1. Sources and Habitat

A grape is the non-climacteric fruit, botanically a true berry that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis.

Grape domestication originated in what is now southern Turkey. Yeast, one of the earliest domesticated microorganisms, occurs naturally on the skins of grapes, leading to the innovation of alcoholic drinks such as wine. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics show the cultivation of grapes, and the ancient Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans also grew grapes for both eating and wine production. Later, the growing of grapes spread to Europe, North Africa, and eventually North America.

2. Descriptions and Specifications of Product

Content Specifications: 95% OPC Test by UV

Grape seed extracts are industrial derivatives from whole grape seeds. Typically, the commercial opportunity of extracting grape seed constituents has been for chemicals known as polyphenols, including oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) recognized as antioxidants.

3. Indicatons and Uses

Human case reports and results from laboratory and animal studies show that grape seed extract may be useful to treat heart diseases such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. By limiting lipid oxidation, phenolics in grape seeds may reduce risk of heart disease, such as by inhibiting platelet aggregation and reducing inflammation. While such studies are promising, more research including long-term studies in humans is needed to confirm initial findings.

A polyphenol contained in grape seeds is resveratrol which may interfere with cancer cell growth and proliferation, as well as induce apoptosis, among a variety of potential chemopreventive effects.

Grape seed components may also be active against HIV by inhibiting virus expression and replication.

Preliminary research shows that grape seed extract may have other possible anti-disease properties, such as in laboratory models of wound healing -- grape seed proanthocyanidins induced vascular endothelial growth factor and accelerated healing of injured skin in mice.

Tooth decay -- seed phenolics may inhibit oral sugar metabolism and retard growth of certain bacteria causing dental caries.

Osteoporosis -- grape seed extracts enhanced bone density and strength in experimental animals.

Skin cancer -- grape seed proanthocyanidins decreased tumor numbers and reduced the malignancy of papillomas.

Ultraviolet damage to skin -- dietary proanthocyanidins may protect against carcinogenesis and provide supplementation for sunscreen protection.

Currently, there are four clinical trials underway to assess the effect of grape seed extracts on human breast cancer, blood estrogen levels in postmenopausal women, and coronary artery disease.