New data about the effect of Vitis vinifera L. procyanidin on the gastrointestinal system has been presented by Indena at the ICPH2015, the 7th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health recently held in Tours, France. 
 
The study focused on the in vitro investigation of the potential benefits of ENOVITA, the Indena highly standardized grape seed extract from Vitis vinifera L., made exclusively with grape seeds from white wine production and well-characterized by a specific amount of procyanidins with different molecular weight. The preliminary results reveal a specific effect of procyanidins higher than other classes of polyphenols when tested in comparable experimental conditions. 
 
The researchers from the Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Science at the University of Milan stimulated in vitro human gastric and epithelial cells with pro-inflammatory cytokines and treated them with ENOVITA at increasing concentrations for 6 hours. The results demonstrated a strong capacity of the extract to reduce IL-8 release. 
 
“Thanks to their multiple mechanism of action, dietary polyphenols are extensively recognized to have a potential role in the protection from chronic conditions and several studies already reported their possible role in modulating challenging processes at gastrointestinal level,” commented Antonella Riva, Senior Scientific Researcher at Indena. “The promising results presented for the first time at this international conference suggest a possible clinical testing of our highly standardized grape seed extract from Vitis vinifera L. ENOVITA in subjects with inflammatory-related disorders of gastrointestinal tract.”
 
Human gastrointestinal mucosal inflammation can be generated mostly by a disregulated interaction between human host and microbial population, leading to conditions such as gastritis, ulcer, intestinal bowel disorders. Moreover, during Helicobacter pylori infection, identified as one of the most relevant agents for the development of gastric inflammation, gastrointestinal epithelial cells activate different pro-inflammatory processes, including IL-8 release. 
 
For more information: www.indena.com