title: Pharmacological effects of xanthones as cardiovascular protective agents.
abstract: Many epidemiological studies indicate that consumption of dietary polyphenolic compounds is beneficial in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Xanthones are a class of polyphenolic compounds that commonly occur in plants and have been shown to have extensive biological and pharmacological activities. Recently, the pharmacological properties of xanthones in the cardiovascular system have attracted great interest. Xanthones and xanthone derivatives have been shown to have beneficial effects on some cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension and thrombosis. The protective effects of xanthones in the cardiovascular system may be due to their antioxidant, antiinflammatory, platelet aggregation inhibitory, antithrombotic and/or vasorelaxant activities. In particular, the antagonism of endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitors by xanthones may represent the basis for improved endothelial function and for reduction of events associated with atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Xiang-Ya Road #90, Changsha 410078, China.
authors.forename: De-Jian
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Yuan-Jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044004:Xanthones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D044004:Xanthones; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase