Pycnogenol is extracted from the bark of a coastal pine tree, grown in southern France, that is commonly harvested to make paper and lumber. The compound is a mixture of plant chemicals known as procyanidins, which are types of flavonoids. The procyanidins found in pycnogenol also are abundant in grapes, apples, cocoa, peanuts, blueberries and cranberries.
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Uses: Pycnogenol is marketed for a range of maladies, including allergies, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, high cholesterol, cirrhosis, immune deficiency, male infertility, heart disease and vascular diseases.
