source/Jacques_Cartier)'s learning of the beneficial effects of a tea made from a tree bark by the Native Americans. And on the basis of this account looked to find the active ingredients. Various sources were looked into by Masquelier and he found a suitable source in, and extracted proanthocyanidins from, the bark of the European maritime pine. In 1979 Masquelier used the term Pycnogenol to refer to his product.[1][3]

## Use

A 2012 [Cochrane Review](/source/Cochrane_Review), updated in 2020, Robertson *et al.* reviewed the evidence on the efficacy of pine bark extract for treating a wide range of complaints (including asthma, children with ADHD, blood pressure, pain in CVI, reducing fasting blood glucose, osteoarthritis of the knee, cognitive failure in those with traumatic brain injury) and in all cases failed to find sufficient evidence to support the efficacy of the extract.[2]

## References

1. D'Andrea G (October 2010). "Pycnogenol: a blend of procyanidins with multifaceted therapeutic applications?". *Fitoterapia*. **81** (7): 724–736. [doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2010.06.011](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2010.06.011). [PMID 20598812](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20598812)

1. Robertson NU, Schoonees A, Brand A, Visser J (September 2020). "Pine bark (Pinus spp.) extract for treating chronic disorders". *The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews*. **2020** (9). [doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008294.pub5](https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008294.pub5). [PMC 8094515](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8094515). [PMID 32990945](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32990945)

1. Rohdewald P (April 2002). "A review of the French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol), a herbal medication with a diverse clinical pharmacology". *International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics*. **40** (4): 158–168. [doi:10.5414/cpp40158](https://doi.org/10.5414/cpp40158). [PMID 11996210](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11996210)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Maritime pine bark extract](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_pine_bark_extract) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_pine_bark_extract?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.