Maritime Pine Bark
EVIDENCE: WEAKAlso sold as: Pinus pinaster, French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol, pine bark extract
French maritime pine bark extract, best known as the branded Pycnogenol, has small trials in asthma and allergic rhinitis at about 1 mg per pound of body weight or 100 mg a day. A Cochrane review rated the evidence across conditions as low quality.
Compiled by iSupplementReviews editorial team ·Researched 2026-10-16 · 4 sources
- Type
- Botanical bark extract (procyanidins)
- Studied dose
- 1 mg/lb body weight/day (asthma trials, up to 200 mg); 100 mg/day (allergic rhinitis)
- Best form
- standardized extract with 65–75% procyanidins (the Pycnogenol specification)
- Our rating
- WEAK — Mostly small, animal, or traditional evidence
What is maritime pine bark?
Maritime pine bark extract comes from the bark of Pinus pinaster, a pine grown in southwest France, and is rich in antioxidant procyanidins. Most research used the branded extract Pycnogenol.
Other names and forms
French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol (standardized to 65–75% procyanidins), pine bark extract (often unstandardized).
Where does maritime pine bark come from?
The outer bark of maritime pines along France’s Atlantic coast.
How does maritime pine bark work in the body?
Its procyanidins act as antioxidants and may reduce inflammatory signaling and improve blood-vessel function. Mechanisms in the airways are proposed from small studies.
What is maritime pine bark claimed to do?
Support circulation, reduce inflammation, ease asthma and allergy symptoms.
What does the research show?
| Claim | Evidence | Dose studied | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma (add-on) | Small RCTs | 1 mg/lb/day, up to 200 mg | Early positive |
| Allergic rhinitis | Small exploratory RCT | 100 mg/day | Early positive |
| Chronic disorders overall | Cochrane review | Varied | Low-quality evidence |
Asthma
Small trials found better lung function and less rescue-inhaler use. Lau et al. (2004) gave 60 children with mild to moderate asthma 1 mg per pound of body weight daily for 3 months. Hosseini et al. (2001) reported improvements in a small crossover study in adults.
Allergy and the bigger picture
One exploratory trial found fewer allergy symptoms when started before pollen season (Wilson et al., 2010). The Robertson Cochrane review (2020) found that across 27 trials and many conditions, the evidence was too low in quality to draw firm conclusions.
What dose was studied?
| Goal | Dose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Asthma | 1 mg/lb body weight/day (max ~200 mg) | 4 weeks to 3 months |
| Allergic rhinitis | 100 mg/day | Started 5–8 weeks before season |
Side effects
Mild stomach upset, dizziness, headache.
Drug interactions
- Anticoagulants and antiplatelets: may add to effect (moderate).
- Diabetes medicines: may slightly lower glucose (minor).
- Immunosuppressants: theoretical concern (minor).
Who should not take maritime pine bark?
People with bleeding disorders or upcoming surgery, and those on immunosuppressants without medical advice.
What the authorities say
The Cochrane review concluded that current evidence is insufficient to support pine bark extract for any chronic disorder. Asthma requires prescribed treatment; supplements are add-ons at most.
What to know about maritime pine bark
Standardized pine bark extract has small, low-quality trials in asthma and allergies at roughly 100–200 mg a day. An unstandardized “pine bark” may not match what was tested.
Frequently asked questions about Maritime Pine Bark
Does pine bark extract help asthma?
Small trials suggest it might. In a 2004 study of 60 children, Pycnogenol at 1 mg per pound of body weight for 3 months improved lung function and reduced rescue-inhaler use versus placebo. A Cochrane review called the overall evidence low quality.
Is all pine bark extract the same as Pycnogenol?
No. Pycnogenol is a specific, standardized French maritime pine bark extract. Generic pine bark extracts may differ in procyanidin content and haven't been tested in the same trials.
Is pine bark extract safe?
Generally well tolerated in trials. It may affect blood clotting and blood sugar slightly, so check with a doctor if you take related medicines.
References
- [1]Robertson NU et al. — Pine bark (Pinus spp.) extract for treating chronic disorders (Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2020)
- [2]Lau BH et al. — Pycnogenol as an adjunct in the management of childhood asthma (J Asthma, 2004)
- [3]Hosseini S et al. — Pycnogenol in the management of asthma (J Med Food, 2001)
- [4]Wilson D et al. — A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled exploratory study to evaluate the potential of pycnogenol for improving allergic rhinitis symptoms (Phytother Res, 2010)
Products we reviewed containing Maritime Pine Bark
Based on recorded labels or seller-described formulas. Inclusion does not establish a match to the strains, preparations or amounts studied here; check each review's disclosure limits.