Anti-Atherogenic Effects of a Phenol-Rich Fraction from Brazilian Red Wine (Vitis labrusca L.) in Hypercholesterolemic Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice

Abstract

Moderate wine intake (i.e., 1-2 glasses of wine a day) is associated with a reduced risk of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-atherosclerotic effects of a nonalcoholic ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) from a South Brazilian red wine obtained from Vitis labrusca grapes. Experiments were carried out on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor knockout (LDLr⁻/⁻) mice, which were subjected to a hypercholesterolemic diet and treated with doses of EAF (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. At the end of the treatment, the level of plasma lipids, the vascular reactivity, and the atherosclerotic lesions were evaluated. Our results demonstrated that the treatment with EAF at 3 mg/kg significantly decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL plus very low-density lipoprotein levels compared with control hypercholesterolemic mice. The treatment of mice with EAF at 3 mg/kg also preserved the vasodilatation induced by acetylcholine on isolated thoracic aorta from hypercholesterolemic LDLr⁻/⁻ mice. This result is in agreement with the degree of lipid deposit on arteries. Taken together, the results show for the first time that the lowest concentration of an EAF obtained from a red wine produced in southern Brazil significantly reduced the progression of atherosclerosis in mice.

Grape Juice Consumption with or without High Fat Diet during Pregnancy Reduced the Weight Gain and Improved Lipid Profile and Oxidative Stress Levels in Liver and Serum from Wistar Rats

“…Previous studies, in animal models, have also shown these same deleterious effects on the lipid profile as a consequence of the intake of a high-fat diet observed in our experiment [33][34][35]. Although the consumption of grape juice during gestation did not reduce the damages caused by the high fat diet on lipid profile, studies with grape derivatives have already shown a positive influence on these parameters [36,37]. In a study with rodents submitted to a hypercholesterolemic diet and treated with a fraction of non-alcoholic ethyl acetate (EAF) of a wine produced from V. labrusca L. grapes, reductions in CT and TG levels were observed [36].…”

“…Although the consumption of grape juice during gestation did not reduce the damages caused by the high fat diet on lipid profile, studies with grape derivatives have already shown a positive influence on these parameters [36,37]. In a study with rodents submitted to a hypercholesterolemic diet and treated with a fraction of non-alcoholic ethyl acetate (EAF) of a wine produced from V. labrusca L. grapes, reductions in CT and TG levels were observed [36]. Also, another experiment with hyperglycemic hamsters treated with non-alcoholic red wine evidenced a reduction in the CT and LDL levels of these animals [37].…”

Purple Grape Juice, an Important Flavonoids Source, Influence in Biochemical Parameters in Offspring of Wistar Rats

“…Our analysis demonstrated significant beneficial changes in TG and TC parameters. These results corroborate what was proposed by Hort et al [25], who in his work used a fraction of non-alcoholic ethyl acetate (EAF) of a Brazilian red wine, obtained from Vitis labrusca grapes. In this study, the researchers demonstrated that their animals showed a significant reduction in the levels of TC, TG, VLDL and LDL when receiving the wine extract, even consuming a hypercholesterolemicdiet.…”

Fine wine or sour grapes? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of red wine polyphenols on vascular health

“…48 of the included studies were conducted in animal models, the majority of which were in rat models (n = 36) [4,9,, alongside studies in mice (n = 9) [10,[88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95], rabbits (n = 2) [8,96] and swine (n = 1) [7]. Of these all, but three, investigated the effects of RWP in clinical or disease models, including induced hypertension (n = 8), diabetes (n = 4), ageing (n = 6) and high fructose-induced vascular dysfunction (n = 7), with 25 studies including a healthy supplemented population (Table 3).…”