Cypress: benefits, dosage, contraindications

Antiviral

Cypress proanthocyanidins have been tested on different viruses (DNA, RNA, enveloped or non-enveloped). An in vitro study highlights the effectiveness of these molecules against certain viruses such as the chickenpox, shingles, influenza viruses and the coronavirus. The mode of action of proanthocyanidins is twofold: - On the one hand, they hinder the adhesion of viruses to their host cell, thereby limiting viral replication. - On the other hand, they induce lysis of RNA and DNA viruses (influenza A and coronaviruses), which allows a rapid decrease in viral load. In vivo, in mice infected with the herpes virus and in patients with herpetic lesions, the topical application of a cream containing 5% proanthocyanidins reduces the number of herpetic lesions. In vivo studies have been conducted in mice. Daily administration to the animals of a 0.5% cypress proanthocyanidin solution for 7 days before inoculation with the influenza virus - which is performed by nasal instillations - shows that 7 days after infection, 90% of the mice are alive in the group treated with proanthocyanidins compared with only 40% in the untreated control group. Similarly, proanthocyanidins have a protective effect against coronavirus infection. Indeed, after 7 days of treatment, 60% of the mice are still alive versus only 10% in the infected control group that did not receive treatment. The antiviral efficacy of cypress depends on its proanthocyanidin content and therefore on its extraction method.

Usages associés

Venotonic

The proanthocyanidins of cypress exert a vasoconstrictive effect on small vessels while restoring the elasticity of the venous wall. Moreover, thanks to its tannin content, cypress has an astringent effect, which helps tighten tissues.

Usages associés

Vascular effect

Cypress has an angioprotective activity in the rat thanks to procyanidol oligomers, elastase inhibitory activity in vitro, and inhibitory activity against angiotensin-converting enzyme. In vivo, in the mouse with emphysema induced by β-aminopropionitrile (a disease mainly due to the destruction of alveolar elastin), the proanthocyanidins of cypress limit the breakdown of elastic lamellae and therefore the degeneration of connective tissue. The traditional use of female cypress cones to reduce the symptoms of venous insufficiency or hemorrhoidal disorders would be related to this connective tissue-protective action.

Usages associés

Anticancer

The cypress extract has traditionally been used for benign prostatic hyperplasia. In vitro and animal research shows that cypress fruit extract inhibits proliferation of stromal cells in benign prostatic hyperplasia and induces apoptosis of stromal cells. Cypress extract also reduces stromal cells in human benign prostatic hyperplasia tissue cultures. The diterpene-rich fraction of the extract is believed to be responsible for these effects, with specific diterpenes inhibiting cellular signaling.