Herb & supplement monograph

Maritime Pine Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Maritime Pine interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Maritime Pine is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Maritime Pine is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Maritime Pine Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, all known Maritime Pine drug interactions are rated moderate in severity, but for most people the real-world risk of a clinically significant problem appears fairly low because the concerns are largely theoretical. None of the listed interactions are rated major, and most rest on lab, animal, or limited human findings rather than proven harm in people.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The best-supported concern involves diabetes medications: one clinical study found maritime pine bark lowered blood sugar in people already taking these drugs, so combining them could add to that effect and blood sugar may need closer watching. There is also a theoretical bleeding concern with blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs, since research suggests maritime pine can make platelets less sticky, though how much this matters in practice is unclear. Finally, lab and animal work hints it might stimulate the immune system, which could work against immunosuppressants, an effect not yet seen in humans but worth caution with narrow-margin transplant medicines.

What the rest of the list means

The long list of interacting medications mostly reflects a few broad drug categories, not hundreds of separately proven problems. Most entries are theoretical, based on how maritime pine might act in the body, and several predicted effects have not been shown to cause meaningful changes in people.

Check your medications against Maritime Pine

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Maritime Pine interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Maritime Pine

327 medications have a known interaction with Maritime Pine, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Maritime Pine using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Maritime Pine interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Maritime Pine combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs Maritime Pine affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Maritime Pine is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 3 drug categories Maritime Pine interacts with

Anticoagulant/antiplatelet DrugsAntidiabetes DrugsImmunosuppressants

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, maritime pine bark extract might increase the risk of bleeding when used with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.
Clinical research suggests that maritime pine bark extract inhibits platelet aggregation. However, the clinical significance of this effect is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, maritime pine bark extract might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when used with antidiabetes drugs.
One clinical study shows that maritime pine bark extract decreases blood sugar in patients with diabetes being treated with antidiabetes agents. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments might be necessary.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Immunosuppressants

Theoretically, maritime pine bark extract might decrease the effectiveness of immunosuppressant therapy.
In vitro and animal research suggests that maritime pine bark extract has immunostimulant activity. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

Maritime Pine: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Maritime pine bark extract (often sold as Pycnogenol) is a plant-based antioxidant most studied for circulation, vein, and skin health. Some research is promising, but many studies are small or industry-funded, so benefits are not firmly proven. It is generally well tolerated, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting it.

Scientific name: Pinus pinaster
Family: Pinaceae
Part used: Bark (extract)
Common forms: Capsules, tablets, creams, and topical gels

People commonly use it for

Circulation and vein health
Antioxidant support
Skin health and aging
High blood pressure
Joint comfort

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Generally well tolerated in studies, but long-term safety is not fully established.

PregnancyPossibly Safe

When used orally during the third trimester of pregnancy. In one small clinical study, a standardized extract of maritime pine bark (Pycnogenol, Horph...

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

There is insufficient reliable information available regarding the safety of maritime pine when used during lactation; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

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Overview

Maritime pine is a pine tree native to the Mediterranean region of Europe. The extract made from its inner bark is rich in natural plant compounds and is sold as a dietary supplement. A specific, standardized French maritime pine bark extract is sold under the brand name Pycnogenol, which is the form used in most research.

People take maritime pine bark extract mainly for its antioxidant properties. It is popularly used to support blood flow, healthy veins, skin appearance, and overall wellness. It comes in capsules and tablets taken by mouth, as well as in creams and gels applied to the skin.

How it works

Maritime pine bark is high in plant compounds called proanthocyanidins (also called OPCs or PCOs), along with other flavonoids and organic acids. These act as antioxidants, meaning they may help protect cells from a type of damage called oxidative stress.

In laboratory and animal studies, these compounds appear to support blood vessel function, help the body make nitric oxide (which relaxes blood vessels), and reduce signs of inflammation. It is important to know that much of this evidence comes from test-tube and animal research, and the way it works in the human body is not fully understood.

Effectiveness

Does Maritime Pine work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 55 uses evaluated

3 Possibly effective 1 Leans ineffective 51 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

Possibly Effective Asthma