A September 2001 study by University of Connecticut researchers has shed light on how grape seeds principle component, proanthocyanidins, can protect against cardiac disease. The researchers examined what they call the anti-death signaling cascade of proanthocyanidins--in other words, the ability of the proanthocyanidins to protect against heart cell death.
The study authors administered grape seed proanthocyandin extract orally (100 mg/kg/d) in the diet for three weeks to one group of rats. Another group of rats was fed a regular diet without proanthocyanidins for the same time. After 3 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and the hearts were removed and made ischemic for 30 minutes followed by two hours of reperfusion. The researchers also examined the extent of free radical damage.
Ischemia occurs when circulation is blocked, leading to deficiency of blood supply. Ischemia leads to angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. Ischemic heart disease is responsible for about half of the deaths in the U.S. annually, and about half of these deaths occur suddenly.
Because ischemic heart disease is such a common cause of death, the results of the University of Connecticut study are particularly significant. The researchers discovered that the grape seed extract inhibited ischemic damage and reduced cardiac cell death in the hearts that underwent ischemia. The proanthocyanidins in grape seed extract also reduced the appearance of free radicals known as reactive oxygen species and improved postischemic recovery in the hearts. The scientists concluded that the grape seed proanthocyanidins act as an in vivo antioxidant and that grape seeds heart-protective properties may be partially the result of its ability to block anti-death signals.
Reference:
Sato M, Bagchi D, Tosaki A, Das DK. Grape seed proanthocyandin reduces cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting ischemia/reperfusion-induced activation of JNK-1 and C-JUN. Free Radic Biol Med. 2001;31(6):729-37.
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