Polyphenols And Proanthocyanidins

Plants on earth have evolved many different chemical compounds to help them to survive and multiply. Coincidentally, some of these chemicals solve some human survival problems as well. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring plant chemicals that have potential medical benefits. Phytochemicals with antioxidant properties are sold as dietary supplements and can help protect your body from the health-damaging effects of free radicals. Talk with your physician before taking dietary supplements to address any medical condition.

Polyphenol Overview

Polyphenols are a broad family of phytochemicals that have in common multiple instances of chemical structural features called phenols. Polyphenol chemical compounds are divided into the subclasses anthocyanidins, flavanols, flavanones, flavonols and isoflavones. Each subclass contains polyphenols that are potent antioxidants. One group of antioxidants in flavonol subclass are the proanthocyanidins. Catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, theaflavins, resveratrol and thearubigins are all examples of proanthocyanidin antioxidants.
Other non-proanthocyanidin polyphenol antioxidants include cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, petunidin, hesperetin, naringenin, eriodictyol, quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, isorhamnetin, apigenin, luteolin, daidzein, genistein and glycitein.

General Polyphenol Sources

It is very likely that some of the foods you love to eat and snack on contain polyphenol antioxidants. Polyphenols are in grapes, red wine, teas, chocolate, berries, apples, citrus fruits, yellow onions, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, persimmons, cranberries, scallions, kale, broccoli, parsley, thyme, celery, hot peppers, soybean products and legumes.

Proanthocyanidins Polyphenol Sources

Proanthocyanidin polyphenols are found in many different edible and inedible plants, but grape seeds, pine bark and choke berries contain the most proanthocyanidins by weight. Dietary supplements made from grape seed extract may contain 40 to 80 percent proanthocyanidin compounds. Resveratrol is an example of a proanthocyanidin antioxidant found in grape skins and red wine. According to a 2004 study published in the "Journal of Nutrition," 32 percent of the proanthocyanidin in the American diet comes from apples, 17.9 percent from chocolate and 17.8 percent from grapes.

Proanthocyanidins Medical Benefits

Proanthocyanidin health benefits extend far beyond their antioxidant properties. Proanthocyanidins are also anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-carcinogenic and cardiovascular system-protective. Proanthocyanidins help wounds heal, reduce the pain from pancreatitis, reduce insulin resistance in diabetics and help protect from drug toxicity.
Proanthocyanidins can help lower your levels of low-density lipoproteins, or the "bad" cholesterol. Antioxidants also decrease the oxidation of LDL, which may lead to the build up of plaque on the walls of your arteries. Finally, proanthocyanidins have been used to improve night vision and slow down the degenerative effects of aging on skin collagen and elastin.