Pycnogenol Linked to Improved Brain Function in Human Study

Horphag Research (Hoboken, NJ) has announced the results of a recent study on its antioxidant plant extract (Pycnogenol) and cognitive function, published in the journal Panminerva Medica.

Pycnogenol is a patented extract from French maritime pine bark. Numerous studies have linked the ingredient to improvements in cardiovascular health, eye health, joint health, and other health arenas.

The Panminerva Medica study assigned 53 college students to 100 mg of Pycnogenol or placebo daily for eight weeks. At the end of the trial, students in the Pycnogenol group demonstrated improvements in markers for sustained attention, memory, and mood, along with reduced anxiety, said Horphag Research.

Test scores for students in the Pycnogenol group also improved above those for the placebo group.

“Oxygen-rich blood supply to the brain plays an important role for cognitive function and the improvement of vascular function with Pycnogenol may be responsible for the beneficial effects found in this study,” said lead researcher Gianni Belcaro, PhD.

Previous reports of improved cognitive function for senior citizens supplementing with Pycnogenol were reported in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.