Home Ingredients NeuGrape® (Grape Seed Extract, 95% OPCs)
AntioxidantCardiovascular

NeuGrape® (Grape Seed Extract, 95% OPCs)

Vitis vinifera
Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

NeuGrape® is a Skyherb-branded grape (Vitis vinifera) seed extract standardized to about 95 percent oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs). No published human study has tested NeuGrape itself. Across the wider grape seed literature, oral extracts lower blood markers of oxidation and shave about 2 mmHg off diastolic blood pressure, but the two randomized placebo-controlled trials that measured thinking and memory (320 mg per day for 6 months in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, and 400 mg per day for 12 weeks in healthy young adults) both came out null, so a cognitive benefit is not established for this material.

Studied Dose No dose of NeuGrape has been tested in a published study. The one study cited here used 100 mg per day of ActiVin, a grape seed extract sold by a different company, for one month. Grape seed extracts generally are sold at 100 to 300 mg per day; the cognition trials used 320 mg per day for 6 months and 400 mg per day for 12 weeks, both without benefit.
Active Compound Grape (Vitis vinifera) seed extract standardized to about 95 percent oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs). The supplier specifies non-fermented seed sourced from Champagne, France; that sourcing claim has not been tested in any published study.

Benefits

Cognition: two randomized trials found no benefit

Two randomized placebo-controlled trials have measured thinking and memory. In 71 adults aged 60 and over with mild cognitive impairment, 320 mg per day of grape seed procyanidins for 6 months changed Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores no more than placebo (2.35 points versus 1.28, p = 0.192). In 60 healthy adults aged 18 to 30, 400 mg per day for 12 weeks produced no consistent cognitive gain, and the placebo group also improved on reaction time and memory. Neither trial used NeuGrape.

Supported by Trial 1

Lower oxidation markers in blood

A pooled analysis of 19 controlled trials of oral grape seed extract found lower malondialdehyde (SMD -1.04) and lower oxidized LDL (SMD -0.44) in blood, with total antioxidant capacity only marginally raised. These are laboratory markers rather than symptoms, and the trials used other grape seed extracts, not NeuGrape.

Supported by Trial 1

Blood pressure, not brain blood flow

No human study has measured blood flow in the brain after grape seed extract. What has been measured is pressure and vessel dilation: across 19 controlled trials, diastolic blood pressure fell by 2.20 mmHg and heart rate by 1.25 bpm, while flow-mediated dilation and systolic blood pressure did not change significantly.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Antioxidant activity in cells and rodents

Grape OPCs scavenge free radicals in test tube assays and protect cultured nerve cell lines from peroxide damage. That work is in rodent and cell line models, and so far it has not produced a measurable cognitive effect in the human trials that tested it.

2

Vascular support

Grape polyphenols increase nitric oxide availability in isolated vessel preparations. In people, pooled trial data show a small diastolic blood pressure reduction but no significant change in flow-mediated dilation, and cerebral blood flow has never been measured.

Clinical trials

1
A Different Company's Product: Uncontrolled ActiVin Study in Systemic Sclerosis (No Cognitive Outcome)
PubMed

Open study of ActiVin, a grape seed proanthocyanidin extract sold by InterHealth Nutraceuticals, taken by mouth at 100 mg per day for one month. Not randomized and not placebo controlled: one patient group received ActiVin while a second patient group and a set of healthy volunteers served as comparators. (Kalin et al. 2002, Free Radical Research 36(8):819-25)

Adults with systemic sclerosis, an autoimmune connective tissue disease, plus healthy volunteers as a comparison group. Not a general adult population and not people taking NeuGrape.

After one month of ActiVin, plasma malondialdehyde and the soluble adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin were lower than in the untreated patients. Group sizes were not reported in the abstract, there was no placebo, and no memory, attention or other cognitive outcome was measured.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well tolerated at the doses that have been tested, which range from 100 to 400 mg a day for up to 6 months in controlled trials.
Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported.
Grape allergy is uncommon but real, and published case reports describe anaphylaxis to grape. Stop and seek medical advice if hives, swelling or breathing difficulty follow a dose.

Important Drug interactions

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs: grape seed polyphenols slow platelet aggregation in laboratory tests, and a small trial in postmenopausal women taking grape seed extract by mouth found slower platelet plug formation. No study has measured bleeding risk in people already on a blood thinner. Tell your prescriber before combining with warfarin, a direct oral anticoagulant or aspirin, and stop two weeks before planned surgery.
Blood pressure medication: pooled trials show grape seed extract lowers diastolic pressure by about 2 mmHg, which can add to a drug effect. Monitor your readings if your pressure is already well controlled.
Tell your doctor before surgery.

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Frequently asked questions about NeuGrape® (Grape Seed Extract, 95% OPCs)

What is NeuGrape?

NeuGrape® is a Skyherb-branded grape (Vitis vinifera) seed extract standardized to about 95 percent oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs). No published human study has tested NeuGrape itself.

What is NeuGrape used for?

NeuGrape is researched primarily for Antioxidant and Cardiovascular. Two randomized placebo-controlled trials have measured thinking and memory. In 71 adults aged 60 and over with mild cognitive impairment, 320 mg per day of grape seed procyanidins for 6 months changed Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores no…

What is the recommended dosage of NeuGrape?

The clinically studied dose is No dose of NeuGrape has been tested in a published study. The one study cited here used 100 mg per day of ActiVin, a grape seed extract sold by a different company, for one month. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is NeuGrape safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, NeuGrape is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well tolerated at the doses that have been tested, which range from 100 to 400 mg a day for up to 6 months in controlled trials. Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported. It may also interact with some medications. NeuGrape is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does NeuGrape interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs: grape seed polyphenols slow platelet aggregation in laboratory tests, and a small trial in postmenopausal women taking grape seed extract by mouth found slower platelet plug formation. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for NeuGrape?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for NeuGrape as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 5 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(5 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Kalin R, Righi A, Del Rosso A, et al. Activin, a grape seed-derived proanthocyanidin extract, reduces plasma levels of oxidative stress and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin) in systemic sclerosis. Free Radic Res. 2002;36(8):819-25..PubMedUsed to support: Open, non-randomized study in patients with systemic sclerosis. One month of ActiVin, a grape seed proanthocyanidin extract from a different company, at 100 mg per day by mouth was followed by lower plasma malondialdehyde and lower soluble ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin than in untreated patients. Group sizes were not reported in the abstract, there was no placebo arm, and no cognitive outcome was measured.
  2. Bell L, Whyte AR, Lamport DJ, Spencer JPE, Butler LT, Williams CM. Grape seed polyphenol extract and cognitive function in healthy young adults: a randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-groups acute-on-chronic trial. Nutr Neurosci. 2022;25(1):54-63..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 60 healthy adults aged 18 to 30 given 400 mg of grape seed polyphenol extract or placebo. Testing at 2, 4 and 6 hours after a single dose and again at 6 and 12 weeks showed no consistent cognitive advantage over placebo; scattered gains in reaction time and psychomotor skill were matched by gains in the placebo group. The extract was not NeuGrape.
  3. Foshati S, Rouhani MH, Amani R. The effect of grape seed extract supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. Int J Clin Pract. 2021;75(11):e14469..PubMedUsed to support: Systematic review of 23 controlled trials with 19 pooled. Oral grape seed extract lowered malondialdehyde (SMD -1.04, 95% CI -1.65 to -0.42), oxidized LDL (SMD -0.44, 95% CI -0.75 to -0.13) and high-sensitivity CRP (-0.48 mg/L), with total antioxidant capacity only marginally increased and no effect on CRP or white cell count. These are blood markers in trials of other grape seed extracts, not of NeuGrape.
  4. Foshati S, Nouripour F, Sadeghi E, Amani R. The effect of grape (Vitis vinifera) seed extract supplementation on flow-mediated dilation, blood pressure, and heart rate: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials with duration- and dose-response analysis. Pharmacol Res. 2022;175:105905..PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of 19 controlled trials in adults. Grape seed extract lowered diastolic blood pressure by 2.20 mmHg (95% CI -3.79 to -0.60) and heart rate by 1.25 bpm, but did not significantly change flow-mediated dilation (+1.02%, 95% CI -0.62 to 2.66) or systolic blood pressure (-3.55 mmHg, 95% CI -7.59 to 0.49). Heterogeneity was high and none of the pooled trials used NeuGrape.
  5. Li B, Cheng J, Cheng G, Zhu H, Liu B, Yang Y, Dai Q, Li W, Bao W, Rong S. The effect of grape seed procyanidins extract on cognitive function in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Heliyon. 2023;9(6):e16994..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 71 community-dwelling adults aged 60 and over with mild cognitive impairment. Six months of grape seed procyanidin extract at 320 mg per day did not improve Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores more than placebo (mean change 2.35 versus 1.28 points, p = 0.192). The extract was not NeuGrape.