Phytoestrogenic Effects of Blackcurrant Anthocyanins Increased Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) Expression in Human Endothelial Cells and Ovariectomized Rats

  • Kayo Horie
    Department of Bioscience and Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
  • Naoki Nanashima
    Department of Bioscience and Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
  • Hayato Maeda
    Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8561, Japan

説明

<jats:p>Phytoestrogens are plant-derived chemicals that are found in many foods and have estrogenic activity. We previously showed that blackcurrant extract (BCE) and anthocyanins have phytoestrogenic activity mediated via estrogen receptors (ERs), and anthocyanins may improve vascular function. BCE contains high levels of anthocyanins, but their health-promoting effects are unclear. This study examined the effects of BCE on the regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in human endothelial cells as key regulators in cardiovascular disease. The results showed that eNOS mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in BCE- or anthocyanin-treated human vascular endothelial cells but decreased in cells treated with fulvestrant, an ER antagonist. These results corresponded with NO levels, suggesting that BCE and anthocyanin may regulate NO synthesis via eNOS expression. Thus, the phytoestrogenic effects exerted by BCE via ERs influenced eNOS mRNA expression and NO synthesis. In vivo, we investigated whether anthocyanin-rich BCE upregulated eNOS protein expression in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, a widely used animal model of menopause. Our results showed that anthocyanin-rich BCE significantly upregulated eNOS mRNA levels and NO synthesis through phytoestrogenic activity and therefore promoted blood vessel health in OVX rats as a postmenopausal model.</jats:p>

収録刊行物

  • Molecules

    Molecules 24 (7), 1259-, 2019-03-31

    MDPI AG

被引用文献 (6)*注記

もっと見る

参考文献 (45)*注記

もっと見る

関連プロジェクト

もっと見る

詳細情報 詳細情報について

問題の指摘

ページトップへ