Protective effects of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside from blackberry extract against peroxynitrite-induced endothelial dysfunction and vascular failure

Life Sci. 2003 Jul 18;73(9):1097-114. doi: 10.1016/s0024-3205(03)00356-4.

Abstract

Anthocyanins are a group of naturally occurring phenolic compounds as colorants in several plants, flowers and fruits. These pigments have a great importance as quality indicators, as chemotaxonomic markers and antioxidants. The content of blackberry (Rubus species) juice was investigated by HPLC/ESI/MS using narrow bore HPLC columns. Using this method we demonstrated that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside represents about 80% of the total anthocyanin contents in blackberry extract. Here we investigated antioxidant activity of the blackberry juice and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside on the endothelial dysfunction in cells and in vascular rings exposed to peroxynitrite. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro, peroxynitrite caused a significant suppression of mitochondrial respiration (38 +/- 2.1% of control cells), as measured by the mitochondrial-dependent conversion of the dye MTT to formazan. Peroxynitrite caused DNA strand breakage (63 +/- 1.9% single strand vs 3 +/- 0.9% single strand in control cells), as measured by the alkaline unwinding assay, and caused an activation of PARS, as measured by the incorporation of radiolabeled NAD(+) to nuclear proteins. Blackberry juice (different dilutions that contained 80 ppm;40 ppm;14.5 ppm of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (as chloride) (0.085 microM; 0.028 microM; 0.0085 microM) reduced the peroxynitrite-induced suppression of mitochondrial respiration, DNA damage and PARS activation in HUVECs. Vascular rings exposed to peroxynitrite exhibited reduced endothelium-dependent relaxant responses in response to acetylcholine as well as a vascular contractility dysfunction in response to norepinephrine. The development of this peroxynitrite-induced vascular dysfunction was ameliorated by the blackberry juice (different dilutions that contained 80 ppm;40 ppm;14.5 ppm of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (as chloride) (0.085 microM;0.028 microM;0.0085 microM). In conclusion our findings clearly demonstrate that blackberry juice containing cyanidin-3-O-glucoside is a scavenger of peroxynitrite and that exert a protective effect against endothelial dysfunction and vascular failure induced by peroxynitrite.

MeSH terms

  • Anthocyanins / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Aorta, Thoracic / drug effects
  • Aorta, Thoracic / metabolism
  • Aorta, Thoracic / pathology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • DNA Damage
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology*
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Glucosides / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Muscle Relaxation / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Peroxynitrous Acid / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / biosynthesis
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / pharmacology
  • Vasodilator Agents / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anthocyanins
  • Antioxidants
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Glucosides
  • Plant Extracts
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • cyanidin-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside
  • Peroxynitrous Acid
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases