Monterey Pine: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) is a tree native to coastal California and Mexico. People use the bark to make medicine.

Monterey pine is now grown throughout the world and commonly used for timber. As medicine, Monterey pine bark contains chemicals that might help reduce swelling.

People use Monterey pine for migraines, mental function, and heart disease, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any uses.

Don't confuse Monterey pine with similar trees, including Dwarf Pine Needle, Fir, Ground Pine, Korean Pine, Maritime Pine, or Poplar.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Monterey Pine overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: A specific Monterey pine bark extract (Enzogenol) is possibly safe when used at a dose of up to 1000 mg daily for up to 12 weeks or 480 mg daily for up to 6 months. There isn't enough reliable information to know if other Monterey pine products are safe.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Monterey pine is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Monterey pine is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Monterey Pine overview.

Dosing

A specific Monterey pine bark extract (Enzogenol) has most often been used by adults in doses up to 1000 mg by mouth daily for up to 12 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

View References

REFERENCES:

Joseph JA, Shukitt-Hale B, Denisova NA, et al. Reversals of age-related declines in neuronal signal transduction, cognitive, and motor behavioral deficits with blueberry, spinach, or strawberry dietary supplementation. J Neurosci 1999;19:8114-21.

Joseph JA, Shukitt-Hale B, Denisova NA, et al. Long-term dietary strawberry, spinach, or vitamin E supplementation retards the onset of age-related neuronal signal-transduction and cognitive behavioral deficits. J Neurosci 1998;18:8047-55.

Keli SO, Hertog MG, Feskens EJ, Kromhout D. Dietary flavonoids, antioxidant vitamins, and incidence of stroke: the Zutphen study. Arch Intern Med 1996;156:637-42.

Karonen M, Hamalainen M, Nieminen R, et al. Phenolic extractives from the bark of Pinus sylvestris L. and their effects on inflammatory mediators nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2.J Agric Food Chem 2004;52:7532-40.

Motiejunaite O, Peciulyte D. Fungicidal properties of Pinus sylvestris L. for improvement of air quality. Medicina (Kaunas) 2004;40:787-94.

Knekt, P., Jarvinen, R., Reunanen, A., and Maatela, J. Flavonoid intake and coronary mortality in Finland: a cohort study. BMJ 2-24-1996;312(7029):478-481.

Marcos, C., Rodriguez, F. J., Luna, I., Jato, V., and Gonzalez, R. Pinus pollen aerobiology and clinical sensitization in northwest Spain. Ann.Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2001;87(1):39-42.

Youdim, K. A., Spencer, J. P., Schroeter, H., and Rice-Evans, C. Dietary flavonoids as potential neuroprotectants. Biol Chem. 2002;383(3-4):503-519.

Shand, B., Strey, C., Scott, R., Morrison, Z., and Gieseg, S. Pilot study on the clinical effects of dietary supplementation with Enzogenol, a flavonoid extract of pine bark and vitamin C. Phytother.Res 2003;17(5):490-494.

Burry, J. N. Environmental dermatitis: contact dermatitis from Pinus radiata. Med J Aust. 7-2-1977;2(1):13-14.

Grant, J. E., Cooper, P. A., and Dale, T. M. Transgenic Pinus radiata from Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of cotyledons. Plant Cell Rep. 2004;22(12):894-902.

Schweigkofler, W., O'Donnell, K., and Garbelotto, M. Detection and quantification of airborne conidia of Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pine pitch canker, from two California sites by using a real-time PCR approach combined with a simple spore trapping method. Appl.Environ.Microbiol. 2004;70(6):3512-3520.

Young, J. M., Shand, B. I., McGregor, P. M., Scott, R. S., and Frampton, C. M. Comparative effects of enzogenol and vitamin C supplementation versus vitamin C alone on endothelial function and biochemical markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in chronic smokers. Free Radic.Res 2006;40(1):85-94.

Ku, C. S., Sathishkumar, M., and Mun, S. P. Binding affinity of proanthocyanidin from waste Pinus radiata bark onto proline-rich bovine achilles tendon collagen type I. Chemosphere 2007;67(8):1618-1627.

Pipingas, A., Silberstein, R. B., Vitetta, L., Rooy, C. V., Harris, E. V., Young, J. M., Frampton, C. M., Sali, A., and Nastasi, J. Improved cognitive performance after dietary supplementation with a Pinus radiata bark extract formulation. Phytother.Res 2008;22(9):1168-1174.

Senthilmohan, S. T., Zhang, Z., and Stanley, R. A. Effects of flavonoid extract Enzogenol® with vitamin C on protein oxidation and DNA damage in older human subjects. Nutrition Research 2003;23(9):1199-1210.

Geiseg, S. and Baird, S. Comparison of antioxidant assays for flavonoid containing supplements. Free Rad Biol Med 1998;24(Suppl. 1):S104.

Wood, J. E., Senthilmohal, S. T., and Peskin, A. V. Antioxidant activity of procyanidin-containing plant extracts at different pHs. Food Chemistry 2002;77(2):155-161.

Lim WXJ, Chepulis L, von Hurst P, Gammon CS, Page RA. An acute, placebo-controlled, single-blind, crossover, dose-response, exploratory study to assess the effects of New Zealand pine bark extract (Enzogenol®) on glycaemic responses in healthy participants. Nutrients 2020;12(2):497.

Theadom A, Mahon S, Barker-Collo S, et al. Enzogenol for cognitive functioning in traumatic brain injury: a pilot placebo-controlled RCT. Eur J Neurol 2013;20(8):1135-44.

Frevel MA, Pipingas A, Grigsby WJ, Frampton CM, Gilchrist NL. Production, composition and toxicology studies of Enzogenol® Pinus radiata bark extract. Food Chem Toxicol 2012;50(12):4316-24.

Walter A, Finelli K, Bai X, et al. Effect of Enzogenol® supplementation on cognitive, executive, and vestibular/balance functioning in chronic phase of concussion. Dev Neuropsychol 2017;42(2):93-103.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
Licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Copyright © 1995-2025 by Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. All Rights Reserved.