Proanthocyanidins Market Size

Proanthocyanidins Market Size

Proanthocyanidins Market size surpassed USD 7.5 billion globally in 2018 and is estimated to register more than 6.1% CAGR between 2019 and 2026. Growing consumer demand for healthy food products and organic skincare products is likely to accelerate the global industry growth.

Proanthocyanidins are polyphenols, which occur naturally in various plant food such as chocolate, red wine, apples, and cacao beans. These products are powerful antioxidant agents and display a strong reducing effect on oxidative stress. Proanthocyanidins are polymers composed of epicatechin, catechin, epigallocatechin, and gallocatechin monomers. Proanthocyanidins are also referred to as condensed tannins or procyanidins, which are plant pigments that impart blue, purple or red color to flowers & fruits.
 

Proanthocyanidins are primarily concentrated on the outer skin of seeds & tree barks to help in plant growth, color, and development of astringent taste to deter herbivores. These substances are majorly extracted from plant tissues by liquid/liquid extraction with the use of polar solvents or mechanical, enzyme, microwave & ultrasound seed treatment. The ease of obtaining proanthocyanidins by liquid/liquid extraction increases with the number of hydroxyl groups present in their molecular structure.
 

Proanthocyanidins have a beneficial effect on heart health and blood vessels, which should drive procyanidins market growth. They offer high antioxidant activity, which is much greater than that of vitamin C and helps to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Proanthocyanidins also exhibit antitumor, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory activities, which make them ideal for cancer treatment and prevention. Their ability to lower cholesterol levels, prevent ulcer formation, and protect the digestive & urinary systems should increase the procyanidins market demand as pharmaceutical agents.
 

Europe Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 requires the establishment of a European Medicine Agency to authorize medicinal products such as procyanidins for use in humans. In July 2016, the European Medicines Agency declared that the efficacy of cranberry extract in dealing with urinary tract infections was linked to the pharmacological activity of procyanidin metabolites and other cranberry constituents. The agency stated that procyanidin-free cranberry extracts also exhibit antiadhesive effects on urinary pathogens.