Uncovering the vasorelaxant effect induced by Vale do São Francisco red wine: a role for nitric oxide.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying the vasorelaxant effect induced by the polyphenolic compounds found in red wine from Vale do São Francisco. In phenylephrine (10 µM) precontracted mesenteric artery rings, the red wine caused a concentration-dependent relaxation (maximum response to phenylephrine 10 µM = 87.5% ± 6.5%, n = 10). After endothelium removal, the vasorelaxant effect elicited by red wine was attenuated (28.4% ± 4.9%, n = 10). In addition, the vasorelaxant effect induced by red wine in rings pretreated with 100 µM of N(w)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and 10 µM of 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one was attenuated (23.4% ± 5.1%, n = 7 and 11.8% ± 2.7%, n = 6, respectively). Pretreatment with atropine did not affect the vasorelaxant effect induced by red wine (81% ± 3.9%, n = 6). Furthermore, in rabbit aortic endothelial cell line, red wine 100 and 300 µg/mL caused concentration-dependent increases in nitric oxide levels (58 ± 1; 82 ± 7.9; Δ% of fluorescence, n = 5, respectively). In conclusion, we suggest that the alcohol free-lyophilized red wine induces an endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effect due, at least in part, to a secondary increase in the concentration of nitric oxide and that this effect might be associated with phenolic compounds found in the red wine.

Unravelling the cardiovascular effects induced by alpha-terpineol: a role for the nitric oxide-cGMP pathway.

1. Alpha-terpineol is a monoterpene found in the essential oils of several aromatic plant species. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular changes induced by alpha-terpineol in rats. 2. In normotensive rats, administration of alpha-terpineol (1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg, i.v.) produced a dose-dependent hypotension (-10 +/- 3, -20 +/- 8, -39 +/- 16, -52 +/- 21 and -57 +/- 23 mmHg, respectively; n = 5) followed by tachycardia. The hypotensive responses to 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg, i.v., alpha-terpineol were significantly attenuated following the administration of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 20 mg/kg, i.v.; -2 +/- 1, -5 +/- 2, -7 +/- 3, -22 +/- 9 and -22 +/- 10 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05; n = 5). 3. In 10 micromol/L phenylephrine (PE)-precontracted mesenteric artery rings, alpha-terpineol (10(-12) to 10(-5) mol/L) caused a concentration-dependent relaxation (maximum relaxation 61 +/- 6%; n = 7). After removal of the endothelium, the vasorelaxation elicited by alpha-terpineol was attenuated (maximum relaxation 20 +/- 1%; P < 0.05; n = 7). In addition, vasorelaxation induced by alpha-terpineol in rings pretreated with 100 or 300 micromol/L l-NAME, 30 micromol/L hydroxocobalamin or 10 micromol/L 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one was attenuated (maximum relaxation 18 +/- 3, 23 +/- 3, 24 +/- 7 and 21 +/- 1%, respectively; n = 6; P < 0.05). 4. Furthermore, in a rabbit aortic endothelial cell line, 10(-6), 10(-5) and 10(-4) mol/L alpha-terpineol induced concentration-dependent increases in nitric oxide (NO) levels (12 +/- 6, 18 +/- 9 and 34 +/- 12%Delta fluorescence, respectively; n = 3). 5. In conclusion, using combined functional and biochemical approaches in the present study, we were able to demonstrate that alpha-terpineol-induced hypotension and vasorelaxation are mediated, at least in part, by the endothelium, most likely via NO release and activation of the NO-cGMP pathway.