OPCs in Grape Seed May Protect Against Skin Cancer

In recent years several studies have suggested that the ingestion of the compounds from grape seeds know as oligomeric proanythocyanidins or OPCs may protect the skin from sun damage. Earlier this year, a German study reported that human subjects given a daily oral supplement containing 100mg of OPCs reduced reddening of the skin from ultraviolet radiation by 13%.¹

Now research published in the journal, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics and presented at the 233rd National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society found that OPCs significantly reduced skin cancer risk in hairless mice exposed to ultraviolet B radiation (UVB).^2,3 UVB is a non-visible portion of natural sunlight that is believed to be a primary cause of skin cancer in humans.

In the study, the hairless mice in the test groups were fed a diet supplemented with either 0.2% or 0.5% grape seed OPC (as a percentage of the food weight). The researchers reported that mice receiving the grape seed OPCs had a reduced incidence of tumors by 20% and 35% respectively. Tumor multiplicity was reduced by 46% and 65%, and tumor size was reduced by 66% and 78%, respectively, as compared to control mice that did not receive the OPCs.

The researchers observed that the UVB caused an increase in a compound called interleukin-10, which is believed to suppress the immune system. They believe that OPCs suppress the increase of interleukin-10 caused by UVB. At the same time, OPCs increase a different compound called interleukin-12, a beneficial immune-stimulating compound.

1. Hughes-Formella, B., O. Wunderlich, et al. (2007). "Anti-inflammatory and skin-hydrating properties of a dietary supplement and topical formulations containing oligomeric proanthocyanidins." Skin Pharmacol Physiol 20(1): 43-9.

2. Sharma, S. D., S. M. Meeran, S. K. Katiyar (2007). "Dietary grape seed proanthocyanidins inhibit UVB-induced oxidative stress and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-{kappa}B signaling in in vivo SKH-1 hairless mice." Mol Cancer Ther 6(3): 995-1005.

3. Katiyar, S. K. (2007). Dietary grape seed proanthocyanidins inhibit photocarcinogenesis through prevention of UV-induced suppression of immune responses via induction of interleukin-12 in mice. 233rd National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society, Chicago, IL.