OPC Grape Seed Extract

OPCs (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins) are a set of bioflavonoid complexes that perform as free radical scavengers in the human body. Many names refer to this set of bioflavonoids, including OPCs, Oligomeric Procyanidolic Complexes, leuco anthocyanin, anthocyanidin and still others. We will refer to them as OPCs for the duration of this discussion.


OPCs are types of bioflavonoids, very powerful ones. Bioflavonoids are parts of plants that are actually assimilated into our body tissues when we consume them. It was, in fact, this very ability that led to their discovery. OPC bioflavonoids were first noticed in the laboratory because they have the uncanny ability to strengthen blood vessel walls within hours after taking them! The person responsible for their discovery was a French scientist named Dr. Jacques Masquelier, who first tested bioflavonoid containing peanuts on lab animals and discovered that their blood vessel walls would double in strength only hours after eating them. His discovery was made in 1948. In 1951, this same doctor extracted OPCs from pine bark.

In 1970, Dr. Masquelier obtained yet another patent for these bioflavonoids - a far more potent product. It is the grape seed extract that you may have heard about, and it is a powerful substance indeed.


Resveratrol is a phenolic compound naturally produced by some plantes that has been found to have strong antioxidant activity. Plants create resveratrol to protect themselves against the effects of poor growing conditions and severe weather. Resveratrol has been shown to reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. There have been numerous studies that show the benefits of moderate red wine consumption on health. Red wine is fermented with the antioxidant-potent grape skins present; some studies suggest that the intake of red wine (and therefore resveratrol) may yield cholesterol-lowering effects. This is one way that red wine consumption protects the heart.³ In addition to red wine and grape skin, Japanese Knotwood is an excellent source of resveratrol.


There have been numerous studies that show the benefits of moderate red wine consumption on health; most of these studies distinguish red wine from white wine. A recent study shows that a particular polyphenol in grape skins, resveratrol, inhibits blood platelet aggregation. The difference between red and white wine is that red wine is fermented with the grape skins, while white wine has the skins removed prior to fermentation. So, red wine contains the beneficial resveratrol, while white wine does not. This is one way that red wine consumption protects the heart.³ Our OPC Grape Seed Extract includes both Grape Skin Extract and Red Wine Extract, and includes Resveratrol so you can be sure you are receiving these beneficial compounds.


OPCs have one particular ability that was discovered by Masquelier in 1986, and that is the ability of Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins to scavenge free radicals from the body. Free radicals are simply oxygen atoms that are robbed of an electron through the body's natural metabolic processes.

If you exercise or smoke, you are exposed to higher levels of these free radicals than most people. Ironically, people who exercise are exposed to more free radicals than those who don't because they have faster, more vigorous metabolisms. Smokers, and second-hand smokers are bombarded by free radicals, because free radicals are also the product of pollutants (inefficient combustion).

The oxygen atom, which in a stable state has four pairs of electrons, becomes unstable when it loses an electron. An oxygen atom with seven electrons is referred to as a free radical. This name aptly describes its action in the body, too. Just as water pools, and vacuums are filled quickly in nature, free radicals quickly attach themselves to something - in this case body tissues - in order to stabilize themselves. What happens is the free radical takes an electron from the membrane of a body tissue and by doing so, produces yet another free radical, which then is obliged by its charge to seek out another electron - in your body. What results is a cascade of oxidations - a "rusting" of body tissues.


Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins, in fact anti-oxidants in general, are structured in such a way that they are able to donate electrons freely without altering their valence (their electrons are not paired) - what this means is that anti-oxidants can stabilize free radicals without themselves becoming dangerous. In fact, anti-oxidants will go about donating electrons until they have no more; one anti-oxidant molecule is able to neutralize many free radicals.

It is by the number of available electrons in a given antioxidant that we are able to rate their effectiveness.