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Summary of Procyanidin, GSE, Morehairin Posts

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Official Procyanidin trials from Japan...looks good

From: worried
Date: 26 Feb 2001
Time: 15:59:30
Remote Name: 32.102.10.164

Comments

Phytomedicine 2000 Dec;7(6):529-36

Investigation of topical application of procyanidin B-2 from apple to identify its potential use as a hair growing agent.

Kamimura A, Takahashi T, Watanabe Y

Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ibaraki, Japan. ayako.kamimura@kyowa.co.jp

Procyanidin B-2 is a polyphenol compound we have identified in apple which acts as a hair-growing factor in the murine model both in vitro and in vivo. This report describes our investigation of the effects of 1% procyanidin B-2 tonic on human hair growth after sequential use for 6 months. A double-blind clinical test involving a total of 29 subjects was performed. Nineteen men in the procyanidin B-2 group and 10 men in the placebo control group were subjected to analyses. No adverse side effects were observed in either group. The hair-growing effect was evaluated using a macrophotography technique combined with measurements of the hair diameter of clipped hairs. The increase in number of total hairs in the designated scalp area (0.5 cm square = 0.25 cm2 area) of procyanidin B-2 group subjects after the 6-month trial was significantly greater than that of the placebo control group subjects (procyanidin B-2, 6.68 +/- 5.53 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm2; placebo, 0.08 +/- 4.56 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm2; P < 0.005, two-sample t test). The increase in number of terminal hairs, which are defined as hairs more than 60 microm in diameter, in the designated area (0.5 cm square = 0.25 cm2 area) of the procyanidin B-2 group subjects after the 6-month trial was significantly greater than that of the placebo control group subjects (procyanidin B-2, 1.99 +/- 2.58 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm2; placebo, -0.82 +/- 3.40 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm2; P < 0.02, two-sample t test). Procyanidin B-2 therapy shows potential as a safe and promising cure for male pattern baldness.

Re: Mohkatsurin (procyanidin B2/B3 – what is this ?

From: waseda
Date: 15 Mar 2001
Time: 00:57:37
Remote Name: 203.180.70.10

Comments

This is another potent hair grower and you can make it by yourself. I am testing the generic Mohkatsurin from vesion one to now three. Would you wait for the completion of the final version-more several days.

The reason why I take such long time to test is there are many styles of procyanidin in the world. I tested 1) liquid vesion 2) grape seed extract(powder)+rosehip version.

I found certainly more procyanidin worked more effectively. But, liquid version was bad because it thinned the alcoholic connentration and caused some itch. Rosehip added version causes no itch but it made stuff a bit muddy.

How to make Morehairin --generic strengthened Mohkatsurin

From: waseda
Date: 16 Mar 2001
Time: 03:47:31
Remote Name: 61.114.200.161

Comments

Morehairin is a generic strengthened Mohkatsurin. If you hate the name, please rename it as you like.

As I posted reviously, topical 100mg-150mg/day of oligomeric procyanidin(OPC) is needed for taking procyanidin B-2, B-3, C-1 that can cause significant hair growth. At first, I thought it would be easy to make a generic stuff. But I found it not so easy for a manageable stuff, because there are many forms of Grape Seed Extract in this world.

I tried two types, liquid and rosehip added, using three different brands. But only thing I can definitely say here is "if you take the net amount of 100mg-150mg of oligomeric procyanidin topically, the effect of hair growth will be evenly potent despite of the form of it". I can say this because the effect of procyanidin can be easily confirmed by seeing the speed of normal hair at an adequate point of scalp. One month was enough to see the difference. Liquid type OPC, though causing some itch, worked as well as powder type. In short, topical net 100mg-150mg of oligomeric procyanidin works far more than Mohkatsutin itself.

Here I post how to make Morehairin with powdered form of procyanidin for 3 months(100days) use.

Step one:

(a)10g Chinese licorice (Gan Cao, Kanzo)----indispensable,

(b) 5g Perilla leaf(Perilla frutescens, Zi Su Ye, Shiso)----optional but recommendable,

(c) 5g Senburi----original Mohkatsurin includes this herb. It is peculiar to Japan. It has been traditionally used for particularly 'alopecia areata'. It is certainly a specific remedy for alopecia areata, but if you suffer from MPB, you don't need it. Only if you can luckily get it from any Chinese herbal shop in your country, you had better add it.* It's supposed to be a bonus.

(d) 300ml water

(a)+(b)+(c)+(d) -----> boil them for about 20-30minutes and the resultant extract solution(e) is about 200ml. Throw away the ground. The color of the extract will be dark brown to black. Cool it.

Step two:

Add ethyl alchohol (ethanol) 200ml to (e). If you can't get pure ethyl alcohol, use vodka of as possible as high proof. The resultant alcoholic water solution is 400ml and the concentration of ethanol is about 50%.

Step three:

Add 10g-15g (10000mg-15000mg) Grape Seed Extract and stir it.

Examples of Grape Seed Extract:

i) Activin from InterHealth (See https://www2.acadia.net/cgi-bin/BAC/web_store.cgi?product=Vitamins
&cart_id=2003479_6135)

ii) OPC Grape Seed Extract (50mg GSE and 30mg Red Wine Extract per capsule) See http://www.health-pages.com/op/

iii) Nature's Purest Grape Seed Extract 95% (100mg GSE and 220mg Rosehip per capsule) See PCO: GRAPE SEED EXTRACT; Grape Seed capsules, 95% PCO, 100 mg, 120 caps, $12.90. Code 205.6 in https://www2.acadia.net/cgi-bin/BAC/web_store.cgi?product=Vitamins&
cart_id=2003479_6135.

For instance, if you use Nature's purest Grape Seed Extract 95%, you use up 120 capsules from a bottle and it amounts to 12g of procyanidin. Hairback told me (ii). You need 200 capsules of (ii), but you can get extra red wine extract. Rosehip as well as red wine extract is really good for hairs.

Maybe there are other high quality GSE products in the world. So, Please give us the information further.

Sep four:

This is the secret of Mohkatsurin. You must add 20ml of *RED WINE* as a starter. Never forget to add red wine, I repeatedly claim.

Application:

Apply 2ml of Morehairin per treatment. Use twice a day. That is you *must* use 4ml totally per day. Store the reserve of Moreharin in refrigerator.

* More potent method for alopepcia areate is to steep 5g Senburi in 70ml pure ethanol (or extremely high proof vadka) for one month. After one month, add the solution to Morehairin

Re: How to make Morehairin --generic strengthened Mohkatsurin

From: Worried to Waseda
Date: 16 Mar 2001
Time: 06:24:39
Remote Name: 166.72.165.234

Comments

Great! when you say you saw results in just a month, did you apply it also at the front of your head and the hair grew fast and thick ???

Now would u rate Procyniadin > ZO

Re: How to make Morehairin --generic strengthened Mohkatsurin

From: waseda
Date: 16 Mar 2001
Time: 06:56:42
Remote Name: 61.114.200.134

Comments

I have observed the particular hair on my right temple. That was a hair which had been vellus for long months. I knew already the procyanidin normally makes 'speed up' the growth but not generates hairs.The vellus hair I applied Morehairin as the target grew to a thicker longer hair (1.2cm). But this is no wonder.

Zinc oxide can generate new hairs but at least for Mohkatsurin it is a hard task to 'generate' new ones, I think. It only accelerates the growth speed. I can't evaluate the generic Mohkatsurin, Morehairin at this point, but it is real that it promoted the transformation from vellus hair to thicker hair.

Of course, as you all know, procyanidin has no side effects. 'Absolutely no' means we can raise the concentration of procyanidin more and more if possible. Though the power of ZnO > procyanidin, we can strengthen the concentration as we like. I feel it possible to raise the concentration up to 200mg /day

so vellus grew about 1cm and thicker in 1 month !!  :-)

From: Worried to Waseda
Date: 16 Mar 2001
Time: 07:57:42
Remote Name: 166.72.165.234

Comments

ok Im doing a 500mg version of procyniadin

Re: so vellus grew about 1cm and thicker in 1 month !!  :-)

From: waseda
Date: 16 Mar 2001
Time: 09:18:14
Remote Name: 61.114.201.167

Comments

Question about Procyanidin - Waseda pls read

From: Stoon
Date: 16 Mar 2001
Time: 08:41:08
Remote Name: 24.66.94.140

Comments

Does one have to create Mohkatsurin to reap the benefits of procyanidin?

Now, I may be way out to lunch here, but hopefully you'll let me know. To effectively use procyanidin you require a vehicle to penetrate the skin, right? So, would it be just as effective to mix simply procyanidin and ethanol alchohol or some other vehicle together, and simply use that? Could you add licorice extract to the mixture?

Just wondering, but would appreciate your advice.

Stoon

Re: Question about Procyanidin - Waseda pls read

From: waseda
Date: 16 Mar 2001
Time: 09:53:26
Remote Name: 211.132.32.50

Comments

According to the description of Mohkatsurin, procyanidin is supposed to work around outer root sheath not on papillae. In fact, Mohkatsurin contains no special vehicle other than simple ethanol. Procyanidin is supposed to work at the relatively shallow level of skin.

If papillae are concerned, Senburi extract matters. Senburi is supposed to stimulate the papilla cells divisions. But, we don't expect it as the main ingredient in this case.

As you suggest, increasing licorice concentration will promote the efficiency

what was the concentration of procynidin in the original Japenese human studies ??

From: Worried to Waseda
Date: 16 Mar 2001
Time: 09:04:46
Remote Name: 166.72.165.234

Comments

Waseda ,are you using more concentrated solution

Re: what was the concentration of procynidin in the original Jape...

From: waseda
Date: 16 Mar 2001
Time: 10:22:13
Remote Name: 211.132.37.122

Comments

The point is not 'concentration' but absolute amount of procyanidin B-2, B-3 and C-1. Clinical trial was done at a clinic near my house. See the study below.

The study used procyanidin B-2 only made from ordinary apple juice. The amount per day was 35mg. As I previously posted on alt.baldspot, it equals roughly to 78mg of OPC per day. Therefore, I propose 100mg-150mg (in alt.baldspot I00mg-120mg) of procyanidin per day in this forum.

So, if you use 150mg per day, your concentration will be virtually twice the original study.

study 1:

HAIR-GROWING ACTIVITY OF PROCYANIDIN B-2

1Kamimura A., 1Takahashi T., 1Yokoo Y., 2Honda S., 3Watanabe Y. 1Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan; 2Development Department, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan; 3Watanabe Dermatological Clinic, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.

Procyanidin B-2 is a polyphenol compound which we have identified in apple, which acts on hair epithelial cells as a growth-promoting factor. We have previously reported that the growth-promoting effects on murine hair epithelial cells attributable to procyanidin B-2 reaches about 300% relative to controls and also clarified that procyanidin B-2 possesses intensive anagen-inducing activity in the C3H in vivo mouse model. This presentation describes our investigations during a 6-month clinical trial of highly purified 1% procyanidin B-2 isolated from commercial apple juice. The clinical trial was performed in double-blind fashion, involving a total of 29 subjects (procyanidin B-2, 19 men; placebo, 10 men) possessing male pattern baldness on the head. The test agent (about 1.8 ml per dose) was applied to the subjects affected scalp area twice a day, giving a daily dose of 35 mg of procyanidin B-2. The hair-growing effects were evaluated according to the following parameters: the change in the number of hairs in the designated scalp area recorded by macrophotography and the change in the diameter of hairs clipped from the designated scalp area after 4-month use and 6-month use. The analyses were performed in double-blind fashion. No side effects were observed in any subjects in either group. The increase in number of hairs and the diameter of hairs in the designated scalp area of procyanidin subjects was significantly greater than that observed in placebo subjects. Procyanidin B-2 therapy shows promise as a cure for male pattern baldness.

study 2:

J Agric Food Chem 1999 Oct;47(10):4161-6 Levels of flavan-3-ols in French wines. Carando S, Teissedre PL, Pascual-Martinez L, Cabanis JC Centre de Formation et de Recherche en Oenologie, Universite de Montpellier I, Faculte de Pharmacie, Avenue Charles Flahault 34060, Montpellier Cedex 2, France.

French wines are abundant sources of phenolic compounds. The content of several catechins, i.e., (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, dimers B1, B2, B3, and B4, trimers C1, and trimer 2 (T2), of 160 French wines was determined by HPLC with UV detection. Red wines (n = 95) were found to have high levels of catechins, ranging from 32.8 to 209.8 mg/L (mean concentration 114.5 mg/L) for (+)-catechin, from 22.1 to 130.7 mg/L (mean concentration 75.7 mg/L) for (-)-epicatechin, from 7.8 to 39.1 mg/L (mean concentration 25.4 mg/L) for B1, from 18.3 to 93 mg/L (mean concentration 47.4 mg/L) for B2, from 21.4 to 215.6 mg/L (mean concentration 119.6 mg/L) for B3, from 20.2 to 107.2 mg/L (mean concentration 81.9 mg/l) for B4, from 8.6 to 36.9 mg/L (mean concentration 26.3 mg/L) for C1, and from 26.7 to 79.3 mg/L (mean concentration 67.1 mg/L) for T2. White and rose wines (n = 57 and n = 8) were found to have low levels of (+)-catechin (mean concentrations 9.8 and 10.6 mg/L, respectively) and (-)-epicatechin (mean concentrations 5.3 and 6.5 mg/L, respectively). These data provide a basis for the epidemiological evaluation of catechin intake by the consumption of French wine. PMID: 10552784

***********

According to the study , the amount needed to work effectively for hair growth seems to be 35mg/day of procyanidin B-2.

Study 2 shows the effective components will be B-2, B3 and C1. The percentages of components are following if we assume these consists of all components of oligomeric procyanidin roughly.

B-1 B-2 B-3 B-4 C-1 T-2

average % 6.9 12.97 32.5 22.7 7.1 16.8

If we negligate B-1 and C-1 as the product named as Mohkatsurin contains only B-2 and B-3,

B-2+B-3=45%.

So if we take pure procyanidin including near 100% oligomeric components like PROANTO, we can 45% of B-2/ B-3. We can estimate the daily amount of procyanidin to stimulate topically the hair growth is

35mg/0.45=78mg.

As natural compound is unstable in its constituents, we had better take this figure as the minimum value.

My intuition tells me 100mg-120mg

Procyanidin, B2/B6, GSE

Vitamin B6 will reinforce the 5 AR inhibitory effect of zinc as a studiy shows. And in fact some topical cosmetic creams and anti-acne cream include vitamin B6 for skin care. Vitamin B6 is famous as water-soluble. One day required amount of vitamin B6 aka pyridoxine is 1.6mg-2mg. If you add B6 1mg (about half the amount) per day use of your cream, 30mg is enough (or perhaps too much) for 30 days use cream. If you are going to make for example 60 days cream, you have only to double the amount and it is 60mg. Anyway, zinc oxide cream with vitamin B6 looks very attractive.

If you want to speed up the hair growth from now on, the easiest way is only to dissolve grape seed extract (procyanidin) 120mg per day into 4ml of 50% alcoholic solution and to apply it to your scalp twice a day. Even this much can improve the result you have got!!

GSE is basically water-soluble and you will have to prepare some water anyway and you had better use water-alcohol vehicle

Re: to waseda

From: waseda
Date: 07 Mar 2001
Time: 13:26:01
Remote Name: 211.132.32.67

Comments

To press the ingredients, I used face towel. But, as you suggest, powdered ingredients were far better to handle.

I have been trying the first version of generic Mohkatsurin. This is made of liquid type Grape Seed Extract. The result so far is very good but in fact it is by no means recommendable. The reason is the product (Grape Seed Extract by 'Innovative Naural Products in California) includes as much as 16% ascorbic acid. I personally don't feel stinging or itch but many must do.

However, I found event it more powerful than the product (Mohkatsurin) because the concentration of procyanidin is far high. I have measued the particular hair on my right temple. It was a vellus hair(1mm) at the start and now it is 8mm long.

So I am now trying revised version made of powdered procyanidin

Mohkatsurin (procyanidin B2/B3 – liquid vs powder version

From: waseda
Date: 15 Mar 2001
Time: 00:57:37
Remote Name: 203.180.70.10

Comments

This is another potent hair grower and you can make it by yourself. I am testing the generic Mohkatsurin from vesion one to now three. Would you wait for the completion of the final version-more several days.

The reason why I take such long time to test is there are many styles of procyanidin in the world. I tested 1) liquid vesion 2) grape seed extract(powder)+rosehip version.

I found certainly more procyanidin worked more effectively. But, liquid version was bad because it thinned the alcoholic connentration and caused some itch. Rosehip added version causes no itch but it made stuff a bit muddy.

Anyway, as I imagined, more procyanidin really works--The speed of hair growth is much accelarated than product version of Mohkatsurin

Waseda – GSE – raising concentration

From: Z
Date: 15 Mar 2001
Time: 08:59:18
Remote Name: 148.126.100.80

Comments

Waseda

Is this form of Grape Seed Extract (GSE) topically effective at all: http://www.naturesplus.com/products/supp_detail.asp?criteria=search
&searchVar=grape+seed+extract&productNumber=7832

Thanks in advance

Re: Waseda – GSE – raising concentration

From: waseda
Date: 15 Mar 2001
Time: 10:47:23
Remote Name: 211.120.78.72

Comments

I also tried the liquid type GSE with alcohol. I don't deny it works ( speed up of hair growth ) but the problem is we can't raise the concentration in that form. I found it was the problem of simple calculation afterwards.

If you make 50% alcoholic GSE solution for example as 100ml liquid GSE + 100ml pure ethanol =200ml stuff. The GSE product contains 25mg /1ml GSE. This amounts to 2500mg per 200ml stuff. If you apply 4ml per day for 50 days, the amount you take per day is only 2500/50=50mg. My rough estimation and my experiment really tell us 100mg-150mg /day GSE must be taken

ok, liquid GSE out, then can we raise the concentration

From: BaldyBill
Date: 15 Mar 2001
Time: 12:15:42
Remote Name: 168.39.181.239

Comments

effectively by making an extract from alcohol and powder GSE? For example, would it work to mix 10,000 mgs. of powder GSE with say 250 mls. of grain alcohol (50% alcohol)? Applying 2.5 mls. per day gives you 100 mgs. GSE per day. Would that be effective? I could mix up a batch for around $30.

to iap on procyanidin B2

From: waseda
Date: 17 Mar 2001
Time: 07:41:14
Remote Name: 61.114.203.239

Comments

I previously thought procyanidin B2 extracted from apple seeds only promotes hair growth. As the study (1) shows, proanthocyanidins( =roughly procyanidins) from grape seed extract in general also promote hair growth to some extent. I have been searching for pure procyanidin B2 in vain. I decided to try to how much extent normal grape seed extract works. My finding is if we increase the amount per day GSE in spite of its form we can make our hair growth accelerate as well. iap, I recommend you to try it. Even if normal GSE includes little B2, it contains other dimer, trimer oligomeric procyanidins such as B3, C1. I have found we need not dwell on B2 only.

Acta Derm Venereol 1998 Nov;78(6):428-32

Proanthocyanidins from grape seeds promote proliferation of mouse hair follicle cells in vitro and convert hair cycle in vivo.

Takahashi T, Kamiya T, Yokoo Y

Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ibaraki, Japan.

For the purpose of discovering natural products which possess hair growing activity, we examined about 1000 kinds of plant extracts concerning growth-promoting activity with respect to hair follicle cells. After an extensive search, we discovered that proanthocyanidins extracted from grape seeds promote proliferation of hair follicle cells isolated from mice by about 230% relative to controls (100%); and that proanthocyanidins possess remarkable hair-cycle-converting activity from the telogen phase to the anagen phase in C3H mice in vivo test systems. The profile of the active fraction of the proanthocyanidins was elucidated by thiolytic degradation and tannase hydrolysis. We found that the constitutive monomers were epicatechin and catechin; and that the degree of polymerization was 3.5. We demonstrated the possibility of using the proanthocyanidins extracted from grape seeds as agents inducing hair growth

Waseda: B2

From: iap
Date: 18 Mar 2001
Time: 10:19:58
Remote Name: 128.193.168.171

Comments

well - i will again try to find Revivogen's source of B2 - which i am using by the way - in addition to Z/O...

the brand Country Life makes a 200mg cap of grape seed - could you post the best way to prepare it from this powder form for everyone... thanks

Re: Waseda: B2

From: waseda
Date: 18 Mar 2001
Time: 11:51:54
Remote Name: 211.13.140.139

Comments

iap, I've just ordered the Country Life's GSE. 200mg/capsule. I'll report the details when it comes and I try it. Tank you

will this grape seed extract work (waseda)

From: breal
Date: 18 Mar 2001
Time: 11:45:19
Remote Name: 63.212.131.101

Comments

I've been taking gse orally for a couple of months now and was wondering is the brand I have will work for morehair. The front of the bottle says Grape Seed 25mg standardized. the back of the bottle says red wine powder 100mg, grape seed extract 50mg(50% polyphenols= 25mg)

Do I need a higher purity? or will this brand work

Thanks by the way I'm about 22 days into the ZO treatment. I'm noticing new little black hairs along my hairline which seem to be getting longer, cant really tell whats going on in the back. Scalp feels good and overall hair feels thicker after starting zo. I use the patent version. Also just started the process to make souhakuhi. I am really optimistic about being able to grow out my fro again

Re: will this grape seed extract work (waseda)

From: waseda
Date: 18 Mar 2001
Time: 12:22:39
Remote Name: 211.13.140.139

Comments

breal, I am very happy to hear your good result of ZnO.

I have tried a few brands of GSE and found that if we apply the net amount of oligomeric procyanidins(=OPC), the result would be the same in spite of the forms. Though you have to use 4 or 5 capsules per day (25mg*4=100mg, 25mg*5=125mg), the result will be the same as mine.

I mesured a target hair on my right temple today. It is 1.5cm. It was certainly 1.2cm some days ago. This growth rate is abnormal and I can say it is due to a lot of procyanidin (120mg/day), because the hair had been a little vellus hair before I started the 120mg/day procyanidin

Re: To Waseda = making Procyanidin from GSE

From: waseda
Date: 19 Mar 2001
Time: 16:08:17
Remote Name: 211.13.140.94

Comments

1. As boric acid version is chemically stable if stored in refrigerator, you can maintain it until you use it up.

2. You need not boil it again once you did it.

3. Recently, a cosmetic company, Shiseido claims loudly that there is no difference in hairs density between hairy men and thin head men:

http://www.shiseido.co.jp/s0103flo/html/flo03001.htm

Difference is only their thickness (and length). This means, if you only elongate your anagen phase, your hairs will come back sooner or later.

Your number of hairs are determined by birth and never decrease in your life. If you had hairs once, you can recover them if you ever find correct means, though we are all seeking for them here and there for the time being.

My recovery programm is to transform vellus hairs to terminal that is only thickening them. It is steadily on the way. I'm going to continue the zinc oxide treatment.

But, you need the first shock, first stroke to evoke your sleeping hairs. I intuitionally think that is just the patent's boric acid method. As you say, the reason I use ascorbic asid is safety. My advice is if you find your scalp covered with new vellus or tiny hairs, then you may change your treatment to ascorbic acid method.

4. GSE must be applied topically. You should get powdered GSE and dissolve it into 50% ethyl alcohol (ethanol) water solution or high proof vodka along with licorice extract. Oral pill type GSE is utterly wasteful for hair growth because it will be dispersed to entire body

REVIVOGEN PROCYANIDIN CONTENT - RESPONSE FROM REVIVOGEN - PLEASE READ

From: Nick
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 08:20:54
Remote Name: 205.231.237.248

Comments

This is the response directly from REVIVOGEN:

Revivogen includes Oligomeric Procyanidins and Procyanidin B2/B3. The percentage is much more than 2% but we can not reveal the exact percentage.

Best Regards,

Revivogen Customer Service

Looks like to contains sufficient GSE for our purpose. We do not have to make Morehairin !!!

----- Original Message -----

> > > Hello, > > I understand Revivogen contains 2% procyanidin. Could you please clarify > the following: > > Case 1: If Revivogen includes 2% of *oligomeric procyanidin*..... > Case 2: If Revivogen includes 2% of *procyanidin B2/B3*...... > > Thank you very much, > > Nick

REVIVOGEN PROCYANIDIN CONTENT - RESPONSE FROM REVIVOGEN - PLEASE READ

From: Nick
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 08:20:54
Remote Name: 205.231.237.248

Comments

This is the response directly from REVIVOGEN:

Revivogen includes Oligomeric Procyanidins and Procyanidin B2/B3. The percentage is much more than 2% but we can not reveal the exact percentage.

Best Regards

Re: REVIVOGEN PROCYANIDIN CONTENT - RESPONSE FROM REVIVOGEN - PLE...

From: waseda
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 11:00:04
Remote Name: 211.120.76.2

Comments

Nick, then why do they write as

"Oligomeric Procyanidins and Procyanidin B2/B3."

As almost all know, main potent procyanidins for hair growth are B2/B3 only? Is there any guarantee that they use *only * B2/B3*. If so why do they add excessive 'Oligomeric Procyanidins'??

My understanding about procyanidins is to get pure B2/B3 powder is very difficult and they are perhaps very expensive. Kyowa Hakko won't sell them to companies other than Fancl which monopolisticly sells Mohkatsurin. I think the figure of 2% seems to be not that from the pure powder of B2/B3 only.

See the study below. If only pure B2 is applied, the effect is very large. 46% increase of number of hairs, getting another 2/0.25cm2 terminal hairs in 6 months.

I don't deny Revivogen will certainly work. But, if they used enough B2/B3, people would cry it was amazing here and there. Unless the company of Revivogen clarify the exact figures of the amount, percentage, purity, I don't believe the anouncement of the company.

And even if they used pure B2/B3 only and it's 2%, more procyanidins will work more because the absorption and penetration will be not 100%, as a study of minox-alcohol apparently shows. Even minox + 80 % alcohol can penetrate the minox through skin at only several percentage. Almost topical stuffs are in fact wasteful and washed off.

Morehairin, the self-made Mohkatsurin is useful despite of using Revivogen or unusing.

Phytomedicine 2000 Dec;7(6):529-36 Investigation of topical application of procyanidin B-2 from apple to identify its potential use as a hair growing agent. Kamimura A, Takahashi T, Watanabe Y Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ibaraki, Japan. ayako.kamimura@kyowa.co.jp Procyanidin B-2 is a polyphenol compound we have identified in apple which acts as a hair-growing factor in the murine model both in vitro and in vivo. This report describes our investigation of the effects of 1% procyanidin B-2 tonic on human hair growth after sequential use for 6 months. A double-blind clinical test involving a total of 29 subjects was performed. Nineteen men in the procyanidin B-2 group and 10 men in the placebo control group were subjected to analyses. No adverse side effects were observed in either group. The hair-growing effect was evaluated using a macrophotography technique combined with measurements of the hair diameter of clipped hairs. The increase in number of total hairs in the designated scalp area (0.5 cm square = 0.25 cm2 area) of procyanidin B-2 group subjects after the 6-month trial was significantly greater than that of the placebo control group subjects (procyanidin B-2, 6.68 +/- 5.53 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm2; placebo, 0.08 +/-4.56 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm2; P < 0.005, two-sample t test). The increase in number of terminal hairs, which are defined as hairs more than 60 microm in diameter, in the designated area (0.5 cm square = 0.25 cm2 area) of the procyanidin B-2 group subjects after the 6-month trial was significantly greater than that of the placebo control group subjects (procyanidin B-2,1.99 +/- 2.58 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm2; placebo, -0.82 +/- 3.40 (mean +/-SD)/0.25 cm2; P < 0.02, two-sample t test). Procyanidin B-2 therapy shows potential as a safe and promising cure for male pattern baldness. PMID: 11194183

Re:Correction: 8250% increase compared to placebo

From: waseda
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 11:51:18
Remote Name: 211.120.76.2

Comments

Sorry, I missed.

8250% increase of number of hairs compared to placebo (=((6.68-0.08)-1)*100

Re:Correction: 8250% increase compared to placebo

From: Nick - Revivogen Response - Waseda
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 11:59:25
Remote Name: 205.231.237.248

Comments

Dear Nick,

It is impossible to just get the B2/B3 forms alone. But it is present in the whole extract. Although B2/B3 forms have the highest potency to induce regrowth the other Procyanidins also induce regrowth but to a lesser degree. There is more than 2% Procyanidins in Revivogen and we may even increase it in future.

Best Regards,

Revivogen Customer Service

Liquid GSE -what brand and where

From: Nick
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 11:56:38
Remote Name: 205.231.237.248

Comments

Hello,

Where can I purchase the best type of liquid GSE for Morehairin.

Liquid GSE + Licorice Extract + Everclear(grain alcohol) = very easy to make

Re: Liquid GSE -what brand and where

From: waseda
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 15:08:25
Remote Name: 211.120.76.2

Comments

Innovative Natural Product's "Grape Seed Extract", 4FL. Oz/118.28ml

Re: WASEDA Difference in licorce

From: waseda
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 13:11:26
Remote Name: 211.120.76.2

Comments

Paul, you may be confused.

Souhakuhi----main ingredient is Souhakuhi (mulberry bark root)

Morehairin----main ingredient is procyanidin

licorice is supporting actor in both cases, though it is necessary

WASEDA - mixing Souhakuhi + Morehairin

From: Paul
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 13:57:03
Remote Name: 12.98.56.55

Comments

I am awaiting Mulberry root and chinese licorce to make Souhakuhi.

Can I mix Souhakuhi & moreharin together.

Basically Souhakuhi plus GSE

Thx

Paul

WASEDA - mixing Souhakuhi + Morehairin

From: waseda
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 14:43:50
Remote Name: 211.120.76.2

Comments

No problem, but don't forget to cling to 100-150mg /day procyanidin amount          

The realistic choice of procyanidins=Natures Purest's GSE

From: waseda
Date: 21 Mar 2001
Time: 09:30:31
Remote Name: 211.132.32.83

Comments

I have tried:

1) Activin, Grape Seed Extract Complex, 50 grams from Beyond A Century

2) Nutrisana's Ptoantho 250mg 90 capsules

3) Natures Purest's Grape Seed Extract 95% 100mg 120capsules,

and 3) is very easy to use. I recommend Natures Purest's Grape Seed Extract 95%.

reason:

Activin contains pure Grape Seed Extract(95%) 60/400 of total 50 grams. This means it only contains 50*(6/40)*095=7.125g=7125mg per bottle. We need two bottles in order to make Morehairin ( needs 12g-15g for 100 days use). This makes the resultant stuff very muddy, though the cost is reasonable.

Proantho is certainly of high quality, but it includes 50/250 oligomeric proanthocyanidins per capsule. Then one bottle of Proantho contains 250mg*(50/250)*90capsules=4.5g=4500mg. We needs 3 bottles. It takes high cost.

Natures Purest's Grape Seed Extract 95% contains 100mg of Grape Seed Extract per capsule and 220mg of Rosehip. And the purity of proanthocyanidins is 95%. Then one bottle contains 100mg*120 capsules*0.95=11.4grams=11400mg. This just satisfies our standard of 10g-15g for 100 days use.

This is the product: PCO: GRAPE SEED EXTRACT; Grape Seed capsules, 95% PCO, 100 mg, 120 caps, $12.90. Code205.6

in https://www2.acadia.net/cgi-bin/BAC/web_store.cgi?product=Vitamins
&cart_id=2003479_6135

Morehairin? understanding procyanidin, oligomeric procyanidin (OPC), and proanthocyanidins

From: Daman
Date: 20 Mar 2001
Time: 17:44:01
Remote Name: 12.78.216.169

Comments

OK, I'm still waiting for my zinc oxide to arrive. I now understand how to make Souhakuhi, but I'm having some problems with Morehairin or Mohkatsurin.

I know that I need Chinese Licorice, Perilla leaf and Senburi, though Senburi may be difficult to get. If anyone knows of a site that sells Senburi, please let me know.

I'm getting hung up on understanding procyanidin, oligomeric procyanidin (OPC), and proanthocyanidins and how each are different. Can someone explain?

If I understand some of the posts, Grape seed extract contains some or all of the above. What is the best GSE, so I get the 10-15 grams (10,000-15,000mg)of procyanidin without having to open 200 capsules? I'm guessing the liquid form is probably best.

Many thanks

Re: Morehairin? understanding procyanidin, oligomeric procyanidin...

From: waseda
Date: 21 Mar 2001
Time: 11:40:48
Remote Name: 211.132.32.124

Comments

Anthocyanidin is color pigment of red or purple in fruits, vegetables, and plants. You may have heard of air force pilots taking bread and blueberry jam before they flied up to night sky of Battle of Britain. Blueberry contains much anthocyanidin which works on the eye-brain nerves.

Proanthocyanidins are compounds which transform into anthocyanidins. Almost all proanthocyanidins existing in natue are procyanidins. So, we can take procyanidin as almost proanthocyanidin in natural sources.

Procyanidins have many constituents, monomer, dimer, trimer etc. Oligomeric procyanidins=OPCs , especially dimer B-2, B-3 and trimer C-1 found to have strong potency of promoting hair growth.

Therefore you should take (and topically) much OPCs for hair growth. Grape Seed Extract of course contains much OPCs. For example, Proantho's Grape Seed Extract contains 99% OPC in the Extract. But in normal products, we could estimate OPC concentration in Grape Seed Extract as 70% or so.

Thus, we had better take(orally) more Grape Seed Extract, more concentration of OPC in it

Chuck: GSE from century.com

From: Daman
Date: 21 Mar 2001
Time: 04:33:28
Remote Name: 12.78.208.205

Comments

Did you ever buy the GSE powder from beyond century.com? Is it potent enough?

Thanks

Re: Chuck: GSE from century.com

From: waseda
Date: 21 Mar 2001
Time: 10:22:05
Remote Name: 211.132.32.83

Comments

Beyond A Century sells two kinds of GSE.

But, PCO: GRAPE SEED EXTRACT; Grape Seed capsules, 95% PCO, 100 mg, 120 caps, $12.90. Code 205.6

is manageable and it really works. Don't use Grape Seed powdered Activin, though I already posted this name

Re-utilize GSE on your scalp after drying

From: waseda
Date: 21 Mar 2001
Time: 12:01:22
Remote Name: 211.120.79.246

Comments

This is a reply to breal.I think it important and repost it here.

After drying, you should re-utilize the GSE on your scalp. Sandy powder is almost wasteful stuff like Rosehip, bioflavonoid, etc., because procyanidins are extremely water-soluble.

But you had better recycle the un-absorbed GSE. I use Souhakuhi-extract for dissolve it, as Souhakuhi has no side effect even if it applied many times a day.

If you don't have Souhakuhi-extract, 30% or so alcoholic water solution can do the same thing. And licorice extract solution product may be good for this purpose.

Apply it twice or three times after drying

Licorice and PCO- Waseda

From: Strasslers
Date: 21 Mar 2001
Time: 12:48:39
Remote Name: 38.164.64.3

Comments

Is the licorice root sold by beyond-a-century.com ok for making the tincture? Also, I already bought the activin PCO a few months ago and I want to make the right mixture for topical use. I saw your post about it not being the best product to use for this purpose, but I was wondering if you could tell me what amounts to mix into and everclear solution because I didn't understand all the numbers in that post. Thanks for all the help.

Carl

Re: Licorice and PCO- Waseda

From: waseda
Date: 21 Mar 2001
Time: 22:55:26
Remote Name: 61.114.202.162

Comments

Avtivin PCO can be used of course, though a bit troublesome.

Activin includes 60/400 of Grape Seed Extract in it. This is the basic of the calculation. If you want 100mg/day GSE, target stuff for 100 days use needs 10g of GSE, which amounts to 10*(400/60)=67g of Activin.

You have only to add it in 50% 400ml alcoholic water solution with licorice extract. This might be made of everclear. Licoerice extract can be gotten from

http://www.lifesvigor.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=7&
Section_Id=&pcount=&Product_Id=101952&pageid=FIRST&curpage=
1&Section.String1=&Section.String2=

Plus red wine 20ml. That's all

waseda, other forms of OPC

From:
Date: 21 Mar 2001
Time: 16:15:21
Remote Name: 12.78.142.158

Comments

Waseda, instead of mixing 10-15 grams of GSE, would it be ok to use 10g GSE and 10g pine bark extract, and maybe add some bilberry and hawthorn berry to it, do you feel there may be benefit to mixing the OPC's? Also is it possible to get Senburi, perilla leaf, and licorice root extract in powdered capsule form, is it as effective as the whole herb form? thanx, ps you posted on alt.baldspot and said that there may be more pure forms of GSE in the world, well the Dr. who discovered the whole OPC revolution back in the 50's has his own formula, and it is the same exact formula thaqt has been used in most of clinical studies. Dr. Masquieller, his products are said to be far superior than any other on the market, you may want to look into it

Re: waseda, other forms of OPC

From:
Date: 21 Mar 2001
Time: 21:20:07
Remote Name: 12.78.183.86

Comments

thanx for the info, I like the idea of the powder being more potent. as far as the Dr. Masquielers (sp) products, only a few vitamin companies sell this form, natures way makes the grape seed extract it's called tru OPC's, it's very affordable, vitamin shoppe sells 90 tabs at 75 mg for $16.00, source naturals used to compound the pine bark extract but I'm not sure if they do anymore it was called OPC 85. Do a search on yahoo for pycnogenol or OPC, there are web sites affiliated with the DR. and they sell only his form, they also explain the whole reason to use his form in place of other supplement companies. One more thing, there is a company that sells these products in capsule form (both GSE and PBE) so that would be the way to go for creating morehairin. the website is www.psopc.com later

Re: waseda, other forms of OPC

From: waseda
Date: 22 Mar 2001
Time: 07:04:46
Remote Name: 211.120.78.96

Comments

NUTRITIONAL MEDICINE

Comparison Between OPCs, the World's Most Powerful Antioxidants, and Grape Seed Extracts

by Medical Journalist Morton Walker, D.P.M.

Introduction What this Old/New Medical Breakthrough Is The Watson/Rohdewald Breakthrough Study Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins in Grape Seeds The French Paradox Derived from Antioxidants In Wine The Most Powerful Antioxidants In the World The Comparison of Twelve Grape Seed Extracts TABLE A, Grape Seed Extract Comparative Analysis in Percentage. Tests Used for the Findings of TABLE A Comparison Results Between Grape Seed Extracts Conclusions about Grape Seed Extract Mislabeling Resource References

Return to ARTICLES ON OPCs

Introduction

On May 19, 1998, during the annual Washington, D.C., U.S.A. science conference of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), a medical breakthrough was announced. At that meeting, American medical scientists were exposed to a nutritional supplement from natural sources shown to protect against heart attacks or strokes for all consumers. It works better than any drug! Even those people with a family history of heart disease and smokers who routinely harm themselves are safeguarded by this particular food supplement. While the ASBMB presentation is a newly announced medical approach for the avoidance of cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular accidents that deserves recounting, it's actually a therapy that was discovered fifty years ago by a French professor at the University of Bordeaux in France. Finally it has reached the shores of North America.

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What this Old/New Medical Breakthrough Is

In a research study recently conducted by nutritional scientist Ronald Watson, Ph.D., Professor at the University of Arizona Medical School at Tucson, U.S.A., and by Peter Rohdewald, Ph.D., of the University of Münster, Germany, it was confirmed that oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) significantly reduce human platelet aggregation. Platelet aggregation is an abnormal condition that occurs when the smallest blood cells stick together and form clumps in the bloodstream. Such clumping of cells in a narrowed artery feeding one particular region of the brain can produce a stroke. In another case, aggregated platelets in restricted blood vessels feeding the heart may lead to heart attacks.

The pathological cycle of platelet aggregation begins when the body experiences stress, whether it's from daily activities, smoking or even excess exercising. After such stress comes on, large amounts of adrenaline are released. Adrenaline, a stress hormone, causes platelets to aggregate and this can lead to heart attack or stroke. By preventing such adverse platelet actions, therefore, the OPCs stop atherosclerotic blood vessel blockage. Indeed, OPCs tend to benefit the entire peripheral vascular and cardiovascular systems by eliminating excessive platelet aggregation brought on by smoking, a high fat diet, anxiety, environmental pollution, and other forms of stress.

As it happens, OPCs were discovered as long ago as 1948 by Professor Emeritus Jack Arthur Masquelier, Ph.D., at the University of Bordeaux, France. Because his investigations have proven so significant for the health of mankind, Dr. Masquelier has received numerous medals, plaques, diplomas, degrees, and other awards from most of the countries of Europe.

The Professor invented and patented the extraction method used to produce a purified OPC nutrient from various food substances such as the exceedingly thin membrane surrounding grape seed pips and a layer of bark taken from the French maritime pine (Pinus Maritima). Several years after his OPC discoveries, Dr. Masquelier invented the term, "Pycnogenol," by which trademark the good professor wished to identify and distinguish his OPC extracts. Unfortunately, the term "Pycnogenol" became the object of a legal trademark dispute. In the United States Dr. Masquelier's OPC extracts from pine bark and from grape seeds are available under his personal name as MASQUELIER's Original OPCs. In other countries Dr. Masquelier's extracts are available under his Pycnogenol trademark. Whether MASQUELIER's Original OPCs or Pycnogenol, the OPCs are the active ingredients.

"Pycnogenol serves as a natural shield, helping to prevent cell aggregation which would restrict the blood supply struggling to move through narrow arteries," says Dr. Ronald Watson, one of the breakthrough study authors. "Here's a completely natural substance with remarkable activity, producing effects within minutes. It may have enormous health implications for an aging population."

Since the early 1980s, Dr. Masquelier's Original Pine Bark OPCs has been marketed in Germany as a medicinal product. Professor Dr. Peter Rohdewald of the University of Münster had aided in preparing this product's pharmaceutical dossier which was approved for licensure by the German Ministry of Health. During the course of many years Professor Masquelier and his scientific coworkers have been providing medical information, detailed technical instructions, and scientific analyses to Professor Rohdewald.

Professor Rohdewald is quoted in his biochemical presentation of Dr. Masquelier's pine bark OPCs as saying, "Oligomeric proanthocyanidins are naturally occurring stereoisomers of condensation products of catechin and epicatechin. They are isolated from the bark of Pinus Maritima. The condensation products are mainly dimers; two trimers have been identified at present, and higher polymeric, but water-soluble forms are found in the extract. These water soluble proanthocyanidins were defined in 1979 by Dr. Masquelier as Pycnogenols."

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The Watson/Rohdewald Breakthrough Study

The Watson and Rohdewald clinical study announced to the ASBMB was conducted jointly at the University of Arizona and the University of Münster with a group of thirty-eight healthy smokers. Volunteers were given a single dose of 100 to 120 mg of OPCs or 500 mg of aspirin. Then they smoked to purposely increase platelet aggregation and blood clumping during the two hours prior to having their blood drawn. Within a couple of hours after smoking, participants were evaluated to measure the effects of OPCs or aspirin in reducing smoking-induced platelet aggregation.

The breakthrough study focused on smokers because it is easier to measure their dramatically increased clumping of platelets. The researcher's results showed that both the OPCs and the aspirin reduced platelet aggregation significantly. A single, smaller dose of the natural nutrient OPCs was as effective as a five times larger amount of the aspirin drug. This is good news for the substantial portion of the population that cannot tolerate long-term aspirin use with its side effects, including increased bleeding and stomach problems. OPCs did not accelerate or elevate bleeding while aspirin did. More studies are now underway to assess the long-term effects of such OPC supplementation in nonsmokers as well as smokers.

"While aspirin is currently recommended by cardiologists to prevent platelet aggregation, this current research suggests that Pycnogenol [OPCs] is efficacious and safer for people needing reduction in platelet aggregation," said Dr. Ronald Watson.

Return to the index

Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins in Grape Seeds

In 1534, the French explorer Jacques Cartier and his crew of one hundred and ten men were exploring the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the east coast of North America. In December of that year their sailing vessel was blocked by an ice jam, and ravaged by a severe winter storm. Cartier's crew survived on biscuits and salted meat. Soon, however, the crew was struck down with scurvy from their lack of vitamin C; twenty-five men died and fifty others became seriously ill and approached death themselves.

That's when a native North American taught Cartier the old Indian antidote for this scurvy affliction. It involved making a tea from the bark of maritime pine trees in Quebec. These are the same species of pine tree that grows in and around the forests of Bordeaux, France.

The knowledge saved Cartier and the balance of his crew, but it was lost to the world until Professor Jack Masquelier's discovery more than four hundred and fifty years later. He uncovered that the same ingredients in the Native American remedy, which cured Cartier's crew, were a collection of unique bioflavonoids (flavanols) and vitamin C lodged deep within the tree's bark.

Later Dr. Masquelier discovered that extracts made from the seeds of grapes, growing abundantly around Bordeaux and used for making French wine, were also shown to contain the powerfully anti-oxidant and water-soluble oligomeric proanthocyanidins. These are the food substances so extremely effective in curing scurvy, atherosclerosis, and other types of cardiovascular disease. Such a valuable finding has been proven by "the French Paradox."

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The French Paradox Derived from Antioxidants In Wine

The French people live an unhealthy lifestyle. They smoke like clogged chimneys, eat the "French cuisine" consisting of massive amounts of highly marbellized fancy meats, and enjoy unlimited portions of smoked meats anytime of the day or night. Additionally, the French gobble down carbohydrate-laden pastries and buttery croissants by the ton. On their vegetables, fruits, and salads they spread gooey creamed sauces, gravies, and dressings from full pitchers. Moreover each French person must drink multi-gallons of red wine. Yet, even with such bad living the French population has a remarkable 40 percent lower risk of peripheral vascular disease, heart disease and cancer. This is the very phenomenon mentioned above that's known as the French Paradox.

It's the red wine they drink that saves so many French persons from succumbing to early deaths arising from atherosclerosis and heart disease. For decades, scientists have studied the lifestyles of these people living in the wine producing regions of France. The discovery made is that health-enhancing benefits of drinking wine from squeezed grapes come primarily from the qualities of OPCs in the crushed grape seeds.

The antioxidant qualities of OPCs is what makes them so very potent against free radical attacks usually responsible for the many forms of atherosclerosis, heart disease, and cancer. Medical studies conducted at the University of Illinois demonstrate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of OPCs in the membranes of grape seeds. They have the ability to inhibit all three phases of the cancer process: initiation, promotion and progression.

Subsequent studies have shown that according to the method of extraction, the best grape seed extract contains 95 percent OPCs, which is at least 10 percent more than those found in pine bark. But some grape seed extracts are more potent as antioxidants than are others. Comparisons have been drawn among the various types of grape seed extracts, and an independent. reproducible state-of-the-art comparative analysis of eleven of them is presented below.

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The Most Powerful Antioxidants In the World

In Chelmsford, Massachusetts, during 1997, a highly qualified and respected, independent biochemistry laboratory performed elaborate and in-depth investigations to put in perspective the qualitative differences among eleven types of grape seed extracts. Currently supplied as raw or bulk powder to the North American natural foods industry. PhytoChem Technologies (formerly ESA Laboratories) analyzed this extracted material which usually gets turned into capsules, spantules, powders, and tablets. Most commonly the grape seed material is sold to wholesalers, distributors, encapsulators, and finally consumers and classified in the "grape seed extract" product category.

Evaluated by PhytoChem Technologies was the electrochemical activity and antioxidant capacity of these various grape seed extracts. The Laboratory's evaluation was carried out in the same manner as had been accomplished in 1966 by Professor Masquelier for his original pine bark OPCs and in 1978 for his original grape seed OPCs. Thus we have Masquelier's Original Grape Seed OPCs compared with ten grape seed extracts sold today and labeled as bulk powdered grape seed extract. The method of analysis followed had been laid down in 1990 by Marie-Claude Dumon, Ph.D., in her Doctoral Thesis presented to the credentials committee of the Université de Bordeaux. Then, the thesis won Dr. Dumon a Ph.D. in biochemistry, and it was published in the Bulletin of the Society of PharmacoIogy.

Known by a variety of generic names such as "procyanidoliques oligomeres", "leucocyanidins", "leucocianidols", "procyanidines", "flavanols", "proanthocyanidins", "oligomeric proanthocyanidins", and the chemical identity of "2-(3,4 dihydroxyphenyl)-chromane 3,4,5,7 tetrol", these polyphenolic substances found in most plants, protect the organism (animal or plant) from oxidation, which ordinarily leads to rancidity and aging. Contrasting them with other similar protectants such as coEnzyme Q1O and selenium indicates that these OPCs are the most powerful antioxidants in the world. They are fifty times more potent than vitamin E and twenty times more active than the gamma tocopherol or vitamin E.

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The Comparison of Twelve Grape Seed Extracts

To analyze for OPC content plus antioxidant proficiency and magnitude, profile-to-profile comparisons and comparative analyses of twelve "grape seed extracts" plus one "pine bark extract" (thirteen in all) were conducted in 1997 by Phytochem Technologies. Three of MASQUELIER's Original OPCs were among these effective products, all of which wore investigated by use of five independent, reproducible analytical methods. The definite aim of Phytochem Technologies was to crosscheck for consistent results relating to the various grape seed products' antioxidant capacity (ACAP) and their Electrochemical Activity (ECA). The ACAP was tested to detennine each product's capability to neurtralize the peroxyl radical by use of three reference materials: Trolox, ascorbic acid and lipoic acid. The ECA shows the ability of a substance to protect the biological system or organism from harmful oxidative stress. The test results from these exceedingly sophisticated and complex laboratory methods of measurement shown in TABLE A have been calculated to simple percentage values. On a scale ranging downward from 100 percent for both measurements, ACAP and ECA, the relative differences between the OPC substances are seen in an easy-to-understand format. Three of the thirteen OPC products consist of MASQUELIER's Original OPCs, two derived from grape seed extract and one from pine bark extract.

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TABLE A

Grape Seed Extract Comparative Analysis in Percentage.

(For Trolox/ACAP, #5 & #6 represents 100%; for ECA, #7 represents 100%)

Sample Trolox Equivalent (ACAP) ECA total area all peaks

#1 3% 22% #2 66% 2% #3 55% 22% #4 34% 41% #5 Masq. OPC grape 100% 89% #6 Masq. OPC pine 100% 76% #7 Masq. OPC grape 93% 100% #8 24% 15% #9 21% 2% #10 76% 74% #11 14% 6% #12 76% 33% #13 68% 5%

Please note that every product has a slight deviation due to the high variability of the source plant material and some other less important factors. Samples #5 and #6, both MASQUELIER's Original OPCs, were each assigned percentage values of 100, and each of the tested products were graded against them. Sample #7 is also MASQUELIER's Original OPCs. Deviations of all samples provided do not exceed the differences between MASQUELIER's Original OPCs and the other products. For example, Sample #4 in TABLE A has only 34 percent of the antioxidant capacity (ACAP) of MASQUELIER's Original OPCs and is just 41 percent as electrochemically active (ECA) as MASQUELIER's Original OPCs.

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Tests Used for the Findings of TABLE A

As mentioned, Phytochem Technologies of Chelmsford, Massachusetts used five scientific yardsticks to compare the thirteen products which are depicted in TABLE A. These five reported tests consisted of HPLC or High Performance Liquid Chromatography in (1) normal phase and in (2) reverse phase, TLC or (3) Thin Layer Chromatography, ECA or (4) Electrochemical Activity, and ACAP or (5) Antioxidant Capacity

In HPLC, scientists can visualize individual OPC molecules as graphical areas (peaks) which present a specific profile so as to make a profile-to-profile comparison of products. Using normal phase HPLC and reverse phase HPLC minimizes the risk of undetected variations. In TLC, OPCs show up as spots on a chromatograph. This was one of the analytical methods employed by Dr. Marie-Claude Dumon in her original research work.

In ECA, reduction and oxidation reactions take place in a two-way electron communication and exchange between molecules. Such an exchange acts to quench the pathology created by damaging free radicals. A profile-to-profile comparison along with a comparative analysis between products becomes available through this Phytochem Technologies Coulometric Array Detection method.

In ACAP, the products' capacity to neutralize the peroxyl radical is accomplished by using "Trolox" as the measurement yardstick. Trolox is a soluble analogue of vitamin E. Additionally, ascorbic acid and lipoic acid were incorporated as reference materials. At the conclusion of these five tests, very accurate and reproducible results were reported about the various grape seed extracts.

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Comparison Results Between Grape Seed Extracts

Among nutritional scientists it's known that oligomeric proanthocyanidins or OPCs have the greatest capacity to scavenge and then quench free radicals, as illustrated by the peroxyl radical. In comparing the OPCs generated by grape seed extracts (GSE) commonly manufactured and distributed in the wholistic medicine and Natural Foods industry, it has been learned by means of this PhytoChem Technologies evaluation that products #5 and #7, MASQUELIER's Original Grape Seed OPCs extract, and product #6, MASQUELIER's Original Pine Bark OPCs extract, are the most powerful antioxidants to have ever evolved from the mind of man. Their discovery and development during the past fifty years by Emeritus Professor Jack Arthur Masquelier is an absolute blessing, for it encourages the good health of humankind.

Yet, certain imitation OPC products are being aggressively marketed for their so-called "health benefits" when the test results reported here do not warrant such inappropriate advertised statements.

An example to look at is grape seed extract #13, a leading American brand of grape seed material. It was observed from the test, for instance, that no OPCs could be detected in this material in the TLC procedure. And it scored very low using the ECA testing procedure too.

#13 did score somewhat higher for ACAP in terms of neutralizing the peroxyl radical, probably because it contains substances not yet identified by the product's manufacturer which do bring about in vitro (in the test-tube) antioxidant capacity. No in vivo (in a living organism) activity has ever been demonstrated by #13. Remember, this is a popular brand of Pycnogenol product and the United States market,

In fact, #13 grape seed extract may not fit the OPCs product category into which it has been placed by the Natural Foods industry. Certainly this product's producer should never make any OPC-related health claims such as that it brings about collagen protection, vitamin C boosting, the prevention of blood flow problems, and more. Other potent OPC products really do provide those health benefits.

Taking #13 as typical of the lack of OPCs in so many popular grape seed extracts, these products risk the loss of "access" to the claim of being behind the claim of a French Paradox effect. The key to the French Paradox quite simply is that OPCs cause it alone and not any unknown substance with poor OPCs, ACAP, and ECA profiles.

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Conclusions about Grape Seed Extract Mislabeling

As observed by looking at TABLE A and analyzing its listing of product percentages, one comes easily to the conclusion that most brands of grape seed extract are mislabeled. Some of them contain little or no therapeutic ingredients, probably because of the processing technique employed. Even when one of the products shows a reasonably acceptable level of in vitro antioxidant capacity, there is no guarantee of bioavailability for an in vivo effect.

That is unfortunate, for it reflects badly on the health foods industry's entire category of OPCs. From raw materials such as grape seeds and pine bark, Professor Masquelier's known, patented, and recognized extraction method produces well balanced, reproducible, constant mixtures of OPCs and their building blocks, the flavanols. The Professor does advise, "One should not try to go any purer, because the proven efficacy of my products may be lost."

Yes, the more processing by "ersatz" methods, the more danger there is in producing worthless nutritional supplements for public retail sale.

In contrast, MASQUELIER's Original OPCs product has stood the test of time. It has passed the pharmaceutical registration tests, measurements, and other evaluations by the Health Ministries of France, Germany, and other countries. The product has done this by exactly the type of analysis presented for your edification in this special report. Such routine and extensive analytical testing both in France and in the United States serves today as a guarantee of constancy and uniqueness for this classic, authentic, researched, and renowned nutritional supplement.

Although the oligomeric proanthocyanidins have been announced as a "new" breakthrough preventative against heart attack and stroke even if such knowledge actually is half-a-century old, that's all right. One must occasionally allow some university scientists to "rediscover the wheel"; it brings them a little more grant money from industry that's put to good use.

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Resource

If you wish to receive additional information about the most powerful antioxidant in the world, MASQUELIER's Original OPCs, contact the International Nutrition Company Establishment (INC), L'Estoril, Bloc C, 31, Avenue Princess Grace, Monte Carlo, MC 98000 Monaco; you may telefax (31) 206393916 or contact Email incopc@xs4all.nl. Alternately, you may contact all of INC's designated distributors and suppliers.

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References

1. Watson, R.R.; Araghi-Niknam, M.; Putter, M., et al. "PYCNOGENOL® inhibits platelet aggregation in vivo." presented at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology annual meeting, Washington, D.C., May 20, 1998.

2. Dumon, M.C. "Recherches analytiques sur les Pycnogenols." Université de Bordeaux II, 1990.

3. Dumon, M.C.; Michaud, J.; Masquelier, J., "Proanthocyanidin content in vegetable extracts to be used in the preparation of medicines." Bulletin of the Society of Pharmacology. Bordeaux 129:51-56, 1990.

4. ESA Coulorometric Array Detection. PhytoChem Technologies, Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01824-4171.

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Return to ARTICLES ON OPCs

Re: waseda, other forms of OPC

From: waseda
Date: 22 Mar 2001
Time: 09:19:02
Remote Name: 211.120.76.198

Comments

My thought is the ultimate stuffs we need for our scalp but not our body health are only the part of oligomeric procyanidins (OPC's), B-2, B-3, C-1. If we take them, we don't care whether they come from grape seed, apple seed, or pine bark, bilberry or hawthorn berry.

I tried one liquid type GSE, three powdered GSE in about one month. I have found evey GSE worked if only the OPC amount is sufficient for what I had calculated. Perhaps you will notice for yourself, the speed up effect can be *visible* in terms of a week span. The applied area's hairs are apparently longer than other areas'.

In short, I don't care the forms of OPC but only need the amount =100mg-150mg per day

Waseda: B2 and revivogen – Country Life, highest concentration of GSE

From: iap
Date: 22 Mar 2001
Time: 17:49:16
Remote Name: 205.167.155.9

Comments

i talked to the formulators at revivogen - in fact they are using grape seed - won't say how much but are clearly being 'cautious' - increasing it bit by bit, whatever that means - originally they told me they were using apple - it must simply be too difficult/expensive to isolate the B2 from apple, though that's what was being used in the orignal japanese study. I'm wondering if grape seed is better if it sits in alcohol for a while- the 'grape seed extra' from country life (200mg/cap) is the highest i have seen - wonder what the pine bark profile is? i think we could mix more on our own than revivogen is using

Anyway, I will try country life's GSE 200mg/cap.

From: waseda
Date: 23 Mar 2001
Time: 07:38:31
Remote Name: 211.132.38.119

Comments

Iap, I ordered Country Life's Grape Seed Extract 200mg/cap, 60 capsules, at $31.79 from

http://www.hilife-vitamins.com/country-life-1579407311.html

I think also GSE+Pine Bark EXtract will be promising, but anyway I am trying Country Life's product, for it looks of hihg purity as you say.

And seeing my hair growth in these days, a lot of GSE amount per day application really, without doubt promote my hair growth. It can be visible!! I'm now satisfied with GSE. Though mudyy, messy, dirty, being left on my scalp, but, but, it works surprisingly. Thickening, elongation in fact happens speedily. Why not try Moreharin

Procyanidin not dissolving

From: Steve
Date: 23 Mar 2001
Time: 12:46:25
Remote Name: 199.174.168.17

Comments

My grape seed extract is not dissolving in 70% ethyl alcohol and red wine. Anyone have any solutions

Procyanidin not dissolving

From: waseda
Date: 23 Mar 2001
Time: 12:57:13
Remote Name: 211.120.76.116

Comments

1)Add water till the alcohol concentration get to be 50%.

2) The effective constituent, procyanidin, is extremely water soluble, stir the solution up and you may use the top clear layer.

My stuff is also muddy, but I don't mind

Question for Waseda: Many forms of GSE

From: Z
Date: 23 Mar 2001
Time: 13:56:51
Remote Name: 148.126.100.80

Comments

Hello Waseda

Over the course of last two weeks, it seems that you have evaluated many brands of GSE:

1) Activin GSE: https://www2.acadia.net/cgi-bin/BAC/web_store.cgi?product=Vitamins&cart_ id=2003479_6135)

2) OPC GSE: http://www.health-pages.com/op/

3) Nature's purest: https://www2.acadia.net/cgi-bin/BAC/web_store.cgi?product=Vitamins&cart_ id=2003479_6135.

4) Country life GSE: http://www.hilife-vitamins.com/country-life-1579407311.html

5) A few liquid versions of GSE

Are all of the above selections acceptable or have you settle on #4 (Country life) as the best source of GSE?

As always, thanks very much in advance

Re: Question for Waseda: Many forms of GSE

From: waseda
Date: 23 Mar 2001
Time: 14:50:15
Remote Name: 211.120.77.195

Comments

Till now Nature's purest 3) was the best of brands from which I really made Moreharin.

But, I have never evaluated 2) and 4) through making. I am now waiting for the arrival of 4), though I ordered it already.

Thus, Nature's purest is the best at this point but I can't evaluate 4) yet

Iap, I've found pure B2 but it's too expensive.

From: waseda
Date: 25 Mar 2001
Time: 10:40:18
Remote Name: 211.132.34.242

Comments

I have found pure procyanidin B2, but surprisingly, it is $150/10mg!! And B1=$225/10mg from Nikka Whisky. If we use pure B2 for example 40mg a day, it costs $600 per day.

We can without doubt conclude that Revivogen doesn't use pure procyanidin B2, which leads the deduction that procyanidins 2% concentration of Revivogen will lack the necessary amount for enough hair growth. 4% must be necessary

A few more questions for Waseda

From: Strassler
Date: 26 Mar 2001
Time: 07:07:46
Remote Name: 38.164.64.3

Comments

Waseda, I just finished making my morehairin and I started steeping my herbs for the souhaki. I was wondering, would it be a good idea to add bht to the mix in order to stop any oxidizing that might occur? I'm not sure if this is an issue with these solutions, but I thought I'd ask to make sure. Also, I have some green tea extract from beyond-a-century.com. Here it is-

GREEN TEA EXTRACT. For those wanting to take large doses, we have a premium extract standardized to 95% polyphenols, 75% catechins (45% EGCG!) with less than 3% caffeine. Too bitter for beverage use. 50 grams, $13.50. Code 829.8

I have been applying this with GSE for a few months, but now that I am starting the ZnO, Morehairin, Souhaki regimen, I was wondering if it is worth continuing and what would be the best way to apply it. I was wondering if I could add it to my shampoo, but I wasn't sure if that would be at all effective. I have an Aubrey Organics Green tea shampoo and I thought that maybe I could just add it to that, but I didn't know if that would interfere with the ZnO by making it to alkaline, or if it would just be a waste of Green tea. Okay, thanks a lot once again.

Carl

Re: A few more questions for Waseda

From: waseda
Date: 26 Mar 2001
Time: 08:39:12
Remote Name: 211.132.32.90

Comments

Strassler, never add BHT into the solution. The reasons:

1) Souhakuhi extract is hard to oxidate. You can preserve it over 6 months or maybe one year. If you worry, you have only to store is in refrigerator.

2) Procyanidins are themselves strong anti-oxidant stuffs and Moreharin will be stable if stored in refregerator for at least 6 months(or upto one year). In fact, Mohkatsurin, the product made of procyanidin B2/B3, instructs 'one year guarnteed'. It has no anti-oxidant ingredient in it.

If you use the combination of ZnO+Souhakuhi+Moreharin, then you will have not to use green tea extract anymore, because you will find you need not green tea

WASEDA Adding to minoxidil

From: Paul
Date: 26 Mar 2001
Time: 10:58:14
Remote Name: 12.98.56.55

Comments

While waiting for my mulberry root to arrive, I have added 3 grams GSE powder to my 60ml bottle of minox.(minox is 30 % alcohol)

If I use once oer day this eq 1oomgs per day, I assume this is okay?

Shoild I add some additional alcohol or red wine to my minox?

How much?

Thx

Paul

Re: WASEDA Adding to minoxidil

From: waseda
Date: 26 Mar 2001
Time: 15:57:52
Remote Name: 211.120.78.105

Comments

Yes, it' OK.

You had better a little red wine, 5ml or so for a kind of 'starter' or 'activater'

Perilla Leaf in Morehairin formula

From: BaldyBill
Date: 26 Mar 2001
Time: 13:58:22
Remote Name: 168.39.181.224

Comments

Just found that Perilla leaf is available from Crane Herb Co. over the internet. It's called Zi Su Ye in Chinese, and Ao-Shiso in Japanese. Apparently it can only be purchased in 100 gm. packages (about 4 ounces). Didn't get a price, but you can bet it'd be cheap

Re: Perilla Leaf in Morehairin formula

From: waseda
Date: 26 Mar 2001
Time: 16:05:36
Remote Name: 211.120.78.105

Comments

Baldybill, thank you for information!

One correction please. Ao-Shiso (green perilla leaf)-----> Aka-Shiso(purple perilla leaf).

Perilla leaf used for medicine is dried Aka-Shiso, though Shiso you see in Suhi bar is Ao-Shiso

STOON/RE:LIQUID GSE

From: Follicularly Impaired
Date: 27 Mar 2001
Time: 16:22:02
Remote Name: 168.191.109.140

Comments

Stoon...Where did you get the liquid GSE, I have as yet been unable to locate any. Although my efforts are at the moment rather cursory, I'd love to have that info. Secondly, do you boil the ascorbic acid in the same fashion that you do with the boric compound. Thanks

liquid GSE

From: Stoon
Date: 27 Mar 2001
Time: 17:24:01
Remote Name: 24.66.94.140

Comments

Hi FI,

I buy mine at my local herbal store. I'll get the name for you. It says on the bottle that it is 95% Oligomeric Procyanidin in a 40% Ethanol Alchohol base.

I also poor in the Ascorbic acid after the Zinc Oxide, Starch, and water has cooled.

Stoon

ps more to come, but I have to take off right now

Found! pure GSE in a small bottle

From: eudial
Date: 28 Mar 2001
Time: 20:38:54
Remote Name: 133.145.224.6

Comments

Here is a pure GSE bulk powder that is sold as a small portion. http://www.soopergrape.com/index.html It is 99% water soluble. I think it'll make our Moreharin process easier, though it is more than twice as expensive as the Chinese product which Waseda mentioned. But I'm not sure it is potent enough because there is no information about the distribution of polyphenol/proanthocyanidins

Re: Found! pure GSE in a small bottle

From: Daman
Date: 31 Mar 2001
Time: 09:46:17
Remote Name: 12.78.247.37

Comments

I just ordered the 250mg Grape Extract, 120 count capsules. Here's the scoop on that product: The Protovin grape seed extract I use is 95% OPCs. There are no fillers, so technically there is 237.5 mg OPCs in each capsule. It is freeze-dried and 99% water soluble.

If anyone tries to order more than 1, you'll have to submit 2 separate orders until they fix the quantity ordering function

Re: Found! pure GSE in...price clarification

From: Dan Gooch
Date: 01 Apr 2001
Time: 03:58:30
Remote Name: 216.51.101.136

Comments

I learned a long time ago not to post on forums regarding my product, but I believe there is a slight error and would like to verify it. Founded to provide grape seed extract to MS patients (like my wife) at a gram a day, for a dollar a day or less, it has been the goal of Soopergrape(tm) to provide the most cost effective source for top quality grape seed extract anywhere. The only pricing I could find on the Waseda information pages was for 120 count 100 mg capsules for $12.90, I believe. This is equal to 926.64 mg per dollar. Not a bad price, but they charge a minimum of $4.50 for shipping, which drops it to 792 mg per dollar if you bought two bottles for $30.30 total. Soopergrape powder currently sells for 1200 mg per dollar or $25 for a 30 gram bottle. With (currently free Priority) shipping included that translates to 1395 mg per dollar, or about 44 percent less. I have a chart on the why soopergrape page with price comparisons. The potency of Protovin(tm) is equal or greater than any of the top brands and is listed at 95% OPCs. Since it is freeze-dried and solvent-free it is 99% water soluble. For more information on OPC measurement methods, please see: http://omegabiotech.com/whoweare.htm I am considering different packaging sizes for the extract powder, as my bottling costs are near that of the capsules. A 50 gram bottle in the $40 range is one possibility. I am open to comments or suggestions from this forum at: hair@soopergrape.com If you feel the need, you may send flames to: ihateyouihateyouihateyou@soopergrape.com If I am in error and Soopergrape(tm) is more than twice the cost of an EQUAL brand, please let me know and I will send the first person a free bottle. Please forgive me for this intrusion, but I felt I had to correct this misconception. Dan Gooch Chief, Cook, and Bottle Washer soopergrape.com

To Waseda: Liquid Licorice Extract Version of Morehairin

From: Z
Date: 29 Mar 2001
Time: 10:14:11
Remote Name: 148.126.100.80

Comments

Waseda

Would be kind enough to repost the Liquid Licorice Extract version of Morehairin? If I'm not mistaken this version does not involve boiling of the ingredients.

Thanks very much in advance and I apologize for the repetitive nature of this post

Re: To Waseda: Liquid Licorice Extract Version of Morehairin

From: waseda
Date: 29 Mar 2001
Time: 12:47:55
Remote Name: 211.13.143.127

Comments

As the licorice extract is the secondary factor, you may modify the amount of liquid and for 100 days use, use up to one bottle (that is you may use lesser):

http://www.lifesvigor.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=7&
Section_Id=&pcount=&Product_Id=101952&pageid=FIRST&curpage=
1&Section.String1=&Section.String2=

You must use GSE powder at least 10g for 100 day use in *net terms*. This means if your capsule includes ie. 100 mg GSE and 200mg rosehip, you have to use 10000/100=100 capsules. Thus, you must ignore the rosehip powder. 10g-15g use per 100 days is the point. Things besides it are all secondary matters.

The total volume of solution is 420ml=400ml (water+alconol+licorice extract liquid(one bottle)) + 20ml (red wine) and the alcoholic concentration is about (don't be nervous) 50%.

If your capsule contains unnecessary powder other than GSE and the solution comes to be muddy, you may add some water.

Stir the mixture before using and you apply the top clear layer. The effect will appear within 2 weeks and you can see the hairs thickened or eloangated

Once more please :-) (wasRe: To Waseda: Liquid Licorice Extract Version of Morehairin)

From:
Date: 29 Mar 2001
Time: 14:03:36
Remote Name: 148.126.100.80

Comments

Waseda, thank you again for your reply and patience.

A few more questions, if you would please. You wrote:

>The total volume of solution is 420ml=400ml(water+alconol+licorice extract liquid(one >bottle)) + >20ml (red wine) and the alcoholic >concentration is about (don't be nervous) 50%.

The Licorice Extract bottle in the previous link is 59 ml. If the concentration of alcohol is 50%, then 210 ml of this solution should be water and licorice. Subtracting 59 ml from 210 ml tells us that we should use 151 ml of water. Is this correct?

Furthermore, the following GSE: http://www.health-pages.com/op/

already has 30 mg of red wine per capsule. One hundred capsules of this brand of GSE will give us 3000 mg or 3 grams of red wine. I wonder if this is a bit too much or n