Polyphenols are a wide range of biological molecules which play a protective role in plants. They are one of the major type of secondary metabolites, water soluble or not, which may be classified into four main families: phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins and lignins.

Oligomeric ProCyanidins, more commonly known as OPC, are phenolic compounds that belong to the flavonoid family. OPC are oligomers of catechin and epicatechin. The OPC that offer the beneficial activities described by Professor Masquelier are primarily the dimers, trimers, tetramers and pentamers. They are called oligomers.

Compounds formed from more than five sub-unit repetitions are called polymers which have a much higher molecular weight. They are not easily absorbed, and consequently offer very weak biological action.

vitaflavan® is a fine powder extracted from French white grape seeds, grown in the South West region.

Not all procyanidins have a biological effect. The OPCs’ intestinal absorption and thus their biological activity are based on their molecular weight, the high weight molecules being unabsorbed.

vitaflavan® presents an optimal composition in oligomeric procyanidins, which guarantees bioavailability and effectiveness of the extract.

Several grape seed extracts are now available in the market however, only vitaflavan® has a high content in short oligomers of catechin and epicatechin, and is characterised by an absence of tannins.

Figure 1: vitaflavan® versus competition vitaflavan® was compared to other grape seed extracts (GSE: grape seed extract)

Measurement of anti-free radical activity of vitaflavan® by the NBT test (DRT Research Lab. 1997) In vitro, the anti-free radical activity is easily measured by the NBT test. It is based on the reduction of tetrazolium Nitroblue (NBT) into Formazan Blue (BF) by the radical superoxide anion. This reaction is measured by colorimetry at 560 nm. The presence of free radical scavengers will inhibit the reaction, and the percentage of inhibition allows to appreciate the anti-free radical efficiency.

Different materials have been tested: vitaflavan®: grape seed extract Taxifoliol: compound of pine bark extract Catechin: basic monomer Vitamin C: as reference

Postprandial effect of vitaflavan® intake on plasma antioxidant activity. (Inra Theix – France 1998) Antioxidant potency of plasma has been measured 2 hours after ingestion on 3 groups:

Group C: Control without any antioxidant material Group VS: Supplemented with 500 mg of vitaflavan® in 1 dose Group HPTS: Supplemented with 500 mg of High Polymeric Tannins in 1 dose This experiment shows the antifree radical activity of vitaflavan ® in vivoand demonstrates the ineffectiveness of the highly polymerised molecules.

vitaflavan® plays a significant role in weightmanagement by reducing the energy intake to overweight dietary unrestrainedsubjects. Furthermore, vitaflavan® plays a rolein the control of the weight throughthe decrease of the adipocytes differentiation and the activation of the lipolyse with short and long erm via actors suchas to cAMP, PKA, HSL, G 3PDH, PPAR .

Orac value of vitaflavan® about 19,000 µmol TE/g* Consuming 100 mg of vitaflavan® a day provides more than 1,900 ORAC units

Extracting and purifying the qualities from nature to enable improvements in diet, nutrition and health is the specific field of expertise of drt nutraceutics. It developes ingredients that have a well-deserved reputation of high quality and purity for dietary supplements, functional foods and cosmetics.