Oral administration of French maritime pine bark extract (Flavangenol(®)) improves clinical symptoms in photoaged facial skin

Abstract

Background: French maritime pine bark extract (PBE) has gained popularity as a dietary supplement in the treatment of various diseases due to its polyphenol-rich ingredients. Oligometric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), a class of bioflavonoid complexes, are enriched in French maritime PBE and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Previous studies have suggested that French maritime PBE helps reduce ultraviolet radiation damage to the skin and may protect human facial skin from symptoms of photoaging. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of French maritime PBE in the improvement of photodamaged facial skin, we conducted a randomized trial of oral supplementation with PBE.

Methods: One hundred and twelve women with mild to moderate photoaging of the skin were randomized to either a 12-week open trial regimen of 100 mg PBE supplementation once daily or to a parallel-group trial regimen of 40 mg PBE supplementation once daily.

Results: A significant decrease in clinical grading of skin photoaging scores was observed in both time courses of 100 mg daily and 40 mg daily PBE supplementation regimens. A significant reduction in the pigmentation of age spots was also demonstrated utilizing skin color measurements.

Conclusion: Clinically significant improvement in photodamaged skin could be achieved with PBE. Our findings confirm the efficacy and safety of PBE.

Keywords: antiaging; antioxidants; pine bark extract; polyphenols; skin photoaging.

Figure 1

Schematic outline of part 1 and part 2 of study using low-dose pine bark extract. Abbreviation: PBE, pine bark extract.

Figure 2

Before (left) and 6 months after (right) treatment of photodamaged skin with oral pine bark extract.

Figure 3

The melanin index was significantly decreased after 4 and 12 weeks of oral administration of pine bark extract 100 mg/day. Notes: The melanin index was calculated according to the method reported by Yamamoto et al. Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. *P < 0.05 (Tukey–Kramer method), n = 24.

Figure 4

Time course of mean melanin index changes in age spots in group 1 (A) and group 2 (B). Notes: A significant decrease in melanin index was seen after 4–8 weeks of oral pine bark extract 40 mg/day. Melanin index scores were calculated according to the method reported by Yamamoto et al. Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. *P < 0.05 (Tukey–Kramer method), n = 38 (group 1), n = 39 (group 2).

Figure 5

Facultative skin color was assessed using a colorimeter followed by individual typology angle value calculation. Notes: The Mann–Whitney U test was used to determine differences between baseline and after treatment with pine bark extract. There are no significant differences between baseline and following treatment with pine bark extract (P > 0.05), n = 21. Abbreviation: ITA, individual typology angle.

Figure 6

Time course of corneocyte size changes measured by a planimetric method during pine bark extract administration. Notes: The mean surface size of the corneocytes decreased significantly after 5 months of treatment with pine bark extract. Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation of corneocyte surface area. *P < 0.05 (unpaired t-test); **P < 0.05 (Mann–Whitney U test), n = 21.