(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- An extract from the bark of a pine tree may help decrease the swelling some hypertension patients have.

Pycnogenol® is an antioxidant plant extract found in the bark of the French maritime pine tree which grows along the coast of southwest France. Now, researchers say it can reduce edema (swelling) -- a typical side effect of medications patients take to lower their blood pressure.

"In order to avoid blood pooling in the lower legs and feet, blood vessel diameters must adjust when a person changes positions from laying down to standing up," reports lead author Gianni Belcaro, M.D., Ph.D., of G. d'Annunzio University in Italy. "Results of this study show Pycnogenol to improve blood circulation, avoiding blood pools and reducing edema."

Researchers looked at 53 hypertensive patients in Italy. All had edema in their ankles and feet from taking antihypertensive medications. After eight weeks of Pycnogenol treatments, patients had between a 35-percent and 36-percent decrease in ankle swelling.

Besides reducing swelling, Dr. Belcaro reports Pycnogenol can also help to lower blood pressure, which in turn helps patients have a healthy cardiovascular system.

More than a third of patients taking antihypertensive medications are thought to suffer from edema.

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis, 2006;12:440-444