Effects of resveratrol and other wine polyphenols on vascular function: an update.
Several epidemiologic observations show that moderate wine drinking reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Wine contains several polyphenols, and among them, resveratrol in particular has been shown to exert a number of important biologic activities on the cardiovascular system that may contribute to the protective effects of wine. The mechanisms through which resveratrol and other wine polyphenols protect from ischemic cardiovascular events are many, but protection from oxidative stress and radical oxygen species production, a facilitating activity on nitric oxide production and activity and the ability to modulate the expression of adhesive molecules by blood cells and the vascular wall seem to be the most important. In this overview, the in vitro and in vivo evidence on the activity of resveratrol on vascular function and circulating blood cells, with a special emphasis on blood platelets, is thoroughly presented.
Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, 06126 Perugia, Italy. grespa@unipg.it
Paolo
P
Gresele
Chiara
C
Cerletti
Giuseppe
G
Guglielmini
Pasquale
P
Pignatelli
Giovanni
G
de Gaetano
Francesco
F
Violi
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis*
D000975:Antioxidants; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013267:Stilbenes; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000077185:Resveratrol