Nutrients & foods

Botanicals & foods

Pycnogenol

A trademarked extract of French maritime pine bark.

Updated September 17, 2026 · Educational reference

What it does

A trademarked extract of French maritime pine bark.

What symptoms can—and cannot—tell you

There is no established dietary deficiency syndrome for this specific botanical or compound. Symptoms are not evidence that you need this supplement.

Food sources

A pine-bark extract, not an ordinary food. Other polyphenol-rich foods are not sources of this branded extract.

Supplement forms

Standardized French maritime pine-bark extract. Other pine-bark products are not necessarily equivalent.

Before taking a supplement

Concentrated supplements can interact with medicines and may differ substantially from foods. Discuss pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney or liver disease, and planned surgery with a clinician or pharmacist.

Questions for your visit

Could my diet, medicines, absorption or another condition explain my concern? What evidence would support treatment, and how would we check whether it helps?

Names you may see

Pycnogenol

Sources & perspective

This is an editorial adaptation of the Purser Wellness nutrient reference app. Purser teaching connections are labeled separately from clinical interpretation. Private cases and individual treatment protocols are not reproduced.

The external resource below explains supplement safety; it does not validate every proposed use of this ingredient.

NCCIH: using dietary supplements wisely