Cardiovascular effects and molecular targets of resveratrol

Regulatory effects of resveratrol on nitric oxide signaling in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular illnesses are multifactorial disorders and represent the primary reasons for death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. As a signaling molecule, nitric oxide (NO) is extremely permeable across cellular membranes owing to its unique molecular features, like its small molecular size, lipophilicity, and free radical properties. Some of the biological effects of NO are vasodilation, inhibition in the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells, and functional regulation of cardiac cells. Several therapeutic approaches have been tested to increase the production of NO or some downstream NO signaling pathways. The health benefits of red wine are typically attributed to the polyphenolic phytoalexin, resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), which is found in several plant species. Resveratrol has beneficial cardiovascular properties, some of which are mediated through endothelial nitric oxide synthase production (eNOS). Resveratrol promotes NO generation from eNOS through various methods, including upregulation of eNOS expression, activation in the enzymatic activity of eNOS, and reversal of eNOS uncoupling. Additionally, by reducing of oxidative stress, resveratrol inhibits the formation of superoxide and inactivation NO, increasing NO bioavailability. This review discusses the scientific literature on resveratrol's beneficial impact on NO signaling and how this effect improves the function of vascular endothelium.

Unveiling the potential of HS-1793: a review of its anticancer properties and therapeutic promise

HS-1793 is a novel derivative of resveratrol, a compound known for its numerous beneficial effects, including anticancer activity, anti-inflammatory response, antimicrobial, antiaging, anti-cardiovascular disease activity, neuroprotective activity, etc. Despite its wide and interesting properties, resveratrol suffers from a crucial flaw because it is low bioavailable. For this reason, many other derivatives were explored and among them, HS-1793 has caught the attention of researchers. HS-1793 is a synthetic derivative of resveratrol discovered in 2007 that has been shown to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, the compound showed a positive profile in metabolic processes, with adequate pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. This review highlights current research on HS-1793, evaluating in vitro and in vivo works and lays the foundation for novel explorative trials in human diseases.

Pleiotropic Effects of Resveratrol on Aging-Related Cardiovascular Diseases-What Can We Learn from Research in Dogs?

Resveratrol (RES) is a polyphenol with natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is found in abundance in plants, i.e., grapes and mulberry fruit. In addition, synthetic forms of RES exist. Since the discovery of its specific biological properties, RES has emerged as a candidate substance not only with modeling effects on the immune response but also as an important factor in preventing the onset and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Previous research provided strong evidence of the effects of RES on platelets, mitochondria, cardiomyocytes, and vascular endothelial function. In addition, RES positively affects the coagulation system and vasodilatory function and improves blood flow. Not only in humans but also in veterinary medicine, cardiovascular diseases have one of the highest incidence rates. Canine and human species co-evolved and share recent evolutionary selection processes, and interestingly, numerous pathologies of companion dogs have a human counterpart. Knowledge of the impact of RES on the cardiovascular system of dogs is becoming clearer in the literature. Dogs have long been recognized as valuable animal models for the study of various human diseases as they share many physiological and genetic similarities with humans. In this review, we aim to shed light on the pleiotropic effects of resveratrol on cardiovascular health in dogs as a translational model for human cardiovascular diseases.

Resveratrol and vascular health: evidence from clinical studies and mechanisms of actions related to its metabolites produced by gut microbiota

Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality worldwide, with dietary factors being the main risk contributors. Diets rich in bioactive compounds, such as (poly)phenols, have been shown to potentially exert positive effects on vascular health. Among them, resveratrol has gained particular attention due to its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action. Nevertheless, the results in humans are conflicting possibly due to interindividual different responses. The gut microbiota, a complex microbial community that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract, has been called out as potentially responsible for modulating the biological activities of phenolic metabolites in humans. The present review aims to summarize the main findings from clinical trials on the effects of resveratrol interventions on endothelial and vascular outcomes and review potential mechanisms interesting the role of gut microbiota on the metabolism of this molecule and its cardioprotective metabolites. The findings from randomized controlled trials show contrasting results on the effects of resveratrol supplementation and vascular biomarkers without dose-dependent effect. In particular, studies in which resveratrol was integrated using food sources, i.e., red wine, reported significant effects although the resveratrol content was, on average, much lower compared to tablet supplementation, while other studies with often extreme resveratrol supplementation resulted in null findings. The results from experimental studies suggest that resveratrol exerts cardioprotective effects through the modulation of various antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hypertensive pathways, and microbiota composition. Recent studies on resveratrol-derived metabolites, such as piceatannol, have demonstrated its effects on biomarkers of vascular health. Moreover, resveratrol itself has been shown to improve the gut microbiota composition toward an anti-inflammatory profile. Considering the contrasting findings from clinical studies, future research exploring the bidirectional link between resveratrol metabolism and gut microbiota as well as the mediating effect of gut microbiota in resveratrol effect on cardiovascular health is warranted.

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce glycolipid metabolism disorder via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway in mice

Nanoplastics-induced developmental and reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity are a focus of widespread attention. However, the effects of nanoplastics (NPs) on glycolipid metabolism and the precise underlying mechanisms are unclear at present. Here, we showed that oral administration of polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) disrupts glycolipid metabolism, with reactive oxygen species (ROS) identified as a potential key signaling molecule. After PS-NPs treatment, excessive production of ROS induced the inflammatory response and activated the antioxidant pathway through nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2. The activation of nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) signaling pathway induced the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway, which induced the activation of extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) and p38. Constitutive activation of the MAPK signaling proteins induced high continued phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1, in turn, leading to decreased protein kinase B (Akt) activity, which weakened the sensitivity of liver cells to insulin signals and induced insulin resistance. In parallel, phosphorylation of Akt led to loss of control of FoXO1, a key gene of gluconeogenesis, activating transcription of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in a manner dependent on PGC1α. Moreover, the activated ERK promoted lipid accumulation through ERK-PPARγ cascades. Therefore, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 and levels of its downstream lipogenic enzymes, ACC-1, were up-regulated. Upon treatment with the antioxidant resveratrol, PS-NPs-induced glucose and lipid metabolic disorders were improved by inhibiting ROS-induced activation of NFκB and MAPK signaling pathway in mice. Based on above, PS-NPs exposure disrupts glycolipid metabolism in mice, with ROS identified as a potential key signaling molecule.

Review Deciphering the Anticancer Efficacy of Resveratrol and their Associated Mechanisms in Human Carcinoma

The scientific world has recently shown wider attention to elucidating the anticancerous potential of numerous plant-based bioactive compounds. Many research studies have suggested that consuming foods high in polyphenols, which are present in large amounts in grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits, may delay the onset of various illnesses, including cancer. Normal cells with genetic abnormalities begin the meticulously organized path leading to cancer, which causes the cells to constantly multiply, colonize, and metastasize to other organs like the liver, lungs, colon, and brain. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring stilbene and non-flavonoid polyphenol, a phytoestrogen with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and anticancer properties. Resveratrol makes cancer cells more susceptible to common chemotherapeutic treatments by reversing multidrug resistance in cancer cells. This is especially true when combined with clinically used medications. Several new resveratrol analogs with enhanced anticancer effectiveness, absorption, and pharmacokinetic profile have been discovered. The present emphasis of this review is the modulation of intracellular molecular targets by resveratrol in vivo and in vitro in various malignancies. This review would help future researchers develop a potent lead candidate for efficiently managing human cancers.

Exploring the effects of resveratrol supplementation on cerebrovascular function in hormonal migraineurs: A pilot study

Background

Past research suggests that hormonal migraineurs may have poorer cerebrovascular function than women who do not suffer from migraine. Resveratrol, a vasoactive phytoestrogen, has been shown to improve cerebrovascular function in several populations but has never been tested in hormonal migraineurs.

Aim

To investigate the effects of 3-month resveratrol supplementation on the cerebrovascular function of hormonal migraineurs.

Methods

We conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover intervention pilot study with resveratrol (150 mg/d for 3 months) in ten hormonal migraineurs (mean age: 37.2 ± 2.6 years). Participants visited the University of Newcastle's Clinical Nutrition Research Centre where quality of life and disability, and cerebrovascular function were assessed. Quality of life and disability were examined using Migraine-Specific Quality of Life, Headache Impact Test-6 and the Migraine Disability Assessment. Cerebrovascular function was determined using transcranial Doppler ultrasound to bilaterally measure blood flow velocity in the middle and posterior cerebral arteries at rest and in response to a hypercapnic stimulus. Cerebrovascular responsiveness to a cognitive task battery was also measured bilaterally in the middle cerebral arteries.

Results

Compared to placebo, blood flow velocity in the right posterior cerebral artery was significantly higher (P = 0.041) following resveratrol supplementation. No other significant differences in cerebrovascular function between resveratrol and placebo treatments were observed. Baseline correlation analyses revealed higher blood flow velocities in the middle and posterior cerebral arteries were associated with better quality of life and less disability. However, higher cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypercapnia in the posterior circulation was associated with higher migraine-related disability and poorer migraine-related quality of life.

Conclusion

In this pilot we found evidence that resveratrol may increase blood flow velocity in the right posterior cerebral artery in hormonal migraineurs. Larger cohorts are required confirm this effect and its potential relationship to migraine in premenopausal women.

A Mitochondrial Nanoguard Modulates Redox Homeostasis and Bioenergy Metabolism in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

As a major late complication of diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the primary reason for amputation. Nevertheless, there are no wonder drugs available. Regulating dysfunctional mitochondria is a key therapeutic target for DPN. Resveratrol (RSV) is widely proven to guard mitochondria, yet the unsatisfactory bioavailability restricts its clinical application. Tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) are promising carriers due to their excellent cell entrance efficiency, biological safety, and structure editability. Here, RSV was intercalated into tFNAs to form the tFNAs-RSV complexes. tFNAs-RSV achieved enhanced stability, bioavailability, and biocompatibility compared with tFNAs and RSV alone. With its treatment, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was minimized and reductases were activated in an in vitro model of DPN. Besides, respiratory function and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production were enhanced. tFNAs-RSV also exhibited favorable therapeutic effects on sensory dysfunction, neurovascular deterioration, demyelination, and neuroapoptosis in DPN mice. Metabolomics analysis revealed that redox regulation and energy metabolism were two principal mechanisms that were impacted during the process. Comprehensive inspections indicated that tFNAs-RSV inhibited nitrosation and oxidation and activated reductase and respiratory chain. In sum, tFNAs-RSV served as a mitochondrial nanoguard (mito-guard), representing a viable drilling target for clinical drug development of DPN.

Effects of resveratrol on tolerance to ischemia/reperfusion injury in aged male mice: Role of autophagy and apoptosis

Aged myocardium is more susceptible to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Autophagy and apoptosis play important roles in cardiac I/R injury. However, whether resveratrol can reduce the I/R vulnerability of aged myocardium by regulating apoptosis and autophagy remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of resveratrol on the tolerance to I/R injury in aged male mice and to determine the contribution of apoptosis and autophagy. We used aged C57 mice as our research subjects. The hearts of mice were isolated after 6 weeks of intragastric administration with resveratrol and subsequently perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer to produce the I/R model. We found that resveratrol alleviated cardiac I/R injury in aged mice, but not in SIRT1+/- mice. Aged mice exhibited decreased LC3 and Beclin1 expressions, which were significantly rescued by resveratrol treatment. In addition, resveratrol decreased the expression of Bax and the activity of Caspase-3, while increasing the expression of Bcl-2 and the activity of SIRT1 in aged mouse hearts. Coimmunoprecipitation assays revealed that resveratrol facilitated the binding of Bax to Bcl-2 and the dissociation of Bcl-2 from Beclin1 in aged mouse myocardium. Conversely, SIRT1 knockout enhanced the formation of the Beclin1/Bcl-2 complex and disrupted the interaction between Bcl-2 and Bax. The above results indicate that resveratrol can reduce the vulnerability of myocardial I/R injury in senile myocardium by inhibiting apoptosis and upregulating autophagy through the SIRT1 signaling pathway.

Intracellular Redox Behavior of Quercetin and Resveratrol Singly and in Mixtures

Polyphenols have attracted great interest as potent antioxidant compounds and nutraceuticals; however, their antioxidant properties represent a multifaceted phenomenon, including pro-oxidant effects under particular conditions and complex behavior when multiple polyphenols are simultaneously present. Moreover, their intracellular behavior cannot always be predicted from their ability to counteract the production of ROS in acellular assays. The present work aimed to study the direct intracellular redox activity of two polyphenols, resveratrol and quercetin, singly and in mixture in a cellular short-term bioassay under both basal and pro-oxidant conditions. The study was carried out by spectrofluorimetric assessment of the intracellular fluorescence of CM-H₂DCFDA-charged HeLa cells under either basal conditions, due to the reactive species associated with the normal cellular oxidative metabolism, or pro-oxidant conditions induced by H₂O₂ exposure. Under basal conditions, the obtained results showed a significant antioxidant effect of quercetin and a weaker antioxidant effect of resveratrol when used singly, while antagonism of their effect was detected in their equimolar mixtures at all the concentrations used. Under exposure of the cells to H₂O₂, quercetin exhibited a dose-dependent intracellular antioxidant activity whereas resveratrol manifested a pro-oxidant intracellular activity, while their equimolar mixtures showed an intracellular interaction between the 2 polyphenols, with additive effects at 5 µM and synergic at 25 µM and 50 µM. Thus, the results clarified the direct intracellular antioxidant/pro-oxidant activity of quercetin and resveratrol alone and in their equimolar mixtures in the cell model HeLa cells and highlighted that the antioxidant properties of polyphenols in mixtures at the cellular level depend not only on the nature of the compounds themselves but also on the type of interactions in the cellular system, which in turn are influenced by the concentration and the oxidative status of the cell.

Alcohol and the vasculature: a love-hate relationship?

Alcohol consumption is a leading risk factor and increases the risk of liver diseases, cancers, tuberculosis, and injuries. The relationship between alcohol use and cardiovascular risk is complex. While it is well established that heavy alcohol use and binge drinking harm cardiovascular health, the effect of light-to-moderate alcohol consumption remains controversial. Observational studies have repeatedly confirmed the U- or J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease risk, with the lowest risk observed in the light-to-moderate drinking group. However, the protective effect of low-level alcohol has been challenged by recent genetic epidemiological studies with Mendelian randomization. Such studies have their own limitations, and the application of this methodology in studying alcohol has been questioned. Results from the latest Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study suggest that the impact of alcohol consumption on health depends on the age structure and the distribution of disease burden and underlying causes in a given population. For young adults, even small amounts of alcohol cause heath loss. For older adults facing a high burden of cardiovascular diseases, light-to-moderate alcohol consumption may improve cardiovascular health outcomes. Mechanistically, all types of alcoholic beverages, including wine, spirits, and beer, have been shown to increase the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and adiponectin, and reduce the level of fibrinogen. Nonalcoholic components of wine, especially polyphenolic compounds like resveratrol, may additionally enhance endothelial nitric oxide production, and provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Antioxidant Phytochemicals as Potential Therapy for Diabetic Complications

The global prevalence of diabetes continues to increase partly due to rapid urbanization and an increase in the aging population. Consequently, this is associated with a parallel increase in the prevalence of diabetic vascular complications which significantly worsen the burden of diabetes. For these diabetic vascular complications, there is still an unmet need for safe and effective alternative/adjuvant therapeutic interventions. There is also an increasing urge for therapeutic options to come from natural products such as plants. Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress is central to the development of diabetes and diabetic complications. Furthermore, oxidative stress-induced inflammation and insulin resistance are central to endothelial damage and the progression of diabetic complications. Human and animal studies have shown that polyphenols could reduce oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, and prevent diabetic complications including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Part of the therapeutic effects of polyphenols is attributed to their modulatory effect on endogenous antioxidant systems. This review attempts to summarize the established effects of polyphenols on endogenous antioxidant systems from the literature. Moreover, potential therapeutic strategies for harnessing the potential benefits of polyphenols for diabetic vascular complications are also discussed.

Moderate Wine Consumption and Health: A Narrative Review

Although it is clearly established that the abuse of alcohol is seriously harmful to health, much epidemiological and clinical evidence seem to underline the protective role of moderate quantities of alcohol and in particular of wine on health. This narrative review aims to re-evaluate the relationship between the type and dose of alcoholic drink and reduced or increased risk of various diseases, in the light of the most current scientific evidence. In particular, in vitro studies on the modulation of biochemical pathways and gene expression of wine bioactive components were evaluated. Twenty-four studies were selected after PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar searches for the evaluation of moderate alcohol/wine consumption and health effects: eight studies concerned cardiovascular diseases, three concerned type 2 diabetes, four concerned neurodegenerative diseases, five concerned cancer and four were related to longevity. A brief discussion on viticultural and enological practices potentially affecting the content of bioactive components in wine is included. The analysis clearly indicates that wine differs from other alcoholic beverages and its moderate consumption not only does not increase the risk of chronic degenerative diseases but is also associated with health benefits particularly when included in a Mediterranean diet model. Obviously, every effort must be made to promote behavioral education to prevent abuse, especially among young people.

Resveratrol biotransformation and actions on the liver metabolism of healthy and arthritic rats

AIMS

To investigate the effects of resveratrol on glycogen catabolism and gluconeogenesis in perfused livers of healthy and arthritic rats. The actions of resveratrol-3-O-glucuronide (R3G) and the biotransformation of resveratrol into R3G was further evaluated in the livers.

MAIN METHODS

arthritis was induced with Freund's adjuvant. Resveratrol at concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 μM and 200 μM R3G were introduced in perfused livers. Resveratrol and metabolites were measured in the outflowing perfusate. Respiration of isolated mitochondria and activity of gluconeogenic enzymes were also evaluated in the livers.

KEY FINDINGS

resveratrol inhibited glycogen catabolism when infused at concentrations above 50 μM and gluconeogenesis even at 10 μM in both healthy and arthritic rat livers, but more sensitive in these latter. Resveratrol above 100 μM inhibited ADP-stimulated respiration and the activities of NADH- and succinate-oxidases in mitochondria, which were partially responsible for gluconeogenesis inhibition. Pyruvate carboxylase activity was inhibited by 25 μM resveratrol and should inhibit gluconeogenesis already at low concentrations. Resveratrol was significantly metabolized to R3G in healthy rat livers, however, R3G formation was lower in arthritic rat livers. The latter must be in part a consequence of a lower glucose disposal for glucuronidation. When compared to resveratrol, R3G inhibited gluconeogenesis in a lower extension and glycogen catabolism in a higher extension.

SIGNIFICANCE

the effects of resveratrol and R3G tended to be transitory and existed only when the resveratrol is present in the organ, however, they should be considered because significant serum concentrations of both are found after oral ingestion of resveratrol.

Role of resveratrol in inhibiting pathological cardiac remodeling

Cardiovascular disease is a group of diseases with high mortality in clinic, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart valve disease, heart failure, to name a few. In the development of cardiovascular diseases, pathological cardiac remodeling is the most common cardiac pathological change, which often becomes a domino to accelerate the deterioration of the disease. Therefore, inhibiting pathological cardiac remodeling may delay the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases and provide patients with greater long-term benefits. Resveratrol is a non-flavonoid polyphenol compound. It mainly exists in grapes, berries, peanuts and red wine, and has cardiovascular protective effects, such as anti-oxidation, inhibiting inflammatory reaction, antithrombotic, dilating blood vessels, inhibiting apoptosis and delaying atherosclerosis. At present, the research of resveratrol has made rich progress. This review aims to summarize the possible mechanism of resveratrol against pathological cardiac remodeling, in order to provide some help for the in-depth exploration of the mechanism of inhibiting pathological cardiac remodeling and the development and research of drug targets.

Palliative Effect of Resveratrol against Nanosized Iron Oxide-Induced Oxidative Stress and Steroidogenesis-Related Genes Dysregulation in Testicular Tissue of Adult Male Rats

The nano-sized iron oxide (Fe₂O₃-NPs) is one of the most used engineered nanomaterials worldwide. This study investigated the efficacy of natural polyphenol resveratrol (RSV) (20 mg/kg b.wt, orally once daily) to alleviate the impaired sperm quality and testicular injury resulting from Fe₂O₃-NPs exposure (3.5 or 7 mg/kg b.wt, intraperitoneally once a week) for eight weeks. Spermiograms, sexual hormonal levels, oxidative stress indicators, and lipid peroxidation biomarker were assessed. Moreover, the steroidogenesis-related genes mRNA expressions were evaluated. The results showed that RSV substantially rescued Fe₂O₃-NPs-mediated sperm defects. Additionally, the Fe₂O₃-NPs-induced depressing effects on sperm motility and viability were markedly counteracted by RSV. Moreover, RSV significantly restored Fe₂O₃-NPs-induced depletion of testosterone, follicle-stimulated hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testicular antioxidant enzymes but reduced malondialdehyde content. Furthermore, the Fe₂O₃-NPs-induced downregulation of steroidogenesis-related genes (3 β-HSD, 17 β-HSD, and Nr5A1) was significantly counteracted in the testicular tissue of RSV-treated rats. These findings concluded that RSV could limit the Fe₂O₃-NPs-induced reduced sperm quality and testicular injury most likely via their antioxidant activity and steroidogenesis-related gene expression modulation.

Protective mechanisms of 10-gingerol against myocardial ischemia may involve activation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway and regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis

10-Gingerol (10-Gin), an active ingredient extracted from ginger, has been reported to have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. However, its protective effects on myocardial ischemia (MI) and the underlying cellular mechanisms are still unclear. To investigate the protection conferred by 10-Gin against MI injury and its potential mechanisms in cardiomyocytes via patch-clamp and molecular biology techniques. A rat MI model was established using the subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (85 mg/kg) administered on two consecutive days. 10-Gin was pre-administered to rats for seven days to assess its cardio-protection. The patch-clamp and IonOptix Myocam detection techniques were used to investigated 10-Gin's effects on L-type Ca²⁺ channels (LTCCs), Ca²⁺ transients and cell contractility in isolated rat cardiomyocytes. 10-Gin administration alleviated MI injury, improved cardiac function and myocardial histopathology, reduced myocardial infarct area, downregulated oxidative stress and Ca²⁺ levels, and decreased the expression of apoptotic factors. Importantly, 10-Gin led to an increase in phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2 and STAT3, respectively) expressions. Furthermore, 10-Gin inhibited LTCCs in a concentration-dependent manner with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 75.96 μM. Moreover, 10-Gin administration inhibited Ca²⁺ transients and cell contractility. Our results suggest that 10-Gin exerts cardioprotective effects on MI in vivo and in vitro in connection with the inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis via activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway, and regulation of Ca²⁺ homeostasis by LTCCs.

Health benefits of polyphenols: A concise review

Plants produce polyphenols, which are considered highly essential functional foods in our diet. They are classified into several groups according to their diverse chemical structures. Flavanoids, lignans, stilbenes, and phenolic acids are the four main families of polyphenols. Several in vivo and in vitro research have been conducted so far to evaluate their health consequences. Polyphenols serve a vital function in the protection of the organism from external stimuli and in eliminating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are instigators of several illnesses. Polyphenols are present in tea, chocolate, fruits, and vegetables with the potential to positively influence human health. For instance, cocoa flavan-3-ols have been associated with a decreased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and diabetes. Polyphenols in the diet also help to improve lipid profiles, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and systemic inflammation. Quercetin, a flavonoid, and resveratrol, a stilbene, have been linked to improved cardiovascular health. Dietary polyphenols potential to elicit therapeutic effects might be attributed, at least in part, to a bidirectional association with the gut microbiome. This is because polyphenols are known to affect the gut microbiome composition in ways that lead to better human health. Specifically, the gut microbiome converts polyphenols into bioactive compounds that have therapeutic effects. In this review, the antioxidant, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and anti-diabetic actions of polyphenols are described based on findings from in vivo and in vitro experimental trials. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden has been increasing worldwide due to the sedentary lifestyle and several other factors such as smoking, junk food, etc. Scientific literature evidence supports the use of plant-based food polyphenols as therapeutic agents that could help to alleviate NCD's burden. Thus, consuming polyphenolic compounds from natural sources could be an effective solution to mitigate NCDs concerns. It is also discussed how natural antioxidants from medicinal plants might help prevent or repair damage caused by free radicals, such as oxidative stress.

Resveratrol and regular exercise may attenuate hypertension-induced cardiac dysfunction through modulation of cellular stress responses

AIMS

Hypertension is one of the major causes of cardiac damage. In this study, the effects of resveratrol supplementation and regular exercise on hypertension-induced cellular stress responses of myocardium were compared.

MAIN METHODS

Hypertension was induced in male Wistar rats by deoxycorticosterone-acetate + salt administration for 12 weeks. Resveratrol and regular exercise were applied for the last six weeks. In addition to biochemical and molecular examinations, isoprenaline, phenylephrine and, acetylcholine-mediated contractions and sinus rate were recorded in the isolated cardiac tissues.

KEY FINDINGS

Resveratrol and regular exercise reduced systolic blood pressure in hypertensive rats. The altered adrenergic and cholinergic responses of the right atrium and left papillary muscles in hypertension were separately improved by resveratrol and regular exercise. Resveratrol and regular exercise decreased plasma and cardiac total antioxidant capacity and, augmented the expression of antioxidant genes in hypertensive rats. While regular exercise restored the increase in p-PERK expression associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress and decrease in mitophagic marker PINK1 expression, resveratrol only ameliorated PINK1 expression in hypertensive rats. Resveratrol and exercise training suppressed hypertension-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation by reversing the increase in NLRP3, p-NF-κB expression and the mature-IL-1β/pro-IL-1β and cleaved-caspase-1/pro-caspase-1 ratio. Resveratrol and exercise enhanced mRNA expression of caspase-3, bax, and bcl-2 involved in the apoptotic pathway, but attenuated phosphorylation of stress-related mitogenic proteins p38 and JNK induced by hypertension.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our study demonstrated the protective effect of resveratrol and exercise on hypertension-induced cardiac dysfunction by modulating cellular stress responses including oxidative stress, ER stress, mitophagy, NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation, and mitogenic activation.

A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial of Resveratrol Supplementation for Prophylaxis of Hormonal Migraine

Resveratrol, a vasoactive phytoestrogen, has beneficial effects on cerebrovascular function. Previous research has shown that hormonal migraineurs have poorer cerebrovascular function than non-migraineur women. We aimed to investigate if resveratrol supplementation for three months could reduce the hormonal migraine burden index (HMBI: the number of days with menstrual migraine per month), reduce migraine-related disability and improve migraine-related quality of life. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, intervention trial was conducted in 62 hormonal migraineurs (mean age: 37.5 ± 0.8 years). Participants consumed 75 mg of resveratrol or matching placebo capsules twice daily for three months before crossing over to the other treatment arm. Participants completed a daily diary and the Headache Impact Test-6™, Migraine Disability Assessment and Migraine-Specific Quality of Life questionnaires at months 0, 3 and 6. The HMBI was the primary outcome and was calculated using data extracted from the participant’s diary. No differences in the HMBI (p = 0.895), the Headache Impact Test-6™, the Migraine Disability Assessment and Migraine-Specific Quality of Life were found between the resveratrol and placebo treatments. Resveratrol supplementation for three months did not affect the HMBI, the migraine-related disability or quality of life measures in our cohort of hormonal migraineurs.

Mechanisms and Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is one of the main public health problems at present. Although some breakthroughs have been made in the treatment of HF, the mortality rate remains very high. However, we should also pay attention to improving the quality of life of patients with HF. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of being used to treat HF. To demonstrate the clinical effects and mechanisms of TCM, we searched published clinical trial studies and basic studies. The search results showed that adjuvant therapy with TCM might benefit patients with HF, and its mechanism may be related to microvascular circulation, myocardial energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Food-Related Carbonyl Stress in Cardiometabolic and Cancer Risk Linked to Unhealthy Modern Diet

Carbonyl stress is a condition characterized by an increase in the steady-state levels of reactive carbonyl species (RCS) that leads to accumulation of their irreversible covalent adducts with biological molecules. RCS are generated by the oxidative cleavage and cellular metabolism of lipids and sugars. In addition to causing damage directly, the RCS adducts, advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and advanced lipoxidation end-products (ALEs), cause additional harm by eliciting chronic inflammation through receptor-mediated mechanisms. Hyperglycemia- and dyslipidemia-induced carbonyl stress plays a role in diabetic cardiovascular complications and diabetes-related cancer risk. Moreover, the increased dietary exposure to AGEs/ALEs could mediate the impact of the modern, highly processed diet on cardiometabolic and cancer risk. Finally, the transient carbonyl stress resulting from supraphysiological postprandial spikes in blood glucose and lipid levels may play a role in acute proinflammatory and proatherogenic changes occurring after a calorie dense meal. These findings underline the potential importance of carbonyl stress as a mediator of the cardiometabolic and cancer risk linked to today’s unhealthy diet. In this review, current knowledge in this field is discussed along with future research courses to offer new insights and open new avenues for therapeutic interventions to prevent diet-associated cardiometabolic disorders and cancer.

Reactive Oxygen Species Induced Pathways in Heart Failure Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Strategies

With respect to structural and functional cardiac disorders, heart failure (HF) is divided into HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Oxidative stress contributes to the development of both HFrEF and HFpEF. Identification of a broad spectrum of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced pathways in preclinical models has provided new insights about the importance of ROS in HFrEF and HFpEF development. While current treatment strategies mostly concern neuroendocrine inhibition, recent data on ROS-induced metabolic pathways in cardiomyocytes may offer additional treatment strategies and targets for both of the HF forms. The purpose of this article is to summarize the results achieved in the fields of: (1) ROS importance in HFrEF and HFpEF pathophysiology, and (2) treatments for inhibiting ROS-induced pathways in HFrEF and HFpEF patients. ROS-producing pathways in cardiomyocytes, ROS-activated pathways in different HF forms, and treatment options to inhibit their action are also discussed.

The Potential of Dietary Bioactive Compounds against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction

COVID-19 is an endothelial disease. All the major comorbidities that increase the risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 including old age, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, respiratory disease, compromised immune system, coronary artery disease or heart failure are associated with dysfunctional endothelium. Genetics and environmental factors (epigenetics) are major risk factors for endothelial dysfunction. Individuals with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and poor COVID-19 outcomes and higher risk of mortality. Old age is a non-modifiable risk factor. All other risk factors are modifiable. This review also identifies dietary risk factors for endothelial dysfunction. Potential dietary preventions that address endothelial dysfunction and its sequelae may have an important role in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection severity and are key factors for future research to address. This review presents some dietary bioactives with demonstrated efficacy against dysfunctional endothelial cells. This review also covers dietary bioactives with efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Dietary bioactive compounds that prevent endothelial dysfunction and its sequelae, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, will result in more effective prevention of SARS-CoV-2 variant infection severity and are key factors for future food research to address.

Resveratrol alleviates cardiac apoptosis following exposure to fenitrothion by modulating the sirtuin1/c-Jun N-terminal kinases/p53 pathway through pro-oxidant and inflammatory response improvements: In vivo and in silico studies

Fenitrothion (FNT), a commonly used organophosphate, can cause oxidative damage and apoptosis on various organs. However, the underlying mechanisms for FNT-induced cardiotoxicity did not formally report. Here, we have evaluated the possible ameliorative roles of resveratrol (RSV) against FNT-induced cardiac apoptosis in male rats through the sirtuin1 (SIRT1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (c-JNK)/p53 pathway concerning pro-oxidant and inflammatory cytokines. Forty-eight male rats were equally grouped into control, RSV (20 mg/kg), 5-FNT (5 mg/kg), 10-FNT (10 mg/kg), 20-FNT (20 mg/kg), 5-FNT-RSV, 10-FNT-RSV, and 20-FNT-RSV where all doses administrated by gavage for four weeks. The present findings demonstrated that RSV markedly diminished the level of hyperlipidemia and elevation in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total creatine kinase (CK-T), and troponin T (TnT) levels following FNT intoxication. Furthermore, RSV significantly reduced FNT-induced cardiac oxidative injury by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) level and improving the levels of glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and acetylcholinesterase (AchE). Also, the levels of interleukin-1β (IL1β,), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly attenuated in the co-treated groups. Moreover, RSV alleviated the histopathological changes promoted by FNT and repaired the transcript levels of SIRT1, c-JNK, and caspase-9/3 along with p53 immunoreactivity. In silico study revealed that the free binding energies of RSV complexes with protein and DNA sequences of SIRT1 were lower than docked complexes of FNT. Therefore, RSV reserved myocardial injury-induced apoptosis following exposure to FNT by modulating the SIRT1/c-JNK/p53 pathway through cellular redox status and inflammatory response improvements.

Resveratrol against Cardiac Fibrosis: Research Progress in Experimental Animal Models

Cardiac fibrosis is a heterogeneous disease, which is characterized by abundant proliferation of interstitial collagen, disordered arrangement, collagen network reconstruction, increased cardiac stiffness, and decreased systolic and diastolic functions, consequently developing into cardiac insufficiency. With several factors participating in and regulating the occurrence and development of cardiac fibrosis, a complex molecular mechanism underlies the disease. Moreover, cardiac fibrosis is closely related to hypertension, myocardial infarction, viral myocarditis, atherosclerosis, and diabetes, which can lead to serious complications such as heart failure, arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death, thus seriously threatening human life and health. Resveratrol, with the chemical name 3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene, is a polyphenol abundantly present in grapes and red wine. It is known to prevent the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, it may resist cardiac fibrosis through a variety of growth factors, cytokines, and several cell signaling pathways, thus exerting a protective effect on the heart.

Effect of resveratrol on inflammatory cytokines: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

The aim of the current study was to perform a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials regarding the effect of resveratrol in decreasing the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in a combination of inflammatory diseases. Literature search was carried out in Scopus, ISI web of science, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases by up to September 2020. The pooled effect size was determined through measuring the weighted mean differences (WMD) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the difference between the resveratrol-receiving and control groups. Finally, 33 publications, including 3 studies on IL-1, 26 studies on IL-6, 4 studies on IL-8, and 21 studies on TNF-α met our final inclusion criteria and included in the quantitative analysis. Analysis in the overall population showed a significant effect of resveratrol consumption in reducing serum TNF-α levels (WMD = -0.66 pg/ml, 95% CI = -1.05 to -0.27, P = 0.001). A significant reduction of IL-6 concentration was observed only in the patients receiving ≥500 mg/day dose of resveratrol (WMD = -1.89 pg/ml, 95% CI = -3.73 to -0.05, P = 0.04) with inter-study heterogeneity (I2 = 94.4%, P < 0.001). Nonetheless, no significant alteration was observed in IL-1 (WMD = -0.14 pg/ml, 95% CI = -0.31 to 0.03, P = 0.10) and IL-8 (WMD = 0.18 pg/ml, 95% CI = -1.04 to 1.40, P = 0.73) levels following resveratrol consumption. Based on the present findings, resveratrol is able to decrease TNF-α and IL-6 (in ≥500 mg/day dose) levels but not IL-1 and IL-8 levels.

Effect of resveratrol on C-reactive protein: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

We conducted a meta-analysis on the available randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to assess the role of resveratrol in lowering C-reactive protein (CRP) and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels, as markers of inflammation, in various inflammatory disorders. Literature search through Medline/PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane Library yielded 35 RCTs (24 studies for hs-CRP and 11 studies for CRP). Pooled results revealed that resveratrol supplementation significantly reduced the hs-CRP (MWD = -0.40 mg/L; 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.09 mg/L; p = .01) and CRP (MWD = -0.31 mg/L; 95% CI: -0.47 to -0.15 mg/L; p < .001) levels in serum. Subgroup analysis revealed that resveratrol in group with ≥10 weeks significantly reduces hs-CRP levels (MWD = -0.48 mg/L; 95% CI: -0.92 to -0.04 mg/L; p = .03) and CRP (WMD = -0.47 mg/L, 95% CI = -0.69 to -0.25, p < .001). A dose of ≥500 mg/day supplementation improves the levels of CRP, but not hs-CRP. This meta-analysis demonstrates that resveratrol consumption is effective in lowering the levels of CRP and hs-CRP in inflammatory conditions, especially if supplementation takes place for ≥10 weeks with ≥500 mg/day.

Regulation of NADPH Oxidase-Mediated Superoxide Production by Acetylation and Deacetylation

Oral treatment of apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE-KO) mice with the putative sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activator resveratrol led to a reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity in the heart. In contrast, the SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 enhanced the superoxide production in isolated human polymorphonuclear granulocytes. In human monocytic THP-1 cells, phorbol ester-stimulated superoxide production was enhanced by inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACs; including quisinostat, trichostatin A (TSA), PCI34051, and tubastatin A) and decreased by inhibitors of histone acetyltransferases [such as garcinol, curcumin, and histone acetyltransferase (HAT) Inhibitor II]. These results indicate that protein acetylation and deacetylation may represent crucial mechanisms regulating NADPH oxidase-mediated superoxide production. In cell-free systems, incubation of recombinant Rac1 with SIRT1 resulted in decreased Rac1 acetylation. Mass spectrometry analyses identified lysine 166 (K166) in Rac1 as a residue targeted by SIRT1. Deacetylation of Rac1 by SIRT1 markedly reduced the interaction of Rac1 with p67phox in in vitro assays. Computational modeling analyses revealed that K166 deacetylation of Rac1 led to a 5-fold reduction in its binding affinity to guanosine-5'-triphosphate, and a 21-fold decrease in its binding potential to p67phox. The latter is crucial for Rac1-mediated recruitment of p67phox to the membrane and for p67phox activation. In conclusion, both SIRT1 and non-sirtuin deacetylases play a role in regulating NADPH oxidase activity. Rac1 can be directly deacetylated by SIRT1 in a cell-free system, leading to an inhibition of Rac1-p67phox interaction. The downstream targets of non-sirtuin deacetylases are still unknown. The in vivo significance of these findings needs to be investigated in future studies.

Resveratrol Confers Protection Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Increase of Angiotensin (1-7) Expression in a Rat Model of Myocardial Hypertrophy

ABSTRACT

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) makes the heart vulnerable to ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. Angiotensin (Ang) (1-7) is recognized as a cardioprotective peptide. We investigated the effect of polyphenol resveratrol on myocardial IR injury after hypertrophy and examined cardiac content of Ang (1-7) and transcription of its receptor (MasR). Rats were divided into sham-operated, LVH, IR, LVH + IR, and resveratrol + LVH + IR groups. Myocardial hypertrophy and IR models were created by abdominal aortic banding and left coronary artery occlusion, respectively. To evaluate the electrocardiogram parameters and incidence of arrhythmias, electrocardiogram was recorded by subcutaneous leads (lead II). Blood pressure was measured through the left carotid artery. Infarct size was determined by the triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. The Ang (1-7) level was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The Mas receptor mRNA level was assessed by the real-time real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique. QT-interval duration, infarct size, and incidence of ischemia-induced arrhythmia were significantly higher in the LVH + IR group. However, in the resveratrol-treated group, these parameters were decreased significantly. The cardiac level of Ang (1-7) was decreased in untreated hypertrophied hearts (LVH and LVH + IR groups). Pretreatment with resveratrol normalized the cardiac level of Ang (1-7). The mRNA level of Mas receptor was increased in all of hypertrophied hearts in the presence or absence of resveratrol. Resveratrol can decrease IR injury in rats with LVH. The anti-ischemic effect of resveratrol may be related to the enhancement of Ang (1-7)/MasR axis.

Polyphenols and Ischemic Stroke: Insight into One of the Best Strategies for Prevention and Treatment

Ischemic stroke (IS) is still among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. The pathogenic mechanisms beyond its development are several and are complex and this is the main reason why a functional therapy is still missed. The beneficial effects of natural compounds against cardiovascular diseases and IS have been investigated for a long time. In this article, we reviewed the association between the most studied polyphenols and stroke protection in terms of prevention, effect on acute phase, and rehabilitation. We described experimental and epidemiological studies reporting the role of flavonols, phenolic acid, and stilbens on ischemic mechanisms leading to stroke. We analyzed the principal animal models used to evaluate the impact of these micronutrients to cerebral blood flow and to molecular pathways involved in oxidative stress and inflammation modulation, such as sirtuins. We reported the most significant clinical trials demonstrated as the persistent use of polyphenols is clinically relevant in terms of the reduction of vascular risk factors for IS, such as Atrial Fibrillation. Interestingly, different kinds of polyphenols provide brain protection by activating different pathways and mechanisms, like inducing antithrombotic effect, such as Honokiol. For this reason, we discussed an appropriate integrative use of them as a possible therapeutic alternative against stroke.

Effects of Traditional Chinese Medication-Based Bioactive Compounds on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress

The oxidative stress reaction is the imbalance between oxidation and antioxidation in the body, resulting in excessive production of oxygen free radicals in the body that cannot be removed, leading to excessive oxidation of the body, and causing damage to cells and tissues. A large number of studies have shown that oxidative stress is involved in the pathological process of many diseases, so inhibiting oxidative stress, that is, antioxidation, is of great significance for the treatment of diseases. Studies have shown that many traditional Chinese medications contain antioxidant active bioactive compounds, but the mechanisms of those compounds are different and complicated. Therefore, by summarizing the literature on antioxidant activity of traditional Chinese medication-based bioactive compounds in recent years, our review systematically elaborates the main antioxidant bioactive compounds contained in traditional Chinese medication and their mechanisms, so as to provide references for the subsequent research.

Role of Resveratrol in Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Disorders and Cardiovascular Complications Related to COVID-19 Disease: Mode of Action and Approaches Explored to Increase Its Bioavailability

Resveratrol is a phytoalexin produced by many plants as a defense mechanism against stress-inducing conditions. The richest dietary sources of resveratrol are berries and grapes, their juices and wines. Good bioavailability of resveratrol is not reflected in its high biological activity in vivo because of resveratrol isomerization and its poor solubility in aqueous solutions. Proteins, cyclodextrins and nanomaterials have been explored as innovative delivery vehicles for resveratrol to overcome this limitation. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated beneficial effects of resveratrol in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Main beneficial effects of resveratrol intake are cardioprotective, anti-hypertensive, vasodilatory, anti-diabetic, and improvement of lipid status. As resveratrol can alleviate the numerous factors associated with CVD, it has potential as a functional supplement to reduce COVID-19 illness severity in patients displaying poor prognosis due to cardio-vascular complications. Resveratrol was shown to mitigate the major pathways involved in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 including regulation of the renin-angiotensin system and expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, stimulation of immune system and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Therefore, several studies already have anticipated potential implementation of resveratrol in COVID-19 treatment. Regular intake of a resveratrol rich diet, or resveratrol-based complementary medicaments, may contribute to a healthier cardio-vascular system, prevention and control of CVD, including COVID-19 disease related complications of CVD.

Cardioprotection stimulated by resveratrol and grape products prevents lethal cardiac arrhythmias in an animal model of ischemia and reperfusion

PURPOSE

To evaluate the preventive cardioprotective effects of resveratrol and grape products, such as grape juice and red wine, in animal model of cardiac ischemia and reperfusion.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats orally pretreated for 21-days with resveratrol and grape products were anesthetized and placed on mechanical ventilation to surgically induce cardiac ischemia and reperfusion by obstruction (ischemia) followed by liberation (reperfusion) of blood circulation in left descending coronary artery. These rats were submitted to the electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis to evaluate the effects of pretreatment with resveratrol and grape products on the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias (VA), atrioventricular block (AVB) and lethality (LET) resulting from cardiac ischemia and reperfusion.

RESULTS

It was observed that the incidence of AVB was significantly lower in rats pretreated with resveratrol (25%), grape juice (37.5%) or red wine (12.5%) than in rats treated with saline solution (80%) or ethanol (80%). Similarly, incidence of LET was also significantly lower in rats pretreated with resveratrol (25%), grape juice (25%) or red wine (0%) than in rats treated with saline solution (62.5%) or ethanol (75%).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that the cardioprotective response stimulated by resveratrol and grape products prevents the lethal cardiac arrhythmias in animal model of ischemia and reperfusion, supporting the idea that this treatment can be beneficial for prevention of severe cardiac arrhythmias in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Diabetic Complications and Oxidative Stress: A 20-Year Voyage Back in Time and Back to the Future

Twenty years have passed since Brownlee and colleagues proposed a single unifying mechanism for diabetic complications, introducing a turning point in this field of research. For the first time, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were identified as the causal link between hyperglycemia and four seemingly independent pathways that are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes-associated vascular disease. Before and after this milestone in diabetes research, hundreds of articles describe a role for ROS, but the failure of clinical trials to demonstrate antioxidant benefits and some recent experimental studies showing that ROS are dispensable for the pathogenesis of diabetic complications call for time to reflect. This twenty-year journey focuses on the most relevant literature regarding the main sources of ROS generation in diabetes and their role in the pathogenesis of cell dysfunction and diabetic complications. To identify future research directions, this review discusses the evidence in favor and against oxidative stress as an initial event in the cellular biochemical abnormalities induced by hyperglycemia. It also explores possible alternative mechanisms, including carbonyl stress and the Warburg effect, linking glucose and lipid excess, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the activation of alternative pathways of glucose metabolism leading to vascular cell injury and inflammation.

Flavonoids and Polyphenolic Compounds as Potential Talented Agents for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and their Antioxidant Activities

Aging is a normal human cycle and the most important risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Alternations in cells due to aging contribute to loss of the nutrient-sensing, cell function, increased oxidative stress, loss of the homeostasis cell, genomic instability, the build-up of malfunctioning proteins, weakened cellular defenses, and a telomere split. Disturbance of these essential cellular processes in neuronal cells can lead to life threats including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), Lewy's disease, etc. The most common cause of death in the elderly population is AD. Specific therapeutic molecules were created to alleviate AD's social, economic, and health burden. In clinical practice, almost every chemical compound was found to relieve symptoms only in palliative treatment. The reason behind these perfect medicines is that the current medicines are not effective in targeting the cause of this disease. In this paper, we explored the potential role of flavonoid and polyphenolic compounds, which could be the most effective preventative anti-Alzheimer's strategy.

Nutraceuticals and blood pressure control: a European Society of Hypertension position document

: High-normal blood pressure (BP) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, however the cost-benefit ratio of the use of antihypertensive treatment in these patients is not yet clear. Some dietary components and natural products seems to be able to significantly lower BP without significant side effects. The aim of this position document is to highlight which of these products have the most clinically significant antihypertensive action and wheter they could be suggested to patients with high-normal BP. Among foods, beetroot juice has the most covincing evidence of antihypertensive effect. Antioxidant-rich beverages (teas, coffee) could be considered. Among nutrients, magnesium, potassium and vitamin C supplements could improve BP. Among nonnutrient-nutraceuticals, soy isoflavones could be suggested in perimenopausal women, resveratrol in insulin-resistant patients, melatonin in study participants with night hypertension. In any case, the nutracutical approach has never to substitute the drug treatment, when needed.

The Influence of Plant Extracts and Phytoconstituents on Antioxidant Enzymes Activity and Gene Expression in the Prevention and Treatment of Impaired Glucose Homeostasis and Diabetes Complications

Diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder resulting either from insulin resistance or an impaired insulin secretion. Prolonged elevated blood glucose concentration, the key clinical sign of diabetes, initiates an enhancement of reactive oxygen species derived from glucose autoxidation and glycosylation of proteins. Consequently, chronic oxidative stress overwhelms cellular endogenous antioxidant defenses and leads to the acute and long-standing structural and functional changes of macromolecules resulting in impaired cellular functioning, cell death and organ dysfunction. The oxidative stress provoked chain of pathological events over time cause diabetic complications such as nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, retinopathy, hypertension, and liver disease. Under diabetic conditions, accompanying genome/epigenome and metabolite markers alterations may also affect glucose homeostasis, pancreatic β-cells, muscle, liver, and adipose tissue. By providing deeper genetic/epigenetic insight of direct or indirect dietary effects, nutrigenomics offers a promising opportunity to improve the quality of life of diabetic patients. Natural plant extracts, or their naturally occurring compounds, were shown to be very proficient in the prevention and treatment of different pathologies associated with oxidative stress including diabetes and its complications. Considering that food intake is one of the crucial components in diabetes’ prevalence, progression and complications, this review summarizes the effect of the major plant secondary metabolite and phytoconstituents on the antioxidant enzymes activity and gene expression under diabetic conditions.

Synthesis of Short-Chain-Fatty-Acid Resveratrol Esters and Their Antioxidant Properties

To expand the applications and enhance the stability and bioactivity of resveratrol (RE), and to simultaneously include the potential health benefits of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) esters of RE were prepared by Steglich reactions with acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, respectively. RE and the esterified RE-SCFA products (including RAE, RPE, and RBE) were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The FTIR and ¹³C NMR spectra of the esterified products included ester-characteristic peaks at 1751 cm⁻¹ and 171 ppm, respectively. Moreover, the peaks in the range of 1700 to 1600 cm⁻¹ in the FTIR spectra of the esterified products indicated that the esterification of RE-SCFA was successful. The TGA results revealed that the RE-SCFA esters decomposed at lower temperatures than RE. The peaks in the LC–MS profiles of the esterified products indicated the formation of mono- and diesters, and the calculated monoester synthesis rates ranged between 45.81 and 49.64%. The RE esters inhibited the Cu²⁺-induced low-density lipoprotein oxidation reaction, exhibited antioxidant activity in bulk oil, and effectively inhibited the hydroxyl radical-induced DNA scission. Moreover, the RE-SCFA esters had better hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity than RE. Our results are the first in the literature to successfully including short chain fatty acids in the esters of resveratrol, and the products could be used as a functional food ingredient in processed foods or can be used as dietary supplements to promote health.

Development of a sandwich-type rat small intestine tissue sensor for detecting resveratrol and its receptors

Resveratrol has a variety of biological functions, however, a limited number of studies have assessed its interaction with cell surface receptors. In this study, a sandwich-type rat small intestine tissue sensor (RSIT-sensor) was fabricated to detect the response current from receptor stimulation by different resveratrol concentrations via electrochemical workstation. The results showed that with detection limit of 1 × 10^-13 mol/L, the maximum rate of change of the response current was found at the concentration of 8.5 × 10^-12 mol/L, indicating that the resveratrol-related receptor was saturated. With comparing the response values of prepared biosensor and bare electrode with resveratrol, it can be concluded that the response value of small intestinal cells to resveratrol has obviously been amplified by the intracellular signal transmission system, and its magnification was about 100 times. In the current research, for the first time, kinetics of the interaction between resveratrol and its receptors and the transmission of signals to the body could be quantitatively measured by a biosensor. Our findings may provide new ideas for resveratrol-related receptor analysis, separation and purification, signal transmission, and evaluation of biological function.

Impact of functional foods and nutraceuticals on high blood pressure with a special focus on meta-analysis: review from a public health perspective

In recent times many researchers are expressing immense interest in nutraceuticals and functional foods for combating various diseases or abnormal conditions, especially against hypertension (HT). Persistent HT is medically referred to as chronic high blood pressure (BP) and considered to be one of the major risk factors for the deadliest diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cerebrovascular diseases. Hence HT poses a serious socio-economic burden worldwide, particularly to developing countries. The current treatment strategy for HT includes standard anti-hypertensive drugs, which are associated with many adverse effects and lower drug adherence rates. Therefore, an alternative or complementary natural therapy (functional foods or nutraceuticals or dietary supplements) would be the alternate choice along with a modified lifestyle pattern that might help to manage or combat HT and its related complications. During this review, the author would like to shed light on the basic science behind HT including pathophysiology and the impact of dietary salt on HT and the impact of various functional foods or nutraceuticals against HT in humans (meta-analysis and systemic review). This contribution gives a better idea (public health perspective) for choosing the best functional foods/nutraceuticals for the prevention, management or delaying the onset of HT and its associated conditions along with modified lifestyle patterns and standard anti-hypertensive drugs.

Efficacy of Polyphenols in the Management of Dyslipidemia: A Focus on Clinical Studies

Polyphenols (PLPs), phytochemicals found in a wide range of plant-based foods, have gained extensive attention in view of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and several additional beneficial activities. The health-promoting effects noted in animal models of various non-communicable diseases explain the growing interest in these molecules. In particular, in vitro and animal studies reported an attenuation of lipid disorders in response to PLPs. However, despite promising preclinical investigations, the effectiveness of PLPs in human dyslipidemia (DLP) is less clear and necessitates revision of available literature. Therefore, the present review analyzes the role of PLPs in managing clinical DLP, notably by dissecting their potential in ameliorating lipid/lipoprotein metabolism and alleviating hyperlipidemia, both postprandially and in long-term interventions. To this end, PubMed was used for article search. The search terms included polyphenols, lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and /or HDL-cholesterol. The critical examination of the trials published to date illustrates certain benefits on blood lipids along with co-morbidities in participant’s health status. However, inconsistent results document significant research gaps, potentially owing to study heterogeneity and lack of rigor in establishing PLP bioavailability during supplementation. This underlines the need for further efforts in order to elucidate and support a potential role of PLPs in fighting DLP.

The homeostatic role of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion and nitric oxide in the vasculature

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are produced in a wide range of physiological reactions that, at low concentrations, play essential roles in living organisms. There is a delicate equilibrium between formation and degradation of these mediators in a healthy vascular system, which contributes to maintaining these species under non-pathological levels to preserve normal vascular functions. Antioxidants scavenge reactive oxygen and nitrogen species to prevent or reduce damage caused by excessive oxidation. However, an excessive reductive environment induced by exogenous antioxidants may disrupt redox balance and lead to vascular pathology. This review summarizes the main aspects of free radical biochemistry (formation, sources and elimination) and the crucial actions of some of the most biologically relevant and well-characterized reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion and nitric oxide) in the physiological regulation of vascular function, structure and angiogenesis. Furthermore, current preclinical and clinical evidence is discussed on how excessive removal of these crucial responses by exogenous antioxidants (vitamins and related compounds, polyphenols) may perturb vascular homeostasis. The aim of this review is to provide information of the crucial physiological roles of oxidation in the endothelium, vascular smooth muscle cells and perivascular adipose tissue for developing safer and more effective vascular interventions with antioxidants.

Resveratrol: nanocarrier-based delivery systems to enhance its therapeutic potential

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) is a polyphenolic compound existing in trees, peanuts and grapes and exhibits a broad spectrum of promising therapeutic activities, but it is unclear whether this entity targets the sites of action after oral administration. In vivo applicability of resveratrol has limited success so far, mainly due to its incompetent systemic delivery resulting from its low water solubility, poor bioavailability and short biological half-life. First-pass metabolism and presence of enterohepatic recirculation create doubt on the biological application of high doses typically used for in vitro trials. To augment bioavailability, absorption and uptake of resveratrol by cellular internalization, countless approaches have been implemented which involve the use of nanocarriers. Nanocarriers are a well-known delivery system used to reduce first-pass hepatic metabolism, overcome enterohepatic recirculation and accelerate the absorption of drugs via lymphatic pathways.

Caloric restriction mimetics for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Caloric restriction mimetics (CRMs) are emerging as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. CRMs include natural and synthetic compounds able to inhibit protein acetyltransferases, to interfere with acetyl coenzyme A biosynthesis, or to activate (de)acetyltransferase proteins. These modifications mimic the effects of caloric restriction, which is associated with the activation of autophagy. Previous evidence demonstrated the ability of CRMs to ameliorate cardiac function and reduce cardiac hypertrophy and maladaptive remodelling in animal models of ageing, mechanical overload, chronic myocardial ischaemia, and in genetic and metabolic cardiomyopathies. In addition, CRMs were found to reduce acute ischaemia-reperfusion injury. In many cases, these beneficial effects of CRMs appeared to be mediated by autophagy activation. In the present review, we discuss the relevant literature about the role of different CRMs in animal models of cardiac diseases, emphasizing the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of these compounds and their potential future clinical application.

Resveratrol and exercise combined to treat functional limitations in late life: A pilot randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and feasibility of combining exercise (EX) and resveratrol to treat older adults with physical function limitations.

METHODS

Three-arm, two-site pilot randomized, controlled trial (RCT) for community-dwelling adults (N = 60), 71.8 ± 6.3 years of age with functional limitations. Participants were randomized to receive either 12 weeks of (1) EX + placebo [EX0], (2) EX + 500 mg/day resveratrol [EX500], or (3) EX + 1000 mg/day resveratrol [EX1000]. EX consisted of two sessions a week for 12 weeks of center-based walking and whole-body resistance training. Safety was assessed through adverse events and feasibility through exercise session and supplement (placebo, or resveratrol) protocol adherence. Outcome measures included a battery of indices of physical function as well as skeletal muscle mitchondrial function. Data were adjusted for age and gender using the Intent-To-Treat approach.

RESULTS

Adverse event frequency and type were similar between groups (n = 8 EX0, n = 12 EX500, and n = 7 EX1000). Overall, 85% of participants met the supplement adherence via pill counts while 82% met the exercise session adherence. Adjusted within group mean differences (95% confidence interval) from week 0 to 12 for gait speed ranged from -0.04 (EX0: -0.1, 0.03) m/s to 0.04 (EX1000: -0.02, 0.11) and the six-minute walk test mean differences were 9.45 (EX0: -9.02, 27.7), 22.9 (EX500: 4.18, 41.6), and 33.1 (EX1000: 13.8, 52.4) meters. Unadjusted mean differences for citrate synthase were -0.80 (EX0: -15.45, 13.84), -1.38 (EX500: -12.16, 9.39), and 7.75 (EX1000: -4.68, 20.18) mU/mg. COX activity mean within group changes ranged from -0.05 (EX0) to 0.06 (EX500) k/s/mg. Additional outcomes are detailed in the text.

CONCLUSION

The pilot RCT indicated that combined EX + resveratrol was safe and feasible for older adults with functional limitations and may improve skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and mobility-related indices of physical function. A larger trial appears warranted and is needed to formally test these hypotheses.