Phenolics from Commercialized Grape Extracts Prevent Early Atherosclerotic Lesions in Hamsters by Mechanisms Other than Antioxidant Effect

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Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiatherosclerotic effect of commercially available phenolic-rich extracts from grape seeds (ExGrape seeds, EGS; grape seed extract, GSE) and marc (ExGrape total, EGT) in cholesterol-fed hamsters and to investigate possible operating mechanisms. These extracts fed at a moderate dose mimicking two glasses of red wine per meal reduced plasma cholesterol (−11% on average) but did not affect plasma antioxidant capacity of hamsters. The extracts prevented the development of aortic atherosclerosis by 68% (EGS), 63% (EGT), and 34% (GSE). Elsewhere, in an ex vivo experiment using rat aortic rings, EGS (7 μg/mL) induced 77% endothelium-dependent relaxation, whereas EGT and GSE (30 μg/mL) induced 84 and 72%, respectively. These results suggests that phenolic extracts from grape seeds and marc are beneficial in inhibiting atherosclerosis by indirect mechanism(s). Keywords: Phenolic extracts; atherosclerosis; hamster; rat aortic rings; vasorelaxation