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Abstract of the work of Dr Vicedo and Dr
Correas, translated into English.
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Antioxidants:
A therapy of the future?
Authors: T.B. Vicedo & F.J.H. Correas of Servicio de
Farmacia, Hospital Severo Ochoa, Leganes, Madrid, Spain.
Published in: Nutricion Hospitalaria. Vol 12(3) (pp 108-120),
1997.
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"In the present review piece, we analyze the formation of free
radicals as a consequence of the cellular metabolism in aerobe organisms, and both
the beneficious and harmful actions thereof on cellular structures. The balance existing between free radicals and the so-called antioxidant
defenses, is a key factor for preventing the development of noxious processes at the cellular and
tissue level.
In
accordance with present scientific knowledge, the excessive
production of free radicals in the organism and the imbalance between
the concentrations of these and the antioxidant defenses, may be related
to processes such as aging and several diseases, among which we find
cancer, ischemic processes, senile dementia, diabetes, pulmonary and
pancreatic diseases, lupus erythematosus, cirrhosis, intestinal
inflammatory disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, arteriosclerosis,
cardiovascular disease, diseases of the central nervous system and the
brain.
According to the results of numerous
research works conducted with the administration of several molecules
with an antioxidant activity, one is beginning to see what their role
will be in the pharmacological therapeutics for the treatment of a large
number of patients such as those with burns, traumas, septics, shock,
surgery, transplantation, radiation or chemotherapy, respiratory
distress syndrome, AIDS, etc.
We
may possibly be facing a therapeutic tool which is of great interest in
the clinical area, which shall be developed in the near future, as
clinical trials which permit confirmation of their efficacy are conducted."
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Nutrition
and health aspects of free radicals and antioxidants.
Written by the: Pharmacology
Group, University of London King's College, Manresa Road, London SW3 6LX;
United Kingdom.
Published in: Food & Chemical Toxicology. Vol 32(7) (pp
671-683), 1994.
Abstract of the
research:
"Although the role of free radicals has continued to capture the
imagination of scientists, the interest in nutritional aspects of free
radicals is relatively recent.
Oxidative stress, which
often arises as a result of the imbalance in the human antioxidant status,
has been implicated in ageing and in a number of human diseases such as
cancer, atherosclerosis, malaria and in rheumatoid arthritis.
This
review discusses the current status of free radicals in nutrition and
dietary antioxidants and considers the possibility that use of a range of
antioxidants, which have been carefully evaluated, combined with methods
for measuring oxidant generation, would help to delineate the contribution
of nutrients to the modulation of the consequences of free radicals in the
human body."
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EFFECT
OF OPCs ON OEDEMA/EDEMA. Note from P.Mc: OPCs stands for
Oligomeric
Proanthocyanidins, which are also known as "pycnogenols". There
is a, much disputed, trade name PycnogenolŠ claimed by different
companies in Europe and the USA, which, as I understand it, refers only
to OPCs derived from French maritime pine bark, not that from Vitis
vinifera or other sources. Research on OPCs is a fast developing
area. My
wife has been found these extremely beneficial in reducing her oedema
and lessening considerably the problem of urinary urgency.
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Written
by A. Costantini, T. De Bernardi, and A.Gotti of the Institute di
Chir. Vascolare e Angiologia, Universita di Milano, Via Commenda,
12, 20122 Milano; Italy.
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Title: Clinical and capillaroscopic evaluation of
procyanidins from Vitis vinifera in the treatment of chronic venous
insufficiency.
Published in: Minerva Cardioangiologica. Vol 47(1-2) (pp
39-46), 1999.
Abstract:
Background: The pharmacological treatment of non-complicated
chronic venous insufficiency is a current and well-debated topic. The
introduction of new products with action on the venous system, improved
knowledge on the physiopathology of venous insufficiency and the
possibility provided by new analytical instruments, have given new impulse
to the consolidation of the clinical value of phlebotonics in this
indication.
Methods.
In light of this, 24 patients with non-complicated chronic venous
insufficiency were treated with oral administration of Oligomeric
Proanthocyanidins (Pycnogenols - OPC) 100 mg/day. To
evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment, an instrumental
evaluation by optical probe capillaroscope was employed in addition to the
traditional subjective clinical parameters: swelling, itching,
heaviness and pain. The videocapillaroscope examination was
performed at the lower third of the leg and the first toe. Edema in
the capillaroscopic field, the number of observable capillaries and
the capillary dilatation were the parameter chosen to evaluate the
efficacy of treatment. All patients completed the study with no reports of
adverse events during the period of observation.
Results.
The
results obtained show a positive clinical response (improved or
absent symptoms) in over 80% of patients, with significant
improvement of symptoms already evident after the first 10 days of
treatment. The mechanism of action of the OPCs explains the
rapid reduction of the swelling of the lower limbs and
correlated with this are the other evaluable symptoms: heaviness and
itching. Particularly striking results were observed for itching and
pain which completely disappeared during the course of therapy in 80% and
53% of the patients respectively.
Noteworthy
is the good correlation between the clinical and instrumental data, with
improvement in a total of 70% of patients. Conclusions. The
results obtained in the course of this clinical experience, with evident
improvement already during the first weeks of treatment, the absence of
adverse events added to the benefit of a once-a-day administration,
justify the use of OPC in the treatment of non-complicated chronic venous
insufficiency.
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An
earlier paper, with the German spelling of "pyknogenol" was
published in 1983 by
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H.
Mollmann & P. Rohdewald of
Medizinische Universitatsklinik und Poliklinik 'Bergmannsheil',
Ruhruniversitat, 4630 Bochum; Germany.
Title
A naturally occurring bioflavonoid complex (pyknogenol) with
capillary-protective action.
Source
Therapiewoche. Vol 33(38)(pp 4967-4979), 1983.
Abstract
Pyknogenol is an excellent water-soluble complex of bioflavonoids,
easily resorbable from the intestine. In clinical tests the natural
product produces an increase of the capillary resistance against
under pressure so that the tendency to hemorrhage will diminish. If venous
stasis is induced experimentally the permeability of the
capillaries decreases after the intake of pyknogenol; consequently, the
efflux of water and the loss of proteins become reduced. The
formation of edema in the lower extremities caused by venous insufficiency
has been reduced by pyknogenol in comparison to placebo. In
other clinical investigations the improvement of some complaints based on
a pathological increase of capillary permeability, such as hemorrhages,
retinopathies and chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs
has been reported.
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