Research Report

Grape Seed Extract is a very informative article from the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Author Ken R. Wells notes that "studies have shown that OPCs in grape seed extract are as much as 50 times more potent than those in vitamin E and up to 20 times more potent than OPCs in vitamin C". (The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, released in November 2000, consists of four volumes of current, unbiased information on alternative and complementary medical practices. Information on recommended therapies for 275 specific disorders and diseases, and on medicinal uses for plants and herbs are balanced by conclusions of studies on efficacy and analysis of current levels of acceptance by traditional scientists and doctors. This resource is published by The Gale Group, a world leader in e-information publishing for libraries, schools and businesses. Best known for its accurate and authoritative reference content as well as its intelligent organization of full-text magazine and newspaper articles, the company creates and maintains more than 600 databases that are published online, in print and in microform. Its online Health & Wellness Resource Center is accessed by the public, university and medical libraries via subscription.)

Oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes: history, structure, and phytopharmaceutical applications

Purple grape juice improves endothelial function and reduces the susceptibility of LDL cholesterol to oxidation in patients with coronary artery disease

Grape seed proanthocyanidin reduces cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting ischemia/reperfusion-induced activation of JNK-1 and C-JUN

Respected scientist and Director of University of Wisconsin's Coronary Thrombosis Laboratory, John D. Folts, Ph.D., F.A.C.C. is quoted in the article Grape Juice Seen As Heart Aid. (Dr. Folts' primary research interest is in mechanisms that increase or decrease in vivo platelet activity and platelet-mediated coronary thrombosis. In the early 1970s he developed an experimental model to study in vivo thrombus formation in stenosed arteries with endothelial and medial damage. In 1974 he first demonstrated in vivo that aspirin can significantly reduce the incidence of coronary thrombosis. Currently, he is studying the antiplatelet/antioxidant properties of polyphenolic compounds found in red wine, dark beer, fruit juices, and tea. These compounds appear to be better platelet inhibitors than aspirin. He has published over 125 papers and chapters in books, primarily on topics related to platelet interactions with damaged arterial walls, and food sources that are thought to be protective against the development of atherosclerosis)

DR. FOLTS & PROVEXCV™
In October 1998, Dr. John Folts gave a presentation to the American Dietetic Association on flavonoids and heart disease. In it Dr. Folts explained, in detail, the research he is conducting on PROVEXCV®. An audio tape of this presentation is available through Melaleuca. This presentation caught the attention of the Associated Press. The AP story appeared in over 100 newspapers and TV news programs, including ABC News. Here is one of the news stories we've found online. Augusta Chronicle article about Dr. Folts and PROVEXCV®

Grape juice, but not orange juice or grapefruit juice, inhibits human platelet aggregation

Select flavonoids and whole juice from purple grapes inhibit platelet function and enhance nitric oxide release

Anti-tumor-promoting activity of a polyphenolic fraction isolated from grape seeds in the mouse skin two-stage initiation-promotion protocol and identification of procyanidin B5-3'-gallate as the most effective antioxidant constituent

This is another study showing that grape seed extract reduces the toxic effects of chemotherapy. Chemopreventive effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on Chang liver cells

This article concludes that both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that grape seed extract is highly bioavailable and provides significantly greater protection against free radicals and free radical-induced lipid peroxidation and DNA damage than vitamins C, E and beta-carotene. Free radicals and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract: importance in human health and disease prevention

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract demonstrates better antioxidant activity than other free radical scavengers

Results of this medical study show that grape seed extract is a more potent scavenger of oxygen free radicals as compared to vitamin C and vitamin E succinate. Oxygen free radical scavenging abilities of vitamins C and E, and a grape seed proanthocyanidin extract in vitro.

Although not specifically related to research on grape seed extract, I feel that this particular medical abstract reveals significant findings about the effects of antioxidants in diabetes. As nature's most powerful antioxidant, grape seed extract has been shown to be beneficial in diabetic conditions such as neuropathy, capillary weakness, and retinopathy. The role of free radicals, oxidative stress and antioxidant systems in diabetic vascular disease.

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Remember, if you want to know any more about grape seed extract, RM Barry Publications' very own booklet "All About Grape Seed Extract" will do the trick. It has a question and answer format and covers everything you wanted to know about free radicals, oxidation, proanthocyanidin, flavonoids, health benefits of grape seed extract and more.