Pycnogenol's manufacturer Horphag Research has extensively studied the extract over the past 40 years to assure the safety and efficacy of Pycnogenol as an ingredient in dietary supplements and conventional foods. More than 220 studies and review articles have been published on the extract, and Horphag Research earned the Frost & Sullivan North American Health Ingredients Excellence in Research of the Year Award for 2008.

"Horphag Research has incorporated ongoing research into its business model as a necessity to keep the pledge towards its customers and consumers to rely on scientific evidence," said Ferrari, explaining that this research will also provide the basis for new product development, patents, and new product applications. "To date, we have not come across any other company performing the same amount of research at the same level of quality on a single ingredient. It is critical to investigate nutritional ingredients to the point that one can establish that they are of the highest quality, safe, and that the data shows supporting scientific evidence for their use."

ABC's 19-page monograph on Pycnogenol was toxicologist Heather S. Oliff, Ph.D., and it was formally peer reviewed by scientific and medical experts for its accuracy.

ABC emphasizes that the publication of the Pycnogenol monograph is not an endorsement or recommendation of the ingredient or the manufacturer. "ABC has had a long history of documenting the specific herbal products and ingredients that have been clinically tested," said Blumenthal. "As part of our nonprofit educational mission, we believe it is in the public interest to identify clinically tested natural plant-based products and ingredients which the scientific literature suggests are safe and beneficial."

ABC's Pycnogenol monograph is the fourth in a series of product-specific monographs that the organization has initiated. Additional monographs concerning specific researched commercial products and ingredients are being developed by ABC.

SOURCE American Botanical Council