Definition

A preparation containing plant-derived polyphenolic bioflavonoids composed of multimers (dimers, trimers, or higher order polymers) of the flavan-3-ol-based monomers catechin and epicatechin that are extracted from sources rich in these chemicals (such as grape seeds, grape skin and pine bark), with potential anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-cancer and protective activities. Upon oral administration of oligomeric procyanidin complex (OPC), the polyphenols exert anti-oxidant activity by scavenging free radicals, which prevents both the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly nitrous oxide (NO), and DNA damage. OPC also inhibits chemical-induced lipid peroxidation. In addition, OPC reduces the production of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), decreases AGE accumulation in tissues, and inhibits the progression of AGE/receptor for AGE (RAGE)-mediated inflammatory transduction pathways, which inhibits the activation of pro-inflammatory transcriptional regulators, and prevents the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines. This ultimately prevents inflammatory-driven damage to end organs and may reduce inflammation-induced cancer formation and progression. In addition, OPC inhibits the activity of a variety of enzymes, including xanthine oxidase, collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase and beta-glucuronidase.