Pine needles have attracted the interest of scientists because of the compounds they contain. Here we look at a 2021 study that examined the antioxidant activity of oils and extracts from pine needles, and explain what the results tell us — and what they don’t.
What was studied?
The researchers tested essential oils and extracts from the fresh needles of 46 pine species, 54 species and subgroups in total. They used two chemical tests to measure antioxidant activity. The study was carried out in a laboratory, not on people, animals, or cells.
What did they find?
The samples showed varying levels of antioxidant activity depending on the pine species and the extraction method. Some extracts showed high activity under these test conditions.
In simple terms, the samples were able to reduce certain oxidation reactions in laboratory tests. This helps us understand the chemical properties of pine needles and may give reason for further research.
Pinus mugo and our tincture
Pinus mugo, the pine species we use in our tincture, was among the species in the 2021 study. An extract from its needles made with ethanol and water showed antioxidant activity in laboratory tests.
The study was not conducted on people and therefore does not confirm any health effects of the tincture. Although ethanol was used in the extraction, it has not been shown that the laboratory extract is comparable to our finished tincture.
What does this mean for people?
Antioxidant activity in a laboratory test is not the same as a confirmed health effect in the human body. This study therefore does not show whether consuming pine needles or pine tincture has the same effects in the body.
The study did not test pain-relieving or wound-healing effects, and it does not confirm that pine needles treat infections or other diseases. Nor does it say anything about safe doses or the effects of Act Herba’s finished products.
Educational content with a clear disclaimer
The study is a useful source on the antioxidant activity of pine needles under specific laboratory conditions. It is important, however, to distinguish between what has been measured in a laboratory and what has been confirmed in people.
This article is educational content about the study, not advice on treating any health problem.
Source and further reading
Koutsaviti and colleagues (2021). Antioxidant Potential of Pine Needles: A Systematic Study on the Essential Oils and Extracts of 46 Species of the Genus Pinus. Foods, 10(1), 142.