As scientists learn more and more about how we age, one thing has become clear: a major contributor to the aging process is oxidative damage to cells caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. This occurs in tissues throughout the body, including the skin, joint tissues, blood vessels and even the brain. The body's main defense against the potential damage posed by these molecules is provided by antioxidants, compounds that deactivate free radicals, rendering them harmless. Some of the most powerful antioxidants known to science are found in a plant extract known as Pycnogenol. Pycnogenol is extracted through a patented process from the bark of French maritime pine trees grown exclusively in the unspoiled Landes de Gascogne forest of southwest France with no pesticides or herbicides. With the mild climate of the region, the bark of these trees is not subject to wide seasonal variations in growing conditions, which makes it an ideal source for botanical extraction because its active phytochemical constituents are found in consistent concentrations at their programmed, synergistic ratios. That means Pycnogenol gives you reliable antioxidant protection you can count on, every time. Swanson Super Strength Pycnogenol is our most potent Pycnogenol supplement ever, delivering an incredible 150 mg in each veggie capsule to give your mind and body an unprecedented level of healthy aging antioxidant defense.