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Proanthocyanidins, as an important class of secondary plant metabolites, are in many cases the active principles of the medicinal plants from which they are isolated. The structural complexity and conformational properties of the lower molecular weight oligomers have been investigated thoroughly, while the chemistry of the polymers still remains a difficult topic. Shikimate-derived phenolics like flavonoids and tannins are widely distributed in plant kingdom and are thus not of interest as classificatory tool; oxidation levels however are indicative in the attribution of evolutionary status among phyla and within each phylum. The main biological and pharmacological effects reported for condensed tannins can be classified into antibacterial and antiviral activities, enzyme inhibition, anti-oxidative effects, antimutagenic and antitumoral properties, next to some more specific interactions e.g. with vascular and cardial systems …