Procyanidins and human health

Proanthocyanidins, better known as condensed tannins are oligomeric and polymeric flavan-3-ols, a class of flavonoids among the many different types of plant polyphenols. Procyanidins, on the other hand, are a sub-group of proanthocyanidins and consist of monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric catechins and/or epicatechins. Although their primary role in plant physiology may have been the protection against pathogens or grazing herbivores, there has been a growing interest in procyanidins due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiarthritic activities, and potential role in the prevention of heart disease, skin aging, and various cancers. Many of the perceived health benefits of procyanidins (as well as other polyphenols) are thought to be the result of their high antioxidant capacity.

Procyanidins are commonly found in many fruits and vegetables as well as barks and leaves. They are abundantly present in grapes and berries and probably more concentrated in skins and seeds than the pulp or juice. Because of the diversity in structure and occurrence, procyanidin content in many fruits and their byproducts, such as the seeds, may vary greatly. Although we do not enjoy eating seeds found in almost all the fruits, they are actually high in many health promoting compounds found in the nature.

Catechins and epicatechins, the building blocks of procyanidins, are actually the compounds that are best known to have been found in green tea, which owes much of its perceived health benefits to these two compounds. They are also present in cinnamon and believed to be the primary compounds responsible for its antidiabetic properties. Another common food that is high in catechins and epicatechins is cocoa and its more famous derivative chocolate that we love to eat whenever we can put our hands on. Similarly, red wine, probably a favorite drink for many of us, is high in catechins and epicatechins that many scientists believe, at least partially, to be responsible for French paradox, a case of having better health even with the consumption of large amounts of alcoholic drink.

Although procyanidins’ primary role in plant physiology may have been the protection against pathogens or grazing herbivores, there has been a growing interest in procyanidins due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiarthritic activities, and potential role in the prevention of heart disease, skin aging, and various cancers. Many scientific studies, in vitro, in vivo, clinical, and epidemiological studies are conducted every year throughout the world to elucidate the effects of procyanidins against chronic diseases, such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, and urinary tract disease, among others, and their mechanism of action in the hope of finding a cure naturally.