Single and multiple dose pharmacokinetics of maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) after oral administration to healthy volunteers

BACKGROUND: Since plant extracts are increasingly used as phytotherapeutics or dietary supplements information on bioavailability, bioefficacy and safety are warranted. We elucidated the plasma kinetics of genuine extract components and metabolites after single and multiple ingestion of the standardized maritime pine bark extract Pycnogenol (USP quality) by human volunteers. METHODS: Eleven volunteers received a single dose of 300 mg pine bark extract, five volunteers ingested 200 mg daily for five days to reach steady state concentrations. Plasma samples were obtained before and at defined time points after intake of the extract. Samples were analyzed by HPLC with ion-pair reagents and simultaneous UV and electrochemical detection. RESULTS: We quantified total plasma concentrations of catechin, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, taxifolin and the metabolite M1 (δ-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-γ-valerolactone). Additionally, we describe plasma time courses and steady state appearance of ten so far unknown compounds, U1 to U10. After single ingestion, compounds derived from the extract were rapidly absorbed and the majority of them were detectable over whole experimental period of 14 h. The analysis of steady state plasma samples revealed significant phase II metabolism. CONCLUSION: We present the first systematic pharmacokinetic analysis of compounds derived from maritime pine bark extract. Beyond the known constituents and metabolites we uncovered the plasma time courses of ten unknown compounds. In concert with our previous detection of anti-inflammatory bioefficacy of these plasma samples ex vivo we suggest that constituents and metabolites of Pycnogenol bear potential for disclosure of novel active principles

Smoking status and anti-inflammatory macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage and induced sputum in COPD

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Macrophages have been implicated in the pathogenesis of COPD. M1 and M2 macrophages constitute subpopulations displaying pro- and anti-inflammatory properties. We hypothesized that smoking cessation affects macrophage heterogeneity in the lung of patients with COPD. Our aim was to study macrophage heterogeneity using the M2-marker CD163 and selected pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and induced sputum from current smokers and ex-smokers with COPD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>114 COPD patients (72 current smokers; 42 ex-smokers, median smoking cessation 3.5 years) were studied cross-sectionally and underwent sputum induction (M/F 99/15, age 62 ± 8 [mean ± SD] years, 42 (31-55) [median (range)] packyears, post-bronchodilator FEV₁63 ± 9% predicted, no steroids past 6 months). BAL was collected from 71 patients. CD163⁺macrophages were quantified in BAL and sputum cytospins. Pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators were measured in BAL and sputum supernatants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ex-smokers with COPD had a higher percentage, but lower number of CD163⁺macrophages in BAL than current smokers (83.5% and 68.0%, p = 0.04; 5.6 and 20.1 ×10⁴/ml, p = 0.001 respectively). The percentage CD163⁺M2 macrophages was higher in BAL compared to sputum (74.0% and 30.3%, p < 0.001). BAL M-CSF levels were higher in smokers than ex-smokers (571 pg/ml and 150 pg/ml, p = 0.001) and correlated with the number of CD163⁺BAL macrophages (Rs = 0.38, p = 0.003). No significant differences were found between smokers and ex-smokers in the levels of pro-inflammatory (IL-6 and IL-8), and anti-inflammatory (elafin, and Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor [SLPI]) mediators in BAL and sputum.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data suggest that smoking cessation partially changes the macrophage polarization <it>in vivo </it>in the periphery of the lung towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype, which is not accompanied by a decrease in inflammatory parameters.</p

EPO reverses defective wound repair in hypercholesterolaemic mice by increasing functional angiogenesis

This study aims to elucidate the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on the microcirculation during wound healing in mice genetically depleted of apolipoprotein E (ApoE(-/-)). The skinfold chamber in mice was used for intravital microscopy, whereby an incisional wound was created within the chamber. Animals received Recormon(®) 1000 U kg(-1) body weight (BW) intra-peritoneally (i.p.) at day 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 post-wounding at a concentration of 100 Uml(-1) (n=42). Normal healing and vehicle-treated wild type animals (WT) served as controls. The microcirculation of the wound was analysed quantitatively in vivo using epi-illumination intravital fluorescence microscopy. Microtomography (micro-CT) analysis of casted wound microvessels was performed allowing three-dimensional (3D) histomorphometric analysis. Tissue samples were examined ex vivo for wound scoring and for expression analysis of EPO-Receptor (Epo-R) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Upon EPO treatment, the total wound score in ApoE(-/-) mice was increased by 23% on day 3, by 26% on day 7 and by 18% on day 13 when compared to untreated ApoE(-/-) mice (all P<0.05 vs. vehicle). Improved wound healing was accompanied with a significant increase of functional angiogenetic density and angiogenetic red blood cell perfusion on days 5, 7, 9 and 11 post-wounding. 3D histomorphometric analysis revealed an increase of vessel thickness (1.7-fold), vessel volume (2.4-fold) and vessel surface (1.7-fold) (all P<0.05 vs. vehicle). In addition, improved wound healing was associated with enhanced Epo-R expression (4.6-fold on day 3 and 13.5-fold on day 7) and eNOS expression (2.4-fold on day 7) (all P<0.05 vs. vehicle). Our data demonstrate that repetitive systemic EPO treatment reverses microvascular dysfunction during wound healing in hypercholesterolaemic mice by inducing new vessel formation and by providing the wound with more oxygen