A flavonoid‐rich diet increases nitric oxide production in rat aorta

Abstract

1 Red wine intake is associated with a low risk of cardiovascular disease. This e ect has been partly attributed to the action of polyphenolic compounds, which decrease the oxidation of plasma low density lipoproteins. Moreover, nitric oxide ( . NO) is a vasodilator and polyphenolic compounds induce endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in vitro. 2 Here we studied whether a diet rich in dealcoholated red wine (DRW) increases acetylcholineinduced vasorelaxation and whether ingestion of DRW-, quercetin-or catechin-rich diets modi®es the . NO-cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) pathway and superoxide anion (O 2 .7 ) release in aorta in a resting state in rats fed semi-puri®ed diets containing either 35% (v w 71 ) DRW, 0.3% (w w 71 ) quercetin or 0.3% (w w 71 ) catechin for 10 days. 3 . NO-mediated vasorelaxation induced by acetylcholine was greater in rats fed the DRW-rich diet than in those that received the control diet. 4 Expression of endothelial . NO synthase (eNOS) was similar in the four dietary groups. The aortic rings of rats fed either the DRW-, quercetin-, or catechin-rich diets showed higher NOS activity, . NO production and cyclic GMP content than those of rats fed the control diet. No changes were observed in O 2 .7 production. 5 In summary, diets rich in either DRW, quercetin or catechin induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in rat aorta in a resting state through the enhancement of . NO production, without modifying O 2 .7 generation, thus the bioavailability of . NO was increased. The increase in the . NOcyclic GMP pathway explains the bene®cial e ect of¯avonoids at vascular level. British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 135, 910 ± 916

Red wine polyphenols correct vascular function injured by chronic carbon tetrachloride intoxication

“…Our results are in a good consensus with observations in the model of NO-deficient hypertension where the potentiation of the inhibited thoracic aorta vasorelaxation has been attributed to the activation of NO pathway by polyphenols (Bernátová et al 2002;Pecháňová et al 2004). Moreover, the increased production of NO due to stimulation of NO-synthase activity in arterial wall (also in aorta) due to the action of polyphenolic compounds has been confirmed by observations of our as well as other laboratories (Stocklet et al 1999;Zenebe et al 2001;Benito et al 2002). Finally, as it is mentioned above, the treatment with CCl 4 was associated with destruction of endothelial integrity and the capacity of functional endothelium was decreased so we can suggest that the release of NO was decreased.…”

Vasculoprotective Effects of Dietary Cocoa Flavanols in Patients on Hemodialysis

“…The mechanisms by which CFs mediate their effects are not fully understood. An enhancement in NO bioactivity through increases in NO synthase activity has been shown along with enhanced endothelial homeostatic vascular repair capabilities and activation of signaling pathways (19,20).…”

Inhibitory Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Fraction Extracted from Rubus coreanum M on Thoracic Aortic Contractility of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

“…Consumption of wine polyphenol-, quercetin-or catechinenriched diets increased aortic NO production in rats (Benito et al, 2002). Intragastric administration of resveratrol (3 mg/ kg/day), red wine (4 ml/kg/day) or even dealcoholized red wine (4 ml/kg/day) for 12 weeks to hypercholesterolemic rab- bits improved the endothelial function, reduced plasma endothelin-1 levels and induced a signifi cant elevation in NO levels (Zou et al, 2003).…”