Flavonoid-rich apples and nitrate-rich spinach augment nitric oxide status and improve endothelial function in healthy men and women: a randomized controlled trial

Apple as a Source of Dietary Phytonutrients: Bioavailability and Evidence of Protective Effects against Human Cardiovascular Disease

“…The acute effects of apples, rich in flavonoids (providing 184 mg of quercetin and 180 mg of (−)-epicatechin. ), on plasma NO status, endothelial function, and blood pressure has been studied by Bondonno et al [54] in healthy men and women in a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. Measurements included plasma nitric oxide status, assessed by measuring S-nitrosothiols, other nitrosylated species (RXNO) and nitrite, blood pressure, and endothelial function, measured as flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery.…”

Association of flavonoid-rich foods and flavonoids with risk of all-cause mortality

“…Much of the beneficial effects of these foods have been attributed to 30 their high content of biologically active flavonoids, which have been shown to improve nitric 31 oxide homeostasis and endothelial function, and reduce platelet aggregation and oxidative 32 stress [8][9][10][11][12][13] . Flavonoids are also thought to play roles in inactivating carcinogens, inducing 33 antiproliferation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and inhibiting angiogenesis 14 .…”

Flavonoids activate endothelial nitric oxide synthase by altering their phosphorylation via mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in glucose-induced endothelial cells

“…Icariin, a major flavonoid of Epimedium koreanum Nakai, activates the signalling modulators MEK/extracellular signalregulated kinase (ERK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), Akt, and eNOS to increase NO production (Chung et al, 2008). Other flavonoids from purple grape juice, apples, and spinach have been shown to increase NO release and improve endothelial function (Bondonno et al, 2012;Freedman et al, 2001). Naringin, which is found in grapefruit and other citrus fruit, has antioxidant properties.…”