Beneficial clinical effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on the progression of carotid atherosclerotic plaques

Uncovering the promising role of grape pomace as a modulator of the gut microbiome: An in-depth review

Grape pomace is the primary wine coproduct consisting primarily of grape seeds and skins. Grape pomace holds immense potential as a functional ingredient to improve human health while its valorization can be beneficial for industrial sustainability. Pomace contains bioactive compounds, including phenols and oligosaccharides, most of which reach the colon intact, enabling interaction with the gut microbiome. Microbial analysis found that grape pomace selectively promotes the growth of many commensal bacteria strains, while other types of bacteria, including various pathogens, are highly sensitive to the pomace and its components and are inactivated. In vitro studies showed that grape pomace and its extracts inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria in Enterobacteriaceae family while increasing the growth and survival of some beneficial bacteria, including Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. Grape pomace supplementation in mice and rats improves their gut microbiome complexity and decreases diet-induced obesity as well as related illnesses, including insulin resistance, indicating grape pomace could improve human health. A human clinical trial found that pomace, regardless of its phenolic content, had cardioprotective effects, suggesting that dietary fiber induced those health benefits. To shed light on the active components, this review explores the potential prebiotic capacity of select bioactive compounds in grape pomace.

The Role of Berry Consumption on Blood Pressure Regulation and Hypertension: An Overview of the Clinical Evidence

The existence of a relationship between the consumption of dietary berries and blood pressure reduction in humans has been repeatedly hypothesized and documented by an increasing body of epidemiological and clinical evidence that has accumulated in recent years. However, results are mixed and complicated by a number of potentially confounding factors. The objective of this article is to review and summarize the available clinical evidence examining the effects of berry consumption on blood pressure regulation as well as the prevention or treatment of hypertension in humans, providing an overview of the potential contribution of distinctive berry polyphenols (anthocyanins, condensed tannins and ellagic acid), and results of dietary interventions with blueberries, bilberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, chokeberries, cherries, blackcurrants and açai berries. We conclude that, while there is insufficient evidence supporting the existence of a direct blood pressure lowering effect, there is stronger evidence for specific types of berries acting indirectly to normalize blood pressure in subjects that are already hypertensive.

Identification of Biomarkers of Autophagy-Related Genes Between Early and Advanced Carotid Atherosclerosis

Background

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that autophagy is important in inhibiting inflammation and cholesterol efflux. It suggested the autophagy may be a treatment of atherosclerosis. Thus, we screened autophagy-related mRNA to explore their mechanism of scientific basis for early diagnosis and therapy of atherosclerosis.

Methods

The GSE28829 datasets were assessed to analyze differentially expressed genes by GEO2R. And autophagy-related hub genes were identified by HADb. The biological function of autophagy-related DEmRNAs was examined by Metascape. The construction of a protein–protein network was explored by String. Cytohubba was utilized to screen hub genes. Analysis of DEmiRNA-mRNA pairs was executed by DIANA microT-CDS database. Finally, correlation analysis was carried out to identify the relationship between DEARGs and clinical and prognostic factors.

Results

A number of 1087 DEGs and 19 autophagy-related DEmRNAs were identified in advanced carotid atherosclerotic plaque compared with the early. The biological function containing development and growth was enriched. Moreover, we screened the top hub nodes with the highest degrees. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are confirmed to participate in genesis and progression of atherosclerosis, so we further analyzed the miRNA–mRNA regulatory network genes with four hub genes to explore their potential mechanism in atherosclerosis. Then, we revealed co-expression of four key genes CTSB, ITGB1, CXCR4, TNFSF10 and autophagy-related genes. As for the clinical factors, hypertension factor showed higher expression of ITGB1. The probability of coronary heart disease factor was significantly increased with high expression of CTSB and CXCR4, as well as low expression of ITGB1 and TNFSF10. Diabetes factor tended to express distinguished levels of CTSB and ITGB1. TNFSF10 was highly expressed in both hyperlipidemia and ischemic stroke factor.

Conclusion

CTSB, ITGB1, CXCR4 and TNFSF10 may be critical in atherosclerosis development and were thought to be potential diagnostic biomarkers for atherosclerosis.

Gut Microbiota Composition Affects Procyanidin A2-Attenuated Atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- Mice by Modulating the Bioavailability of Its Microbial Metabolites

Procyanidin A2 (PCA2) has been shown to improve lipid metabolism. However, it remains to know whether it can play a role in preventing atherosclerosis (AS) through gut microbiota. This study examined the effect of PCA2 on high fat diet (HFD)-induced AS in ApoE^-/- mice with an intact and antibiotic-depleted microbiota. PCA2 administration for 12 weeks attenuated HFD-induced AS in ApoE^-/- mice, evidenced by obviously alleviating the histological abnormalities of the aorta, lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which were accompanied by downregulating the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and upregulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1. Moreover, PCA2 treatment reshaped the gut microbiota imbalance caused by HFD, especially reducing the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes and increasing the abundance of Verrucomicrobia. However, antibiotic intervention almost offset the alleviation of AS by PCA2 and prevented the biotransformation of PCA2 by gut microbiota, thus resulting in a 2327.21-6.27-fold decrease in its microbial metabolites of plasma. There was a marked correlation among the microbiota composition, the bioavailability of PCA2-derived microbial metabolites, and AS indicators. The findings indicate that the gut microbiota robustly influences the bioavailability of microbial metabolites that may partially drive the AS resilience property of PCA2.

Proanthocyanidins Should Be a Candidate in the Treatment of Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases and Lipid Metabolic Disorder

The conventional view of using medicines as routine treatment of an intractable disease is being challenged in the face of extensive and growing evidence that flavonoids in foods, especially proanthocyanidins (PAs), can participate in tackling fatal diseases like cancer, cardiovascular and lipid metabolic diseases, both as a precautionary measure or as a dietary treatment. Although medical treatment with medicines will remain necessary in some cases, at least in the short term, PAs’ function as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory drugs, signal pathway regulators remain critical in many diseases. This review article demonstrates the physical and biological properties of PAs, summarizes the health benefits of PAs found by researchers previously, and shows the possibility and importance of being a dietary treatment substance.

Are all wines made from various grape varieties beneficial in the prevention of myocardial infarction and stroke?

Aim:

Epidemiologic studies support the assumption (French paradox hypothesis) that drinking red wine is beneficial in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Our recent works however cast doubt on such claim. Earlier we have shown that the antithrombotic activity of various fruits and vegetables mainly depends on their varieties. For this reason, several varieties of red and white grapes were tested for antithrombotic effect in animal experiments.

Results:

Antithrombotic effect of 45 red and white grape varieties were assessed in the present study. Out of the 45, one red grape variety showed antithrombotic effect, while the majority of red and white grape varieties enhanced thrombosis.

Conclusion:

Most red and white grape varieties enhanced thrombotic activity of blood.

Red wine is widely believed to prevent heart attack and stroke as claimed by a French Paradox hypothesis. Antithrombotic effect of 45 grape varieties was measured in the present study. Only very few red and white varieties inhibited the experimentally induced thrombosis while the majority of the tested varieties enhanced thrombotic activity of blood. Thus, our findings challenge the prevailing claims of the French Paradox.

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Progression as Surrogate Marker for Cardiovascular Risk: Meta-Analysis of 119 Clinical Trials Involving 100 667 Patients

BACKGROUND

To quantify the association between effects of interventions on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression and their effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

METHODS

We systematically collated data from randomized, controlled trials. cIMT was assessed as the mean value at the common-carotid-artery; if unavailable, the maximum value at the common-carotid-artery or other cIMT measures were used. The primary outcome was a combined CVD end point defined as myocardial infarction, stroke, revascularization procedures, or fatal CVD. We estimated intervention effects on cIMT progression and incident CVD for each trial, before relating the 2 using a Bayesian meta-regression approach.

RESULTS

We analyzed data of 119 randomized, controlled trials involving 100 667 patients (mean age 62 years, 42% female). Over an average follow-up of 3.7 years, 12 038 patients developed the combined CVD end point. Across all interventions, each 10 μm/y reduction of cIMT progression resulted in a relative risk for CVD of 0.91 (95% Credible Interval, 0.87-0.94), with an additional relative risk for CVD of 0.92 (0.87-0.97) being achieved independent of cIMT progression. Taken together, we estimated that interventions reducing cIMT progression by 10, 20, 30, or 40 μm/y would yield relative risks of 0.84 (0.75-0.93), 0.76 (0.67-0.85), 0.69 (0.59-0.79), or 0.63 (0.52-0.74), respectively. Results were similar when grouping trials by type of intervention, time of conduct, time to ultrasound follow-up, availability of individual-participant data, primary versus secondary prevention trials, type of cIMT measurement, and proportion of female patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The extent of intervention effects on cIMT progression predicted the degree of CVD risk reduction. This provides a missing link supporting the usefulness of cIMT progression as a surrogate marker for CVD risk in clinical trials.

Grape seed extract: having a potential health benefits

Grapes are one of the most highly consumed fruits across the world. In ancient Europe the leaves and the sap of grape plants has been used in traditional treatment for ages. Besides being a wellspring for vitamins and fibre, the skin and seeds of grapes are highly rich in Polyphenols specifically proanthocyanidins, which can be used as a functional ingredient to address various health issues by boosting the natural bio-processes of the body. Since, grape seeds are by product of wine making companies therefore can be easily procured. The present review article briefly describes the various pharmacological activities of grape seed extract and different experimental studies were done which supports the beneficial health qualities of the extract. Through different and various studies, it was proved that the proanthocyanidin rich grape seed extract provides benefits against many diseases i.e. inflammation, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, peptic ulcer, microbial infections, etc. Therefore, beside from using it as a nutraceutical or cosmeceutical, as a result they may have a potential to substitute or complement in currently used drugs in the treatment of diseases by developing it into other successful pharmaceutical formulations for better future prospective.

A Pilot Study of a Grape Seed Procyanidin Extract for Lung Cancer Chemoprevention

Grape seed procyanidin extract (GSE) had been reported to exert antineoplastic properties in preclinical studies. A modified phase I, open-label, dose-escalation clinical study was conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability, MTD, and potential chemopreventive effects of leucoselect phytosome (LP), a standardized GSE complexed with soy phospholipids to enhance bioavailability, in heavy active and former smokers. Eight subjects ages 46-68 years were enrolled into the study and treated with escalating oral doses of LP for 3 months. Bronchoscopies with bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchial biopsies were performed before and after 3 months of LP treatment. Hematoxylin and eosin stain for histopathology grading and IHC examination for Ki-67 proliferative labeling index (Ki-67 LI) were carried out on serially matched bronchial biopsy samples from each subject to determine responses to treatment. Two subjects were withdrawn due to issues unrelated to the study medication, and a total of 6 subjects completed the full study course. In general, 3 months of LP, reaching the highest dose per study protocol was well tolerated and no dosing adjustment was necessary. Such a treatment regimen significantly decreased bronchial Ki-67 LI by an average of 55% (P = 0.041), with concomitant decreases in serum miR-19a, -19b, and -106b, which were oncomirs previously reported to be downregulated by GSE, including LP, in preclinical studies. In spite of not reaching the original enrollment goal of 20, our findings nonetheless support the continued clinical translation of GSE as an antineoplastic and chemopreventive agent against lung cancer.

Proanthocyanidin protects against acute zearalenone-induced testicular oxidative damage in male mice

Zearalenone (ZEN) exerts a major effect on human and animal health and has led to serious worldwide economic problems. In this study, we investigated whether proanthocyanidin (PC) can prevent ZEN-induced testicular oxidative damage in male mice and explored the underlying mechanism. Kunming mice were injected with ZEN (40 mg kg^-1) on the 11th day after intragastric administration of PC (75 or 150 mg/kg) for 10 days; the sperm quality of mice was then analysed statistically. Additionally, testicular morphology parameters related to oxidative damage, apoptosis and the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes (GRP78, CHOP and XBP-1) were all measured. Results showed that ZEN exposure significantly reduced the sperm density, improved the sperm aberration rate, increased the MDA level and reduced SOD and GSH-Px activities. Meanwhile, ZEN was attributed to the downregulation of the expressions of the gene and protein of Bcl-2 and upregulation of the expressions of the gene and protein of Bax and caspase-3. ZEN exposure also upregulated the mRNA expression of GRP78, CHOP and XBP-1; however, PC pre-treatment reduced ZEN-induced oxidative damage and tended to maintain normal testicular morphology. Furthermore, PC pre-treatment substantially downregulated the expressions of the GRP78, CHOP and XBP-1 and upregulated the expression of the Bcl-2 gene. In conclusion, PC, due to its anti-oxidative ability, could ameliorate ZEN-induced testicular reproductive toxicity in male mice by decreasing ER stress and testicular cell apoptosis.