Grape seed proanthocyanidins improved cardiac recovery during reperfusion after ischemia in isolated rat hearts.
BACKGROUND
Increasing evidence shows that red wine consumption has cardioprotective effects. These effects have been attributed to the polyphenolic compounds in grapes.


OBJECTIVE
We studied the effects of red grape seed proanthocyanidins on the recovery of postischemic function in isolated rat hearts.


METHODS
Two groups of rats were fed different doses of proanthocyanidin-rich extract for 3 wk and another group was untreated and served as controls. The animals were then anesthetized and the hearts were isolated and subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Coronary effluents were collected during the third minute of reperfusion for measurement of oxygen free radicals by using electron spin resonance spectroscopy.


RESULTS
In rats treated with 50 and 100 mg grape seed proanthocyanidins/kg, the incidence of reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation was reduced from its control value of 92% to 42% and 25%, respectively (P < 0.05 for both). The incidence of ventricular tachycardia showed the same pattern. In rats treated with 100 mg proanthocyanidins/kg, the recovery of coronary flow, aortic flow, and developed pressure after 60 min of reperfusion was improved by 32% +/- 8%, 98% +/- 8%, and 37% +/- 3%, respectively (P < 0.05 for all) compared with untreated control rats. Electron spin resonance studies indicated that proanthocyanidins significantly inhibited the formation of oxygen free radicals. In rats treated with 100 mg proanthocyanidins/kg, free radical intensity was reduced by 75% +/- 7% (P < 0.05) compared with the control rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Grape seed proanthocyanidins have cardioprotective effects against reperfusion-induced injury via their ability to reduce or remove, directly or indirectly, free radicals in myocardium that is reperfused after ischemia.
Pataki
Tunde
T
Department of Pharmacology and First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Bak
Istvan
I
Kovacs
Peter
P
Bagchi
Debasis
D
Das
Dipak K
DK
Tosaki
Arpad
A
D000818:Animals; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry*
D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C013221:proanthocyanidin