Procyanidin B3 is a polyphenol flavonoid dimer of (+)-catechin that has been found in G. biloba and has diverse biological activities.1,2,3 It inhibits aggregation of amyloid-β (1-42) with an IC50 value of 3.54 μM and destabilizes preformed Aβ42 fibrils (EC50 = 5.12 μM).1 Procyanidin B3 (1 mM) reduces oxidation of linoleic acid and scavenges 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radicals in cell-free assays.2 It inhibits hydrogen peroxide-induced production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and apoptosis in primary murine chondrocytes.3 Procyanidin B3 (0.01 mg/kg) reduces chondrocyte apoptosis, pseudocapsule thickness, and the frequency of ectopic cartilage formation in a mouse model of surgically induced osteoarthritis.
1.Xie, H., Wang, J.R., Yau, L.F., et al.Catechins and procyanidins of Ginkgo biloba show potent activities towards the inhibition of β-amyloid peptide aggregation and destabilization of preformed fibrilsMolecules19(4)5119-5134(2014) 2.Ariga, T., Koshiyama, I., and Fukushima, D.Antioxidative properties of procyanidins B-1 and B-3 from azuki beans in aqueous systemsAgr. Biol. Chem.52(11)2717-2722(2014) 3.Aini, H., Ochi, H., Iwata, M., et al.Procyanidin B3 prevents articular cartilage degeneration and heterotopic cartilage formation in a mouse surgical osteoarthritis modelPLoS One7(5)e37728(2012)