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Ask the Herbalist_questions on varicose veins
Grape seed extract is used in Europe to improve circulation. It prevents oxidation of blood fats and inhibits enzymes
that break down the proteins that make up blood vessels.
Grape seed is believed to benefit cardiac and cerebral circulation. In animals it reduces capillary permeability and
presumably has similar activity in humans.
Capillaries may be fragile due to diabetes or other disorders. In four small studies, grape seed extract was better than
placebo at improving peripheral circulation as well, resulting in less pain and swelling, fewer nighttime cramps, and
less numbness and tingling.
Studies have shown that grape seed extract may slow macular degeneration, improve vision stressed by computer
screens or glare, and reduce myopia. Although further research is needed, the results have been promising.
In test tube research grape seed polyphenols stop the growth of Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria that causes tooth
decay. They also slow the conversion of sucrose (table sugar) into glucan, and as a consequence of both these
actions, grape seed may have a role in maintaining dental health.
Another potential benefit of grape seed extract is anti-inflammatory activity.
Dose
Usual dose for general health maintenance ranges from 50 to 100 mg daily. To treat illness, doses from 150 to 300 mg
per day are recommended.
From Jim Dukes website on medicinal and ethnobotanical uses of plants
http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/farmacy2.pl
Grape seeds have the following constituents.
ENOTANNIN Seed: DUKE1992A :No reported activity
EPICATECHIN Seed: DUKE1992A :No reported activity
LINOLEIC-ACID Seed 33,000 - 110,000 ppm DUKE1992A
Activity Reported: Antianaphylactic, Antiarteriosclerotic, Antiarthritic, Anticoronary, Antieczemic, Antifibrinolytic,
Antigranular, Antihistaminic, Antiinflammatory, Antileukotriene, Antimenorrhagic, AntiMS, Antiprostatitic,
Cancer-Preventive, Carcinogenic, Hepatoprotective, Hypocholesterolemic, Immunomodulator, Insectifuge, Metastatic,
Nematicide,
OLEIC-ACID Seed 22,200 - 74,000 ppm DUKE1992A
Activity Reported: Allergenic, Anemiagenic, Antiinflammatory, Antileukotriene, Cancer-Preventive, Choleretic,
Dermatitigenic, FLavor FEMA 1-30, Hypocholesterolemic, Insectifuge, Irritant, Percutaneostimulant, Perfumery
PALMITIC-ACID Seed 3,300 - 11,000 ppm DUKE1992A
Activity Reported: Antifibrinolytic, FLavor FEMA 1, Hemolytic, Hypercholesterolemic, Lubricant, Nematicide, Pesticide,
Soap
PROTEIN Seed 70,000 - 100,000 ppm DUKE1992A :No reported activity.
SQUALENE Seed: DUKE1992A
Activity Reported: Antibacterial, Antitumor, Cancer-Preventive, Immunostimulant, Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, Perfumery,
Pesticide
STEARIC-ACID Seed 1,440 - 4,800 ppm DUKE1992A
Activity Reported: Cosmetic, FLavor, Hypocholesterolemic, Lubricant, Perfumery, Suppository
TANNIN Seed: DUKE1992A
Activity Reported: Anthelminthic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticariogenic, Antidiarrheic, Antidysenteric,
Antihepatotoxic, AntiHIV, Antihypertensive, Antilipolytic, Antimutagenic, Antinephritic, Antiophidic, Antioxidant,
Antiradicular, Antirenitic, Antitumor, Antitumor-Promoter, Antiulcer, Antiviral; Cancer-Preventive, Carcinogenic,
Chelator, Cyclooxygenase-Inhibitor, Glucosyl-Transferase-Inhibitor, Hepatoprotective, Immunosuppressant,
Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, MAO-Inhibitor, Ornithine-Decarboxylase-Inhibitor, Pesticide, Psychotropic,
Xanthine-Oxidase-Inhibitor
From Nutrition Science New article titled
Phytochemicals: Nutrients Whose Time Has Come
July 2000, read it on the web at
http://exchange.healthwell.com/nutritionsciencenews/nsn_backs/Jul_00/phytochemicals.cfm
..A distinct group of polyphenols known as the flavan-3-ols includes anthocyanidins, proanthocyanidins, catechins and
tannins. These have been extensively studied for their antioxidant, anticancer, antitumor and cardioprotective
effects.37 Hundreds of studies alone have been done on green tea catechins to assess their cardiovascular effects.38
Red wine, grape juice, pine bark and grape seed extracts have been studied for their anticlotting, antioxidant,
cardiovascular and anticancer effects.39...
references...
37. Sato M, et al. Cardioprotective effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins against ischemic reperfusion injury. J Mol
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