Pine bark extract · French Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pinus pinaster) — standardized as Pycnogenol®
A polyphenol-rich extract from French maritime pine bark that improves endothelial function and blood flow by boosting nitric oxide bioavailability, and scavenges free radicals.
Short answer
Pine bark extract (French Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pinus pinaster) — standardized as Pycnogenol®) is a antioxidant / nitric oxide support with evidence grade B, meaning it is supported by human RCTs. We track 0 produkter containing Pine bark extract. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $0.00 per månad.
What it is
Pycnogenol is a patented standardized extract of the bark of the French maritime pine tree, rich in procyanidins and phenolic acids. It's one of the most extensively clinically studied plant antioxidant extracts.
Why people take it
Vascular aging — stiffening arteries and declining endothelial (blood vessel lining) function — is a core driver of cardiovascular and cognitive decline with age. Pine bark extract has repeatedly shown it can improve blood-vessel dilation responses, which is relevant to healthy vascular aging.
Our verdict
This is one of the better-evidenced botanicals on this list for a specific mechanism (vascular/endothelial function), backed by a substantial body of RCTs (a review covers 39 RCTs and over 2,000 subjects). It's not a proven longevity intervention per se, but the vascular biomarker data is solid.
Structure & class
Pycnogenol is standardized to contain a defined ratio of procyanidins, catechin, taxifolin, and phenolic acids (ferulic and caffeic acid derivatives).
Mechanism & clinical data
In a randomized trial (Nishioka et al. 2007, Hypertens Res), 16 subjects took 180 mg/day for 2 weeks, showing a 41-42% increase in forearm blood flow response to acetylcholine (an endothelium-dependent vasodilation marker), attributed to increased nitric oxide synthase activity/bioavailability. A second RCT (Liu et al., Life Sci 2004) using 100 mg/day over 12 weeks in 58 hypertensive patients found reduced endothelin-1 (a vasoconstrictor peptide). A comprehensive review compiling 39 RCTs (2,000+ subjects) supports consistent effects on endothelial function, blood pressure, and oxidative stress markers.
Pharmacokinetics
Component polyphenols are rapidly metabolized/conjugated; clinical effects typically assessed after 2-12 weeks of continuous daily dosing rather than single-dose pharmacokinetics.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
Mild GI upset reported in some users; theoretical additive effect with anticoagulant/antiplatelet medications given vascular activity; branded Pycnogenol extract has the strongest evidence base — generic "pine bark extract" produkter may not be standardized equivalently.
Where this dose comes from
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regelverk status
Timeline
Regelverk events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Pine bark extract, most recent first. Every entry links to its primär source.
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EU Court sharpens the bar for botanical health claimsA Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in april 2025 further tightened the requirements for how botanical ingredients (herbs, plant extracts) can be marketed with health claims in the EU, effectively removing much of the flexibility of the on-hold list.
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EU report identifies 117 supplement substances as potential health risksThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements (26 European countries) published its first report evaluating 117 substances used in food supplements. Of these, 65 were assessed as likely novel foods, 6 were already regulated, 34 had insufficient data, and 12 were prioritized for Article 8 restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The 12 priority substances include ashwagandha, curcumin, melatonin, piperine, St. John's wort, coumarin, p-synephrine, maca, holy basil, Melaleuca, black cohosh, and L-tryptophan. The report drew on 1,500 RASFF alerts reviewed between 2017 and mid-2022.
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Nishioka K, et al. (2007). Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, augments endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans. Hypertension Research. PMID 18037769.Nishioka K, et al. (2007). Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, augments endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans. Hypertension Research. PMID 18037769.
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EU Health Claims Regulation adoptedRegulation (EC) No 1924/2006 laid down harmonised rules for nutrition and health claims made on foods, including supplements. Only claims listed in the EU Register of authorised claims can be used. Rejected botanical claims are held in a separate on-hold list.
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EU introduces the Novel Food RegulationRegulation (EC) No 258/97 required any food or food ingredient without a history of consumption in the EU before 15 maj 1997 to be authorised before being placed on the market. This is the framework that captures NMN, spermidine as a supplement ingredient, urolithin A, and many other longevity actives.
Landmark studies
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Nishioka K, et al. (2007). Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, augments endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans. Hypertension Research. PMID 18037769.
Nishioka K, et al. (2007). Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, augments endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans. Hypertension Research. PMID 18037769.
Läs studie →
Found in these produkter
Alla produkter in our catalog that contain Pine bark extract, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
No produkter in our catalog contain this yet.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
Se alla in Antioxidant / Nitric oxide support →Molekyler in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Pine bark extract in our catalogue.
Nothing else in the database sits close enough to this molecule to list.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pine bark extract?
Pycnogenol is a patented standardized extract of the bark of the French maritime pine tree, rich in procyanidins and phenolic acids. It's one of the most extensively clinically studied plant antioxidant extracts.
What dose of Pine bark extract should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 150 mg per dag, with a range of 100 to 200 mg per dag. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Pine bark extract safe?
Mild GI upset reported in some users; theoretical additive effect with anticoagulant/antiplatelet medications given vascular activity; branded Pycnogenol extract has the strongest evidence base — generic "pine bark extract" produkter may not be standardized equivalently.
What is the best Pine bark extract supplement?
We track 0 produkter containing Pine bark extract. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
What is the evidence grade for Pine bark extract?
Pine bark extract has evidence grade B, meaning it is supported by human RCTs. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Data verification
Bevisning grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new produkter are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.