Cypress: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications

Antiviral

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

Usages associés

Venotonic

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

Usages associés

Vascular effect

Cypress has angioprotective activity in rats thanks to procyanidol oligomers, inhibitory activity on elastase in vitro, and inhibitory activity on angiotensin-converting enzyme. In vivo, in mice with emphysema induced by β-aminopropionitrile (a disease mainly due to the destruction of elastin in pulmonary alveoli), cypress proanthocyanidins limit the destructuring of elastin fibers and thus the degeneration of connective tissue. The traditional use of female cypress cones to reduce symptoms of venous insufficiency or hemorrhoidal disorders would be linked to this connective tissue protection action.

Usages associés

Anticancer

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