Roots, leaves, flowers--nature's remedies come from a host of differentsources. Here's yet another one: tree bark. Specifically, the bark of the pine tree.
The tree's scaly surface appears to be a rich source of flavonoids, chemicals that function as potent antioxidants and protect cells from attack by free radicals. These pesky molecules have been implicated in many degenerative conditions, including heart disease, as well as in aging. A free radical is a molecule with an unpaired ("free") electron; antioxidants link up electrons with radicals' free-wheelers, thus disarming them.
Most of the research so far has been in laboratory experiments, but the results have been promising. One study found that extract harvested from pines growing along the Atlantic coast in southwestern France neutralized free radicals in several different cell cultures. Another lab study observed that immune cell activity increased in the presence of pine bark extract.
