What is Maritime Pine?
P. pinaster Aiton (previously named Pinus maritima Mill.) and P. radiata are medium-sized pines growing up to 30 m tall with bright red-brown, deeply fissured bark. They have stout needles occurring in clusters, and produce oval cones 10 to 20 cm long. The tree is native to the western and southwestern Mediterranean regions but has rapidly naturalized to other countries, including the US, England, South Africa, and Australia. The largest man-made forest in the world, the 900,000 hectare Les Landes on the Atlantic coast of southwestern France is populated almost entirely by P. pinaster.
Scientific Name(s)
Pinus pinaster Aiton and Pinus radiata
Common Name(s)
Maritime pine extract, Monterey pine extract, pine bark extract, Enzogenol, Pycnogenol
What is it used for?
Traditional/Ethnobotanical Uses
In 1535, a French explorer is said to have used tea made from the bark of the maritime pine to treat scurvy among his sailors when his ship became icebound. The extract has been used for anemia, inflammation, and heart/blood vessel conditions. Pine bark has been used as a food source in emergencies. Pine bark extract is available without a prescription in US health food stores and pharmacies, as well as from online sources.
General uses
Pine bark extract has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions and has been studied for a wide range of ailments, including asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, long-term blood flow problems, heart/blood vessel conditions, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction. However, many clinical studies have been small and poorly designed.
What is the recommended dosage?
Doses of pine bark extract have been studied in clinical trials, most commonly at 150 mg per day in 3 divided doses.
Related/similar drugs
turmeric, Ginkgo Biloba, saw palmetto
Contraindications
Contraindications have not been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Side Effects
Pine bark extract is generally well tolerated, with minor stomach discomfort, dizziness, nausea, and headache sometimes reported.
Toxicology
Pine bark extract is generally recognized as safe (GRAS), based on data from animal studies and clinical trials; however, few studies test safety as a main outcome.
References
1. Maritime Pine. Review of Natural Products. Facts & Comparisons [database online]. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Health; January 2015.
More about maritime pine
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Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circ*mstances.
