title: Direct effects of (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin B2 on the respiration of rat heart mitochondria.
abstract: Flavonol (-)-epicatechin and its derived dimer procyanidin B2, present in high amounts in cocoa products, have been shown to exert beneficial effects on the heart and cardiovascular system; however, their mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. We studied effects of (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin B2 on the oxidative phosphorylation of isolated rat heart mitochondria. (-)-Epicatechin and procyanidin B2 had stimulating effect (up to 30% compared to control) on substrate-driven (State 2) mitochondrial respiration. Their effect was dependent on the respiratory substrates used. (-)-Epicatechin at higher concentrations (from 0.27 µg/mL) significantly decreased (up to 15%) substrate- and ADP-driven (State 3) mitochondrial respiration in case of pyruvate and malate oxidation only. Procyanidin B2 (0.7-17.9 ng/mL) inhibited State 3 respiration rate up to 19%, the most profound effect being expressed with succinate as the substrate. (-)-Epicatechin at concentrations of 0.23 µg/mL and 0.46 µg/mL prevented loss of the cytochrome c from mitochondria when substrate was succinate, supporting the evidence of membrane stabilizing properties of this flavonol. Thus, both (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin B2 directly influenced mitochondrial functions and the observed effects could help to explain cardiometabolic risk reduction ascribed to the consumption of modest amounts of cocoa products.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Social Pharmacy, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu 4, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors: Dalia M
authors: DM
authors: Kopustinskiene
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Social Pharmacy, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu 4, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors: Arunas
authors: A
authors: Savickas
authors: Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Vetchý
authors: Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors: Ruta
authors: R
authors: Masteikova
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, A. Mickeviciaus 9, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors: Arturas
authors: A
authors: Kasauskas
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Social Pharmacy, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu 4, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors: Jurga
authors: J
authors: Bernatoniene
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D044946:Biflavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002392:Catechin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013379:Substrate Specificity / Q000187:drug effects; D013386:Succinates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D044946:Biflavonoids; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D013386:Succinates; C479580:procyanidin B2; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D002392:Catechin; D045304:Cytochromes c