ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Biotecnologica 2016 June;28(2):114-9

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Pycnogenol® reduces the wheal and flare response to histamine in normal subjects

Gianni BELCARO, Beatrice FERAGALLI, Morio HOSOI, Mark DUGALL, Umberto CORNELLI

Irvine3 Circulation Vascular Labs, Ch-Pe University, Spoltore, Pescara, Italy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was the evaluation of the action of the sup­plementation with Pycnogenol® on the wheal and flare (after local histamine injection) evolution in healthy individuals in association with the evaluation of capillary per­meability (CF) with straingauge plethysmography.
METHODS: A control group a group using Pycnogenol® (100 mg/day) and a group using 150 mg/day (for 3 days) were studied. A microinjection of histamine generates a wheal and flare response that was evaluated for flux, redness, thickness and persistence. The 3 groups were comparable.
RESULTS: The variations in flux (laser Doppler) from time zero to 160 minutes indicated that flux was more elevated in controls with a proportional reduction, dose-related in the Pycnogenol® groups. The higher dose of Pycnogenol reduced the wheal and flare response (p<0.05) in comparison with the lower dose. The peak flux – the ‘redness’ surrounding the injection point - was at about 37 minutes in controls and it was delayed in Pycnogenol® groups (about 50 minutes; p<0.05). The wheal areas, the redness (scale 0 to 3), the time for complete disappearance of the wheal and ultrasound skin thickness were decreased with Pycnogenol® (p<0.05) with a significant difference between the two doses). Variations in distal ankle CF (straingauge) were minimal (it must be considered that initial values were normal with minimal possibility of changes).
CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that Pycnogenol® has a significant, preminent local action in controlling histamine reactions. In conclusion, this evaluation indicates a significant, local, anti-histamine action of Pycnogenol. These pre­liminary observations suggest potential applications of the extract from French Pine Bark for supplementation in the prevention of allergic conditions or in pre-clinical risk situations in subjects at risk of histamine-related conditions and in some patients with significant conditions (asthma, skin allergic reactions) often associated to increased capillary permeability and edema.