According to the "Physician's Desk Reference of Herbal Medicines," grape seed extract has been shown to have antioxidant effects that protect against capillary fragility, retinal disorders, edema, premenstrual syndrome, skin aging and cancer. Antioxidants play a significant role in skin health, especially in terms of wrinkle and cancer prevention. An article published in Dermatologic Clinics states that reactive oxygen species act directly on cytokine receptors and growth factors within skin cells to cause inflammation and signs of aging. The antioxidants present in grape seed extract inhibit this mechanism.
Proanthocyanidin
Proanthocyanidin is the main antioxidant found in grape seed extract, according to the book "Integrative Medicine." This is a type of oligomer antioxidant that is considered to be 50 times more powerful than even vitamin C. Proanthocyanidin is a strong anti-inflammatory and has been used widely in Europe for its antiaging and antihistamine properties.
Vitamin E
A study published in the European Journal of Cancer demonstrated that vitamin E, such as is present in grape seed extract, is a potent antioxidant capable of preventing skin cancer. In this study of 1,001 healthy adults, participants who took vitamin E had reduced incidences of squamous cell carcinoma. On the other hand, the study also found that the risk for basal cell carcinoma was increased with the antioxidant's intake.
Flavonoids
Grape seed extract contains the flavonoids kaempferol-3-O-glycosides, catechins and quercetin-3-O-glycosides, according to "Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines." These flavonoid compounds have been shown to protect various cells in the body, including skin cells from reactive oxygen species. The flavonoids' antioxidant properties depend largely on their molecular structure. For instance, a study noted in European Food Research and Technology indicated that catechin's chemical structure gave it an antioxidant potency similar to synthetic antioxidants.
References
- "Dermatologic Clinics"; Understanding and Treating Various Skin Types: The Baumann Skin Type Indicator; Leslie Baumann, MD; July 2008
- "Integrative Medicine" 2nd ed.; David Rakel, MD; 2007
- "Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines" 4th ed.; Christof Jaenicke, MD, and Joerg Gruenwald, Ph.D.; 2007
- "European Journal of Cancer"; Intake of Antioxidant Nutrients and the Risk of Skin Cancer; M.M. Heinen, Ph.D.; Dec. 1, 2007
- "European Food Research and Technology"; Antioxidant Activity of (+)-Catechin. Rate Constant for Hydrogen-Atom Transfer to Peroxyl Radicals; Pamela Pedrielli, Ph.D., et al.; 2001
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