Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract Research Articles

Unravelling the Biological Potential of Pinus pinaster Bark Extracts.

Natural compounds from agro-food by-products have fostered interest in food industries. The aim of this study was to unravel potential uses for Pinus pinaster bark extracts (PBE). As functional features of this type of extracts are usually attributed to phenolic compounds, the extraction process was studied. Different PBEs were achieved, with high content in phenolic compounds, using different water/ethanol combinations as a solvent. These PBEs were chemically characterized, and their bioactivity and in vitro cell viability were evaluated. Extracts obtained with hydroethanolic solvents had higher content in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. All the PBEs presented high antioxidant, antibacterial and antihyperglycemic activities. Moreover, PBEs have low cytotoxicity and a selective activity against cancer cells as these were negatively affected. These features may allow the extracts to be used in food formulation and processing (as preservatives, antioxidants or bioactive ingredients), but they showed also potential for the pharmaceutical or nutraceutical sectors.

Efficacy and Safety of an Oral Nutritional (Dietary) Supplement Containing Pinus pinaster Bark Extract and Grape Seed Extract in Combination with a High SPF Sunscreen in the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Melasma: A Prospective Clinical Study

Background: Melasma is a common hyperpigmentation disorder, characterized by light-to-dark brown patches, usually distributed on sun-exposed areas of the body. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of an oral nutritional supplement containing Pinus pinaster and Grape seed extract, vitamins and minerals, used concomitantly with a high SPF sunscreen in 30 women with mild-to-moderate facial melasma. Methods: Efficacy was assessed by measurement of the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI), instrumental analysis of the lesions (Mexameter®, VISIA®)) and Patient’s and Physician’s Global Assessment (PGA). Results: The MASI score decreased significantly compared with baseline at days 28, 56, and 84. Mexameter® analysis showed a significant decrease of ∆M (difference in the melanin index between melasma and adjacent area). VISIA® results also showed a reduction in the number and areas of UV pigmented spots and in the areas of melasma overtime. Both the Patient’s and Physician’s Global Assessment showed that the product led to an improvement of the lesions in terms of depigmentation and had positive cosmetic features without adverse events. Conclusion: The oral supplement subject of this study in combination with high SPF sunscreen was effective and well-tolerated for treatment of mild to moderate facial melasma.

Plant-derived medicines for treatment of endometriosis: A comprehensive review of molecular mechanisms

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease with inflammatory lesions at extra-uterine sites, causing pelvic pain and fertility reduction. Conventional therapies primarily focus on reducing systemic levels of estrogens; however, they do not have desirable effectiveness and possess considerable side effects. Therefore, there is a growing interest in the use of herbal medicine for the treatment of endometriosis. In this paper, electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library and Google Scholar were searched to obtain any studies evaluating any herbal products in the management of endometriosis. Data were collected from 1980 to 2018. Most of studies investigating the effect of herbal medicines in endometriosis were in vitro and animal and only three clinical trials were found; one on Pinus pinaster bark extract (Pycnogenol) and two on Chinese herbal formulas. The studies on phytochemicals had mostly focused on polyphenolic compounds (epigallocatechin-3-gallate, genistein) and sesquiterpenes (β-caryophyllene, parthenolide). Various molecular mechanisms of action have been involved in beneficial effects of herbal medicines and phytochemicals including anti-inflammatory (via reduction of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin -1, interleukin -6, interleukin -8, transforming growth factor-beta, tumor necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor-kappa B, growth factors, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), antioxidant (through downregulation of hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and upregulation of superoxide dismutase), anti-proliferative and apoptotic (via enhancing Bcl-2-associated X protein/ B-cell lymphoma-2 and caspase3, 8 and 9 activity), anti-angiogenic (by downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors/ vascular endothelial growth factor), anti-invasive (via decreasing expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and matrix metalloproteinases), immunomodulatory, and estrogen modulating activities. So, medicinal plants seem to be a valuable source for identifying new drugs for treatment of endometriosis; however, since most of studies are preclinical, further clinical trials are required to achieve more conclusive results.

UV protection effects of phenolic extracts from chestnut fruit and forest industries residues

Extracts from different lignocellulosic sources were applied in the wood veneer dyeing process with the aim of preventing colour changes caused by ultraviolet (UV) degradation. Chestnut (Castanea sativa) fruit shell and bur, and barks from Pinus pinaster, Eucalyptus globulus and Quercus frainetto extracted using water or aqueous solutions of sodium sulphite and/or sodium hydroxide were used. Wood veneers from ash (Fraxinus excelsior), koto (Pterygota bequaertii) and lime (Tilia cordata) were dyed, treated with extracts and subjected to accelerated exposure to UV light for variable lengths of time. The colour degradation was measured and the results were studied using cluster analysis. Pinus pinaster bark extracts were the best protectors for dyed veneers. Chemical changes due to UV exposure were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The degraded untreated wood increased its functional groups rich in oxygen, that is, photo-oxidation occurred. Nevertheless chemical bonding of wood treated with extracts hardly underwent changes.

Antibacterial Activity of Pinus pinaster Bark Extract and its Components Against Multidrug-resistant Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii

The aim of this research was to test the antibacterial activity of Pinus pinaster aqueous bark ex- tract (PABE) and its basic components against multidrug-resistant isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii belonging to European clone I and II, isolated previously from the clinical outbreaks. The minimum bactericidal concentration of PABE against both clones of A. baumannii was 200 mg ml -1 , while lower concentrations showed high antibacterial activity. After 24 h of treatment with 100, 50 or 10 mg ml -1 of extract, the reduction in the number of A. baumannii isolates belonging to European clone I and II was 85.8 ± 2.5 %, 78.5 ± 1.1 %, 66.3 ± 2.5 % and 90.2 ± 1.7 %, 78.6 ± 1.2 %, 69.8 ± 0.7 %, respectively. Sev- eral basic components: caffeic acid, catechin, epicatechin, gallic acid and vanillin, detected in the extract by high performance liquid chromatography, contributed to the antibacterial activity of the extract against both clones of A. baumannii. However, the antibacterial activity of extract was higher than that of each tested basic component suggesting that proanthocyanidins, which were present in quite a large amount in the extract, might have also contributed to the activity of the extract. Antibacterial activity of PABE against A. baumannii reveals that complex and inexpensive natural product might be useful in combat against natu- rally competent bacteria that easily acquire resistance against antibiotics.

Substitution pattern elucidation of hydroxypropyl Pinus pinaster (Ait.) bark polyflavonoid derivatives by ESI(-)-MS/MS.

The structure of condensed tannins (CTs) from Pinus pinaster bark extract and their hydroxypropylated derivatives with four degrees of substitution (DS 1, 2, 3 and 4) has been characterized for the first time using negative-ion mode electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI(-)-MS/MS). The results showed that P. pinaster bark CTs possess structural homogeneity in terms of monomeric units (C(15), catechin). The oligomer sizes were detected to be dimers to heptamers. The derivatives showed typical phenyl-propyl ether mass fragmentation by substituent elimination (58 amu) and inherent C(15) flavonoid fissions. The relative abundance of the product ions revealed a preferential triple, tetra-/penta- and octa- hydroxypropylation substitution pattern in the monomer, dimer and trimer derivatives, respectively. A defined order of -OH reactivity towards propylene oxide was established by means of multistage experiments (A-ring ≥ B-ring > C-ring). A high structural heterogeneity of the modified oligomers was detected.

A comparison of Pycnogenol® and bark extracts from Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora: Extractability, antioxidant activity and proanthocyanidin composition

Hot water extracts (HWEs) from Pinus densiflora and Pinus thunbergii, two major Pinusspecies in Korea, and Pycnogenol® (PYC), a standardized Pinus pinaster bark extract, were fractionated to yield ethyl acetate (EAF) and proanthocyanidin (PAF) fractions for determination of total phenolic (TP) and proanthocyanidin (PA) content, and antioxidant activity. The TP and PA contents, the PA/TP ratio, and the antioxidant activity from the HWE, EAF and PAF were all in the order of P. densiflora > P. pinaster > P. thunbergii. The mean degree of polymerization (mDP) by acid catalysis in the presence of excess phloroglucinol were similar in all three pine bark EAFs (3.51 to 3.69), but were quite variable in the other fractions (in PAFs, 5.56 (P. thunbergii) to 7.49 (P. densiflora); in HWEs, 4.85 (P. densiflora) to 6.14 (P. pinaster)). However, the PA structures determined by 13C NMR analysis with PAFs were similar for all three Pinus species with respect to the ratio of procyanidin and prodelphinidin and C2-C3 stereochemistry. From the aforementioned results, we could suggest that the bark from P. densiflora had more beneficial characteristics than the well-known Pycnogenol®. Key words: Antioxidant activity, pine bark, Pinus densiflora, Pinus thunbergii, proanthocyanidin, Pycnogenol®

Natural Adsorbents Derived from Tannin Extracts for Pharmaceutical Removal in Water

Novel adsorbents can be synthesized through tannin gelation, and they are effective agents for the removal of specific contaminants, for example the pharmaceutical species Trimethoprim. The current paper presents an optimization process for obtaining the best adsorbent from four tannin feedstock: Acacia mearnsii de Wild, Schinopsis balansae, Cupressus sempervivens, and Pinus pinaster bark extract. The cross-linking was undergone with formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, hence the type of aldehyde and its concentration in the gelation mixture were considered operative variables as well as the tannin source. The best categories resulted to be Cupressus sempervivens and Pinus pinaster with formaldehyde (3.68 mmol pure formaldehyde per g of of tannin extract) and Schinopsis balansae with diluted formaldehyde (1 mmol of pure formaldehyde per g of tannin extract). Tannin-derived rigid gels were very effective adsorbents for the removal of this dangerous pharmaceutical: trimethoprim, with maximum adsorption capacities even higher than 300 mg of trimethoprim per g of adsorbent.

Pinus pinaster bark extract may have a beneficial effect on memory in elderly individuals,

Pinus pinaster bark extract may have a beneficial effect on memory in elderly individuals,

Pycnogenol, a pinus pinaster bark extract, is an effective treatment for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Pycnogenol, a pinus pinaster bark extract, is an effective treatment for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Effects of Pinus pinaster bark extracts content on the cure properties of tannin-modified adhesives and on bonding of exterior grade MDF

Phenol-urea-formaldehyde-tannin (PUFT) adhesives with different degrees of phenol substitution by Pinus pinaster bark tannins were thermally characterized by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). They were employed to prepare exterior grade Medium Density Fiberboards (MDF) according to European Standards. DMTA and DSC experiments showed, first, that the tannin-modified adhesives hardened in the low temperature range (30-110°C) and, second, that increasing the tannin content of the adhesives reduced the curing temperature, obtaining at least the same mechanical strength (stiffness) and higher curing enthalpies (ΔH) than the commercial phenolic resin. Although only the MDF boards made using the lowest viscosity tannin-modified adhesive (PUFT-10), with a 44% phenol replacement by tannin, met the outdoor requirements, all the other tannin-modified adhesives boards met the interior grade specifications. Among the board properties evaluated, the low value of thickness swelling after 24-h water immersion of MDF boards prepared using the PUFT-10 (6.6%) is particularly noticeable, which means an improvement of almost 50% compared to that of the commercial PF (12.6%).

Characteristics of Pinus pinaster bark extracts obtained under various extraction conditions

bark extracts obtained by lixiviation with water or alkaline solutions followed by spray drying. Extract yield was 2.5- to 6-fold higher with alkaline extractant solutions than with water. Within the ranges of temperature (T), NaOH dose (NaOH) and solid/liquid ratio (S/L) that were studied, the formaldehyde-condensable polyphenols content of spray-dried extracts obtained with NaOH as extractant was highest (27.3%) at T=90 °C, NaOH=5%, S/L=1/6. Polyphenols content fell with increasing particle size due to both diffusion limitations and the variation of particle composition with size, which is attributable to the dependence of both the chemical composition of the bark and its response to grinding on its anatomical origin. All the spray-dried extracts had Stiasny numbers high enough to allow their use in adhesives, although this application may require prior chemical modification to reduce the rapid rise in the viscosity of their aqueous solutions with increasing solids content. The reactivity of the extracts with formaldehyde is readily controlled by varying pH.

Carboxylic Acids of Moroccan Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract

Summary In this work, carboxylic acids of the Moroccan Pinus pinaster bark were studied and analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Several acids, such as gallic, p-hydroxyphenylacetic, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic, salicylic, shikimic, protocatechuic, terephtalic, ferulic, p-coumaric, vanillic, caffeic and isovanillic acids, were detected by direct injection of standard products and by studying the mass spectrum of their trimethylsilyl derivatives.

Properties of phenolic-tannin adhesives from pinus pinaster bark extracts as related to bond quality in eucalyptus plywoods

Resins were prepared from resoles andPinus pinaster bark tannins by copolymerization at room temperature. Reducing the moisture content of the tannins to below 60% increased their stability, so allowing preparation of the resin before its application. Various formulations were tested, all of them substituting 50% of phenols by tannins. The resins obtained were used to manufacture 5-ply eucalyptus boards which met BS 1455: 1963 WBP quality standards.