Among the most recently developed nutraceuticals, we are witnessing the emergence of pycnogenol, a polyphenol that is obtained from the bark of the French maritime pine (Pinus maritima), and represents one of the most powerful antioxidant complexes in nature. It is located below the bark of a particular pine (Pinus pinaster) that grows on the French coast of the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic Ocean, between the Iberian peninsula and France. Pycnogenol is a complex mixture of proanthocyanidins (oligomeric and polymeric), the chemical composition of which highlights the presence of various polyphenols, in particular bioflavonoids such as procyanidins, and phenolic acids, such as caffeic and ferulic, which act in synergistic way, mutually enhancing its own antioxidant activity. Over the past few years, many studies have been conducted on pycnogenol, in particular on the patent of Horphag Research Ltd, Pycnogenol, which is our new supplement. This research revealed to us that it does not only have a very powerful antioxidant activity, but also shows anti-inflammatory properties, as well as very interesting anticoagulant and antithrombotic actions. Its antioxidant action is the result of a complex multifactorial mechanism of action, enhanced by its remarkable ability to inhibit the xanthine-oxidase enzyme, which promotes the formation of the superoxide anion, non-competitively. The oligomeric proanthocyanidins contained in this extraordinary blend of bioactive elements have an antioxidant capacity that has proven to be 30 times more effective than vitamin E and even 20 times higher than that of Vitamin C, while these two classic antioxidant vitamins have proved to be very effective both in the induction phase and in the lipid peroxidation propagation phase. The anti-enzymatic action has been tested in vitro on different enzymes, including elastase, collagenase, hyaluronidase, beta-glucuronidase (involved in the replacement of the main components of the extravascular matrix: elastin, collagen, hyaluronic acid) and xanthine oxidase (involved in the formation of superoxide anion). Furthermore it has been shown that alpha-1-antitrypsin, inhibitor of proteolytic enzymes, is in turn inhibited by compounds containing active oxygen, thus leaving the green light to the enzymatic systems controlled by it, with the result of accelerating the destruction of the extracellular matrix. Proanthocyanidins consequently block this complex process of damage in a multifactorial manner, that is, a combined action is created that counteracts the formation of compounds containing active oxygen, limiting the overall enzymatic activity, with the result that this combined action is manifested
