Epidemiological studies link the consumption of red wine with reduced risk of coronary heart disease. Scientists believe that the red wine polyphenols may slow down the progression of early atherosclerotic lesions into advanced plaques, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear.
A study conducted by Dr. MH Oak and co-workers at the University Louis Pasteur, France, and published in the British Journal of Pharmacology explored the effects of
cyanidin and delphinidin, two polyphenols found in red wine, on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in vascular smooth muscles cells. These cells are responsible for the contraction or relaxation of blood vessel to redistribute the blood within the body to areas where it is needed. Previous studies have demonstrated that red wine polyphenols inhibit the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in vascular smooth muscle cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor is a signal protein that can cause vascular disease when overexpressed.
The team lead by Dr. MH Oak tried to identify which red wine polyphenols were protective and to determine the underlying mechanisms. They measured the effect of red wine polyphenols and specific red wine polyphenols (delphinidin, malvidin, cyanidin, quercetin, catechins, resveratrol, gallic acid and caffeic acid) on the release of vascular endothelial growth factor by human aortic vascular smooth muscles cells stimulated by platelet derived growth factor. Only delphinidin and cyanidin prevented the release of endothelial growth factor, without affecting the cell viability, by inhibiting the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and Jun-N-terminal kinase. Both phytochemicals also directly scavenged radical oxygen species.
The authors concluded that anthocyanins with a hydroxyl residue at position 3, such as cyanidin and delphinidin, are able to inhibit the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor induced by platelet derived growth factor in vascular smooth muscle cells. The ability of cyandin and delphinidin to stop the growth of vascular cells by preventing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor might result in a decreased rate of atherosclerotic lesion formation.
Source: Oak MH, Bedoui JE, Madeira SV, Chalupsky K, Schini-Kerth VB. Delphinidin and cyanidin inhibit PDGF(AB)-induced VEGF release in vascular smooth muscle cells by preventing activation of p38 MAPK and JNK. Br J Pharmacol. 2006 Oct;149(3):283-90. Epub 2006 Aug 21