What do grape pips, green tea and pomegranate have in common? They are all brimming with special substances that naturally occur in plants and are abbreviated as OPCs. Today we would like to reveal to you the characteristics of these valuable plant substances and why nutritional research has jumped onto the OPC bandwagon.
Oligomeric proanthocyanidines (OPCs) are a group of plant compounds belonging to the class of polyphenols. These substances are found naturally in different plants, especially in fruits, bark, seeds and leaves. OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidines) as so-called secondary plant substances are not vital for the plant, but there is no doubt that they are useful. When it comes to nutritional supplements, OPCs are best known for their powerful antioxidant properties as they have potential health benefits.
In nature, OPCs are particularly abundant in those plant parts that border the outside world and interact with it. Larger quantities of secondary substances can also be found in kernals and kernal housings. If one considers the tasks of OPCs within the plant, they are well positioned in the outer layers and reproductive parts to form a kind of plant defence system that protects the plant from UV radiation, climate influences, predators and pest infestation.
“What protects the plant could also benefit us humans.” Guided by this motto, nutritional research has been working closely on the world of secondary plant substances since the early 1990s. Since then, the state of knowledge about the diversity of the approximately 10,000 substances has expanded significantly and it is now more or less agreed that the plant-based protective, taste, fragrance and colour agents can also have an effect on the human organism.
Resveratrol, an ingredient in red wine, is one of the most well-known secondary plant substances. As a natural protective substance, resveratrol in plants counteracts infestation by parasites and fungi. Also, under stress, such as UV light, the plant produces more resveratrol.
OPCs are often valued for their powerful antioxidant properties, which help neutralise free radicals in the body, preventing cell damage. Many health benefits are based on these properties:
OPCs are often associated with grape seeds. At the end of the day, these little pips are real OPC bombs. But OPC is also found in other plant-based foods. The OPC content of a food is subject to natural fluctuations, which are determined by growth conditions.
OPC occurrence at a glance:
If you want to fill up with an extra helping of valuable OPCs, you can provide targeted help with first-class nutritional supplements. High-quality OPC preparations are characterised by excellent product quality: They use extracts containing OPCs that have undergone strict, comprehensive quality tests and do not use unnecessary additives. The level of quality is particularly high due to strict controls by an independent third party.
Since the natural OPC content of food is subject to certain fluctuations, quality products contain standardized amounts of OPCs. This ensures that you get the amount you are expecting to take. Sophisticated combinations with other plant extracts ensure an optimum interaction of the ingredients.
OPC preparations should best be taken on an empty stomach (approx. 30 - 45 min before or at least 30 min after a meal) with plenty of water in order to best utilise the OPC they contain. People with sensitive stomachs can take the preparation with a meal in order to ensure better tolerability.
You can take OPC at any time of day and so you can choose the time that best suits you. Ideally, however, they should be taken on an empty stomach or at least 30 minutes after you last had a meal.
The recommended daily dose of OPCs is 1-2 mg per kilogram of body weight. By combining various plant extracts, additional secondary plant substances are added, which supplement and round off the OPCs.
With OPC Resveratrol Formula and OPC PolyMax® 250/30, we can provide you with concentrated plant power.
Afzal M, Safer AM, Menon M. (2015). Green tea polyphenols and their potential role in health and disease, Inflammopharmacology, Bd. 23, Nr. 4:151–161. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10787-015-0236-1, Accessed on: 12.05.2022
Akhtar S, Ismail T, Fraternale D, Sestili P. (2015). Pomegranate peel and peel extracts: Chemistry and food features, Food Chemistry, Bd. 174:417–425. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814614017646?via%3Dihub, Accessed on: 12.05.2022
Anonye BO. (2017). Commentary: Dietary Polyphenols Promote Growth of the Gut Bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila and Attenuate High-Fat DietInduced Metabolic Syndrome, Front Immunol, Bd. 8. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00850/full, Accessed on: 12.05.2022
Asha Devi S, Sagar Chandrasekar BK, Manjula KR, Ishii N. (2011). Grape seed proanthocyanidin lowers brain oxidative stress in adult and middle-aged rats, Experimental Gerontology, Bd. 46, Nr. 11:958–9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0531556511002051?via%3Dihub, Accessed on: 13.05.2022
Bagchi D et al. (2003). Molecular mechanisms of cardioprotection by a novel grape seed proanthocyanidin extract, Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, Bd. 523–524:87–97. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002751070200324X?via%3Dihub, Accessed on: 13.05.2022
Bagchi D, et al. (2002). Cellular protection with proanthocyanidins derived from grape seeds, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci, Bd. 957:260–270. https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb02922.x, Accessed on: 13.05.2022
Bagchi D, et al. (2003). Molecular mechanisms of cardioprotection by a novel grape seed proanthocyanidin extract, Mutat Res. 523-524:87-97. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002751070200324X?via%3Dihub, Accessed on: 13.05.2022
Barbaro B et al. (2014). Effects of the Olive-Derived Polyphenol Oleuropein on Human Health, Int J Mol Sci, Bd. 15, Nr. 10:18508–18524. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/15/10/18508, Accessed on: 13.05.2022
De Palma G, Collins SM, Bercik P, (2014). The microbiota-gut-brain axis in functional gastrointestinal disorders, Gut Microbes, Bd. 5, Nr. 3:419–429. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.4161/gmic.29417, Accessed on: 13.05.2022
Dueñas M et al. (2015). Studies on Modulation of Gut Microbiota by Wine Poly phenols: From Isolated Cultures to Omic Approaches, Antioxidants (Basel), Bd. 4, Nr. 1:1–21. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/4/1/1, Accessed on: 13.05.2022
Engelbrecht AM, et al. (2007). Proanthocyanidin from grape seeds inactivates the PI3-kinase/PKB pathway and induces apoptosis in a colon cancer cell line. Cancer Lett. 258(1):144-53. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030438350700403X?via%3Dihub, Accessed on: 13.05.2022
Gresele P, Cerletti C, Guglielmini G, Pignatelli P, de Gaetano G, Violi F. (2011). Effects of resveratrol and other wine polyphenols on vascular function: an update, The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Bd. 22, Nr. 3:201–21. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955286310001683?via%3Dihub, Accessed on: 13.05.2022
Gupta M, et al. (2020). Grape seed extract: having a potential health benefits. J Food Sci Technol. 57(4):1205-1215. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13197-019-04113-w, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Heggers, J. P., et al. (2002). The effectiveness of processed grapefruit-seed extract as an antibacterial agent: II. Mechanism of action and in vitro toxicity. The Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 8(3), 333-340. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/10755530260128023, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Jia Z, Song Z, Zhao Y, Wang X, Liu P. (2011). Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract protects human lens epithelial cells from oxidative stress via reducing NF-кB and MAPK protein expression. 17:210-7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3025097/, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Ma, S., Chen, et al. (2017). Mitigation effect of proanthocyanidin on secondary heart injury in rats caused by mechanical trauma. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 44623. https://www.nature.com/articles/srep44623, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Mani Satyam S, et al. (2014). Grape seed extract and zinc containing nutritional food supplement prevents onset and progression of age-related cataract in wistar rats. J Nutr Health Aging. 18(5):524-30. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770723005213?via%3Dihub, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Marzorati M et al. (2015). Addition of acacia gum to a FOS/inulin blend improves its fermentation profile in the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®), JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS, Bd. 16: 211–222. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1756464615002121?via%3Dihub, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Medjakovic S, Jungbauer A. (2013). Pomegranate: a fruit that ameliorates metabolic syndrome, Food Funct. Bd. 4, Nr. 1:1 19–39. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2013/fo/c2fo30034f, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Petrassi C, Mastromarino A, Spartera C (2000). PYCNOGENOL® in chronic venous insufficiency, Phytomedicine, Bd. 7, Nr. 5:383–388. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711300800598?via%3Dihub, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Queipo-Ortuño MI et al. (2012). Influence of red wine polyphenols and ethanol on the gut microbiota ecology and biochemical biomarkers, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Bd. 95, Nr. 6:1323–1334. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523028150?via%3Dihub, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Roopchand DE et al. Dietary Polyphenols Promote Growth of the Gut Bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila and Attenuate High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes, Bd. 64, Nr. 8:2847–2858. https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/64/8/2847/34774/Dietary-Polyphenols-Promote-Growth-of-the-Gut, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Sano A, Tokutake S, Seo A. (2013). Proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extract reduces leg swelling in healthy women during prolonged sitting. J Sci Food Agric. 93(3):457-62. https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsfa.5773, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Schön, C., et al. (2021). Grape seed extract positively modulates blood pressure and perceived stress: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy volunteers. Nutrients, 13(2), 654. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/2/654, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Shaham-Niv S et al. (2018). Differential inhibition of metabolite amyloid formati on by generic fibrillation-modifying polyphenols, Communications Chemistry, Bd. 1, Nr. 1:25. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-018-0025-z, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Shi J, et al. (2003). Polyphenolics in grape seeds-biochemistry and functionality. J Med Food. 6(4):291-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14977436/, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Wang C, et al. (2017). Grape Seed Procyanidin Extract Reduces Arsenic-Induced Renal Inflammatory Injury in Male Mice. Biomed Environ Sci. 30(7):535-539. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28756814/, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Xifra G, Esteve E, W Ricart, Fernández-Real JM, (2016). Chapter 12 – Influence of Dietary Factors on Gut Microbiota: The Role on Insulin Resistance and Diabetes Mellitus, in Molecular Nutrition and Diabetes, D. Mauricio, Hrsg. San Diego: Academic Press, 147–154. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128015858000129?via%3Dihub, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Yarovaya L, et al. (2021). Effect of grape seed extract on skin fibroblasts exposed to UVA light and its photostability in sunscreen formulation. J Cosmet Dermatol. 20(4):1271-1282. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.13711, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
Zhang, H., et al. (2016). The impact of grape seed extract treatment on blood pressure changes: A meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials. Medicine, 95(33), e4247. https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2016/08160/the_impact_of_grape_seed_extract_treatment_on.6.aspx, Accessed on: 16.05.2022
