Comments from Website author: This article discusses the effects of Pycnogenol (or it's
chemical name, proanthocyanidin) on damaged nerve/muscle enervation, where a stronger
muscle contraction force was shown in their findings. There are perhaps implication for
stroke or other damaged nervous tissue. (Trophic means "strengthening")
Comments from Physicians at this article's end: None
Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper Vol. 71 no. 7-8 pp. 227-34
MedlineŽ
DATE: 1995 Jul-Aug
Proanthocyanidin-A2, a catechic dimer extracted from the bark of Aesculus hippocastanum L., was tested on peripheral nerve regeneration. Reinnervation of EDL and soleus muscles following traumatic nerve damage was investigated in rats by using "in vivo" tension recording technique. Muscle contraction force (twitch and tetanus), the number of motor units and the time course of twitch (time to peak and half relaxation time), were observed. The results obtained do not show that the time course of EDL and soleus muscles reinnervation is different in Proanthocyanidin-A2-treated rats in comparison to control animals. On the contrary, results point out an increase in EDL and soleus muscle mass, both in denervated andin undenervated treated rats compared to corresponding controls. Moreover, consistently with this finding, an increase in their contraction force was found. These data show that Proanthocyanidin-A2 exerts a trophic effect on muscle.
Ambrogini P Cuppini R Bruno C Bombardelli E
Primary Author's Address: Institute of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Urbino.
Language: Eng
Country: ITALY
MeSH Headings: Animal Anthocyanins/*pharmacology Antioxidants/*pharmacology Comparative Study Male Muscle Contraction/drug effects Muscle Denervation/* Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch/drug effects Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch/drug effects Muscle, Skeletal/*drug effects/physiology Nerve Regeneration/*drug effects Rats Rats, Sprague-Dawley Synaptic Transmission/drug effects
Medlars UID 96058851