Pycnogenol
Find Pycnogenol and other French maritime pine bark extracts in capsules and tablets, mostly 30 mg to 100 mg per dose. We explain how the trademarked extract differs from generic pine bark, and what to check on the label.Read more →
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French maritime pine bark extract, explained without the marketing
Pycnogenol is a standardised extract from the bark of the French maritime pine, Pinus pinaster. The trees grow in the Les Landes forest in south-west France. The bark is rich in procyanidins: plant compounds that also occur in grape seed, berries and cocoa. Standardised means the procyanidin content of each batch stays inside a fixed range, so one capsule is comparable to the next. Pycnogenol itself is a registered trademark of Horphag Research, and you will find it here alongside the other extracts in our antioxidants range.
Not every pine bark extract is Pycnogenol
This is the difference most labels blur. Pine bark extract is a general description. Species, extraction method and procyanidin content vary per producer, and some products list only a plant name and a milligram figure. Other standardised extracts exist too, such as Oligopin and Flavangenol, each with its own composition. Research on one extract cannot simply be transferred to another. So if a specific extract matters to you, read the ingredient list and look for the trademark, not just the words pine bark.
Forms, strengths and how people take it
The choice here is narrow, which makes it simple. Almost everything is a capsule or a tablet, usually 30 mg to 100 mg per piece. Loose powder and topical creams exist, but they are uncommon in the UK.
- Capsules hold the finely ground extract and are normally vegan, with a hypromellose shell (hypromellose is plant cellulose).
- Tablets often come in lower strengths, so two per day is a common instruction.
- Combinations pair the extract with vitamin C or amla. If that appeals to you, check the dose against a single ingredient product and against our range of vitamin C.
Most manufacturers advise taking it with a meal, and splitting a higher daily amount over two moments in the day.
How we choose the pine bark extracts we stock
We judge a pine bark extract on three things: the extract itself, the amount per capsule, and the combinations around it. We prefer a named, standardised extract with a stated procyanidin range over a vague pine bark powder, because then you can check what you are actually taking. Combinations only make sense to us when every ingredient still carries a sensible dose of its own, so we skip formulas built around a token few milligrams. We buy directly from the brands, and every product passes our compliance team before it goes live. If you want the full reasoning, read how we select brands.
Who it suits, and what we will not promise
Pine bark extract suits people who have their basics covered and want to add one concentrated plant polyphenol. It is not a first supplement. Be aware of the price: a trademarked, standardised extract costs more per gram than generic pine bark powder. What you pay for is the fixed composition and the body of research built on it. If consistency matters to you, that is money well spent. The human studies with this extract ran from two weeks to six months, so treat it as a daily habit and give it about a month before you form an opinion. On claims we stay strict. The European food safety authority (EFSA) has approved no health claim for pine bark extract, so we do not make one. We tell you the species, the standardisation and the dose, and you decide. If you are weighing up options for skin and ageing more broadly, our collagen powders and capsules sit in a different category altogether.
Frequently asked questions
Pycnogenol is a plant extract made from the bark of the French maritime pine, Pinus pinaster, which grows in south-west France. Its main components are procyanidins, a group of plant compounds also found in grape seed and berries. The extract is standardised, so each batch contains procyanidins within a fixed range. Pycnogenol is a registered trademark, which means only one producer may use the name.
The name on the label tells you how much you know about the contents. A trademarked, standardised extract has a fixed specification. A generic pine bark extract may vary between producers and batches.
| Type | What the label tells you | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Pycnogenol | Fixed species, patented process, stated procyanidin range | You want the version used in most published trials |
| Generic pine bark extract | Often only plant name and milligrams | You mainly look at price per dose |
| Oligopin, Flavangenol | Standardised, but a different composition | You want an alternative standardised extract |
We prefer a stated standardisation, because it lets you compare products honestly.
The form changes convenience more than anything else. All three deliver the same extract.
| Form | What it is like | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | Neutral in taste, usually a plant cellulose shell | Most people, including vegans |
| Tablet | Smaller, often a lower strength per piece | Splitting an intake over the day |
| Powder | Bitter, hard to measure at small amounts | Mixing into your own blends |
For a first purchase, a capsule is the practical choice.
Products on the UK market usually supply 30 mg to 100 mg per capsule or tablet, and labels commonly advise one or two per day. Most manufacturers suggest taking it with a meal, and splitting a higher daily amount over two moments in the day. Follow the instruction on the pack you buy and do not exceed it. If you take medication or have a health condition, check with your GP or pharmacist first.
Longer than most people expect. The human studies with this extract ran from two weeks to six months, and results were measured after weeks of daily use rather than days. So plan on at least a month of consistent intake before you decide whether to continue. That also makes it worth buying a pack size that covers that period, instead of a small trial pack you finish in ten days.
Yes, and you will see it combined on the shelf, most often with vitamin C or amla. Our rule is simple: check that each ingredient still has a meaningful dose of its own, rather than a few decorative milligrams. If you like the polyphenol angle, another plant compound people compare it with is quercetin from plants. Keep the number of new products low, so you can tell what is doing what.
Usually yes. The extract itself is plant based, and most capsules use a hypromellose shell, which comes from plant cellulose rather than gelatine. Tablets normally use plant based binders and anti-caking agents. Still, check the pack, because a small number of products use gelatine capsules or add ingredients that are not vegan. Every label in our range states this clearly, and we filter products for vegan suitability.
There is not enough safety data for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so several UK brands state on the pack that their product is not suitable then. Reported side effects are mild and uncommon, mainly stomach upset, dizziness or headache. Because pine bark extract has been studied in people with raised blood pressure and raised blood sugar, speak to your GP first if you take medication for either. The same applies before planned surgery.
Because in the UK and the EU we are only allowed to state health claims that have been assessed and approved for that substance, and there is no approved claim for pine bark extract or Pycnogenol. Plenty of research exists, but research and an approved claim are two different things. So instead of promises, we give you the facts that help you compare: the species, the standardisation, the amount per capsule and the price per day.
