Grape seeds contain high concentrations of important nutrients. Antioxidants, such as vitamin E, flavonoids and OPCs--oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes, as well as linoleic acid--an essential fatty acid--are constituents of grape seeds, while resveratrol, a similar compound to OPCs, is mainly found in grape skins, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Grape seed extract with resveratrol has become a popular supplement used to assist health and healing in a variety of conditions.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
One of the most well-documented uses for grape seed extract is in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that leads to pooling of blood in the legs with accompanying pain and swelling. The OPCs in grape seed extract have been found to be effective at relieving these symptoms. A study of 40 patients with chronic venous insufficiency published in the 2002 journal Phytotherapy Research found improvement in symptoms after one month of treatment with grape seed extract.
Ulcerative Colitis
Resveratrol showed marked ability to inhibit ulcerative colitis in mice within seven days in a study published in the May 2010 Archives of Medical Research. Markers of inflammation were seen to decrease, and anti-inflammatory markers were seen to increase. The December 2008 Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology reported on the effect of grape seed extract on ulcerative colitis in rats and found it to inhibit inflammatory cell infiltration, suppress the inflammatory response and promote repair of damaged tissue.
A study of the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins on rats fed a high-fat diet for 13 weeks found that the grape extract normalized triglyceride and LDL--low density lipoprotein--levels. The study, published in the September 2009 International Journal of Obesity, concluded that proanthocyanidins have a powerful effect on prevention and treatment of lipid-induced cardiovascular disease.
Breast and Prostate Cancer
In a study on breast cancer published in the July 2010 Journal of Nutrition, reseveratrol was found to prevent silencing of the tumor-suppressing protein BRCA1. The May 2010 journal Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis reported on a study that examined the effect of grape seed extract on prostate cancer and found it to have an inhibitory effect on cell migration. The researchers concluded that grape seed extract had potential for preventing metastasis of prostate cancer.
Hypertension
Resveratrol was found to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and prevented the buildup of smooth muscle cells in the lining of pulmonary arteries in rats given 25 mg per kg of body weight per day. The study was reported in the September 2009 journal Hypertension. The researchers concluded that resveratrol may contribute to the prevention of pulmonary hypertension.
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