What Is Grape Seed Extract Good For?

Grapes and their leaves and juices have been traditionally treated in Europe for thousands of years. Grape seed extract comes from the ground seeds of red wine grapes. The grape seed extract is now used to treat a wide range of conditions.

This article details the benefits of grape seed extract.

Benefits of grape seed extract

Studies on animal models have shown grape seed extract to be effective in treating heart disease. Some experts believe that grape seed extract may even have anti-cancer and cancer chemoprevention potential. In recent years, there have been numerous studies pointing to the possible therapeutic properties of grape seed extract. Some of the main findings are listed below.

Wound healing

A grape seed extract has the potential to increase the rate of wound healing. A study published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine applied proanthocyanidin extract to wounds on the backs of mice. They found that the mice treated with this solution had faster healing times.

According to the researchers, they "provide conclusive evidence to support that the topical application of GSPE [grape seed proanthocyanidin extract] represents a viable and effective method of supporting skin wound healing."

Although it is not clear how this protection occurs, GSPE was found to increase the production of vascular endothelial growth factor, a compound that is important in the wound healing process.

 Grape Seed Extract

Improves bone strength

Adding grape seed extract and calcium to your diet has "a credible source of beneficial effects on bone formation and bone strength for the treatment of bone weakness caused by low calcium." This is according to a study published in the journal Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions, which investigated the effects of calcium and proanthocyanidins on bone structure in mice on a low-calcium diet.

Prevention of skin cancer

Grape seeds contain proanthocyanidins, which may prevent the development of cancer. A study published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research found that grape seeds had the following properties: reduced the severity of skin cancer credible source.

The team tested the ability of grape seed proanthocyanidins to slow the formation of skin tumors using hairless mice. The researchers concluded that grape seed extract "may help attenuate the adverse health effects of UV light on human skin."

The protective properties of proanthocyanidins are thought to come from a variety of pathways, including reducing oxidative stress and immunosuppression by altering cytokine activity. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Cardiovascular benefits

The antioxidants in grape seed extract could potentially protect blood vessels from damage and thus prevent high blood pressure.

According to a study published in the journal Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, "Compared with vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) has better antioxidant efficacy."

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that may help reduce systolic blood pressure and heart rate from credible sources, but they point out that this would not be conducive to lowering lipid levels, for example, cholesterol in the blood.

Prevention of cognitive decline

The grape seed extract is very high in proanthocyanidins and is thought to prevent cognitive decline. A study has identified "a key role for grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) as a neuroprotective agent in the hippocampus and brain to prevent cognitive loss from credible sources as we age." The NCCIH is supporting research into the effects of grape seed extract on Alzheimer's disease.

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