Proanthocyanidin

Proanthocyanidins are a class of polyphenols found in many plants, such as cranberry, blueberry, and grape seeds. Chemically, they are oligomeric flavonoids. Many are oligomers of catechin and epicatechin and their gallic acid esters. More complex polyphenols, having the same polymeric building block, form the group of condensed tannins.

Proanthocyanidins were discovered in 1947 by Jacques Masquelier, who developed and patented techniques for the extraction of oligomeric proanthocyanidins from pine bark and grape seeds.[1] Proanthocyanidins are under preliminary research for the potential to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) by consuming cranberries, grape seeds or red wine.[2][3]

  1. ^ Schwitters, Bert (1995). OPC in Practice. Publishing rights search incomplete. p. 15. ISBN 978-8886035132.
  2. ^ "Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to CranMax® and reduction of the risk of urinary tract infection by inhibiting the adhesion of certain bacteria in the urinary tract pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006". EFSA Journal. 12 (5): 3657 (11 pgs). 2014. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2014.3657. A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of CranMax® and reduction of the risk of urinary tract infection by inhibiting the adhesion of certain bacteria in the urinary tract
  3. ^ Williams, Gabrielle; Stothart, Christopher I.; Hahn, Deirdre; Stephens, Jacqueline H.; Craig, Jonathan C.; Hodson, Elisabeth M. (2023-11-10). "Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2023 (11): CD001321. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub7. ISSN 1469-493X. PMC 10636779. PMID 37947276.