title: Pycnogenol enhances immune and haemopoietic functions in senescence-accelerated mice.
abstract: Pycnogenol (procyanidin extracted from Pinus maritima) has been shown to be a potent free radical scavenger and an antioxidant phytochemical. The effects of pycnogenol on immune and haemopoietic dysfunction in senescence-accelerated mice (SAM), as a murine model of accelerated ageing, were determined. SAMP8, a strain of senile-prone mice, exhibit learning and memory deficits, immunodeficiency and dysfunction of the haemopoietic system. Oral feeding with pycnogenol for 2 months significantly improved their T- and B-cell function. Pycnogenol also augmented the proliferative capacity of haemopoietic progenitors of bone marrow in SAMP8. These data suggest that pycnogenol may be useful for either retardation or restoration of parameters associated with ageing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, California 92350, USA.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Y X
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts; C024070:pycnogenols