Grape seed
Vitis vinifera L.Vitaceae // seed
Overview
Plant parts
seed
Known constituents
proanthocyanidins
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include proanthocyanidins; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Grape seed has been used for venous/cardiovascular health; edema; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (venous/cardiovascular health; edema), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Limited human evidence for BP and venous symptoms; certainty low.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph and mixed scientific literature · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is seed; traditional and modern forms include infusion/tea, tincture, powder/capsule, extract. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Dogs
- High risk
Ingestion of grapes or raisins (Vitis spp.) is associated with toxicosis in dogs; oliguric or anuric renal failure may develop, and severe cases can be fatal.
Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · whole fruit or dried fruit (grapes or raisins) · HIGH · veterinary_manual · Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind (Vitis spp, Tamarindus spp) Toxicosis ...
- Low concern
Grape seed extract does not appear to cause toxicity in dogs.
Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · Grape seed extract · MODERATE · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Grape, Raisin, and Currant Poisoning in Dogs - VCA Animal Hospitals
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include Headache, GI upset; bleeding concern. Contraindications/cautions include Bleeding disorders.
HIGH · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Potential additive bleeding and BP lowering.
MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Insufficient pregnancy/lactation evidence.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Grape seed extract does not appear to cause toxicity in dogs.
MODERATE · veterinary_hospital_guidance · Grape, Raisin, and Currant Poisoning in Dogs - VCA Animal Hospitals
The page does not provide dose, concentration, or detailed preparation information.
Ingestion of grapes or raisins (Vitis spp.) is associated with toxicosis in dogs; oliguric or anuric renal failure may develop, and severe cases can be fatal.
HIGH · veterinary_manual · Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind (Vitis spp, Tamarindus spp) Toxicosis ...
Tartaric acid content varies, and individual effects are variable.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- whole herbHigh risk
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractLow concern
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
Identity
- Possible adulterantMasson's pine
Commercial grape-seed extracts have been heavily adulterated or replaced with pine-derived procyanidin material.
Why it matters: The substituted procyanidin profile is not equivalent to grape seed.
HIGH · Chemical Authentication of Botanical Ingredients: A Review of Commercial Herbal Products
- Possible adulterantPeanut
Peanut-skin extract has been identified as a possible grape-seed-extract adulterant.
Why it matters: Undeclared peanut material can trigger severe or life-threatening allergy.
HIGH · Chemical Authentication of Botanical Ingredients: A Review of Commercial Herbal Products
Botanical synonym
Vitis sylvestris C.C.Gmel.
Taxonomic identity note
- Grape seed is treated here as Vitis vinifera L. in the family Vitaceae; recorded older names include Vitis sylvestris C.C.Gmel..
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
- NCCIH Herbs at a Glance3 claims
NCCIH fact sheet
NIH LiverTox monograph
veterinary_hospital_guidance
veterinary_manual
peer-reviewed authentication review
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
EMA monograph
WHO monograph