Know2eat

Pine bark extract

Pinus pinaster

Herbs & Botanicals

What pine bark extract may help with

Ranked by how strong the human evidence is — best supported first.

Best supportedBlood flowLimited evidence· 2 sources

Then, in order

5 things to know first — allergies, interactions and limits

About Pine bark extract

An extract of French maritime pine bark standardised to procyanidins, phenolic acids and taxifolin. One branded preparation accounts for the large majority of the published research.

The pine bark literature is unusual in how concentrated it is: most trials use a single branded extract, and a substantial share were funded by or conducted with the involvement of its manufacturer. Reviews across conditions — venous insufficiency, blood pressure, cognition, skin — tend to report positive findings from small trials with methodological limitations, and independent replication is scarce.

Sold as
Standardised extract capsule, Tablet, Topical cream, Combination formulas
Standardised to
Trials use extract standardised to 65–75% procyanidins — a product without this marker may not resemble what was studied.
Also known as
Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark, Oligopin

What the research used

The amounts, forms and durations published trials of Pine bark extract actually administered.

These are the amounts published trials administered — not a recommendation, and not a dose to copy. Trial participants were screened, supervised and given a characterised preparation. What is in a retail bottle is frequently not what was studied, and the amount that suits one person is not general advice.

  • Studied for Chronic venous insufficiency and leg swelling

    100–360 mg

    Limited

    Standardised extract, divided doses · 4–12 weeks

    Almost all of these trials used one branded extract, many with manufacturer involvement. Generic pine bark extracts are not shown to be equivalent.

  • Studied for Blood pressure and endothelial measures

    100–200 mg

    Limited

    Standardised extract, daily · 8–12 weeks

    Small trials, several with the same research groups, and pooled estimates with wide uncertainty.

This is general information about food, not medical advice. It cannot diagnose, treat or replace guidance from a clinician who knows your history.

When it was taken

Each window says whether a trial compared it against an alternative, or whether it is convention and pharmacology. Most timing advice is the second kind.

None of the timings below were directly compared in a trial. They reflect how the research happened to dose, or what the pharmacology implies — which is not the same as a timing being better.

  • With food

    Not enough

    Taken with food by convention; no timing comparison exists.

    Timing was not directly compared. This reflects convention or how the compound behaves in the body, not a trial showing this window works better.

The evidence in depth

Best supported: Limited

What each association actually rests on, and the papers behind it. A rating describes the state of the research, not how promising the supplement sounds. How we rate evidence.

Blood flow

Circulation
Limited evidence

Some trials report reduced leg swelling and improved venous symptoms. Cochrane reviewers concluded the evidence is insufficient to support its use, citing small samples and poor reporting.

Limited evidence. Early human work, or mostly lab and animal research.

View the 2 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Healthy blood pressure

Heart Health
Not enough evidence

Evidence is limited for pine bark extract and blood pressure. Pooled results are dominated by small trials linked to a single manufacturer.

Not enough evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

View the 3 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Skin structure and hydration

Skin Health
Not enough evidence

There is not enough independent human research on pine bark extract and skin elasticity or hydration. The trials are small and largely industry-linked.

Not enough evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

View the 4 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Things to know

Interactions, contraindications and dose limits, most serious first. Concentrated extracts interact with medication in ways the whole plant does not, so this section carries more weight here than it does on a food page.

  • Interaction

    Bleeding and blood pressure medication

    Interacts withWarfarin, antiplatelet drugs, antihypertensives

    Effects on platelet aggregation and blood pressure mean it may add to anticoagulants and antihypertensives, and it is sensible to stop before surgery.

  • Interaction

    Immunosuppressants

    Interacts withImmunosuppressants

    Because it has been reported to stimulate immune activity, it is conventionally avoided alongside immunosuppressant therapy and in autoimmune disease.

  • Worth knowing

    Evidence is concentrated in one manufacturer

    A large share of pine bark trials involve the producer of the branded extract. That does not make the results wrong, but independent replication is thin and it should weigh on how confidently the findings are read.

  • Worth knowing

    Digestive upset and dizziness

    Mild stomach upset, dizziness, nausea and headache are the commonly reported effects, more often when taken without food.

  • Avoid

    Pregnancy

    Some trials in late pregnancy exist, but the evidence is not sufficient to consider it established as safe, and it is generally avoided.

Evidence ratings on this page: 1 limited evidence, 2 not enough evidence.

Supplements are sold in the US without pre-market review of efficacy or safety. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to take Pine bark extract, or a dose to follow.