Natural Products from DRTDistributed by Orcas International

From pines and grapes, DRT offers a range of natural products for food supplements (health food) and pharmacy :

THE PINE PHYTOSTEROL

Phytosterols are natural compounds occurring in many plants which structure is close to the cholesterol. Beta sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol are the most widely spread. Phytosterols have the ability to inhibit the cholesterol absorption during the digestion which leads to lower the level of circulating cholesterol in the blood.

For more than 30 years DRT has been producing pine phytosterols. Due to their high percentage in Beta sitosterol (>70) they are sold under the trade name of BETA SITOSTEROL. DRT's material is in accordance with European pharmacopoeia. It is used in human pharmacy and in health foods.

BETA SITOSTEROL : Pine steroïds with hypocholesterolemic activity

THE OPC RANGE

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 include several types of molecules, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids.

They do not possess necessarily antioxidant properties as it will depend on their chemical structure. It is possible to define 4 major families : phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins and lignins. Procyanidins belong to the family of polyphenols. The name procyanidin finds its origin in the fact that some polyphenolic compounds by acidic hydrolysis lead to the formation of Cyanidin (Bates-Smith reaction). Only a specific type of molecule constitute the procyanidins : the condensed forms of flavans 3-ol based essentially on catechin and epicatechin.

Highly polymerised molecules (condensed tannins) are much less absorbed in the gut. They may interact with proteins enzymes and minerals. Therefore, they will reduce the digestibility of the proteins, the efficiency of the digestive enzymes and the absorption of minerals. They can be considered as antinutritionnal factors.

Procyanidins or OPC (Oligomeric ProCyanidins) which are smaller molecules, are proven to be bioavailable. They effectively have a protective activity and are beneficial for human health.

DRT supplies active OPC extracted from pine bark, OLIGOPIN and grape seed, VITAFLAVAN as proven by intensive testing.
OLIGOPIN : French maritime pine bark extract ; strong antioxidant, protector of arteries
VITAFLAVAN : Grape seed extract with antioxidant activity