Pycnogenol accelerates wound healing and reduces scar formation.
Pycnogenol was applied topically to experimental wounds inflicted on healthy rats by means of a branding iron. The wound-healing time was taken as the number of days required for 50% of the scabs to separate spontaneously from the animals. Application of a gel formulation containing 1% Pycnogenol significantly shortened the wound healing time, by 1.6 days compared with the group treated with gel only (15.4 days). The application of 2% Pycnogenol decreased the healing time by almost 3 days, while 5% Pycnogenol further accelerated the wound-healing process. In parallel, Pycnogenol gels reduced the diameter of the scars remaining following complete scab loss in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, Pycnogenol is a potent active ingredient for the treatment of minor injuries.
Department of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, Szent-Györgyi Albert Medical and Pharmaceutical Center, University of Szeged, Hungary. blazso@pharma.szote.uszeged.hu
G
G
Blazsó
M
M
Gábor
F
F
Schönlau
P
P
Rohdewald
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028223:Pinus; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C024070:pycnogenols