Nitric oxide production and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation induced by wine polyphenols in rat aorta

摘要

These results show that RWPC and leucocyanidol, but not the structurally closely related polyphenol catechin, induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in the rat aorta. They indicate that this effect results from enhanced synthesis of NO rather than enhanced biological activity of NO or protection against breskdown by O~-_2. It is concluded that some polyphenols, with specific structure, contained in wine possess potent endothelium-dependent vasorelaxing activity.