TURKU, Finland, Dec 14, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Finnish researchers say anti-inflammatory compounds in the bark of Scotch pine trees could be used to treat arthritis and pain.

The University of Turku scientists identified the compounds as phenolics, a class of highly active plant chemicals that have been increasingly tied to beneficial health effects.

As part of a larger search for healthy compounds in plants that might be used to develop functional food products or nutraceuticals, the researchers studied several preparations of pine bark extract taken from the Scotch pine. They identified 28 compounds, some of which showed high biological activity.

The extract did not appear to show any signs of cell toxicity in the current study, they said.

Study leader Kalevi Pihlaja noted the extract used in the study has not yet been tested in animals or humans.

Results of the research will appear in the Dec. 29 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry