Antioxidant activity and biologic properties of a Blueberry health benefits extract Pycnogenop pine Pinus maritima bark, pycnogenol. When used as prescribed, pine bark extract is safe and tolerated by most people. Saliou C, Rimbach G, Molni H, McLaughlin L, Hosseini S, Lee J, et al. Pycnogenol acts as a sustained-release formulation.