Comments from Website author: A compelling piece of
research suggesting oxidative damage as a major cause of cancer,
atherosclerosis, aging, as well as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. They
conclude that "pycnogenol can protect vascular endothelial cells from oxidant
injury" and that it may be useful to prevent disorders associated with this type of
damage. Quite a significant statement.
Comments from Physicians at this article's end: None
Pycnogenol protects vascular endothelial cells from t-butyl hydroperoxide induced oxidant injury.
Biotechnol Ther Vol. 5 no. 3-4 pp. 117-26
MedlineŽ
DATE: 1994-95
The active oxygen induced and free radical mediated oxidation of biological molecules, membranes, and tissues has been suggested as a major cause of cancer, atherosclerosis, and aging. Damage of endothelial cells may lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In the present study, the antioxidant effect of pycnogenol (procyanidins extracted from Pinus maritima) was investigated in vitrousing vascular endothelial cells. Confluent monolayers of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) were preincubated with different concentrations of pycnogenol for 16 h, washed, and then exposed to an organic oxidant t-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) for 3 or 4 h. Cellular injury was assessed by measuring cell viability with methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay and by determining the releaseof intracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Lipid peroxidation products of PAEC were monitored as malondialdehyde (MDA) with a thiobarbituric acid fluorometric assay. Incubation of tBHP (75, 100, or 125 microM) with PAEC decreased cell viability, increased LDH release, and elevated MDH production. Preincubation of PAEC with pycnogenol (10-80 micrograms/mL) before tBHP exposure significantly increased cell viability, decreased LDH release, and reduced MDA production. These results demonstrate that pycnogenol can protect vascular endothelial cells from oxidant injury. The data thus suggest that pycnogenol may be useful for the prevention of disorders associated with oxidative damage.
Rong Y Li L Shah V Lau BH
Primary Author's Address: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA.
Language: Eng
Country: UNITED STATES
MeSH Headings: Animal Antioxidants/*pharmacology Bioflavonoids/*pharmacology Cattle Cell Line Cell Survival/drug effects Endothelium, Vascular/*drug effects/*injuryies/metabolism Lactate Dehydrogenase/secretion Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects Malondialdehyde/metabolism Oxidants/*toxicity Peroxides/*antagonists & inhibitors/*toxicity Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Medlars UID 96192251